Marques Out - Mazzacane In - (Merged)

[Mekola]

I wonder, Mazzacane has the money? Kremer (his manager) can do something, but he is more than 2 and a half year without a race seat (unless his tests with IRL, Spanish GT and Top Race cars).

[jv#12]

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/N...le.asp?ID=7820



Milwaukee, Wisconsin…………Dale Coyne Racing announces the signing of Gaston Mazzacane to pilot one of its Lola entries for the Milwaukee Time Warner Road Runner 250.

Argentine driver Gaston Mazzacane will be racing in the Milwaukee event driving the #19 American Medical Response Lola. “I am very pleased with this opportunity to finally get back into a single-seater,” commented the 29-year old South American. “Since my departure from Formula 1, Champ Car has been my goal where all the cars are more equal, I am grateful to Mr. Coyne for giving me this opportunity.”

Mazzacane comes to Champ Car with an impressive resume. He drove for Minardi, Prost and was scheduled to drive for the Phoenix Formula 1 teams in F1. His best finish at Minardi was an 8th place at Germany in the highly competitive field of Formula 1. Gaston’s season at Minardi was also highlighted by several good qualifying showings out ranking his teammate Marc Gene 4 times and Jenson Button at Melbourne with his Minardi chassis and two-year-old Ford/Cosworth engine.

The La Plata, Argentina native started his racing career in 1989 Karting in Argentina He would progress up the ladder through South American F3 and Italian F3 in the early and mid 90’s before progressing to Formula 3000 where he prepared for his F1 testing debut in 1999. In October of 2003 Mazzacane tested a Sam Schmidt IRL car at Kentucky Speedway topping in at 218 MPH. Dale Coyne Racing has recently concluded testing at Putnam Park and Road America in preparation for Gaston’s debut at the Milwaukee Mile.

“First, I would like to thank Tarso Marques and restate that we believe in his abilities as a driver and hope that we can offer him opportunities in the years to come,” reported team owner Dale Coyne. “There are many circumstances surrounding this change of drivers. We are confident in the fact that Gaston, once he has some more miles and races under his belt, will be in a very competitive form as he has exhibited in the past.”

The team now prepares for the season’s first oval event at the famed Milwaukee Mile.

[JohnSSC]

Not jumping on Mazzacane at all - just pointing out the difference in lap times. I agree he needs more seat time. I also believe that Tarso would still be faster and that once again it is all about $$$ at DCR.

It is not like Tarso was performing like Rookie Sensation Nelson Phillipe or something, and we were all thinking: "Give Mazzacane a shot - he will surely be faster." Tarso was turning in good performances. Mazzacane is not an incompetent, but I do not sense any feeling out there that he is an improvement.

[N I Tram]

The Coyne merry-go-round's started nice and early this year, I see. Swapping one monied South American F1 reject for another on ths occasion, so I don't think much has really changed - although I'm sure Liz can tell us which is mroe handsome.

[N I Tram]

The Coyne merry-go-round's started nice and early this year, I see. Swapping one monied South American F1 reject for another on ths occasion, so I don't think much has really changed - although I'm sure Liz can tell us which is mroe handsome.

[enemy-ace]

Although mazzacane may not be an improvement on track if he is bringing more money to the team then
that is an improvement. Given what is probably Coyne's economic reality anything that can keep a quality
driver like Servia in the team is a plus.

[DNQ]

Beware the return of the flying mullet to our screens! It's been too long I say!

[drewdawg727]

well looks like Coyne is playing another round of roulette with his team...
one in, one out

[JohnSSC]

"Although mazzacane may not be an improvement on track if he is bringing more money to the team then
that is an improvement. Given what is probably Coyne's economic reality anything that can keep a quality
driver like Servia in the team is a plus."
Enemy Ace

OK, so if I understand this aright, I should be happy that instead of two reasonably quick drivers DCR now has one reasonably quick one and one with a bigger bank account?

This is why I watch racing so I can see how the really rich guys do. I wasn't really hoping they would go out and try to be competitive or anything.

The approach with DCR, imho, is similar to the Russian Space Program which uses "pay riders" to finance the rest of the program. All DCR needs is to get a bunch of Dennis Titos to pay for their ride for X-number of races. Actually if they get enough Dennis Titos they can dump Servia too and any pretense as to their being an actual "Race Team" and just collect $$.

[marcus]

How about we just give Gaston a chance.

he simply wasnt that bad in F1 , hasnt done much since then that I know about and this is his first time in a Champ car and first time on an oval as well.

Lets give him a few races and see how he goes , who knows he may suprise a few of us

[enemy-ace]

I didn't say Mazzacane was worse than Marques, just not better. From a series point of view obviously you would like to see two topline drivers in the team, but to be realistic Coyne needs the money. So to sacrifice one seat to a "pay-driver" to at least keep one quality driver is a
prudent move. It to me shows that he is trying to be competitive. This is auto-racing as well and performance isn't just based on your driver, you need the team personnel as well to be competitve. If Mazzacane's money is used towards that end then IMO it's a good move.
As for Coyne hiring pay-drivers and sitting back and collecting the $$$, you don't really beleive that do you?
If that's the case I think somebody needs to sit down with Mr.Coyne and hand him a Cup of Pens to sell. I think his profit margins would be greater.

[JohnSSC]

But this pre-supposes that Tarso was not also a "pay" driver. Everyone who drives for DCR is a "pay" driver. Perhaps Tarso's $$ ran out, I don't know. However if this was simply a move for more $$ than I don't like it much.

I am not saying Mazzacane is another rolling chicane like Rookie Sensation Phillippe and I am sure he will be respectable, but I just thought Tarso and Servia matched well and were showing well. It, to me anyway, does not look good for a series trying to claw it's way back to respectability to have these "revolving-door" deals going. Someone coming in for a one-off ride is fine, but when the seats are ever-changing to the point where you can insert the team's pages in the program because you don't know one week to the next who will be driving leaves me with a feeling of instability.

I was actually impressed by DCR's effort this year and thought he had finally gotten a good combo together and here we go with the "Who's on First" thing with him again.

[enemy-ace]

While I also don't like it and wish it wasn't the case, I also can understand it. I think it's pretty obvious that Marques was paying for his ride and in this case he got outbid, just as he outbid some quality drivers who are now sitting on the sidelines. Paydrivers are a reality of the sport and it's part of every level from karting all the way to NASCAR and F1. Unfortunately Champ Cars are at a low at the moment and even their top teams are employing pay-drivers. It's a neccessary evil but these teams need to do what they have to to stay afloat. Like I said earlier i don't like it, but I can certainly understand it.
Having said that I think the Champ Car field is a strong one and can currently match the better funded IRL in quality.

[JohnSSC]

Hmmm. I was going along with you there enemy-ace right up until the last sentence!

The IRL field has some pretty strong drivers in Dixon, Fernandez, Castroneves, Hornish, Scheckter, Kanaan, Herta, Franchitti, Manning, Takagi etc.

This is not disputing that there are quality drivers in the OWRS lineup, simply that there is talent in both Series.

Of course, there are still some good guys wandering paddocks everywhere with no rides at all!

[enemy-ace]

I didn't say they were better, just that I think they can match them in quality.
Though I am not sure I can agree about Takagi. He's had plenty of experience in top flight OW series to smooth out those rough edges, and yet they are still there. But that's really a topic for a different thread.

[Snrub]

Originally posted by JohnSSC
But this pre-supposes that Tarso was not also a "pay" driver. Everyone who drives for DCR is a "pay" driver. Perhaps Tarso's $$ ran out, I don't know. However if this was simply a move for more $$ than I don't like it much.

Do you think Servia is a pay driver? I don't. Many/Most of the drivers on the grid this year are technically "pay drivers", but it is the OWRS guys who gave money to the teams in a manner that ensured quality drivers. Do we have any evidence that either of the other two Coyne drivers were pay drivers this year?

[JohnSSC]

Fair enough question, Snrub. DCR's history has been that of a team with no "independent" financing - the drivers typically have brought the $$.

So it is, admittedly, an assumption that both Servia and whoever is in the catbird's seat this week are there because of what sponsorship they bring.

[marcus]

I guess Gaston didnt really do the deed on race day.

still first time out will be interesting to see how he develops on a road course.

[Kicking-back]

Gaston was THAT bad in F1 - and F3000.

He's much worse than Marques.

Tarso actually has some F3000 wins under his belt - Gaston struggled to score points in that series.

[Snrub]

I'm willing to give Gaston some time to get better, but I still don't get why he has the ride. It seems that with the OWRS guys paying for good drivers to have seats, Coyne has a decent budget this year and even sponsors. (although if AMR is going to sponsor anyone it makes sense to sponsor Coyne. His team clearly caused the most accidents last year ) The results of the OWRS funded drivers are obvious, Coyne is having a good season. I don't understand why the OWRS guys wouldn't rather pay for someone like Fogarty who's both from the ladder series and American?

[f1manoz]

As long as Servia keeps one seat and DCR keeps improving with him, I'm not concerned about seat no. 2. That'll be used just to pay the bills.

But it is a shame to see Marques booted. He's not a bad pedaller. But give Gazza a chance...

[BobbyB]

So far Servia isn't exactly setting the world on fire. Continued mediocre performances might open his seat later on... we'll see.

[Snrub]

Servia's qualifying and finishing respectibly in the laughing stock team of the series. I'm starting to think that while Servia is not good enough to be a top competitor, he's quiet good when his equipment stinks.

[N I Tram]

Oriol must be motivated this year though, knowing that he was lucky to get the chance and will ened to do soemthign noteworthy in order to save his career. I think he's clsoer to the potential of the car this eyar than he was at Patrick last year, although he still isn't beating any packages of note (mostly just the rookies, who (other than AJ and Justin) are a mediocre crop, mostrly with more money than talent)