Silly Season Update... - Page 3

Schuberth · 27 Nov 2003, 05:18 (Ref:795742)

I'll be very dissapointed if Servia doesn't return next year. I thought he did a pretty good job his first full year with the Patrick team. He's my favorite driver and hope he gets a decent ride for next season, but that's just me I guess.

macdaddy · 27 Nov 2003, 05:38 (Ref:795748)

Welcome, Schuberth! You and Jordi oughtta get along just fine!

I, too, will be disappointed if Servia's not around next year. I like the guy, and believe in his potential. I'd be disappointed, but not necessarily surprised. Seldom did he show the aggression that was evident in his rookie year.

BootsOntheSide · 27 Nov 2003, 13:21 (Ref:796070)

The interesting rumours are piling up. Perhaps Tracy wants to move because how he doubts Forsythe's funding for 2004? Or feels that his ontrack form is waning and wants to prepare for life out of the wheel (amybe 2004 would be his last year?)

Nice to hear some positives about American Spirit. The only team we've almost certainly lost is Conquest, but having them absorbed into a 2-car FDR woiuld be minor consolation.

Schuberth · 27 Nov 2003, 14:05 (Ref:796090)

Servia out at Patrick Racing. He was told before the Fontana race was cancelled. I'm bummed. I should not have looked into it and ruined my Thanksgiving!

On that note, I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving a nice and happy one.

macdaddy · 27 Nov 2003, 17:36 (Ref:796267)

Where did you hear this, Schuberth?

Schuberth · 27 Nov 2003, 23:26 (Ref:796519)

From a pit crew member, worked Oriol's pit board.

Liz · 28 Nov 2003, 12:35 (Ref:797020)

PT is still talking to the NA$$CAR people, but he hinted that this was because you can race in that outfit until you are very old. He's beginning to get "up there" for an open wheel driver after all.

It'd be great if drivers start buying into the series. What else could show that they believe in it?

cos · 2 Dec 2003, 13:56 (Ref:801493)

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12227.html

Quote:

Meanwhile in court in Indiana...

Stefan Johansson's American Spirit CART team is being wound up following a lawsuit from Motorsports Spares International, Inc. for the non-payment of debts. The case came to court in the Marion County Court, Indianapolis, last week.

American Spirit Team Johansson was started by a group of investors put together by Nick Hunter-Reay although he himself was never a shareholder in the team. He is however now acting on behalf of the secured creditors and will liquidate the team's assets to pay outstanding debts. The team owes a total of $894,000 but the sale of assets will almost certainly cover the money owed.

According to the court records, Johansson left the team on November 14.

Hunter-Reay hopes that despite the problems with American Spirit Team Johansson, his son Ryan will be in Champ Cars again next year although we have heard suggestions that the 22-year-old Texan is interested in getting into Formula 1 in the future.

cos · 2 Dec 2003, 14:05 (Ref:801496)

Ryan Dalziel is scheduled to test for Walker next week, as was Justin Keen (haven't heard anything about him in well over a year...!) but his test has been postponed until the new year.

Dov · 2 Dec 2003, 23:27 (Ref:801952)

From Cart.com: http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7423

AMERICAN SPIRIT TEAM NEWS
Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Indianapolis, IN (December 2, 2003) Stefan Johansson announced today that he is no longer associated with the Champ Car team which raced under the name American Spirit Team Johansson in the 2003 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. “As of November 18, 2003, I have resigned as a director of the team. Circumstances necessitated my departure from the company. I want to express my gratitude to the entire team for an incredibly satisfying and exciting year in racing, and I look forward to new and different challenges,” said Johansson.

Tailwind · 3 Dec 2003, 02:19 (Ref:802071)

Now that just bites...

Omega99 · 3 Dec 2003, 02:33 (Ref:802076)

Maybe he'll start a new one... oh, wait... probably not...

macdaddy · 3 Dec 2003, 04:40 (Ref:802142)

That press release certainly makes it sound as if he was fired. Perhaps Nick HR and he just didn't get along?

Tailwind · 5 Dec 2003, 00:46 (Ref:804281)

This came up on Champwebs Silly Season page today. Has anyone else heard this?

Quote:

Champweb has learned that Mo Nunn Racing, as we reported in the end of July, is said to be coming back to the Champ Car series in 2004. We are unsure as to who the drivers would be, but an announcement may come after the new year.

So I'm skeptical but optimistic about this one...

macdaddy · 5 Dec 2003, 05:07 (Ref:804378)

That would be awesome. Mo burned no bridges, he's a man of dignity. I've always liked him.
Thanks for the food for thought, Tailwind.

macdaddy · 5 Dec 2003, 05:33 (Ref:804386)

Testing for Walker at Sebring on Dec. 8 will be Michael Valiante, Jonathan Macri, Ryan Dalziel and Timo Glock.

f1manoz · 5 Dec 2003, 06:00 (Ref:804406)

Stefan leaving his own team is a worry, but they haven't said the team has been abandoned so perhaps it will continue under new ownership.

Nunn returning would be fantastic. Here's hoping anyway.

Concerning Walker, Valiante is all but assured of a seat there while the second car will go to whoever brings in the dollars. Glock apparently has some dollars, and performed well in the EuroF3 series.

macdaddy · 5 Dec 2003, 07:48 (Ref:804468)

I'm pretty sure the team has been abandoned, f1manoz...
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12227.html

corkholio · 5 Dec 2003, 10:32 (Ref:804570)

Since ASTJ didn't even own their cars, would they even have $894,000 worth of assets to liqiudate?

BootsOntheSide · 5 Dec 2003, 12:45 (Ref:804688)

It would be great to have Mo Nunn back in CART. The main sponsor of one of their cars is Hollywood, which is scaling back its IRL support, perhaps due to its US-centric balance. However, teh other car, driven by Takagi, is heavily backed by Toyota, so a replacement sponsor and driver, would have to be found, unless he would run 1 car in each, as in 2002.

racefanatic · 5 Dec 2003, 22:19 (Ref:805188)

I can't remember where, but I read that Hollywood totally pulled out and Felipe Giaffone won't even be driving for Mo Nunn. I'd love to see Tora back, and I hope Felipe can find a ride too if this is true!

Tailwind · 11 Dec 2003, 05:27 (Ref:808959)

Again from Champweb...

Word coming from Indianapolis is that Roberto Gonzalez has signed with Herdez Competition for the 2003 season and will team with Mario Dominguez.

Gonzalez, who competed for Dale Coyne Racing as well as Herdez Competition in 2003, is said to be bringing NEXTEL sponsorship with him. NEXTEL will be an associate sponsor with Herdez.

Expect an announcement to come from the Herdez camp as soon as the OWRS situation is finalized.

NEXTEL seems to be putting their faith in the racing world. Good news.

macdaddy · 11 Dec 2003, 08:20 (Ref:809011)

The faster they can get this thing done, the more good news there's gonna be!
And Nextel is certainly good news!

Dov · 11 Dec 2003, 11:17 (Ref:809106)

Nextel sponsorship would be great, but every time I see a ChampCar with that name on it, it reminds of the one that was in the movie "Driven"....

Tailwind · 15 Dec 2003, 23:59 (Ref:812645)

Ganassi is going to run a team in Daytona Prototypes and has tapped Scott Pruet and Max Papis as drivers. That should kill any rumors that Max will be driving for FDR in 2004.

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