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18 Feb 2004, 15:35 (Ref:878386)
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,183
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CC News & Rumours
From Crashnet..... http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...id=3&nid=85647
WEDNESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2004 Silly season is almost over for the Champ Car World Series as drivers and teams finally realize whether or not they'll be around for the upcoming season. We'll try to delve into the rumour mill to mix things up and who knows, some of this might be true. Then again… PK Racing lands Vasser In a Crash.net exclusive, we have received word to look for an announcement soon that American Jimmy Vasser will be driving for Pollock/Kalkhoven Racing for the 2004 season. Vasser is slated to be working with engineer Steve Challis and a lot of the previous Patrick Racing Team personnel and equipment. Gonzalez to partner Vasser at PK Racing Roberto Gonzalez is also expected to be named as a driver with Pollock/Kalkhoven Racing in the near future. We are told that Gonzalez has a solid sponsor package lined up (Nextel Mexico) and the Mexican recently tested with the team at Sebring. “I think that I can contribute a lot to this team,” Gonzalez said to Crash.net during the recent Sebring test. “I'm hoping that I can make this work out.” Firman looks towards USA racing series After the Jordan Grand Prix Team announced that Giorgio Pantano would be the teams second driver this season, Ralph Firman was left without a ride in Formula One. Now he might be heading to the United States next to look for a new one. "I am concentrating my efforts on a new category of racing and while my first choice would be to race in a highly competitive single seater series such as ChampCar or IRL in America I am also fascinated to race in DTM because of the sophistication of the cars," confirmed Firman recently via a statement on his website. “I've also enjoyed working with Ford, a really impressive company, and if I move to ChampCar I look forward to linking with them again." Golden arches to return to Champ Car Gerald Forsythe ran a car in the 1999 CART series for driver Tony Kanaan with McDonalds Restaurants “Drive Thru” as the cars primary sponsor. Speculation has the restaurant giant returning to not only sponsor a team in the series but possibly as one of the series presenting sponsors. Salo says he's close According to reports out of Finland, Mika Salo is getting close to finalizing a deal that will see him driving for a different Champ Car team in 2004. Finnish TV station YLE reportedly heard from the driver and the rumour is he told them that he'll have an announcement declaring his 2004 plans soon. |
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Give them good ol' boys the chrome horn PT! |
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18 Feb 2004, 15:40 (Ref:878388)
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#2 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 625
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The part the puzzles me is Salo not running for PK. I would like to see Vasser run for a team that can put a good car under him. I can't wait for this season to get rolling.
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"The pedal doesn't care what your nationality is" Paul Gentilozzi |
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18 Feb 2004, 23:18 (Ref:878811)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,294
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Good to see so many positive rumours nowadays.
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Sunderland Til I Die! |
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19 Feb 2004, 04:04 (Ref:878979)
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Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,744
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Glad to hear Vasser as one of the first confirmed for 2004. After his revitalization in 2003 he deserves it.
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No Rotor, No Motor. |
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19 Feb 2004, 12:00 (Ref:879250)
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#5 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
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Presumably the PK choice came down to Vasser V Salo (Gonzales' car coming down to sponsorship specific to him) and they decided Jimmy's experience and impressive 2003 form made him the better choice.
The news about McDonalds is good too - a big name sponsorship deal would be a real help for promotion. Firman's under discussion elsewhere - personally I think he'd be a good addition but there are better guys looking for rides. |
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19 Feb 2004, 13:11 (Ref:879324)
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#6 | ||
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Subscriber
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,344
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Boots - are we reffering to Villenueve or Verstappen?
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__________________
"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
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19 Feb 2004, 13:57 (Ref:879372)
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
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I was thinking more of Robbie Kerr, Mario Haberfeld, Jon Fogarty, Felipe Giaffone and the likes. No one in CART can afford to run Jacques, and Jos has had his day.
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19 Feb 2004, 17:15 (Ref:879516)
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#8 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,125
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From Dave Despain and WindTunnel...
Mika Salo has said that the salary offered him by PK Racing wasn't enough to even pay his insurance. |
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! |
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19 Feb 2004, 17:38 (Ref:879532)
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#9 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 478
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The question is were they offering a share of the purse?:confused:
Last edited by racinthestreets; 19 Feb 2004 at 17:38. |
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racinthestreets "If dreams don't come true - are they lies?" The Boss |
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19 Feb 2004, 17:57 (Ref:879546)
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#10 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,744
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When did Despain say that? What were they talking about in general? (whatever it was it sounds interesting)
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__________________
No Rotor, No Motor. |
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19 Feb 2004, 18:13 (Ref:879561)
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#11 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,451
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It was in a segment about 2 minutes long, right before a very long interview with Kenny Brack who looks terrible.
There was also a brief telephone call with Paul Tracy in which Despain asked him about going to NA$CAR (he said maybe in five years when he was too old for OWRS) and, incredibly, whether there he had any message for TG. With admirable restraint, PT said that he did not. But I think everyone knew what that message probably would have been. 
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"If we won all the time, we'd be as unpopular as Ferrari, and we want to avoid that. We enjoy being a team that everybody likes." Flavio Briatore |
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19 Feb 2004, 19:02 (Ref:879613)
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#12 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,748
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Quote:
And, I can inded now confirm, Jimmy is going to PK Racing. |
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__________________
"I have a tendency to let my mind wander a bit during some of the yellow flag conditions; I look around, check out people in the stands, things like that" Darren Law - Lizard Extrordinaire and he's gonna be GT Leader and Brumos Porsche driver! |
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19 Feb 2004, 19:43 (Ref:879653)
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#13 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
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Great news for Jimmy and PK. It appears to make RHR look pretty certain for the second RocketSports car. Havign 3 Americans in the field is good - I like to see an international field, but CART does need drivers from its core teritories, the IRL still has many more US drivers, and Canada and Mexico are well-represented already - but it'd be nice to have more.
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19 Feb 2004, 21:42 (Ref:879825)
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#14 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 245
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Hopefully Valiante and Walker can make a go of it as well.
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__________________
"Humans are the craziest people." - Buggs Bunny |
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20 Feb 2004, 03:52 (Ref:880058)
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#15 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,744
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I think more importantly than simply having 3 Americans is that they are three Americans who are excellent drivers (assuming Jimmy keeps the 2003 roll going) and it looks like they'll be on decent teams.
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__________________
No Rotor, No Motor. |
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20 Feb 2004, 12:06 (Ref:880332)
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#16 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,451
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Snrub that is it exactly. I don't care where they come from if they are excellent drivers and give us a good competition.
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__________________
"If we won all the time, we'd be as unpopular as Ferrari, and we want to avoid that. We enjoy being a team that everybody likes." Flavio Briatore |
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20 Feb 2004, 16:54 (Ref:880609)
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#17 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 478
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Well said. I want the best drivers - period! However, sponsors do dictate who the driver will be at times. We do have the teams that have the equipment for the driver that brings the sponsor. Remember TG's mantra - More American drivers on ovals.
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racinthestreets "If dreams don't come true - are they lies?" The Boss |
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20 Feb 2004, 18:35 (Ref:880689)
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#18 | ||
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Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 21
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I've always thought that having more US drivers would be a good thing for Champ Car. If you're going to base a series primarily in North America, it simply makes sense to have people who new fans can consider "home grown talent." It's especially nice to know that Vasser will be around. Any word on when Danica patrick is coming up to CC?
Also, what will mcDonald's involvement in the sport be? Are they reportedly purchasing sponsorship rights for the entire series, or simply a team? As far as teams go, it would make sense for the marketing folks of these teams to try and go after some of the sponsors that have been "priced out" of NASCAR. People like Sirius Satelite, Citgo, and Penzoil. With a new TV deal coming, they can get a heck of a bargin in Champ Car. Not only will they get much more bang for their buck, but there are fewer cars in the field, which means more TV face time for their company. Wal-Mart would be a great one. A lot of people go into those stores, as we all know. It'd be nice if there were Champ Car hats in the clothes department for them to buy. Again, exposure is everything.Plus, you know that company has the money to blow. |
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"We migh be laughing a bit too loud, but that never hurt no one." Billy Joel |
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20 Feb 2004, 20:44 (Ref:880792)
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#19 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,125
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From ChampWeb...
Quote:
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! |
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20 Feb 2004, 21:35 (Ref:880826)
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#20 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 478
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Another bomb if it is true. Someone in a thread has asked if Pollock was still around. I hope they release some good news soon. I have not seen published confirmation or announcement regarding Jimmy Vasser. Something like they did with RuSports announcement. Jimmy's announcement according to ESPN RPM was supposed to happen this week. Like I say, we need some more good news! And soon I hope.
Last edited by racinthestreets; 20 Feb 2004 at 21:36. |
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racinthestreets "If dreams don't come true - are they lies?" The Boss |
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20 Feb 2004, 21:37 (Ref:880827)
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#21 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 245
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That was a fairly easy change for the sign shop.
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__________________
"Humans are the craziest people." - Buggs Bunny |
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20 Feb 2004, 21:39 (Ref:880829)
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#22 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,125
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Great stuff, SU!
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! |
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23 Feb 2004, 18:41 (Ref:883064)
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#23 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,125
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Looking at AR1's homepage...
I don't have a subscription, so all I can read are the headlines... Rumour: Frenchman signs with Rocketsports |
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! |
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23 Feb 2004, 18:44 (Ref:883068)
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#24 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,748
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Quote:
Viva La Villenuve!! |
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__________________
"I have a tendency to let my mind wander a bit during some of the yellow flag conditions; I look around, check out people in the stands, things like that" Darren Law - Lizard Extrordinaire and he's gonna be GT Leader and Brumos Porsche driver! |
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23 Feb 2004, 18:47 (Ref:883072)
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#25 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,125
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I wouldn't classify Villeneuve as a "Frenchman"...
PG has already signed Tags, and has stated that he's also gonna run an American (Vasser?)... So does this mean that he's expanding to three cars? |
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! |
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