OWRS Champ Car's first champion

[enemy-ace]

As this is the beginning of a new era in Champ Car racing who do you folks think would be the best champion in the first year from a PR point of view.
So many to pick from;
a couple young american kids RHR & AJ or maybe the veteran american and former champ Jeemy. Maybe the returning champ and probably the biggest name in Champ Car Paul Tracy. Or either of the former F3000 champs at NewmanHaas. Maybe Wilson doing a Montoya and taking the championship in his rookie year. Or how about the two mexicans Jourdain and Dominguez with their strong followings.
Either way you look at it that is a very good crop of drivers and I haven't included Tag or Carpentier yet. All of them are capable of winning races, but which one do you think would be the best representative of Champ Car.

[jjspierx]

I think AJ Allmendinger and RHR would be the best representatives, as they are new, young American talent. I think if any of the Rookies have a shot at it this year it will be AJ Allmendinger. The guy is simply amazing. Mark my words.

[sgw2]

Junqueira or even more likely Bourdais. I see NHR on top.

Just like last year, when I picked Tracy, I am basing it upon team budgets and resources. FCR has less budget, but expanded to three cars with Lavin getting the extra resources (he brings money). So PT's chances are much diminished. On the other hand NHR has not stretched, nor do they need to trim the budget.

Could AJA win a race? Sure, the talent is a bit thinner, but his team is unporven. Its unlikely they'll match Rocketsports performance. Jourdain's slim title chances went away with Rahal's defection. RHR has upgraded his ride, but not enough to consistently challenge for the title. PKVR is not a threat, nor is Conquest or DCR. Tagliani has a shot at being the best finishing Canadian - no trauma on the team and he has the focus of Rocketsports.

[jjspierx]

Originally posted by sgw2
Junqueira or even more likely Bourdais. I see NHR on top.

Just like last year, when I picked Tracy, I am basing it upon team budgets and resources. FCR has less budget, but expanded to three cars with Lavin getting the extra resources (he brings money). So PT's chances are much diminished. On the other hand NHR has not stretched, nor do they need to trim the budget.

Could AJA win a race? Sure, the talent is a bit thinner, but his team is unporven. Its unlikely they'll match Rocketsports performance. Jourdain's slim title chances went away with Rahal's defection. RHR has upgraded his ride, but not enough to consistently challenge for the title. PKVR is not a threat, nor is Conquest or DCR. Tagliani has a shot at being the best finishing Canadian - no trauma on the team and he has the focus of Rocketsports.

Why couldn't Rusport match Rocketsports performance? They have plenty of money, and no offense to Tags, but he's not the driver that AJ is. Tags has more experience in Champcars and he knows all the tracks, but AJ will come up to speed very quickly. I have little doubt that AJ could out perform Rocketsports last year.

[Cowboy]

In my personal opinion I think Patrick Carpentier is over due and the most deserving. If for nothing else but for the way he was treated only a very short time ago by Forsythe. I have always enjoyed watching Pat race and also the enthusiasm he genuinely shows when he wins or even if he just makes the top 3.

[Tenoch]

I'd say Jourdain but he doesn't even have a good ride or even any ride at all. SO its going to be Mario Dominguez at least he's going to give us a good show.

[BootsOntheSide]

I'd expect Bourdais to build on his rookie year and take the title. He'd be a good representation of the guys who run in ChampCars these days - the only risk is that a great season could see him jump to F1.

[BSchneiderFan]

Setting aside the question of who will win the title, I think a second title for Vasser, while unlikely, would be good PR.

[spider]

I think Bourdais WILL win it and I like his driving style, he's aggressive and really goes for it - top bloke.

For the series tho I think an American champ would be best for PR - interested to see what this AJ is like...

[Kicking-back]

Bourdais.

[racer69]

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
I think a second title for Vasser, while unlikely, would be good PR.

Without getting too technical, would it really be a second title, considering it isn't strictly 'CART' anymore?

From a PR point of view/view to a future for the series it would presumbly be desireable for an American driver to win it.

[Tenoch]

Wasnt Vasser the last American to win the title, now wouldn't that be awesome if he returns to beign champion.

[sgw2]

jjspierx,

Even if AJA could match Bourdais, and he is making a bigger step up from Atlantics compared to Sebs F3000, the team also is making a greater jump on much smaller resources and far less top level experience than Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team. Tagliani is also a proven (minor) winner with significant Champ Car experience; a good choice for a brand new team. AJR lacks that.

Too many issues. Matching what RHR did would IMO be a great accomplishment. But I don'rt realistically expect even that.

[jjspierx]

Maybe you're right sgw2, but I still believe that AJ will be a top contender this year. Last year, I heard lots of people hailing Allmendinger as the next Toyo Atlantic Champion. Even after seeing him in Barber Dodge Pro the year before, I doubted people that he would be the 2003 Champion. I thought for sure it would Valiente or maybe Hand or Macri. I thought it would take AJ a year to get up to speed in Atlantics. I won't make that mistake and doubt his abilities again. You must understand that for a professional driver learning a new car, even with a lot more HP and more aerodynamics is not THAT big of a step. Its very natural for them. I don't think it will be any harder for AJ to adjust to Champ Cars than Bourdais did from F3000. The main difference is that Bourdais was on a Championship caliber team, and that remains to be seen for AJ. If AJ is not one of the top 4 at the end of this season than I believe it will have been his team that let him down and not his driving ability.

Also, as for your comparison of Ryan Hunter-Reay, I believe AJ has a few distinct advantages over Ryan. First off AJ will driving a Lola vs. Hunter-Reay's Reynard last year. Second, Rusport will be a well funded team, American Spirit had one spare car that JV and RHR had to share. Even if Carl Russo hires another driver to be on the team with AJ I am almost positive that AJ will be the favoured driver by the team. Russo has invested a lot of time and money into AJ, and even Jourdain were to join the team he would play second fiddle to AJ.

[Testure]

The question is who would be the best champ from a PR point of view, which is a very interesting thing to ponder...

A rookie winning would be bad, because I think it could be taken as a sign that the talent level of competitors has dropped (after all, how many Montoyas do we ever expect to see?)

Vasser gets my vote. He's a pretty nice guy, sorta an average Joe quality about him and he's won races and the championship before. Talent doesn't disappear, he's still the same guy that won the title. I know that the series gets little or no publicity in the mainstream US media, but I think that Jimmy is one guy that can help with that. A season-long battle between Jimmy, Paul, Bruno and Sébastien with Michel, AJ, Justin and Ryan in the mix would definitely have my interest

(As an aside, though, I reckon it'll be between Sébastien and Paul).

Tons of stuff I can't wait to see this year: AJ getting to grips with the series, Ryan in a Lola, Justin Wilson in Champ Car(!), Sébastien with a year of experience, Jimmy (hopefully) back in a decent car. Wahey!

[JohnSSC]

Champ from a PR POV? Tags or Vasser.

From ability/team/intangibles: Bourdais. If he learns to go as fast as he has too, rather than as fast as he can, he will win it all.

[norman-normal]

The fact that we are so farr from a consensus bodes well for a very exciting season.