This weekend brought in a whirlwind of results for Oriol Servia (#6 Gulfstream/Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) and the entire PKV Racing Team as Servia started on the outside of Row 2 at the Grand Prix of Cleveland, his best starting position of the season. He then followed up a great qualifying effort with a most impressive run in Sunday’s race.
One of his strong suits, Servia made a jump to the front of the pack at the beginning of the race, which also saw disaster strike points leader Sebastien Bourdais who was plowed down by Forsythe Racing’s Paul Tracy on the opening lap. Oriol took advantage of the situation and jumped to the lead where he would stay for the next 24 laps until the team’s first pit stop of the day gifted the lead to Bruno Junqueira who was running an alternate pit strategy, having come in after the first-lap melee.
Servia continued to battle as a series of yellows and alternating pit sequences shuffled his position on track from as far back as ninth to as high as third. He was running strong in fifth place when a timed race brought out the white flag, but Servia’s race was far from over. A bold attempt on the part of Speedy Dan Clarke to pass Dale Coyne Racing’s Mario Dominguez resulted in a last-lap tangle between the two drivers that saw Oriol jump right onto the podium as he crossed the line in third position. The outstanding effort on the part of the Catalonian also saw him leap to ninth in the championship standings.
If you ever catch Oriol at a race and wish him luck, he’s likely to tell you that “It’s the last lap that counts.” In this case, it looks like it was the last turn on the last lap; so after this, he may consider revising his comments!
Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Thanks, Hans!
Following the recent Champ Car race at Portland International Raceway, I’d like to offer my sincerest thanks to Hans for contributing to the race weekend. Who is Hans, you might ask?
Not who…but what. HANS, the Head and Neck Support device designed by Robert Hubbard, Ph.D., played a vital role at Portland after Oriol Servia experienced a mechanical failure during Friday’s practice which sent him crashing into the tire barrier in Turn 11, flipping the car upside-down. Amidst all that, however, the Champ Car Safety Team was able to quickly reach the disabled car and Servia walked away to race another day.
Mandated by Champ Car in 2001, the restraint device worn over the driver’s shoulders and connected to the helmet limits head and neck movement, thereby reducing injury.
The HANS device has come into play on several occasions already this season. In Milwaukee, HANS aided both Nelson Philippe and Alex Tagliani following big crashes. And Tagliani also benefited from the restraint two rounds earlier in Houston after his throttle stuck, resulting in a heavy crash which sent him to the hospital.
Increased safety measures such as the HANS device have greatly improved racing as a whole and help today’s athletes continue to push the limits of motorsports.
Additional information on HANS
Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer
Not who…but what. HANS, the Head and Neck Support device designed by Robert Hubbard, Ph.D., played a vital role at Portland after Oriol Servia experienced a mechanical failure during Friday’s practice which sent him crashing into the tire barrier in Turn 11, flipping the car upside-down. Amidst all that, however, the Champ Car Safety Team was able to quickly reach the disabled car and Servia walked away to race another day.
Mandated by Champ Car in 2001, the restraint device worn over the driver’s shoulders and connected to the helmet limits head and neck movement, thereby reducing injury.
The HANS device has come into play on several occasions already this season. In Milwaukee, HANS aided both Nelson Philippe and Alex Tagliani following big crashes. And Tagliani also benefited from the restraint two rounds earlier in Houston after his throttle stuck, resulting in a heavy crash which sent him to the hospital.
Increased safety measures such as the HANS device have greatly improved racing as a whole and help today’s athletes continue to push the limits of motorsports.
Additional information on HANS
Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer
Monday, June 05, 2006
Top-10
After another action-packed race weekend, I was inspired to reach out to all the promoters who believe that 2006 may be Champ Car’s last trip to The Mile, in a David Letterman style Top-10 List. So without further ado:
Top 10 Reasons to Keep The Milwaukee Mile on Champ Car’s Schedule
10. Believe it or not, it does not rain in Wisconsin EVERY Champ Car weekend
9. Paul Newman’s annual visit is our only chance to see a celebrity in this state
8. Ovals=underdog advantage (even if Bourdais does top the podium again)
7. Where else can you find world-class racing just yards away from livestock pens?
6. This world already has too many unemployed spotters
5. Nothing goes better with a Johnsonville brat than a side of Champ Car
4. Paul Tracy needs another “all or nothing” race to add to his resumé
3. Someone’s gotta test the new SAFER barriers
2. There’s nothing funnier than seeing a life-sized roadrunner stumble up to the podium for the trophy presentations
And the #1 reason for Champ Cars to continue to return to The Mile….Weiner races. Need I say more?
Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer
Top 10 Reasons to Keep The Milwaukee Mile on Champ Car’s Schedule
10. Believe it or not, it does not rain in Wisconsin EVERY Champ Car weekend
9. Paul Newman’s annual visit is our only chance to see a celebrity in this state
8. Ovals=underdog advantage (even if Bourdais does top the podium again)
7. Where else can you find world-class racing just yards away from livestock pens?
6. This world already has too many unemployed spotters
5. Nothing goes better with a Johnsonville brat than a side of Champ Car
4. Paul Tracy needs another “all or nothing” race to add to his resumé
3. Someone’s gotta test the new SAFER barriers
2. There’s nothing funnier than seeing a life-sized roadrunner stumble up to the podium for the trophy presentations
And the #1 reason for Champ Cars to continue to return to The Mile….Weiner races. Need I say more?
Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer
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