Farewell Champ Car

Yesterday, there was one hell of a party in Long Beach. Today begins the cleanup. As the sweet sound of the turbochargers fades, reality begins to settle in that we must all bid adieu to an old friend.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach for me was bittersweet as the green flag dropped on the standing start. Ah yes, I remember this. I remember it well. Powerful machines…strategic passing…and a winner that was decided as much by driver skill and team strategy as it was on fuel level. It almost brought a tear to my eye.

As I watched yesterday’s race coverage, I was reminded of all the good times we shared, my friend Champ Car and I. All the Sunday afternoons we’ve spent together. All the friends that we’ve made along the way. All the methanol we’ve burned.

While the first race of the 2008 Champ Car World Series was also the series’ finale, I’m confident that the true battle this season will be fought (and won) by the fans. We need to let the IndyCar Series know that we’re not interested in following anything shy of the greatest racing in the world. Give us diversity of venues. Give us the most powerful engines you can safely strap on the chassis. Give us the most talented drivers, in the fastest cars, week after week.

And if that means the series needs to make a few modifications in the upcoming seasons, then so be it!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Let's Hear It For the Boys

Oriol Servia was only one of the many “transitional drivers” who impressed over the weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg, scoring his first Top-10 of the season.

Servia started the race in seventh position, behind KVRT teammate Will Power (second) and Champ Car notable Justin Wilson (third). Oriol had prior experience on this circuit in 2003 where he finished twelfth for Visteon Racing. He and the other drivers formerly of the Champ Car stables used this street course to their advantage and demonstrated their racing prowess early on as they dominated the front of the field. Servia himself ran as high as third position before wrapping up the race in seventh, and a special congratulations goes out to Graham Rahal for his first open-wheel win!

Beside the street racers holding an advantage over the oval drivers, the fact that the race started in inclement weather probably helped, more than hindered, those with street experience as they also have more in-depth knowledge when it comes to racing in the rain. Finally, the new paddle shifters installed on all the indy cars this season is not new technology to the Champ Car drivers at all as they utilized them throughout the 2007 season.

Next up is Twin Ring, Montegi for the Indy drivers, though we’ll keep our efforts here focused on the race a day later at Long Beach as the Champ Car World Series races for the very last time. KVRT drivers Oriol Servia and Will Power will be joined in this historic race by team co-owner Jimmy Vasser (#12), running a third car. Tune in April 20th for all the turbocharged action!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Sebring Photos Posted

Check out the recent addition of pre-season testing photos of Oriol and KVRT that can be found along the right-hand navigation bar. A special thanks goes out to CCIC Ambassadors Dave and Linda Wood for sharing their insider's perspective of the closed test session!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Well Wishes

According to an article on SpeedTV.com, KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven is on the mend from a recent skiiing accident in Aspen.

God speed on your recovery Kevin! Stick to the racetrack for the season, OK?

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Ironing Out the Wrinkles

Welcome back, Servia Squad, after a tumultuous off-season which saw the “merger” of two of the world’s most notable open-wheel racing entities. I’ve been laying low since the inception of what I will herein affectionately refer to as the “CHURL,” waiting for the details to sort themselves out. But as the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League birth this new offspring, the racing season can wait no longer and open-wheel racing shows up to the first day of school with a bad haircut and shoes untied.

Within the matter of a few weeks, PKV Racing morphed into KV Racing Technology and Team Australia got caught up in the details. The end result? A two-car team featuring drivers Oriol Servia in the #5 KV Racing Honda/Dallara and Aussie Will Power in the #8 Aussie Vineyards machine.

Jump to the season opener at Homestead, Miami, which might also be considered a home race for Servia, given that open-wheel racing will not be racing in Jerez, Spain as intended on the original 2008 schedule. Oriol qualified a respectable 16th on the grid, taking into account the fact that the team only had a matter of weeks to transition to a new chassis and engine setup, but started the race in 14th position after Vision Racing failed post-qualifying inspections. Servia held his own on the 20 degree corner banking, and after a series of both yellow- and green-flag pit stops, brought the #5 Honda home in 12th position and currently holds 18 points toward the championship standings.

Next up is the Streets of St. Petersburg where CART last raced in 2003. Watch for many of the “transition guys” to take advantage of their experience with right-hand turns as they try to work their way up the points standings at this temporary street circuit.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer