Raceboy
19-03-2004, 11:14
Bobby Rahal has decided that his team will join that of Adrian Fernandez in leaving the Champ Car World Series to focus on the rival IRL IndyCar Series full-time.
After a week of speculation surrounding the future the team, as well as several others apparently pondering the switch, Rahal ended the rumours once and for all with his decision.
I think it's a hundred per cent driven on business reasons - and, of course, finances are certainly a part of that, Rahal said during a Thursday teleconference, As I've made clear on a number of occasions this year, I truly believe that, for open-wheel racing to regain the popularity that it had, there really needs to be one series.
"I also look at it that, for us, having a car in each camp was very difficult from a team standpoint last year. I think it hurt our IndyCar team, I think it hurt our CART team. That was driven by sporting reasons. It was driven by business reasons. I've given a lot of my time, a lot of blood, sweat and tears not toward open-wheel racing as a whole, but CART in particular. Yes, it's very, very difficult emotionally. But I felt that it was in the best interest of Team Rahal.
Interestingly, however, Rahal's CART driver Michel Jourdain Jr will not be joining the team in the IRL, and his sponsor, Gigante, will remain with him in Champ Cars. The Mexican is now looking to join an existing Champ Car team and Crash.net has learned that there are three outfits interested in having him drive for them - Newman/Haas, RuSport and Walker Racing.
I will always be grateful for the opportunities and successes I had with Team Rahal, Jourdain said, I am sad to see them leave, but I am excited about the future of the Champ Car World Series. It is extremely important to me to be able to continue to race in my homeland of Mexico in front of the passionate Mexican race fans.
The Champ Car series is, however, reeling from the departure of two high-profile teams over the last week, but insists that it will still be showing up at Long Beach with a championship to run in 2004.
We were surprised to hear of Bobby's decision to leave the Champ Car World Series at this time, said series CEO Richard Eidswick, His association and involvement with Champ Car have been considerable. Bobby grew up as a driver in our series and eventually served as the chief executive officer, in addition to his role as a team owner. He has, however, reaffirmed his commitment to campaign his two-car Toyota Atlantic effort, as well as an entry in our new Formula BMW series, so we can expect him to join us on Champ Car weekends.
"We believe we have been, and are, acting in the best interests of everyone who has been a part of Champ Car history. We remain committed to bringing a full field to the season opener in Long Beach, and we're confident our teams and fans will be rewarded with a competitive and exciting racing season.
bron: crash.net
After a week of speculation surrounding the future the team, as well as several others apparently pondering the switch, Rahal ended the rumours once and for all with his decision.
I think it's a hundred per cent driven on business reasons - and, of course, finances are certainly a part of that, Rahal said during a Thursday teleconference, As I've made clear on a number of occasions this year, I truly believe that, for open-wheel racing to regain the popularity that it had, there really needs to be one series.
"I also look at it that, for us, having a car in each camp was very difficult from a team standpoint last year. I think it hurt our IndyCar team, I think it hurt our CART team. That was driven by sporting reasons. It was driven by business reasons. I've given a lot of my time, a lot of blood, sweat and tears not toward open-wheel racing as a whole, but CART in particular. Yes, it's very, very difficult emotionally. But I felt that it was in the best interest of Team Rahal.
Interestingly, however, Rahal's CART driver Michel Jourdain Jr will not be joining the team in the IRL, and his sponsor, Gigante, will remain with him in Champ Cars. The Mexican is now looking to join an existing Champ Car team and Crash.net has learned that there are three outfits interested in having him drive for them - Newman/Haas, RuSport and Walker Racing.
I will always be grateful for the opportunities and successes I had with Team Rahal, Jourdain said, I am sad to see them leave, but I am excited about the future of the Champ Car World Series. It is extremely important to me to be able to continue to race in my homeland of Mexico in front of the passionate Mexican race fans.
The Champ Car series is, however, reeling from the departure of two high-profile teams over the last week, but insists that it will still be showing up at Long Beach with a championship to run in 2004.
We were surprised to hear of Bobby's decision to leave the Champ Car World Series at this time, said series CEO Richard Eidswick, His association and involvement with Champ Car have been considerable. Bobby grew up as a driver in our series and eventually served as the chief executive officer, in addition to his role as a team owner. He has, however, reaffirmed his commitment to campaign his two-car Toyota Atlantic effort, as well as an entry in our new Formula BMW series, so we can expect him to join us on Champ Car weekends.
"We believe we have been, and are, acting in the best interests of everyone who has been a part of Champ Car history. We remain committed to bringing a full field to the season opener in Long Beach, and we're confident our teams and fans will be rewarded with a competitive and exciting racing season.
bron: crash.net