Yep, you read that right, as it’s also known as Chump Carzs math….
Since just days prior to the Sebring test, the ranks of confirmed Champ Car drivers for the 2008 season had swelled to a ground shaking five as Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing finally made official what had long been rumoured by announcing Justin Wilson as Graham Rahal’s partner.
And I liked Justin’s comments about the Hamburgular’s shoes being a tall task to fill, but he’s got big feet the Brit said jokingly. I’ll assume that the 19yr old Yank, Messer Rahal will now be swathed in Mic-Doogal’s livery with Wilson continuing with his long time sponsor CDW, guess the only thing left to scrap about is who’ll get to use ‘ol Sea Bass’s left over number one plate.
Meanwhile in addition to N/H/L being the only team with a full complement of drivers, there had been three other signings announced prior to Sebring.
As previously mentioned, Paul (Neil Micklewright AIN’T on my circle ‘O Five) Tracy has re-signed with Forsythe Petitt Racing, while Oriel “Suitcase” Servia has unpacked his bags at PKV Racing for the entire 2008 season, while Alex Tagliani looks set to become his new teammate.
TAG, who previously drove for Rocketsports Racing has been replaced by Enrique Bernoldi for the 2008 season. You may remember that Bernoldi was ditched by Peter Sauber in favour of some young Finn named Kimi Raikkonen! Although Bernoldi did manage two seasons with the floundering Orange Arrows F1 team dutifully run into the ground by Tom Walkinshaw.
Yet, the two confirmed driver announcements which seem to not be ballyhooed about in the media or were victims of the crack Champ Car press core were Bruno Junqueira’s staying put with the minnowesque Dale Coyne Racing operation, while Alex Figge’s continuation with Pacific Coast Motorsports was a no brainer since his father owns the team…
