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CHAMP CAR: Sebring Testing Notebook - Sunday
Written by: David Phillips
Senior writer, RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
02/04/2008
Sebring, Fla.
 
Montagny: perhaps closer to a race deal with Forsythe? (LAT photo) ยป More Photos

VIVE LA FRANCE PART I

For five years, “La Marseillaise” was a staple of the Champ Car World Series post race celebrations, what with Sebastien Bourdais winning three races and copping rookie of the year honors in 2003, then sweeping to four straight CCWS titles with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing in ‘04 through ‘07. If the first two days of Champ Car’s Sebring test are any indication, officials should keep a copy of the French national anthem on hand for the coming season. As he did yesterday, Franck Montagny set a blistering pace in testing, hustling the Forsythe/Pettit Panoz around the 1.669 mile test track in 50.209s to top the time sheets, more than .2s clear of second fastest Justin Wilson.

“Pretty good for only my second day in the car,” smiled Montagny, “even if it’s still not quite the way I like it.

“We’ve kept to a very strict program here preparing for the future, not setting the car just to go fast at Sebring. We are using this as a true test, trying to learn about the car for the seasons, although it is difficult because I understand the track has much more grip than usual because of all the rubber from the ALMS and IRL tests earlier this week.”

Of course, it is by no means certain Montagny will ever get to put the knowledge gained here n Sebring to use, as he has not finalized his deal with Forsythe/Pettit Racing for 2008. However, he doesn’t sound like someone who would be disappointed to race Champ Cars for the team
this year.

“It’s a good team to work for,” he says, “a lot of good people and a good atmosphere. I’m really enjoying working with Paul Tracy, too. From what I’ve seen of him on television -- especially the things he said about Sebastien Bourdais and the French -- I think I prefer the real guy instead. I’m very happy to work with him, and he’s been very helpful. He’s a champion, one of best guys in Champ Car and I think we can make a good team together.”

NEWMAN/HAAS/LANIGAN TESTING TOO

Wilson and NHLR teammate Graham Rahal wound up second and third, with the former voicing sentiments similar to Montagny’s.

“We’ve had a lot of ‘down’ time here,” he said, “because we’re making a lot of changes to the car. The guys are really good, it’s hot and sticky and they’re spending a lot of time making changes with no complaints. They know the key is to work through a lot of things to find out which ones work and which ones make the car slower, because you can cross the things that make the car slower you can cross off the list.

“We’re trying to do a quick lap, of course. But I haven’t seen a trophy yet for setting the fastest lap of the test on the Sebring short course! Not only that, the track is very, very grippy and you have to be careful not to chase the track because the chances are we’ll never see a track with this much grip during the season.”
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