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http://www.racer.com
03/06/2008 - 01:47 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
After the IRL regulars wrap up Sebring testing today (above), it'll be the time for the ex-CCWS squads to hit the Florida road course on March 19-20. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos
IndyCar officials confirmed today the pairing of former Champ Car teams with existing IRL squads in order to help the former get up to speed in time for the 2008 season, which kicks off in less than four weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The pairings were made according to criteria of previous relationships, geographical proximity and similar team size. In additional to providing expertise on the IndyCar Series’ Dallaras, the IRL teams will also share spare cars with their partner ex-CCWS outfits.
“The difficulty for any new team to come along at this point, so late in the game, is information or lack of information,” said Tony Cotman, now vice president of competition for the IRL and Champ Car’s former executive VP. “If we can give them a starting point, whether it be on a speedway, short oval or road course, just a basic starting point, as a series it’s so much better for us because we have less of a split in the field as far as the haves and have nots. In the long run, it’s best for us. We’d like to see the whole field within a second.
“If we can help them get to a point to do that by sharing information through partnering teams, that’s what we’ll do. The current IndyCar Series teams have been very good about giving the teams information to get them going.”
Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull explained how CGR’s partnering with KV (formerly
"Certainly a lot of it had to do originally with (KV Racing co-owner) Jimmy Vasser, because (he) has a great history with Chip Ganassi Racing. We won a lot of races together, we won a championship together. We remained friends over the years, so it's a pleasure to work with those guys. That organization is a quality organization, so it blends well for both of us.
"It's tough to define proprietary versus standard information whenever you do anything. We worked with them on delivering a car, building a car to a Ganassi spec to begin to with, and our guys have sat down with their guys on the management level and the engineering level to try to define for them a direction, to help them at Sebring, for the test that they're going to have as well as for the race at Homestead, we'll help to support and answer their questions all the way through the process."
The former Champ Car teams will now get their own tests at Sebring on March 19-20 and at Homestead on the 24th and 25th.
The pairings are as below – although Pacific Coast and Minardi have yet to officially announce their switches to the IRL:
Andretti Green Racing - Dale Coyne Racing
Target Chip Ganassi Racing - KV Racing
Rahal Letterman Racing - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
Vision Racing - Conquest Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing - Pacific Coast Motorsports
Team Penske - Walker Racing
Roth Racing - Team Minardi
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