A1 has also helped itself to grow thanks to its schedule. It runs mostly through the winter, and that is when most series are in their
off season.
The future looks bright for A1 Team Canada, and hopefully Carpentier's thinking will come true and we'll see some other prominent Canadians - and not just formula car drivers - take a turn in the seat. Personally, I'd like to see - in addition to those mentioned by Carpentier - drivers like Ron Fellows, Scott Maxwell, Michael Valiante or Robert Wickens get a shot at a race or two.
Tracy Goes Busch League
After dancing around the stockcar world for the best part of last year, Canadian Paul Tracy has landed a limited Busch Series ride for 2006. Tracy, a Toronto native, has inked a five-race deal with the Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly team. The five events Tracy will contest in the #34 Chevy
will be Mexico City (March 5), which is a road course, Las Vegas (March 11), Indianapolis Raceway Park (August 5), and Fontana (September 2). Sponsorship will come from Sport Clips and American Crew. For those of you keeping count, that is four events, the fifth will be the season opener at Daytona on February 18 - talk about jumping in on the deep end.
"I'm very excited about my first opportunity to race in NASCAR, especially in the biggest race of the year at Daytona," said the 37-year old driver. "Then moving on to race at Las Vegas, which is my former home, and then on to Mexico City, where I am a former winner in Champ Car."
What may make Tracy a success in NASCAR, where other open wheelers have failed, is his personality. Tracy is not afraid to speak
his mind, or take the occasional walk down the pit lane to 'discuss' things with other drivers. While that may need to be tempered a bit, it will likely be what keeps Tracy in the NASCAR news, and that will make him stand out, and thus probably keep him in NASCAR a little longer than just staying on pure talent alone.
Tracy also stands a better chance by starting in Busch, as Cup teams and sponsors don't have time to 'train' new drivers, even exceptional ones. Busch will give Tracy a chance to get the feel of what many consider a 'closed community', for the most part, and depending
on how he attacks this five race opportunity, will probably determine just how long his life in NASCAR remains. He would be well advised to 'play nice' until he finds his feet, and gets a good sense of how this type of racing is actually run from the inside. Logging laps, and finishing races will be the key, and Tracy does stand the chance to be the first full time Canadian in NASCAR Nextel Cup in recent memory.
Also, the timing could be right, as NASCAR has an office in Toronto, and is well aware of just how many Canadian motorsport enthusiasts are also NASCAR fans, and possibly more importantly, fans of Tracy, so it is a perfect fit to help NASCAR create a stronger market north of the 49th.
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| Sean McIntosh will continue to represent the Canadian team in the two rounds before Carpentier steps in. (Photo:RussBondAgency.com) |
The future looks bright for A1 Team Canada, and hopefully Carpentier's thinking will come true and we'll see some other prominent Canadians - and not just formula car drivers - take a turn in the seat. Personally, I'd like to see - in addition to those mentioned by Carpentier - drivers like Ron Fellows, Scott Maxwell, Michael Valiante or Robert Wickens get a shot at a race or two.
Tracy Goes Busch League
After dancing around the stockcar world for the best part of last year, Canadian Paul Tracy has landed a limited Busch Series ride for 2006. Tracy, a Toronto native, has inked a five-race deal with the Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly team. The five events Tracy will contest in the #34 Chevy
 |
| After dancing around the stockcar world for the best part of last year, Canadian Paul Tracy has landed a limited Busch Series ride for 2006. (Photo: Frank Cicci Racing) |
"I'm very excited about my first opportunity to race in NASCAR, especially in the biggest race of the year at Daytona," said the 37-year old driver. "Then moving on to race at Las Vegas, which is my former home, and then on to Mexico City, where I am a former winner in Champ Car."
What may make Tracy a success in NASCAR, where other open wheelers have failed, is his personality. Tracy is not afraid to speak
 |
| What may make Tracy a success in NASCAR, where other open wheelers have failed, is his personality. (Photo: Frank Cicci Racing) |
Tracy also stands a better chance by starting in Busch, as Cup teams and sponsors don't have time to 'train' new drivers, even exceptional ones. Busch will give Tracy a chance to get the feel of what many consider a 'closed community', for the most part, and depending
 |
| Tracy would be well advised to 'play nice' until he finds his feet. (Photo: Frank Cicci Racing) |
Also, the timing could be right, as NASCAR has an office in Toronto, and is well aware of just how many Canadian motorsport enthusiasts are also NASCAR fans, and possibly more importantly, fans of Tracy, so it is a perfect fit to help NASCAR create a stronger market north of the 49th.