If Gerry Forsythe hadn't taken Lavin away from Walker Racing and
Gentilozzi hadn't snatched Nelson Phillipe from Conquest/MiJack, Champ Car might
not be is such a scramble for cars and or owners
source:
speedtv.com - Robin Miller
As is stands today, there are 12 confirmed car/driver combinations -- Michel
Jourdain at Team Rahal, Paul Tracy and Lavin at Forsythe, Jimmy Vasser and
Robert Gonzalez, Alex Tagliani and Phillipe at RocketSports, Mario Dominguez and
Ryan Hunter-Reay at Herdez, A.J. Allmendinger at RuSport and Junuquiera/Bourdais
at Newman-Haas.
Hunter-Reay, last year's impressive rookie who earned his Herdez ride with a
sparkling test, should have been the feel good story of the week for Champ Car
but hadn't been signed in time for the press conference. He'll be officially
announced this week.
If Patrick Carpentier, whose salary is guaranteed by Forsythe after being kicked
off the team for Lavin's money, lands a seat it will likely be with Eric
Bachelart's MiJack/Conquest stable. Forsythe must also provide Lolas.
Dale Coyne said last week at Long Beach he's going to run Irishman Michael
Keohane and maybe a second car. If Emerson Fittipaldi finally finds a sponsor,
that's one more entry.
That's a best-case scenario of 16 -- exactly the number specified on Long
Beach's contract for next month's opener and two less than Ford's contract.
Losing Rahal, not getting a second car from Coyne or another false start from
Fittipaldi would be devastating.