MINARDI A LA CARTE source: Minardi Team USA At most overseas 'fly-away' races, Champ Car teams do not have the luxury of their private hospitality units in which they entertain sponsors and guests at races as they do in North America. With Minardi Team USA's strong European connections, however, the team decided that it was important to have something special for our European sponsors and their guests and so teamed up with Austria's Casa Del Vino to provide a very unique hospitality experience. Jurgen Steinbrecher, owner of Casa Del Vino, is a renowned restaurant owner and wine importer from Vienna, who had been introduced to the team at the Mont Tremblant race by Minardi two-seater pilot, Patrick Friesacher. Steinbrecher and Minardi joined forces in both Zolder and Assen to create their own private, up scale restaurant in the paddock area of each race venue. The team was host to over 100 guests at each event, including Minardi Team USA guests and sponsors, but also other members of the Champ Car paddock. Series owners Kevin Kalkhoven, Paul Gentilozzi, and Dan Petit joined in the very successful invitation only dinners and wine tasting on Saturday evening at both races. In addition to team drivers Robert Doornbos and Dan Clarke, several other Champ Car drivers joined in on the festivities, including Alex Tagliani, Oriol Servia and Justin Wilson. Members of the Series management including Tony Cotman, Steve Johnson, and David Higdon were also in attendance. Minardi Team USA sponsors from the Muermans Group, Jumbo Supermarkten, and Trust were regally hosted throughout the race weekend as they attended their home races in Zolder and Assen. The Saturday dinners were a highlight of the program in which all experienced a menu of traditional Austrian cuisine as well as a Thai-infused sampling. Jurgen introduced two Minardi Team USA wines, one a Chardonnay, and one a red Cuvee blend, both from Austria. Drivers and team owners autographed a red leather couch that is to be auctioned off to charity by Jurgen in Austria later this month.
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