source:
cart.com
PacifiCare driver Bruno Junqueira, 27, got behind the wheel of a Champ Car
yesterday for the first time since the 2003 season finale in Australia for the
first of a two-day test in preparation for the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the
Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season. After running 80 laps around the
1.5-mile road course at The California Speedway, Junqueira was pleased with
Newman/Haas Racing's (NHR) first test day of the season.
"It was good to get back on track after such a long off-season," said
Junqueira, who finished second in the overall 2003 Champ Car point standings for
the second consecutive season. "I'm quite happy with the amount that we learned
on the first day. I also was able to use Ford-Cosworth's new "Push to Pass"
button for the first time and it was very good. I think it will make the racing
more exciting this season. The button will give you what you need to pass a car
if you are close to it. It won't make it easy but it will help for sure. The
team is working on the car today and I'm looking forward to getting back behind
the wheel tomorrow."
NHR's General Manager Brian Lisles was also pleased with the progress.
"Everyone is happy to get back on track," said Lisles. "We were able to run 120
trouble-free miles yesterday and evaluate the new rule changes that the Champ
Car series passed over the winter."
Newman/Haas Racing, owned by actor/race car driver Paul Newman and racing
entrepreneur Carl A. Haas, is the most successful team competing in the Champ
Car World Series. The team will begin their 22nd season in Champ Car competition
in 2004 and will attempt to score their fifth overall title after winning 73
races and 77 pole positions. Current drivers Bruno Junqueira and Sebastien
Bourdais were preceded at the team by Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell,
Paul Tracy, Christian Fittipaldi and Cristiano da Matta. For more information
log on to
www.newman-haas.com,
www.brunojunqueira.com,
www.sebastienbourdais.com or
www.champcarworldseries.com.
