So, as we take to the track for the first testing session, the Champ Car website is still listing last years driver line up, which only highlights just how… off… things are
Let’s go through the list shall we… (signed drivers green, probable blue, maybe’s orange, no’s red)
Sebastien Bourdais
(off to Europe, ciao, er… “au revoir”)
Dan Clarke
(was overlooked until the first practice of the first race of the 07 season. Had an unfairly controversial year. Is a no show at testing, rumoured to be taking flight in the IRL)
Ryan Dalziel
(Shafted a few times before by CC. It finally looked like the fairy tale was coming true. PCM was the feel good story of the year until they shafted Ryan for last 2 races of season. He wouldn’t touch CC with a 10ft pole now. Sports cars in 08)
Mario Dominguez
(1st 3 races for FCR, supersub rest of season, took Dalziel’s seat end of 07 and appeared to be a lock for 08 w/Tecate at PCM… no sign of him anywhere, also rumoured to be looking towards the IRL)
Robert Doornbos
(The Minardi golden boy was rumoured to be in the running for both an F1 ride and the NHL seat, neither happened. He is thus far a no show but will likely end up at Minardi)
Alex Figge
(daddy owns the team… duh) (should he have stepped out of the car at let Dalziel develop the team? um.. ya. Oh well, every series needs a backmarker. Although he found some speed over the winter apparently… so we’ll see.)
Tristan Gommendy
(came out of no where to be announced during training in 07. By the time we got to know him, he disappeared after the euro rounds. Money? Nationality? who knows. Probably should be red, but stranger things have happened…)
Matt Halliday (1st 3 races)
(great livery, money ran out, hardly knew ya. rumored to be called back at the end of season… never happened)
Jan Heylen
(was brought in to replace Halliday and be a billboard for the Euro races. Did his job to a T, then was shafted for last 2 races of season. Is part of the 08 Conquest cattle call, but unless they do 3 cars, it’s looking like Pag & Perera will get the call…)
Neel Jani
(Red Bull has gone bye bye, rumored to have fulfilled their CC obligation. Jani has opted to continue his pursuit of an A1GP title and F1 seat in 09, w/a few parting shots on the way out the door)
Bruno Junqueira
(Brought DCR to the forefront in 07. That fact alone should have him signed. But true to DCR form, nothing will be official until race day at Long Beach)
Katherine Legge
(our girl found out she wasn’t going to be driving at PKV in 07 the same way we did… when the press release came out announcing Gommendy. Ouch. Brought up too soon, not developed properly, then unceremoniously dumped anywhere due to obligation, she struggled at DCR in 07 but was improving by the end. Her 2 yr deal is up. If she doesn’t bring a big cheque, I doubt we will see her on the grid. Very sad)
David Martinez
(drove the last 2 races of the season & was rumoured to be in one of the Forsythe seats in 08, yet he is testing at PCM?? I would love to see him in any car this year. Good kid.)
Simon Pagenaud
(another victim of the funding for one year brigade. Had a stellar rookie season with TA. But money issues have sent him on the hunt for a seat elsewhere. It’s looking like he will land at Conquest)
Nelson Philippe
(shafted after spring training in 07 he rampaged around the world a very angry man then surprised everyone when he returned for the last 2 races of season, unfortunately he didn’t light the world on fire. He is thus far a no show at testing)
Will Power
(off season rumours had him sniffing around the IRL, but his PR rep confirmed to me yesterday that he is signed for 08, despite TA being a no show at testing)
Graham Rahal
(another one who should have been signed and announced without a doubt and marketed like stink on a monkey over the winter, but wasn’t confirmed until this week)
Oriol Servia
(shafted at the top of 07, he subbed in at FCR where he stayed until his nationality didn’t fit the bill. PKV picked him up when Gommendy’s money ran out, then were the first to announce their driver in 08. He deserves to have a secured seat for an entire season. Go get em cookie boy!)
Alex Tagliani
(returned to RS to try to recapture “the magic”, the only thing he captured was more bad blood. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice… my lawyers will be contacting you. He is now testing with PKV. One would hope he “passes”)
Paul Tracy
(well, well, well… what can I say… it was an interesting off season. Let’s just hope that the bullshit is behind us and we can concentrate on hoisting the cup at the end of the year)
Justin Wilson
(landed in the most sought after seat in CC after an off season of lawyers and contract fine print. Show em what you got bad ass!)
Thrown into the shootout mix this weekend are a bunch of young european drivers most on this side of the world have never heard of, with varying pedigrees, and fat checkbooks. One signed, the rest probable. Welcome to the European F1 test driver repository. LOL!
Franck Montagny
Franck Perera
Enrique Bernoldi
Ernesto Viso
Mario Moraes
With all the F3, F3000, GP2 & F1 cast off’s potentially on track this season, one has to wonder how the styles of driving will change the season. Of course, Seabass won’t be here to whine about the blocking, and Cottman won’t be here to enforce the NHL rule book, so… Could be interesting.
