Pole Position Scored By Pacific Coast Motorsports’ Skerlong

Carl Skerlong at speed during testing at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway. Image Credit: Phil Sedgwick – CCWS (2008)

Pole Position Scored By Pacific Coast Motorsports’ Skerlong (almost)

While it has been a tough transition for Pacific Coast Motorsports and their driver Mario Dominguez, over at the IRL, the fortunes of the young Atlantic Championship Series (ACS) open wheel racing team has shown steady growth all season long.

Today, for example, Carl Skerlong driving the #14 King Taco/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires sponsored car scores provisional pole at the New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway.

His teammate Frankie Muniz (yes, that Frankie Muniz - star of the Fox Network television situation comedy, Malcolm in the Middle) driving the #41 PCM/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires sponsored car started the day sixth quick in warm-up and finished qualifying P11 for the Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom to be run Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the 2.25-Mile Permanent Road Course at Millville, New Jersey.

Carl Skerlong driving the #14 King Taco/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires sponsored car is almost ready to get his second pole start of the season ... if all goes right tomorrow. Image Credit: Phil Sedgwick – CCWS (2008)

Carl on qualifying: “I am so excited to take the provisional today. I’m always fast in practice sessions, but to do it in the session that counts is just incredible. I’m so happy to have been fastest in every session this weekend so far, and I’m hoping to keep it that way in the race. I want to give a big thanks to the team, especially my engineer, Burke Harrison, and my driver coach, Lee Bentham, because they’ve been fantastic, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. I know I have the car to win, but it’s up to me to do it.”

Frankie Muniz driving the #41 PCM/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires sponsored car improves position in every race. Image Credit: Phil Sedgwick – CCWS (2008)

Frankie on qualifying: “After ending up sixth in a great practice session this morning, I’m not happy with my qualifying result this afternoon. I got held up behind two of the slower cars which affected my lap times. I used a lap to gap myself from those cars, but I ended up just catching up to them when I did a fast lap which really frustrated me. The good news is that I was only .2 away from P8, so being that close is going to be great for the hunt in the race tomorrow. I want to thank all the guys for being here and working hard for me this weekend.”

Carl Skerlong logged a best lap at 1:10.801 (110.693 mph) to take the number one position by nearly four tenths of a second over rookie Jonathan Summerton of Newman Wachs Racing (yes, that Newman – Paul Newman). Skerlong earned a bonus championship point for his efforts and will be looking to claim the second pole position of his Atlantic career on Sunday morning in final qualifying, which will be held a few hours prior to the race.

At this point in the season (with New Jersey being the first of the last three races of the season), Carl is running seventh, sixty points behind leader (Jonathan Bomarito who’s driving the Mathiasen Motorsports, #26 Del Taco/Stone Brewing/Rockview Builders/RLM Investments car in the championship) and Frankie is sitting at twelfth.

Carl Skerlong leads Kevin Lacroix into the corner during qualifications. Image Credit: Phil Sedgwick – CCWS (2008)

This excerpted and edited from Atlantic Championship Series (ACS) –

Skerlong Takes Provisional Pole for Mazda Formula X at New Jersey Motorsports Park
September 13, 2008

MILLVILLE, N.J. - "It's been going great so far," Skerlong said. “The morale has been good all weekend. Hopefully, we'll be able to take it tomorrow. The weather is going to probably going to play a part in it. There is possibly going to be some rain tonight, and we saw how that affected the track this morning. Hopefully we can keep it going and finally have that win that we've been looking for."

Summerton was second on the provisional grid with a lap at 1:11.194 (110.082 mph) in the No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing entry. The Rookie of the Year points leader owns two top-three starting spots thus far in 2008 and he will be looking to cut into his current, 28-point deficit to overall championship leader Jonathan Bomarito. He will also be looking for his third victory of the season on Sunday.

"As I've said all weekend, it's fun to be out there," said Summerton. "It gets dirty very quickly, though, when people drop a wheel, it brings the dirt on. We were struggling with that in the last couple of laps and couldn't go any faster. It was a little disappointing, because we had the speed to be on pole. Hopefully, tomorrow it stays dry and we can be on pole."

Dane Cameron made it a sweep of the top-three positions for American drivers in provisional qualifying when he clocked the third-quickest lap of the session at 1:11.198 (110.076 mph) in the No. 19 MAZDASPEED/Finlay Motorsports/Lynx Racing machine for Genoa Racing. The rookie took his first career Atlantic pole position for Round 6 at Road America last month and has finished inside the top five in five of his last six starts. He heads into Sunday's race looking for his first career Atlantic victory.
----
Finnish driver Markus Niemela made it three rookies inside the top four with a fourth-place qualifying performance at 1:11.339 (109.859 mph) in the No. 8 Mr. Jones Bar & Kitchen/Rauma Town/Turku Karting machine for Brooks Associates Racing. Niemela is currently tied for third in the overall championship standings with James Hinchcliffe and trails Summerton by eight points in the Rookie of the Year point standings.

Niemela's Brooks Associates Racing teammate Tom Sutherland was fifth in the No. 88 ClickAway Computers & Networking machine at 1:11:369 (109.812 mph). Sutherland started a career-best fifth for Round 7 at Road America in August and will be making his sixth Atlantic start of the season in the Mazda Formula X.

Bomarito took sixth on the provisional grid at 1:11.438 (109.706 mph) in the No. 26 machine, followed by Hinchcliffe in the No. 3 Indeck/Tire Rack/NOCO machine from Forsythe/Pettit Racing at 1:11.569 (109.506 mph). Dutch racer Junior Strous was eighth at 1:11.637 (109.402 mph) in the No. 6 NEM/Shell/HTP/Muermans Group/Red, White & Bluezz mount from Condor Motorsports/Team Holland, with Mexican racer David Martinez ninth in the No. 7 Axtel/Tecate/Madisa machine at 1:11.703 (109.301 mph) for Forsythe/Pettit Racing. Kevin Lacroix completed the top 10 at 1:11.790 (109.168 mph).

The top-10 drivers in provisional qualifying were covered by less than one second.

NOTEBOOK
• After turning in the sixth-quickest time in practice on Saturday morning, New Jersey native Frankie Muniz was 11th in provisional qualifying with a best lap at 1:11.890 (109.017 mph) in the No. 41 PCM/USRT machine for Pacific Coast Motorsports. The best starting spot of Muniz's Atlantic career was 13th for Round 7 at Road America last month.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE

On The Road, Again With The T-Team Ten

Infineon - Sear's Point Raceway, Sonoma, California - Image Credit: IndyCar.com


On The Road, Again With The T-Team Ten

At the twists and turns … the ups and downs … the straights and switchbacks of the vaunted Sear’s Point raceway, the final runs of the season take shape and soon, the transition season will be completed.

In the qualifying session of the 15th race in an 18 race season and the sixth of eight street/road courses, the class of the teams new to the old Dallaras and the preponderance of “Left-Turn” racing seems to be KV Racing Technology.

One of the biggest improvements in the T-Team growth and positioning can be found at Pacific Coast Motorsports and driver, Mario Dominguez. After transitioning to the IRL late in the game (soon after Mario drove to a third place podium finish at the final official CCWS race at the Long Beach Grand Prix) and failed to make the grid after getting bumped from the 33 car field at the INDY 500, PCM and Mario have been making steady improvements all along the trail to Infineon Raceway.

Mario Dominguez’s Dallara with the new one race sponsor, Moorefield Construction, Inc., on the sidepod. Image Credit: Ron McQueeney

This excerpted from a Pacific Coast Motorsports press notice –

Dominguez Breaks Into the Second Round of Qualifying with Top IndyCar Start
Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Grand Prix of Sonoma
Saturday, August 23, 2008

MARIO DOMINGUEZ, #96 Moorefield Construction/PCM/Honda/Dallara/Firestone

Session - Position Time Speed
Practice 3 - 16th 1:18.4632 105.665

Qualifying - 11th 1:18.3235 105.853

Mario on Qualifying: “I am very happy to have made the top 11 today. It is our best result in IndyCar and to make the second group was great. This result just shows what a hard-working team we all are. We didn’t have the budget to test here with the rest of the field last week, so this result is even sweeter because of that. We always put our best effort forward, and this time it paid off. I think tomorrow should be a good race and we will be shooting for a top-ten result in the Moorefield Construction car at the team’s home race here in California
----
Tyler Tadevic, Team Owner: “Hoorah! One of our goals this weekend, definitely, was to be part of the fast six from our group and we achieved that! We kicked the season off with a podium in Long Beach which was terrific, but it has been a really tough season. Today was sort of a moral victory for the team making the Firestone Fast 12. I think our performance all year has been a great example of the heart and soul this team has. Mario and the boys are showing it is possible to do a lot with a little.”

Further, PCM picked up a new sponsor for this race – This also excerpted from a Pacific Coast Motorsports press notice –

* Noteworthy: Pacific Coast Motorsports is proud to welcome Moorefield Construction to the team for the Grand Prix of Sonoma. Based in San Jose and Los Angeles , the Moorefield Construction logo will be featured on Mario Dominguez’s #96 IndyCar throughout the Grand Prix of Sonoma.

This excerpted from autosport.com/news –

Castroneves leads Penske front row
By Jeff Olson Sunday, August 24th 2008, 00:00 GMT

With the help of a backup car and the immense effort of teammates, Helio Castroneves won pole position for Sunday's IndyCar race at Sear's Point.

A Penske transporter caught fire on Wednesday on the way to the circuit, destroying Castroneves' primary road-course car, along with teammate Ryan Briscoe's.

Briscoe will start alongside Castroneves as both Penske drivers put their back-up cars on the front row.
----
Saturday's qualifying session also was impressive for KV Racing, who put both drivers in the fast six final qualifying session. Will Power will start third with Oriol Servia sixth.

"As a team, we're just trying to mingle with the big guys," Servia said. "We're showing we have the speed and we're catching up. Every race we're getting closer. To lead the transitional teams, we just want to take another step forward."

Pos Driver Team Time Speed
3. Will Power KV Racing 1:17.0875 107.551
6. Oriol Servia KV Racing 1:17.8377 106.514
7. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:17.0056 107.665
11. Mario Dominguez Pacific Coast 1:17.4614 107.031
12. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne 1:17.5882 106.856
13. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 1:17.8306 106.524
14. EJ Viso HVM Racing 1:17.4189 107.090
15. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:17.9012 106.427
26. Jaime Camara Conquest Racing 1:19.4711 104.325
27. Enrique Bernoldi Conquest Racing no time no speed
Reference Here>>

Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske lead the field off of the last turn before the Green Flag to start the PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (EDJE) 2008 - digital photo from television broadcast

The PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County!
Fair and 79 F (26 C) - Winds Southwest at 10 mph - Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:54:00 -0700 PDT - Forecast: Sunny, with a high near 85

LAP 1
Great start of the race, Servia gets pinched and looses a spot back to seventh. Junqueira gets passed into the dirt on the Esses by Weldon.

LAP 4
Paddle shifters increase shifts per lap at Sonoma from 37 shifts to 42 due to the ease of shift transition. Will Power is sponsored by the same sponsor as he had in Long Beach earlier this year – Smart & Final wholesale market stores.

LAP 7
Best race on the track at this time is between Oriol Servia and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

LAP 9
Pits open up on LAP 10 and some teams may come in early to get off sequence.

LAP 10
Vitor Meira comes in.

LAP 11
Dominguez, Weldon and Mutoh come in early.

LAP 13
Team Penske has opened up a 1.5 second lead on the rest of the field in their back-up cars.

LAP 15
Marty Roth off course in turn seven and this brings out a full-course caution

LAP 16
Most teams use caution to come into the pits. Split strategy by Team Penske with leader Castroneves coming in. Briscoe, Tony Kanaan, and Danica Patrick stay out.

LAP 19
Green, Green, Green! Race restarts. Rahal, Moraes, Carpenter, Camara, and Viso round out the list of those who have not yet pitted. Dominguez works his way up to the top 10.

LAP 21
Mario Dominguez passes Jamie Camara for ninth.

LAP 27
Danica Patrick takes to the pits for the first time along with Graham Rahal, and Ed Carpenter to get upon their sequence.

LAP 28
Ryan Briscoe pits and comes back into the field ahead of Scott Dixon in ninth. This move will help Castroneves in his points race against Dixon.

LAP 30
Still staying out and running up front are EJ Viso, Dan Weldon and Mario Dominguez running at the head of the field in 1-2-3!

LAP 34
Meira pits from fourth position, he is on the same strategy as the leaders.

LAP 35
Dominguez and Weldon pit … Weldon passes Dominguez at the pit stop by having a quicker stop.

LAP 37
Castroneves assumes the lead followed by teammate Briscoe, Dixon Wilson, Power, and Servia round out the top six.

LAP 39
Will Power takes to the pits to change up his fuel strategy.

LAP 42
Helio Castroneves is running about 15 seconds ahead of the field at this slightly over halfway point of the 80 lap race.

LAP 44
Penske’s Castroneves comes into the pits at 16.5 seconds ahead of his teammate. He comes out in 4th. Dixon, Wilson and Andretti come into the pits and comes out in 16th

LAP 47
Briscoe, Kanaan, Castroneves, Patrick, and Weldon round out the top five. Servia pits from third allowing to Helio to move up.

LAP 50
A great dice happens between 2nd position Tony Kanaan of Andretti Green Racing (who has just signed a five year extension on his AGR contract at age 38), and Helio Castroneves in 3rd.

LAP 53
The dice continues between Tony and Helio as Briscoe comes into the pits – Tony leads the race while Helio begins to back off knowing that Tony needs to pit.

LAP 55
Teammates Kanaan and Patrick pit.

LAP 56
Top ten are Castroneves, Weldon, Viso, Meira, Briscoe, Dominguez, Kanaan, Power, Dixon, and Wilson. Of these cars, only Briscoe is in the best position to make to the end on fuel if the race remains in a Green Flag condition.

LAP 58
Castroneves pits and comes back out in 2nd ahead of Briscoe. Dixon pits and comes back out in 14th.

LAP 60
Viso pits from first position for his final pitstop and re-enters 6th handing positions 1 & 2 to Penske teammates Castroneves and Briscoe setting up a possible “Hollywood Ending”!

Last Wednesday, Penske racing losses a transporter to a fire and it burns up both of the primary cars for this race and the back-up cars are leading the race.

LAP 63
If this race ends with the cars holding station … Dixon who leads the points race over Castroneves by 78 points would be cut to 41 points. The IndyCar Series Championship for the 2008 season does not appear to be over just yet!

LAP 66
Helio Castroneves will collect 3 points for leading the most laps at this point in the race.

LAP 69
Eleven laps to go and Buddy Rice, who started 22nd, is now running 10th. If this holds, it will be the biggest move by any driver in the race.

It is not expected that Junqueira will have to come in for fuel. This will allow Dixon to move up to 13th.

LAP 70
Dominguez spins and looses positions from 12th to 17th. Junqueira pits and comes back out 18th.

LAP 75
Dixon passes Mutoh for 12th and fixes his sights on Buddy Rice.

LAP 78
Three laps to go and the 11th place of Buddy Rice is being tightly contested by Scott Dixon and every point matters.

LAP 79
Will Power slides into a braking area and pulls to a stop after hitting the tires.

LAP 80
White Flag and Team Penske is leading the race. Dixon finishes in 12th. This means that he looses 35 points to maintain a 43 point margin in the Championship points race.

19:48:44 GMT-0400 Helio Castroneves wins the PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County! This is his first win of the season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (EDJE) 2008 - digital photo from television broadcast

T-Team Ten Finishes As Follows:

Viso – 6
Rahal – 8
Wilson – 9
Moraes – 10
Servia – 16
Dominguez – 17
Junqueira – 18
Bernoldi - 22
Power – 24
Camara – 25

The highest driver the T-Team Ten has placed 15 races in this Merge season is Oriol Servia at ninth in the points 263 points behind the leader. Do not look for any T-Team driver to overtake Hideki Mutoh of Andretti Green Racing for Rookie-Of-The-Year.

Next race is a venue known by the CCWS teams and that id the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle, Michigan.

… notes from The EDJE

T-Team Silver Lining In The Clouds At Mid-Ohio

The pit lane at Mid-Ohio during the rain shower just before race start. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

T-Team Silver Lining In The Clouds At Mid-Ohio

Seven lead changes from seven different drivers – not a bad display in open wheel racing for a road course. Heck, we even had some of the “T-Team Ten” take a legitimate turn at leading the parade.

Ryan Briscoe leads Ryan Hunter-Reay and Buddy Rice. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

T-Team Ten race leaders included Justin Wilson (11), Mario Moraes (1), Will Power (3).

At the end, however, in Mid-Ohio it was a Penske parade with Ryan Brisco and Helio Castroneves at positions 1 and 2.

Team owner of KV Racing Technology, Kirk Kalkoven, pats driver, Will Power on the back for a good drive at Mid-Ohio. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Will Power was looking at a podium finish but got passed in the closing laps, on the track, at race speed by Scott Dixon. This left the teammates of KV Racing Technology together rounding out the top five finishers. A similar move by Justin Wilson of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing was placed on Danica Patrick of Andretti Green Racing bringing his finish position at 11 after a mid-race spin incident on a restart placed his car back in the field.

The racing trooper award of the day has to go to Mario Dominguez and the team at Pacific Coast Motorsports. An honorable mention needs to go to Jamia Camara of Conquest Racing for starting at position 25, racing clean and moving up eleven positions to finish at 14.

Mario Dominguez and Marty Roth run side-by-side at Mid-Ohio. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

This excerpted from a Pacific Coast Motorsports Press Release –

Dominguez Stays in the Race Despite a Wild Day at Mid-Ohio
By Katie Brannan - PCM Public Relations - Honda Indy 200 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Sunday, July 20, 2008

Lexington, OH – Thunderstorms soaked the Mid-Ohio circuit minutes before the scheduled start of the race, it delayed the green flag and wreaked havoc with race strategies.

Dominguez passed for position at the start of the Honda Indy 200 and made his first pitstop for dry tires just four laps into the event. He looked set for a strong first stint challenging for positions when he made a move to pass Ryan Briscoe, the eventual race winner. Briscoe blocked Dominguez forcing him to brake late which led to an off-track excursion and contact with the barrier. Dominguez returned to the pits for an inspection and fresh tires, and the car was deemed intact.

Several laps later, again on a charge for position and after having just set the fastest lap of the race, Dominguez suffered a rear wing failure; the rear wing detached itself from the car at 180 mph which sent Dominguez spinning into the gravel trap, causing a full course caution. The IndyCar Safety Team quickly removed Dominguez from the gravel and he was back on track headed for the pits. The PCM crew jumped into action, they replaced the rear wing and tires and refuelled the Visit Mexico City IndyCar. They proved they are some of the best in the business, as Dominguez lost just two laps through the entire incident.

Dominguez returned to the track and continued to tick off laps at pace with the leaders despite the off-track excursions earlier in the race. He finished 19th.
Reference Here>>

Visit Mexico City sponsored driver, Mario Dominguez, signs an autograph to a budding fan around the Mid-Ohio track before racetime. Image Credit: Pacific Coast Motorsports

This excerpted from Speed TV -

INDYCAR: Sunday Notebook
Written by: David Phillips - Senior writer, RACER Magazine - 07/20/2008 - 07:46 PM - Lexington, Ohio

HE SAID/HE SAID
Not surprisingly, there were two different versions of the incident involving Justin Wilson and Mario Dominguez that triggered the four-car crash eliminating Marco Andretti from the race and knocking Wilson out of contention for a possible win.

What is indisputable is that, as the field funneled around the Carousel into Turn 12 coming to a restart on Lap 43, Wilson and Dominguez made contact. Although Dominguez made it through unscathed, Wilson spun and Andretti, Darren Manning and A.J. Foyt IV collected one another in the ensuing melee.
How it started, though, is under some dispute.

“We had one backmarker who that said he was going to let me by on the restart,” said Wilson. “So when it went green, I thought he was going to let me by at the last corner and (he) just punted me around.”

Dominguez -- who was a couple of laps down after first spinning into the tire wall at the Keyhole and then taking a wild ride through the gravel trap at Turn Four when his rear wing fell off at 185 mph -- readily concedes that he agreed to let Wilson past. It’s just that he was waiting for the start/finish straightaway to do it.

“I was going to let him pass on the straightaway, he said. “Justin went on the outside and I just understeered and touched him. It was not my intention, but he left no room for me.”

FOR THE RECORD
Ryan Briscoe’s win made is a doubly successful weekend for Team Penske at Mid-Ohio, coming on the heels of yesterday’s ALMS LMP2 win by Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard in a Porsche RS Spyder.
Reference Here>>

Mario Moraes battles to get past Graham Rahal on the outside of the corner (just ahead of Danica Patrick) while on grooved dry tires in the early laps of the race. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

On the HE SAID/HE SAID on-track restart incident touched off by Justin Wilson, it is the opinion of The EDJE that the incident was clearly the fault of Newman/Haas/Lanigan driver, Justin Wilson. The replay from the ESPN on ABC broadcast showed clearly that Wilson chopped down on Mario Dominguez (Pacific Coast Motorsports) driving line, touched tires, and spun out causing the incident.

How the T-Team Ten Fared at Mid-Ohio:

Qual./Pos. Driver Team Time
12./4. Will Power KV +12.7569
8./ 5. Oriol Servia KV +13.4713
4./11. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan +28.8880
9./13. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne +39.7940
25./14. Jaime Camara Conquest +51.5572
14./16. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan +1 lap
16./19. Mario Dominguez Pacific Coast Motorsports +2 laps
17./22. EJ Viso HVM +5 laps
19./24. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne +24 laps
18./26. Enrique Bernoldi Conquest +77 laps

Silver linings for the T-Team Ten include KV Racing Technology’s Oriol Servia return to the top ten in season points with his 5th place finish while teammate Will Power’s 4th place improved his position in the Rookie-Of-The-Year point standings by moving within 31 points of Andretti Green Racing’s Hideki Mutoh.

… notes from The EDJE

Locked & Loaded - PCM Rejoins The Fray At Watkins Glen

Pacific Coast Motorsports' primary transporter parked alongside the Ventura County headquarters location getting filled with the tools for the rest of the 2008 ICS season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Locked & Loaded - PCM Rejoins The Fray At Watkins Glen

Mario Dominguez and the team of Pacific Coast Motorsports Racing will return to IndyCar Series action for 2008 this weekend at Watkins Glen International.

PCM last competed at Texas Motor Speedway where Dominguez started 24th and finished 21st in the 28-car field. The team remained at their Southern California, Ventura County-based headquarters throughout the month of June to prepare for the remainder of their modified season. This activity included becoming more familiar with the Dallara chassis and building a back-up car for competition.

One of two Visit Mexico City Dallara chassis in the process of being put together piece by piece to compete for the rest of the 2008 ICS season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

This weekend’s Camping World Grand Prix will be Mario’s first time on the historic track, but the PCM team is familiar with the venue, they raced there twice in 2006 while competing in the Rolex Grand Am series, and earned two top-ten finishes. They finished eighth in the sprint race and 10th in the six-hour event.

It is interesting to note that Dominguez scored 11 of his Champ Car podiums on road or street courses.

Michael Mihalka, Data Engineer and Tyler Tadevic, Owner and PCM Team President discuss the web of communications and on-track data options at the headquarters facility before resuming the 2008 ICS season at Watkins Glen. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Dominguez will arrive at Watkins Glen from Edmonton , Alberta , Canada on Thursday. A “transition” driver from Champ Car, Dominguez has two top-ten finishes, including a fifth Rexall Grand Prix’s at the Edmonton City Centre Airport and spent the day Wednesday promoting next month’s event.

"I am so excited to race at Watkins Glen. It is a track that I have always wanted to compete on and I always hoped I would get the opportunity.", said Mario Dominguez this week.

Mario Dominguez walking to his car in the pits, escorted by PCM Team Manager Michael Harvey at Texas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

"We’ve spent the last week strengthening our program and I’ve been training up to three hours everyday, so we are ready for our return to IndyCar action.", Mario continued.

"The last time we were on a road/street circuit we finished on the podium, which was at the Champ Car finale in Long Beach in April. Even though we’ve been racing on ovals most recently, I’ve logged hundreds of miles on my go-kart practice the road course techniques.

We are certainly hoping for and planning for a successful weekend in the Visit Mexico City car.".

So are we, here at The EDJE, Mario, so are we.

At Watkins Glen ... it is back to full strength for the "T-Team Ten"!

... notes from The EDJE

Pacific Coast Motorsports Takes A Break From Competition

The Pacific Coast Motorsports headquarters facility in Ventura County where the two Visit Mexico City Dallaras are at home getting the attention a season run for the balance of 2008 and all of 2009 requires. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Pacific Coast Motorsports Takes A Break From Competition

The last IndyCar Series race in Texas proved to be a successful outing for the driver and team of Pacific Coast Motorsports. What team owner Tyler Tadevic was able to conclude by completing a full race on the high-banked one and a half mile oval track is that with limited resources, it might be better to take extra time and prepare the two Visit Mexico City Dallara cars in a proper way with the expectation that it would be better to compete through chasing the season as opposed to having the season chase them.

So, instead of hitting the road on to Iowa and beyond for the next seven weeks, why not miss a race or two and rejoin the frey with the preparation and knowledge gained by the kind of shoptime a sponsored effort through the end of the 2009 ICS season would suggest.

Pacific Coast Motorsports Team Owner and President, Tyler Tadevic pictured in front of the shock absorber compartment in the team's primary Transporter. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

“I’ve decided to keep the team at our headquarters in California to re-evaluate and strengthen our program,” said Team Owner, Tyler Tadevic. He continued,

“Pacific Coast Motorsports and the Mexico City Tourism Board are committed to IndyCar. PCM has a contract with Mexico City through 2009 and this has always been our building year."

Along with our partners, we have determined we are going to take some time to re-evaluate our resources and determine how to strengthen our 2008 program and better prepare for a competitive 2009 season,” said Team Owner, Tyler Tadevic.

PCM was the last of the Champ Car “transition” teams to debut in the IndyCar series. Coming off their first podium finish at the Long Beach Grand Prix, PCM ran their IndyCar for the first time during rookie orientation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Despite a valiant effort throughout the month of May, the team did not qualify for the 92nd running of the Indy 500. One week later they made their first IndyCar start at The Milwaukee Mile. Experience, hard work and professionalism paid off for PCM at Texas Motor Speedway, two-weeks ago.

Mario Dominguez and his crew enjoyed improved results at the 1.5 mile-speedway. Dominguez started 24th of 28 cars and finished the event in 21st position. While these are not the type of results Dominguez or his crew are used to, they were proof of PCM’s expedited effort in learning and developing the set-up and strategies for their new environment, the IndyCar Series.

Tadevic continued, “In light of where we are in our effort and the limited resources available, there is no sense in taking risks which could put us further behind. We came into the series late and we cannot compete for a top-ten position in the championship this season, so we are taking this time to build our second car and to focus-on and prepare-for the job ahead."

"The transition has been extremely difficult, especially with the intensity of the IndyCar schedule. Despite our late start, we have been able to compete and garner publicity for our partners in Mexico City. We’ve also enhanced the fan base for the IndyCar series. The series has been very supportive and we look forward to our future in IndyCar,” said Tadevic.

Fans in Southern California and Mexico all look forward to the day when Mario Dominguez and the team at Pacific Coast Motorsports are able to take to the track, buttoned down and ready to go.

... notes from The EDJE

A Texas Round-Up For The T-Team Ten

Welcome Indy Racing League, to Texas Motor Speedway - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

A Texas Round-Up For The T-Team Ten

The best thing that could be said for a race that was shaping up to be one of the most exciting in terms of finishes was that most of the T-Team Ten improved position over their qualifying placement in the grid. All of the drivers raced well; however, the three drivers who had to retire from the race due to contact did not take others out with them...another good thing.

On lap ten, Mario Dominguez of Pacific Coast Motorsports / Visit Mexico City spun all of the way around and, apparently … according to the announcer, did not touch anything.

Exhaust flames push out as the Pacific Coast Motorsports team replaces flat-spotted tires on Mario Dominguez's car after his spin on Lap 10. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Said Tyler Tadevic, PCM Team Owner, after the race:

“We now have our first IndyCar race in the books and Mario did a great job. He had a great start and a strong first stint, he picked up three positions.

Unfortunately, he spun but his skill kept it off the wall and kept the car running. He brought it to the pits for a fresh set of Firestone tires and rejoined the race on the same lap.

He developed a handling problem after the spin, which after taking a look at the car, we found that he actually did brush the wall and it bent the rear wing just a little bit and also damaged the right rear shock. Unfortunately that damage created a push.

We didn’t realize that the car was damaged, so we didn’t know that was what was causing the push. We thought it was a handling issue, so we added front wing which actually slowed Mario’s pace despite him being full throttle. He did a great job all night out there.

The crew made great pitstops. They battled a sticky valve on the fuel rig which slowed down one stop, but they were able to remedy it.

All in all, we didn’t finish where we wanted to, but we finished and we are headed back to California with everything where it is supposed to be!”

The bend A-Frame of Justin Wilson's Dallara. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2008) The EDJE

On Lap 38: a Yellow flag for contact with wall in Turn 4 by Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing / McDonald’s slowed the field. He has a broken front right suspension

Lap 47: Oriol Servia KV Racing Technology / Plantronics hits the wall and takes himself out

Lap 55: Yellow for spin out of Turn 4 by Mario Moraes Dale Coyne Racing / Sonny’s BBQ.

Lap 56: Contact was between Tomas Scheckter and Mario Moraes in Turn 4. Scheckter is back out. Mario Moraes was able to get out on the track with repairs and finish the race running 18th.

With just 18 laps to go (Lap 210) Enrique Bernoldi Conquest Racing / Sangari crashes and has to retire.

Enrique Bernoldi (foreground) and Jamie Camara of Conquest Racing run side-by-side on the track at Texas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Qual-Race Pos. / Car# / Driver / Team / Sponsor

18-11/06 Graham Rahal - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing / McDonald’s
8-13/ 8 Will Power - KV Racing Technology / AU-Australia
28-14/33 EJ Viso - HVM Racing / PDVSA
26-15/18 Bruno Junqueira - Dale Coyne Racing / Z-Line
22-18/19 Mario Moraes - Dale Coyne Racing / Sonny’s BBQ
24-21/96 Mario Dominguez - Pacific Coast Motosports / Visit Mexico City
20-23/36 Enrique Bernoldi - Conquest Racing / Sangari - Contact
21-24/34 Jamie Camara - Conquest Racing / Sangari
16-26/ 5 Oriol Servia - KV Racing Technology / Plantronics - Contact
23-27/02 Justin Wilson - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing / McDonald’s – Contact

Scott Dixon celebrates another win at Texas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

This excerpted from Autosport –

Dixon wins again in Texas
By Jeff Olson Sunday, June 8th 2008, 04:37 GMT

Scott Dixon passed Marco Andretti for the lead with six laps remaining, then idled to victory under caution after Andretti crashed with Ryan Hunter-Reay with five laps remaining in the Bombardier Learjet 550k.

The victory was Dixon's third of the season and sixth podium finish in seven races this season, increasing his IndyCar Series lead over runner-up Helio Castroneves to 35 points.

Dixon trailed Andretti on a restart with nine laps remaining in the 228-lap race but passed him for the lead with six laps left.

A lap later, as Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay battled for second, their cars crashed hard and hit the wall. Hunter-Reay was OK, but Andretti sustained minor injuries to his right foot. X-rays were negative, but Andretti was limping noticeably after the race.

Following Dixon and Castroneves to the finish line was Ryan Briscoe, who lost a lap earlier in the race when he missed his pit box and was penalized, and Dixon's teammate, Dan Wheldon, who finished fourth despite an ankle injury to his right foot sustained Friday during practice.

The win was anticlimactic proof that Dixon and his Target Chip Ganassi Racing team are the class of the series so far this year. He has led 633 of 1,327 laps in the first seven races, and, with Wheldon‘s win at Kansas, Ganassi's team has won four of the first seven races of 2008.
----
"At the end, he left it wide open," Dixon said of Andretti's move up the track that gave Dixon space to move underneath. "I don't know what he was doing. Marco's car was good on the high line, so maybe he couldn't sit on the bottom. If it was me, I wouldn't have given up that much room.

Tony Kanaan finished fifth, Hideki Mutoh was sixth, and Vitor Meira, who led a stint until he was forced to pit with 21 laps remaining, finished seventh. Buddy Rice, Ed Carpenter and Danica Patrick rounded out the top 10.

The key moment of the race forced a second consecutive race to end under caution and left one driver hobbling and another fuming. After Dixon passed Andretti for the lead, Ryan Hunter-Reay began to pressure Andretti for position.

As Hunter-Reay moved inside Andretti in the entry to Turn 3 with five laps remaining, Hunter-Reay was forced down onto the apron and lost control, sending both cars into the wall.

"He came down on me," Hunter-Reay said. "I went low to try to avoid him and got down on the white line. That upset both cars and took us out. ... This was going to be our breakout night and we didn't get it.
----
Andretti was seen favouring his right foot as he walked. It was the second time in six days that an IndyCar race ended under caution because of a crash involving Andretti.

At Milwaukee on Sunday, Andretti apologized after his car slid into Ed Carpenter's and caused a three-car crash that led to Briscoe winning under caution. This time, Andretti wasn't apologizing.

"There are some guys you can run close with and some guys you can't," Andretti said. "He clearly hit the white line, and that is that. We ran well today, but to me, that doesn't matter. We need to bring home results. It's very disappointing."
----
The race tied the Texas record for cautions in an IndyCar race - eight for 52 laps. The yellow-flag ending also renewed the debate about the series going to green-white checkered restarts to prevent races from ending under caution.

"I saw some of the fans walking out before the checkered fell," said Ganassi, an advocate of a green-white-checkered rule. "It's just disappointing. They come to see a show and they deserve to see a good finish.

"They deserve to see an exciting finish. I understand the differences between IndyCars and NASCAR and why some people think you can't do it here, but I think we need to sit down and figure out a way to do it so it's fair for everybody."

The series takes a week off before resuming June 22 at Iowa Speedway, kicking off a stretch of six races over six consecutive weekends.

Pos. Driver / Team / Laps

1. Scott Dixon / Chip Ganassi / 228
2. Helio Castroneves / Penske / 228
3. Ryan Briscoe / Penske / 228
4. Dan Wheldon / Chip Ganassi / 228
5. Tony Kanaan / Andretti Green / 228
6. Hideki Mutoh / Andretti Green / 228
7. Vitor Meira / Panther / 227
8. Buddy Rice / Dreyer & Reinbold / 227
9. Ed Carpenter / Vision / 227
10. Danica Patrick / Andretti Green / 227
11. Graham Rahal / Newman/Haas/Lanigan / 227
12. AJ Foyt IV / Vision / 226
13. Will Power / KV / 226
14. EJ Viso / HVM / 226
15. Bruno Junqueira / Dale Coyne / 226
16. John Andretti / Roth / 226
17. Milka Duno / Dreyer & Reinbold / 226
18. Mario Moraes / Dale Coyne / 223
19. Marco Andretti / Andretti Green / 222
20. Ryan Hunter-Reay / Rahal Letterman / 222
21. Mario Dominguez / PCM / 222
22. Marty Roth / Roth / 221
23. Enrique Bernoldi / Conquest / 210
24. Jaime Camara / Conquest / 210
25. Tomas Scheckter / Luczo Dragon / 56
26. Oriol Servia / KV / 47
27. Justin Wilson / Newman/Haas/Lanigan / 39
28. Darren Manning / Foyt / 19
Reference Here>>

.... notes from The EDJE

Tough Times For The T-Team Ten In West Allis

Graham Rahal as he slides against the outer wall about halfway through the The ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Indy 225 - The Milwaukee Mile :: West Allis, Wisconsin. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Tough Times For The T-Team Ten In West Allis

The Milwaukee Mile proved to be a very tough place for many of the T-Team Ten. Mario Dominguez and the Pacific Coast Motorsports team could not get a clue as to how to get any speed or handling out of their Dallara all weekend long. Virtually last in qualifying and after hobbling around the track for half of the race, Mario and the PCM team thought it best to park the car for the balance of the race.

Mario Dominguez - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

There were five transition team drivers to make it into the top ten of the starting grid, but the lead driver of the group, Graham Rahal, did not finish the race. The first half of the race, Graham showed well staying in the top five positions most of the time but then drifted high off of the driving line on the track and glanced the wall, crushing his right side A-Frame.

Oriol Servia running clean on the Milwaukee Mile. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Oriol Servia, Justin Wilson, and EJ Viso finished 6, 7, and 8, respectively but they were helped into the top ten by an accident started by Marco Andretti when he tapped Ed Carpenter sending both cars spinning. When Marco’s car was turned 180 degrees on the track, Vitor Meira’s car rode up the nose of the car and was launched into the air and collapsed onto the track to slide up against the outer wall to a stop.

Ryan Brisco was leading the race and INDY 500 winner, Scott Dixon at the time and was able to win the race under the Yellow caution flag.

How the T-Team Ten Fared:

POS./Car # Driver, Team, Sponsor

06/ 5 Oriol Servia, KVRT, Plantronics

07/02 Justin Wilson, NHL, Mc Donald’s

08/33 EJ Viso, HVM, PDVSA

14/ 8 Will Power, KVRT, Aussie Vineyards

16/36 Enrique Bernoldi, CR, Sangari

18/18 Bruno Junqueira, DCR, Z-Line

23/19 Mario Moraes, DCR, Sonny’s BBQ

24/34 Jaime Camara, CR, Sangari

25/6 Graham Rahal, NHL, No Sponsor

26/96 Mario Dominguez, PCM, Visit Mexico City

This from Autosport.com -

"It's been 30 years since Roger's first IndyCar win," Briscoe said. "I can't tell you how important it is to me to get my first IndyCar victory for him in this race." Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Briscoe clinches first IndyCar win
By Matt Beer and Jeff Olson - Sunday, June 1st 2008, 22:00 GMT

Ryan Briscoe fended off championship leader Scott Dixon to score his first IndyCar Series race win at the Milwaukee Mile.

Penske driver Briscoe worked his way into contention in the second half of the race after falling as low as 14th early on. With 70 laps to go, Briscoe was up to third place, then overtook teammate Helio Castroneves and then Dixon in quick succession to hit the front on lap 176.

After briefly losing ground to Briscoe, Dixon closed right back in and put the Penske driver under enormous pressure through the traffic in the closing laps, briefly drawing alongside on the outside on lap 220 of 225.

But when a full course yellow came out with three laps to go following a dramatic multi-car incident, Briscoe was able to clinch his maiden win and put last week's controversial Indianapolis pit lane crash with Danica Patrick behind him.
----
The only other major incident prior to the late crash was Graham Rahal's impact with the wall on lap 130. Newman/Haas/Lanigan's rookie had been running a strong third before understeering into the barriers in traffic.

Oriol Servia charged back through the field to take sixth for KV Racing despite having to pit for a new front wing on lap one, with fellow 'transition' drivers Justin Wilson (Newman/Haas/Lanigan) and EJ Viso (HVM) also putting in strong runs to seventh and eighth.

Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice completed the top ten.

Reference Here>>

Full Race Summary Here

Driver Points Standing Here - By finishing in the top ten, Oriol Servia surges into the Rookie Of The Year points lead. Next week it's the high banks of Texas for the T-Team Ten!

... notes from The EDJE

Milwaukee – “T-Team Ten” Fill Five Of The Top Ten Spots

Pit Lane at the ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Indy 225 - The Milwaukee Mile :: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Milwaukee – “T-Team Ten” Fill Five Of The Top Ten Spots

At the race track located at the Wisconsin State Fair, the sixth race of the season in Milwaukee is bearing the fruit that many felt would never happen with the move to unification when it was announced late last February.

Of the ten drivers for teams that originally started the 2008 season as ChampCar World Series organizations, half of the ten filled half of the spots available in the first five rows of two during qualifications today. That translates to five of the top ten positions.

To put it another way, eleven of the remaining sixteen positions (for a total field of 26 cars) are filled by drivers from established IRL teams.

Graham Rahal being interviewed just after father, Bobby Rahal tapped him on the helmet after setting the fastest pace at the time. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

The other real story involves the names of the two drivers who occupy the top two positions. An Andretti and a Rahal, again, are the two names that top the charts of American open wheel racing. This edition of the show features the spawn of champions past.

Graham Rahal of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing laid down the gauntlet about halfway through the late afternoon qualification session in Milwaukee with an average time of 1:27.1796 with a speed of 167.654. He was only challenged once during the qualifying session. He was challenged once later in the run of his four lap session by Helio Castroneves/Penske Racing who eventually ended up in the third qualifying position just behind Scott Dixon/Target Chip Ganassi Racing before the runs laid down by Marco Andretti/Andretti Green Racing then Will Power/KV Racing Technology.

It was Marco Andretti, the second youngest driver in the series to win an IRL race though (the youngest being Graham Rahal). Andretti made the most impressive run. His average time for the four laps was 1:26.9591 for a speed of 168.079. The last driver to qualify, Will Power, was fast enough to drop Castroneves to fifth, who was just ahead of Tony Kanaan with Andretti Green Racing in sixth.

The T-Team Ten Qualification Positions For The ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Indy 225 - The Milwaukee Mile :: Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

POS./Car # Driver, Time/Speed, Team, Sponsor

Row 1
02/06 Graham Rahal, 1:27.1796/167.654, NHL, No Sponsor

Row 2
04/ 8 Will Power, 1:27.3822/167.265, KVRT, Aussie Vineyards

Row 4
08/36 Enrique Bernoldi, 1:28.4660/165.216, CR, Sangari

Row 5
09/ 5 Oriol Servia, 1:28.4802/165.190, KVRT, Plantronics
10/33 EJ Viso, 1:28.6663/164.843, HVM, PDVSA

Row 7
14/18 Bruno Junqueira, 1:29.6011/163.123, DCR, Z-Line

Row 11
22/02 Justin Wilson, 1:31.3917/159.927, NHL, Mc Donald’s

Row 12
23/19 Mario Moraes, 1:33.9809/155.511, DCR, Sonny’s BBQ
24/34 Jaime Camara, 1:34.5329/154.613, CR, No Sponsor

Row 13
25/96 Mario Dominguez, 1:37.3937/150.071, PCM, Visit Mexico City

Full Qualification Results Here

Pacific Coast Motorsports released this statement from Mario Dominguez:

"We are learning about the car. It is very difficult to make a lot of progress without much practice time. We just have to be patient, it is not a one-day thing and we will keep improving.

For us right now, it is not really about the position we are in, but more about gaining the experience of track time. But, obviously today the car is not where we want it.

I am really looking forward to the race tomorrow. It will be great for me and for the team to get back into race mode, strategy and pitstops. Finishing the race is the most important thing right now, so we can get as many laps as possible in changing conditions to learn about the cars behavior."

... notes from The EDJE

WAYBACK Machine Link >>>

Video: Mario Dominguez & Pacific Coast Motorsports Dialing In On Bump Day

The Mexico City Tourism Board is beckoning fans to "Visit Mexico City" in festive lettering on the sidepods of the No. 96 PCM car. The tourism board has made a two-year commitment to sponsor the car. This sponsorship will be displayed on Oriol Srevia's KV Racing Technology #5 Dallara for the 2008 Indy 500 in a one-race arrangement. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Mario Dominguez and the Pacific Coast Motorsports team dialing in on qualifying for a spot in the Indy 500 starting grid

This video was put together by Derek A. Platts, Associate Producer, ESPN - International Production from the events that transpired on Bump Day. Derek was able to borrow a Pacific Coast Motorsports team scanner which was able to tune into the audio insights and the drama that IS … Bump Day.

UPDATE:

This from a press release issued by Pacific Coast Motorsports -

Oriol Servia to Carry the “Visit Mexico City ” Colors at the Indy 500
For Immediate Release - Oxnard, CA (May 23, 2008)

Pacific Coast Motorsports and the Mexico City Tourism Board announced today that they have entered into an agreement with KV Racing Technology for Indy 500. Oriol Servia, driver of the #5 Angie’s List Special will carry the Visit Mexico City logo at the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

Pacific Coast Motorsports and the Mexico City Tourism Board announced their program just one month ago. The rookie team and driver missed the 33rd starting spot in final qualifying last Sunday after a remarkable performance, which placed Dominguez “on the bubble” Sunday afternoon.

Team Owner, Tyler Tadevic commented, “I have to thank Jimmy (Vasser), Kevin (Kalkhoven) and Mark (Johnson) for offering their help. We gave it our best shot this month, but at the end of the day; despite Mario’s impressive performance, we just did not have the track time and preparation time to get into the show. It is very important that our partners, the Mexico City Tourism Board participate in the event and receive the additional exposure they deserve. We are very grateful and honored that Oriol will carry their colors.”

Oriol Srevia in his KV Racing Technology #5 Dallara durnig qualifications at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Oriol Servia will make his first Indy 500 start from the inside of row nine, in the 25th starting position on Sunday.

Although he is a rookie in the IndyCar Series, Servia is currently ranked eighth in the Series points standings, “I am proud to carry the Visit Mexico City colors for my friend Mario Dominguez. Mexico City is one of my favorite places to visit. I love the city and the people, plus some of my closest friends are from there. I hope to give everyone in Mexico City a result they will be proud of on Sunday.”

"This is not just a [sponsorship] project of this team any more," Dominguez said. "This is the project of a country."

Mexico City is installing more than 90 Jumbotron television screens at sporting venues and parks around the city just for the race.

... notes from The EDJE

Rookies And Regulars Run Together, In Unification At INDY

The regulars showed their collective experience by topping the speed charts with occupying the top ten lap speeds posted. Graphic Credit: indycar.com PDF

Rookies And Regulars Run Together, In Unification At INDY

Within their first four to eleven laps, just after the 10:00am PDT start time of the official first day of Practice at Indy, the seasoned drivers who have been to the track and have raced in IndyCar Series for the last few years showed their stuff.

Tony Kanaan – 224.591 – 9 laps, Danica Patrick – 223.479 – 11 laps, Ryan Briscoe – 223.068 – 8 laps, Marco Andretti – 223.041 – 4 laps, Helio Castroneves – 222.893 – 7 laps ... all speed marks above the fastest mark set by the ChampCar transition team rookies with KV Racing Technology's Will Power at 222.267 after 154 laps of practice.

Two other rookies also posted better times than Power in the Rookie Orientation Program with Rahal Letterman Racing's Alex Lloyd - 223.033 after 106 laps and Andretti Green Racing's Hideki Mutoh - 222.600 after only 78 laps.

The biggest story from yesterday comes from Andretti Green Racing driver, nineteen year old Marco Andretti posting a lap speed average of 226.599 mph. This mark bests the 2007 pole qualifying speed set by Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves at 225.817 by nearly 8/10ths of a second.

The regulars showed their collective experience by topping the speed charts with occupying the top ten lap speeds posted. Will Power was able to improve his time and lock down eleventh at 223.550 mph.

Mario Dominguez and presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, share a moment ... each in the middle of their own campaigns. Image Credit: PCM (2008)

Mario Dominguez showed how difficult it is to get to speed on a new track, especially one as unique as Indy.

Day before yesterday on Day 2 of the Rookie Orientation Program, he progressively advanced his times on each lap - 142mph, 171mph, 189mph, 194mph, 199mph, 201.518mph, 204.435mph, 204.777mph – lap 13, 205.024 – lap 17, 205.828, and so on.

He finally posted a 214.358 and completed 48 laps on his first day, Monday.

Mario Dominguez in the #96 Visit Mexico City/Pacific Coast Motorsports Dallara taking first laps at speed on the IMS track. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Yesterday, he began to achieve more speed - Mario on the day: “Today we really spent the afternoon building up speed and finding the limits, step by step. Every lap I turn, I learn something.

Yesterday we had to get out there and pass our three phases so we didn’t have time to really focus on anything but that. So today was our first day finding limits and seeing what the car needs. We are fighting a loose condition, but we are working through it.

This racetrack is just phenomenal; it is completely different than any track I have ever run on. I am grateful I have so much oval experience because it helps considerably, but at the same time, this track is different than any other.”

He has completed 61 Laps and is at 30th on the speed charts at 218.306. At the EDJE, we believe that PCM will be able to figure out the set-ups because they really are one of the more competent truly new teams out there.

Today, the fourth day of trials and the third day Mario and the guys at PCM take to the track, the racers face the prospect of a 60% chance of rain. Rain expects to be a threat to practice sessions over the next two days.

A Midwest Month For Pacific Coast Motorsports

Gasoline Alley on a May afternoon. This is where Pacific Coast Motorsports and the rest of the Indy Racing League will be calling home for the month of May(wouldn’t be more appropriate to name the garage area “Corn-Row”? - the cars now race on ethanol biofuel ;- What? ... you never thought of this?). Image Credit: Ddrucki on Flickr

A Midwest Month For Pacific Coast Motorsports

The folks of twenty member traveling team of Pacific Coast Motorsports are beginning to get a feel for their new digs and they feel destined as they streach out in garages 25-27 for the balance of the month of May.

It is all pluses for the first time driver, sponsor and team to the race track that sports the famed “yard of bricks” for their rookie debut in the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

Pacific Coast Motorsports Dallara with its new "Visit Mexico City" livery in which "rookie" IndyCar Series driver Mario Dominguez expects to become the first driver born in Mexico to win an Indianapolis 500 sporting event in 92 tries. Image Credit: PCM (2008)

The Oxnard, California-based PCM squad received their two Dallara IndyCar’s just before the Champ Car finale at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Dominguez’s third place finish at Long Beach fueled his team for 15-hour work days the last two-weeks as they prepared for the Indy effort.

While this is the first time the Pacific Coast Motorsports organization has shown up to compete in the Indy 500, there is plenty of experience within the traveling squad. PCM Team Manager Michael Harvey will make his second start, Crew Chief Roy Wilkerson has 12 Indy 500 starts under his belt, while Car Chief Didier Francesia has seven starts with two third-place finishes, and a pole and Gearbox Specialist Chuck Miller has competed at the Speedway seven times.

Mario Dominguez is expected to cross the historic “yard of bricks” for the first time in his #96 Visit Mexico City/PCM Dallara tomorrow, Sunday, May 4th when he participates in the Rookie Orientation Program practice session from 12:00pm – 5:00 pm. The team will concentrate on a qualifying set-up throughout the first week of practice.

"Visit Mexico City" sponsorship colors worn by Mario Dominguez. Mario was named “Mexico City’s Official Driver” last fall 2007 by Mayor Marcello Ebrard. Image Credit: PCM (2008)

“This is a dream come true,” said Dominguez. “Competing in the Indy 500 has been a dream of mine as long as I can remember. I have to thank all of my guys who have been working crazy hours to get us here. Also to the IndyCar Series and the Mexico City Tourism Board for their encouragement and support. To be here is a great honor, now we have a lot of work to do to make sure we make the show.”

Pacific Coast Motorsports announced its IndyCar program last week in a press conference in Mexico City. The news was well received by 80 members of Mexico’s major media outlets. Mario was named “Mexico City’s Official Driver” last fall by Mayor Marcello Ebrard. At the press conference, the city announced they will place 92 jumbo-tron televisions throughout Mexico City, so Mario’s fans can watch him vie to become the ninth rookie and first Mexican driver to win the Indianapolis 500.

Five drivers from Mexico have previously competed at the Indy 500; Josele Garza, Bernard Jourdain, Michele Jourdain Jr, Hector Rebaque and most recently, Adrian Fernandez. Adrian Fernandez holds the highest finishing position by a Mexican driver in the History of the Indianapolis 500; he started sixth and finished seventh in 2004.

Eight rookies have won the Indy 500 … and largely because of the open-wheel racing unification agreement reached between ChampCar and IndyCar hardly a little over two months ago, 13 rookies have entered; all of them are expecting to become the ninth rookie in 92 years to win it all at the end of 500 miles and drink the milk of success from the traditional quart glass bottle!

At the EDJE, we are hoping that it is Mario’s white uniform that will be drenched from the overflow of that first ever victory swill … classic “White-On-White” is the order of the day for Pacific Coast Motorsports come the 25th day of May, 2008.
(ht: PCM Press Release)

… notes from The EDJE










UPDATE 5-4-2008:

At INDY, "Rookies" Get Their Day In The Sun

The #96 Visit Mexico City - Pacific Coast Motorsports Dallara getting updated with the proper wishbone suspension parts. Image Credit: PCM (2008)

Thirteen of the fourteen registered Rookies that hope to qualify and make it into the race come May 25 took to the "Brick Yard" for the first time.

Mario Dominguez was scheduled to make his rookie debut today in orientation, but some last minute details kept the Pacific Coast Motorsports squad from taking to the track for their first time.

"Once we rolled through tech, three of the four wishbones on the car were deemed unusable by the series. These are suspension pieces that we received with our car and we were not aware these parts are no longer being used," said team owner, Tyler Tadevic. "The guys have been working hard, we're back to being rookies again. We disseminating tons of information trying to catch up and we'll make sure Mario gets through his orientation tomorrow."

Mario discusses strategy with team member after the #96 Visit Mexico City/PCM Dallara has the updated wishbone parts installed. Mario and the rest of the PCM team feel upbeat about being able to get out onto the track for the very first time. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

The rest of the "Rookies", most of them driving for teams that transitioned from the ChampCar World Series with the unification agreement, posted respectable lap speeds with the cream of the crop circling the rectangle two and a half mile "oval" of upwards to the 220 mph range.

The biggest surprise of the day is how poorly the CCWS Championship Team of Newman/Haas/Lanigan did with their drivers Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson being eighth and ninth fastest for the day ... nearly two miles per hour off of the pace st by Will Power/KV Racing Technology and EJ Viso/HVM Racing.

Day One Rookie Orientation Program Speed-Chart - Image Credit: indycar.com PDF

More on the events of the day from IndyCar writer, Dave Lewandowski>>

... notes from The EDJE

UPDATE - May 6, 2008 - End Of Practice, Day One:

Rookies And Regulars Run Together

Mario Dominguez and presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, share a moment ... each in the middle of their own campaigns. Image Credit: PCM (2008)

It looks as though Mario has changed the color of his driving uniform ... it's yellow!

I wonder if the color change happened while he was in the cockpit as he was about to post a lap exceeding 200 mph in his first ever session at IMS (lap 11)?

He finally posted a 214.358 and completed 48 laps on his first day, Monday.

Mario Dominguez in the #96 Visit Mexico City/Pacific Coast Motorsports Dallara taking first laps at speed on the IMS track. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Yesterday, he began to achieve more speed - Mario on the day: “Today we really spent the afternoon building up speed and finding the limits, step by step. Every lap I turn, I learn something.

Yesterday we had to get out there and pass our three phases so we didn’t have time to really focus on anything but that. So today was our first day finding limits and seeing what the car needs. We are fighting a loose condition, but we are working through it.

This racetrack is just phenomenal; it is completely different than any track I have ever run on. I am grateful I have so much oval experience because it helps considerably, but at the same time, this track is different than any other.”

He has completed 61 Laps and is at 30th on the speed charts at 218.306. I believe that PCM will be able to figure out the set-ups because they really are one of the more competent new teams out there.

The biggest story from yesterday comes from Andretti Green Racing driver, ninteen year old Marco Andretti posting a lap speed average of 226.599 mph. This mark bests the 2007 pole qualifying speed set by Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves at 225.817 by nearly 8/10ths of a second.

Today, the fourth day of trials and the third day Mario and the guys at PCM take to the track, the racers face the prospect of a 60% chance of rain. Rain expects to be a threat to practice sessions over the next two days.