INDY Autonomous Challenge - CES2025 - AI Drivers Race With Five Overtakes In Twenty Laps

Here is an image of the first car - Autonomous Tiger Racing (ATR) No. 34 - we encountered on the track during our visit to the INDY Autonomous Challenge held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES2025. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

INDY Autonomous Challenge - CES2025 - AI Drivers Race With Five Overtakes In Twenty Laps

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a global leader in high-speed autonomy, returned to CES 2025 with groundbreaking developments, including the introduction of multicar racing and the future of physical AI. Held on January 9, 2025, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 2-4 PM PST, the Autonomous Challenge at CES 2025 marked a significant milestone in the evolution of autonomous technologies, offering attendees an unparalleled view of AI's progress in high-speed motorsport.

Anxious and ready to attempt a first-time multiple car autonomous trial in a 20 lap match. UNIMORE Racing No. 6 became the first winner of the Tier 3 structure challenge where multiple cars not only attempt to pass, but win against the four teams that threw their hats into the ring. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

Imagine making this annual pilgrimage to the Consumer Electronics Show and be inundated with AI (Artificial Intelligence) messages being communicated and attached to virtually every item on the floor. Heck, there were folks in stands trying to attach their products, however analog, to having a role in an AI world. 

Then, after a couple of days watching AI solutions show themselves on displays and screens, to have the opportunity to watch teams field their work in an extreme three-dimensional environment such as a race track featuring open wheel racecars? These techies seemed to have died and gone to AI heaven.

The trek to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway proved to be worthwhile even if the weather for this desert destination was a bit chillier than expected. Camaraderie and expectation were the notes of the day echoed between attendees and teams set up in the Hot Pits. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

A New Era of AI Racing: Multicar Showdown and Tiered Competitions

Building on its historic introduction of head-to-head autonomous racing at CES three years prior, the IAC achieved another milestone during CES 2025 with a multicar exhibition race. Teams ran 3-4 autonomous racecars simultaneously in a thrilling 20-lap format, demonstrating not only individual car performance but also the capability of AI systems to manage complex multi-agent interactions at high speed.

Team lead for Caltech Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) Racer - California Institute of Technology Autonomous Driver No. 8, Matt Anderson. As team lead, Matt, who hails from Sydney Australia, was responsible for controlling the E-Stop (emergency stop) button which brings the autonomous racing platform to a complete stop much quicker than any human driver would be able to do given that, once the button is pushed full force, the control is applied 100 times a second with race grade ABS braking systems. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

The Caltech Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) Racer Autonomous Driver No. 8 was able to set a platform best Tier 1 speed of 145mph, about 20 mph faster than previous IAC trial sessions. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

The event featured a progressive three-tiered structure that allowed teams at all experience levels to compete and push the boundaries of their AI Driver development:

 
Tier 1: Single-car time trials, where teams showcased the stability of their AI Drivers at extreme high speeds.

 
Tier 2: A two-car passing competition, designed to test strategic racing and AI adaptability in head-to-head scenarios.

 
Tier 3: The multicar racing event, where 3-4 racecars competed in an open racing format, challenging the limits of AI Driver multi-agent interaction and high-speed decision-making.

AI Racing Tech (ART) No. 7 - a collaboration between University of California Berkeley, with University of Hawai’i (UH), University of California, San Diego (UCSD), & Carnegie Mellon University in a group photo celebrating their Tier 2 accomplishment of an on-track pass timed just before the Start Finish line (image below). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

Tier 2 trials pass of Purdue AI Racing - Purdue University No. 2 by AI Racing Tech (ART) No. 7 just before the LVMS Start Finish line. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

End of a very successful CES 2025 trial at LVMS for AI Racing Tech (ART) Autonomous Driver No. 7 in the Indy Autonomous Challenge. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

This structure provided a platform for progressive competition, ensuring all teams had the opportunity to demonstrate their advancements in autonomous racing.
New Teams and Exciting Partnerships

The IAC welcomed two new university teams, Indiana University and the California Institute of Technology, bringing the total number of participating teams to ten. These additions enriched the competition, expanding the global pool of talent and expertise working to advance high-speed autonomy on a shared AI and robotics platform.

In collaboration with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the IAC served as an official test and evaluation platform to enhance AI training for autonomous systems. This initiative is part of DARPA’s Transfer Learning from Imprecise and Abstract Models to Autonomous Technologies (TIAMAT) program, which aims to bridge the “simulation to real” gap in AI development.

Starlink communications from Elon Musk's SpaceX allows instantaneous 2-way inputs in this mobile AI world of the IU Luddy No. 10 when the car is on track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2025)

Pioneering the Future of Physical AI

“The Indy Autonomous Challenge is truly leading the charge in the physical AI revolution,” said Paul Mitchell, President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge. “By pushing the limits of autonomous technology on the racetrack, we’re not just developing AI that can drive racecars - we’re creating systems with applications ranging from aviation to autonomous vehicles and robotics. The race at CES showcased cutting-edge innovation and highlighted what can be achieved when government, academia, and industry unite to tackle some of the biggest tech challenges of our time.” 

The 2025 IAC race at CES solidified its role as a premier event in autonomous racing, demonstrating the transformative potential of AI and its future applications across industries.

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) made history at CES 2025 with the world’s first successful completion of a multi-car autonomous race. This groundbreaking event held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway marked a major milestone in the evolution of physical AI and autonomous racing, with four IAC AV-24 fully autonomous racecars piloted by AI Drivers from top global university teams competing head-to-head in a 20-lap exhibition race. The race ended in a thrilling side-by-side photo finish, with UNIMORE Racing crossing the finish line less than three-tenths of a second faster than Cavalier Autonomous Racing. Watch livestream video starting at the end of Lap 17 of 20 Laps.

The multi-car exhibition race not only showcased impressive advancements in AI Driver capabilities but also highlighted how the IAC is advancing technology to improve the safety of high-speed autonomy. For the first time in the history of motorsports racing, four autonomous racecars completed a full race with multiple overtakes and no accidents. This demonstrated how autonomous systems can navigate extreme speeds while also safely managing complex multi-agent interactions in real-time.

“Since our first race in 2021, the IAC and our university teams have been making history with the world’s fastest autonomous racecars, from setting speed records to introducing the world to head-to-head autonomous racing,” said Paul Mitchell, president and CEO, Indy Autonomous Challenge. “But our goal has always been multi-agent racing, so being the first to have all our AI Drivers complete a race and do so with five overtakes, no accidents, and a nose-to-nose finish is a testament to the progress of the IAC’s global ecosystem of highly talented university researchers, industry partners, and government supporters.”  

We fully understand that AI autonomous racing will never really deeply connect with a Human fan-base as actual racing in vehicles controlled by analog decision-making of a Human driver. There is no "skin" in the game. However, we further understand that autonomous vehicle travel will never become a reality if this type of movement and mobility control isn't pushed to its extremes as race testing on a track against development teams in numbered cars - everything an AI Driver needs.

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: Indy Autonomous Challenge, IAC, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, CES 2025, Paul Mitchell, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Mobility, Racing, The EDJE

TAKU Outwits, Outlasts, Outplays To Win INDY500

Former F1 driver & Andretti Autosport pilot Takuma Sato wins the 101st Indianapolis 500 - as in the TV show Survivor, for Honda it was Outwit, Outlast, Outplay! #whatablast #INDY500 #INDYCAR #INDYRIVALS

A post shared by Edmund Jenks (@the_edje) on May 28, 2017 at 1:09pm PDT

TAKU Outwits, Outlasts, Outplays To Win INDY500 - His Second Verizon IndyCar Race

Andretti Autosport may actually be doing more for the Andretti name in racing than any single family-named driver can do. Talk about a legacy!

After winning the 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, Andretti Autosport follows up this performance with Honda and former F1 driver Takuma Sato.

From L to R - JR Hildebrand, Fernando Alonso, and Takuma Sato in driver introductions for the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in front of instantly recognizable The Panasonic Pagoda. Takuma Sato, who was also sponsored by Panasonic, won one other race in addition to this great event that is starting its second millennia of history ... as stated by writer, photographer, and custom guitar creator Timo Hulett - the other race has often been described as "the INDY500 of street courses" and that race is the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach. If one is going to win just two races in an IndyCar career, why not make them the two most famed race events in American motor culture! Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via IndyCar (2017)

This excerpted and edited from Andretti Autosport -

TAKUMA SATO FINDS VICTORY IN INDIANAPOLIS
Tokyo-native Captures Second Career IndyCar Win at Indianapolis 500

Japanese driver Takuma Sato scored his second career Verizon IndyCar Series victory today when he saw the double checkers wave through the Indiana sky. 

Marking his 123nd career IndyCar start, the 40-year-old began today’s Indianapolis 500 from the 4th position and battled through 200 laps before driving his No. 26 Ruoff Home Mortgage Honda to victory lane. Today’s win is Sato’s first with Andretti Autosport after joining the team for the 2017 season. Sato earned his first victory on the Streets of Long Beach, Calif., in 2013

This [win] is the 56th Verizon IndyCar Series victory for Andretti Autosport. Since 2003, Andretti Autosport has scored four series titles (‘04/Kanaan, ‘05/Wheldon, ‘07/Franchitti and ‘12/Hunter-Reay) and five Indianapolis 500 wins (‘05/Wheldon, ‘07/Franchitti, ‘14/Hunter-Reay, ‘16/Rossi, and '17/Sato). 
----
It wasn't cool enough to have a California born and raised American rookie with European F1 racing experience win the "Greatest Spectacle In Racing" virtually his first time in the cockpit of an IndyCar Dallara ... let's follow this up with fielding enough cars to own the field.
----
Andretti Autosport has four full-time entries in the Verizon IndyCar Series, with Soto, [last year's winner] Alexander Rossi  (No. 98 NAPA AUTO PARTS / Curb  Honda), [third-generation Andretti] Marco Andretti (No. 27 United Fiber & Data Honda) and [2012 winner] Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 28 DHL Honda) and two  Indy 500-only drivers, [2-time F1 Champion] Fernando Alonso (No. 29 McLaren Honda Andretti) and [former member of McLaren-Honda's young driver program] Jack Harvey (No. 50 Michael Shank Racing with Andretti Autosport Honda).
[ht: Andretti Autosport]

Andretti Autosport's Suvivor program with four of the six cars fielded pictured here at IMS. Eventual winner Takuma Sato, followed closely by  eventual P8 finisher Marco Andretti. In the background are the two early strong running cars of two-time F1 Champion and INDY rookie Fernando Alonso and IndyCar Champion and past INDY500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay - both cars expired with blown engines. Before Fernando Alonso's Honda engine blew up, he held the fastest average lap times of all drivers on the track. Image Credit: Mike Harding via IndyCar (2017)

Let's be clear, "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" is the motorsports equivalent to the American television's reality series Survivor. This long-running and popular television episode contest pits people with all different backgrounds and experience out in a remote location and have them fend for themselves for food and compete for immunity in made-up games of skill and endurance.

Outwit, Outlast, Outplay!

This last season of Survivor that just finished was titled "Game Changers," and with the fact that Andretti Autosport has won the INDY500 three out of the last four years, one may say that this Verizon IndyCar Series team, when it comes to the Indianapolis 500, are the game changers.

Andretti Autosport has found a way to stack the deck, or flood the zone ... as it were, in its focus to create interest and plan to win the Indianapolis 500. As 54 year-old team-owner, and second-generation Andretti family race car driver, Michael Andretti said in a recent pre-race interview with Paul Reinhard, we are going to field "six really good bullets in the gun" for the Memorial Day Classic.

Game Changer Survivor Michael Andretti shares the common winning moment in victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his surviving winning driver Takuma Sato. Image Credit: Chris Owens via IndyCar (2017)

This excerpted and edited from Associated Press via Orange County Register -

Michael Andretti hoping his Indy 500 six-pack leads to victory lane
AP - OC Register - May 24, 2017

Michael Andretti’s busiest month could turn into his best Indianapolis show.

He has four cars in the front three rows of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Two of those drivers – the defending race champion, Alexander Rossi, and this year’s highest-profile rookie, Fernando Alonso – avoided getting sidetracked by sideshows.

Andretti’s son, Marco, thrived despite taking on extra coaching duties this May. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 champion, posted the fastest qualifying average outside the nine-car pole shootout, and Japan’s Takuma Sato proved he could be a contender. On Monday, rookie Jack Harvey moved up the speed chart, too.

If these guys produce all the right numbers this weekend, Andretti Autosport will have the best six-pack of racers in 500 history.

“It’s been good because of the data we’ve been able to share and pass on, not only for someone like Marco or Ryan, but it’s been good for all the guys,” Michael Andretti said.

The six Andretti cars in the 33-car starting grid are the most by one team since Andy Evans started seven in 1996 with Team Scandia. 
----
“People are a huge problem because everyone in Indianapolis has a job right now,” said Michael Shank, co-owner of Harvey’s No. 50 car. “I have 22 to 25 guys in my shop, so it was only natural we could do it.”
----
Andretti, with an assist from Shank and Bryan Herta, the co-owner of Alexander Rossi’s No. 98 car, didn’t have to be too patient: From the moment the cars rolled onto the 2.5-mile oval, they were already fast.

Marco Andretti finished the first day atop the speed chart. He’ll start eighth Sunday, the middle of Row 3.

Hunter-Reay produced top-five laps in practice each of the first four days he turned laps and qualified 10th, the inside of Row 4.

Rossi and Sato, both former Formula One drivers, helped the two-time F1 champ make a quick transition from the familiar high-tech, road-course cars to the even faster cars on unfamiliar ovals. Rossi is starting from the third spot on the front row. Sato and Alonso qualified in the second row and will start fourth and fifth.

“From all the comments that arrived to me, the comments from them are very, very useful because they know how one car behaves and how the other car behaves and what they needed when they came here,” said Alonso, the Spaniard whose 500 debut has attracted wide attention. “I probably experienced more or less the same journey as them.”
----
For now, though, Andretti and his six drivers are focused on one goal: Topping Sunday afternoon with a drive through victory lane.

“It is a big challenge for our team,” Andretti said. “There’s a lot, a lot of hours that go into organizing something like this and making it all happen and we’ve got to get it right.”
[Reference Here]

The finishing order of the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil as shown on the iconic front straight information and scoring pylon. The championship points race heated up a bit with this double-points paying event as Helio Castroneves took over the season points lead by finishing in P2, Takuma Sato moved into third  by winning, and Ed Jones who as a rookie at the INDY500 moved to ninth in Verizon IndyCar Series 2017 season championship points. Image Credit: Shawn Gritzmacher via IndyCar (2017)

As we all witnessed in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, Andretti Autosport had all of the right moves, even when two of his pack-leading six Honda cars expired with engine issues, Michael Andretti's team Outwited, Outlasted, Outplayed all 33 cars entered in the field when TAKU crossed the "yard of bricks" finish line first ahead of Penske Racing's 3-time INDY500 winner Helio Castroneves by .2011 seconds to win this annual endurance game of motorsports Survivor!

101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil: SURVIVOR BOX SCORE

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Takuma Sato, 101st Indianapolis 500, Outwit, Outlast, Outplay, Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport, endurance, entries, experience, honda, racing, Alonso, Rossi, Verizon IndyCar Series, Survivor, winner, The EDJE

Roborace “Shows” Will Take Place In The 2016/17 Formula E Season

Roborace is a vehicle that is designed to race on a track without an on-board driver. It will race autonomously without, presumably, human intervention because it will control itself. Image Credit: Daniel Simon Formula E 

Roborace “Shows” Will Take Place In The 2016/17 Formula E Season

The prototype Roborace car was revealed today, March 30, 2016, at the beginning of the Faraday Future Long Beach ePrix week.

The first designs of the Roborace autonomous race car is an amazing futuristic creation that is unlike anything ever seen on a race track before.

The design is the work of the newly-appointed Chief Design Officer Daniel Simon. Simon, who is renowned for his work on Hollywood Sci-Fi blockbusters such as Tron: Legacy and Oblivion, set out to create something that took full advantage of being the first-ever racing car that doesn’t need to accommodate a driver.

“My goal was to create a vehicle that takes full advantage of the unusual opportunities of having no driver without ever compromising on beauty,” Daniel Simon said. “Racing engineers and aerodynamicists have worked with me from the beginning to strike that balance. The Roborace is as much about competition as it is entertainment. Therefore – and quite unusual in today’s racing world – beauty was very high on our agenda and we work hard to merge the best performance with stunning styling."

“It was important to us that we generate substantial downforce without unnecessary parts cluttering the car to maintain a clean and iconic look. This is largely made possible by using the floor as the main aerodynamic device and we are currently developing active body parts that are more organic and seamless than solutions today.”

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: "Today is an historic day for motorsport, and the car industry in general. This first image of the Robocar, designed by Daniel Simon, represents a vision of what cars will be, a vision of our future. In Formula E we are proud to promote, together with pioneers like Denis Sverdlov and Daniel Simon, a revolution in the world of motorsport, a project that will change the future of mobility."
[ht: FIA Formula E]

These are the crazy futuristic cars of Roborace, the world's first driverless racing series. One thing is for sure: whatever Roborace winds up becoming will be shaped by the logistical framework already put in place by Formula E. Roborace will be piggybacking on Formula E's infrastructure, performing on the same race days at the same locations. Image Credit: Daniel Simon Formula E

To be honest, without a driver being one with a car, what we will be treated to is seeing unique experimental performance art platforms that have little real consequence related to winning, placing, or just showing without some additional human element/interest that is placed at risk. Or, this could just creep people out.

Will this new competitive track form of competition require an introduction of gambling in order to gain "skin in the game?" Or will it just remain a rich and intriguing corporate international competition toy that is used as a motor culture side interest in performance and art to help fill the seats with people who come to see racers do what they do best ... RACE?!

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: FIA, Formula E, Roborace, Faraday Future Long Beach ePrix, Daniel Simon, Alejandro Agag, Race, Racing, The EDJE

Save Automotive Education & Conversion From EPA Regulation Deathgrip And Control

Built upon the shoulders of many shade-tree mechanics and decades spent competing on a race track, BMW badged Rahal Letterman Lanigan racecar follows the Whelen Racing Chevy Corvette into the top of the famed "Corkscrew Turn" at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca which, itself, was built upon a history of hundreds of thousands of shade-tree mechanics and automobile engineers. All of this activity is set to decrease if the EPA has its way with its newly proposed phalanx of regulations. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

Save Automotive Education & Conversion From EPA Regulation Deathgrip And Control

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA - a non-elected regulatory department of the federal government) is working to make it illegal, through regulation(s), to convert automobiles originally designed for on-road use into racecars, even though such conversions have been done since automobiles have been produced in a factory for sale to the general public.

Under the EPA’s proposed regulation(s), it is proposing that it would also be illegal to sell any performance-related products for those cars that would aid in the conversion.  The EPA’s proposal would have a devastating impact on any conversion including motorsports since many types of racing rely on production vehicles that have been independently modified (due to cost and availability) for use strictly at the track.

Autobooks Aerobooks book signing of Mazda MX-5 Miata: Twenty-Five Years by Thomas Bryant (Author), Bob Hall (Foreword) - this would never exist if the progressives in the EPA and federal government had their way. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Table of Contents of Mazda MX-5 Miata: Twenty-Five Years by Thomas Bryant (Author), Bob Hall (Foreword) - Chapter Four titled More Performance: Second Generation (NB), 1999-2005 or Chapter Seven titled The Greatest Turnout In Racing would never exist if the progressives in the EPA and federal government had their way. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

One has to ask, is this really the role of government that was organized under the construct of the United States Constitution?

This excerpted and edited from Wikipedia -

The Preamble was written to establish the origin, scope and purpose of the Constitution. Its origin and authority is in "We, the people of the United States". This echoes the Declaration of Independence. "One people" dissolved their connection with another, and assumed among the powers of the earth, a sovereign nation-state. The scope of the Constitution is twofold. First, "to form a more perfect Union" than had previously existed in the "perpetual Union" of the Articles of Confederation. Second, to "secure the blessings of liberty", which were to be enjoyed by not only the first generation, but for all who came after, "our posterity".
[Reference Here]

Special 1967 Chevy C10 pick-up truck with turbo-charged radial airplane engine custom conversion on display just outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center halls. Question(s): What has been done to modify this engine to increase performance? Is the extreme horsepower developed in this aftermarket power plant used in racing? Would this too be rendered illegal by the new regulations proposed by the EPA? Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

So, what can anyone do to stop this march toward total elimination of the freedom to learn, create, transform, produce, capitalize, and generally enjoy the process of conversion of an automobile to a purpose it was not originally produced to be intended for?

Enter a political action committee that was formed for addressing the bureaucratic regulatory activity over-reach - The SEMA Action Network (SAN).

This excerpted and edited from the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association -

What Is SAN?

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is a nationwide partnership between vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and members of the specialty auto parts industry who want to protect their hobby. Founded in 1997, the SAN was designed to help stamp out legislative threats to the automotive hobby and pass favorable laws. The SAN regularly:

Rallies the support of 3,000-plus car clubs, thousands of individual contacts, and 100-plus publications, with an estimated reach of 36 million enthusiasts nationwide, amplifying SEMA’s political voice on issues affecting the specialty equipment auto parts industry.

Sends out action alerts to generate an abundance of responses to state and/or federal legislative actions and regulatory proposals.

Issues timely updates of legislative and regulatory developments.

THERE ARE NO COSTS, FEES OR HASSLES to participate in the SAN. 

The concept is simple:

SEMA provides detailed, regularly updated information on legislative and regulatory issues that impact your hobby. The more hands that touch this information, the more eyes that read this information and the more people that stand up and do something about this information…the more effectively we protect our hobby. If action is required, we will urge SAN members to contact legislators and regulators to express support or opposition to a particular bill or proposal that directly affects the automotive hobby.
[Reference Here]

There is something an enthusiast can do right now in order to voice their displeasure with this government action that plans to eliminate a whole for-education, for-profit, and for-fun activity and marketplace that has developed over the course of over 100 years.

SIGN THE PETITION:

Say “No” to EPA’s Threat to Motorsports : SEMA Opposes Regulation Prohibiting Conversion of Vehicles into Racecars

Please sign the White House Petition asking the EPA to withdraw its proposal.  We need 100,000 signatures in 30 days, so don’t delay!  Add your voice now and forward to your friends.  Stop the EPA from making racecars illegal!

SEMA Opposes Regulation Prohibiting Conversion of Vehicles into Racecars. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is aiming to make it illegal to convert automobiles originally designed for on-road use into racecars, even though such conversions have been done for decades.

Under the EPA’s proposed rule, it would also be illegal to sell any performance-related products for those cars.  The EPA’s proposal would have a devastating impact on motorsports since many types of racing rely on production vehicles that have been modified for use strictly at the track.

SEMA is working with all stakeholder groups to oppose the regulation through the administrative process and will seek congressional support and judicial intervention as necessary.

Link: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/tell-epa-withdraw-its-proposal-prohibit-conversion-vehicles-racecars-0
(ht: SEMA via SAN)

Please help to save for-education, for-profit, and for-fun activity of converting automobiles for other purposes from elimination through EPA regulation by - first, signing the petition - second, voting for candidates that wish to move government back to being out of the business of control over every aspect of all peoples lives ... which was the original construct of the United States Constitution.

As the Preamble of the Constitution outlines as the intention of the founding document itself - to "secure the blessings of liberty", which were to be enjoyed by not only the first generation, but for all who came after, "our posterity".

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Preamble, U. S. Constitution, Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association, SEMA, SEMA Action Network, SAN, NASA, SCCA, PWC, sports cars, racing, Off-Road, education, training, research and development, Free Market, The EDJE

The Heathrow Accord – F1 Teams Agree On New Rules

The "MiniMe" - Toyota's half-sized scale model (in Kevlar black) used for wind tunnel testing pictured with its full sized Formula One racing counterpart. Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

The Heathrow Accord – F1 Teams Agree On New Rules

Formula One racing team management meet outside of London, England over the last few days in order to draft and agree on new rules aimed at addressing the world economic downturn due to the problems brought on by the sub-prime lending debacle here in the United States.

Tight money will affect motorsports racing activity starting in 2009 and may last for an estimated 24 to 48 months or more with reduced investment by consumer product companies in advertising.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), in an effort to reduce operating costs for all Formula One teams met in Heathrow and all the Members unanimously agreed a number of important principles and supported the process now established within FOTA.

This edited from a Press Release issued by the Formula One Teams Association -

FOTA Press Release
Thursday 8 January 2009

The teams detailed and signed a comprehensive Aerodynamic Test Restrictions Agreement, effective in 2009.

Furthermore, the Teams agreed that they would develop and freeze low cost transmissions for the 2010/12 seasons which would have a six race life, priced at € 1.5 million per season per team.

FOTA also reaffirmed its commitment to a € 5 million engine supply from 2010 for independent teams, who have expressed their agreement with and support for this arrangement.

The FOTA Technical Regulations Working Group will now conclude the elimination of expensive materials and identify further opportunities to reduce the cost of components and systems which do not deliver performance differentiation. All of the Teams present wished to express their support for the entrant currently known as Honda and they will agree to any name change registered.

All of the Teams are committed to working together in a rational and systematic manner, within the framework of FOTA to effectively reduce the costs inherent to Formula One. The same approach will now be used to improve the spectacle of the sport, following the outcome of the FOTA commissioned market research.

… notes from The EDJE

The T-Team Ten Whittled Down To The Elite Eight

Bruno Junqueira of Dale Coyne Racing will sit on the sidelines in Iowa after hitting the turn two SAFER barrier. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

The T-Team Ten Whittled Down To The Elite Eight

The eighth race of the 2008 season is proving hard to make for a couple of drivers from teams that are transitioning from the ranks of the ChampCar World Series to the IndyCar Series.

Mario Dominguez of Pacific Coast Motorsports and Bruno Junqueira of Dale Coyne Racing will not be able to make it into the field of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer, both for different yet similar reasons.

It is no secret that the teams that are new to the series do not have the same availability of parts, especially oval track aero parts, as do established teams that have been working with this Dallara chassis now for the better part of seven years. Heck, some of the teams may even have extra parts they have forgotten about that the kids are playin’ with in the backyard at home (more about kids, later).

Resource management and preparation kept the Pacific Coast Motorsports team at their headquarters here in Southern California whereas Bruno will join Marty Roth on the sidelines due to accidents each driver had in separate incidents in the morning practice session on the 0.894-mile Iowa Speedway tri-oval. Bruno Junqueira, after the car was hooked-up and brought bach to the pits, speculated that he hoped the car would be ready for the next race in Richmond, Virginia.

The yellow signal light glows for moisture on the track at Iowa Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Furthermore, the qualifications were rained out after only two qualifying runs by Ryan Briscoe - Penske Racing, Dan Weldon - Chip Ganassi Racing, and a third partial run by Helio Castroneves - Penske Racing was waived off. After that, the session cancelled.

Scott Dixon's special Commit sponsorship race livery. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

So, by virtue of his superlative season so far, Scott Dixon - Chip Ganassi Racing will start from the pole in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer based on entrant championship points accrued so far at this point in the season - Starting Grid.

This excerpted from IndyCar.com –

Junqueira, Roth Out
By Dave Lewandowski - indycar.com

Both cars sustained parts failures, which led to the cars spinning into the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2.

Click it: Timing & Scoring reports for practices

"It's a major disappointment," said Roth, the owner/driver of the Roth Racing car. "We worked so hard to get a good race car, and I think we made a really good one. It was a struggle at first, but I think we had a really good race car. We had a rear pushrod break going into corner 1, and it was all over at that point. The damage is pretty extensive. We can't fix it for the race. We'll be looking for Richmond now, and we'll have our eyes on John Andretti for the weekend." VIDEO

Junqueira was on a full-tank run on sticker tires when the car got loose and spun, collecting the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car driven by Dan Wheldon. VIDEO

"We had some steering rack problems in the run before and had someone vibration," Junqueira said. "I'm OK. Unfortunately, the car's not OK. It's very damaged. The left-rear wishbone broke, which is what made me spin. Hopefully we can get everything together for Richmond."

The Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew prepared Wheldon's back-up car for qualifications for the second race in a row.
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Milka Duno, who crashed during the Open Test on June 20, also will compete in the No. 23 back-up car.

The Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer is the first of six consecutive weekends of IndyCar Series racing. The SunTrust Indy Challenge at the 0.75-mile Richmond International Raceway oval is under the lights June 28.
Reference Here>>

Jaime Camara talking with his Conquest Racing team engineer. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

Speaking of kids, Jamie Camara of Conquest Racing will have the first increase in his family planned to be delivered June 25 … it’s a BOY!

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing is expecting two newborns in the near-term as well. Race Engineer, Mike Talbott is expecting his second within the next few days and will be replaced in Iowa by Senior Engineer Craig Hampson, who will return home after the race to receive the coming of his family’s second.

Oriol Servia being assisted into the cockpit of his KV Racing Technology Dallara during practice at Iowa Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

As for the grid of the Elite Eight, the highest position on points going into the eighth race of the season goes to Oriol Servia at 10th position.

POS./Car# - Driver - Hometown - Car - Sponsor Name - Team

10/5 - Oriol Servia - Pals, Spain - No Sponsor - KV Racing Technology

11/8 - Will Power - Toowoomba, Australia - Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia - KV Racing Technology

13/33 - EJ Viso - Caracas, Venezuela - PDVSA - HVM Racing

16/06 - Graham Rahal - Columbus, Ohio - No Sponsor - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing

17/36 - Enrique Bernoldi - Curitiba, Brazil - Sangari - Conquest Racing

20/02 - Justin Wilson - Sheffield, England - McDonald's - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing

21/34 - Jaime Camara - Goiania, Brazil – Sangari - Conquest Racing

24/19 - Mario Moraes - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Sonny's Bar-B-Q - Dale Coyne Racing

... notes from The EDJE

Got Parts! No Sponsor! No Problem - Graham Rahal WINS

Graham Rahal takes the checker flag at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg becoming the youngest ever to win an IndyCar Series race. Image Credit: Ron McQueeney – indycar.com

Got Parts! No Sponsor! No Problem - Graham Rahal WINS

This is a great story (again, with apologies to Kenny Chesney)!

It goes from No Parts (and no race for the first race), No Sponsor (Hole In The Wall Camp is, team owner, Paul Newman's charity), to No Problem for the first win by a CCWS T-Team!

Good on Graham Rahal (and father Bobby) of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.

The reason this IS a great story has to do with many reasons.

Graham Rahal came close to winning his first race at the age of 18, last year in the ChampCar World Series when he came in second place on the podium for the Grand Prix of Houston, April 22, 2007.

Rahal came back from a spinout early in the Saint Petersburg race, Sunday afternoon, to become the youngest winner in major open-wheel history. At 19 years, 93 days, Rahal broke the age record set two years ago in Sonoma, Calif., by another driver from a racing family, Marco Andretti, who was 19 years, 167 days old.

With this win, the ChampCar World Series Transition Teams crack the ice on its first win in only two races proving that the “T-Teams” ARE competitive with recognized, established leading teams in the IRL in this first season of unification. Many experts speculated that at minimum, it would take six to ten races for the CCWS T-Teams to catch on to the racing set-ups of the IRL Dallara chassis - Honda engine package. This win was not only won on a closed temporary street course (a CCWS strong point), it was won through strategy.

The driver who came in second had won the race the previous two years running … and was poised, through a strategic last pit stop where Helio Castroneves, of Team Penske, took on fuel only (no tires) and leaped forward seven spots to come in right behind Graham Rahal for the re-start. The trick in strategy at this very point, and very easy to overlook, is that Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (four time CCWS Championship winning team) kept Graham Rahal out hoping that the car would have enough fuel to finish the race. The strategy gamble paid dividends in this unified 2008 IRL season by posting a first ever CCWS T-Team race win in the second of eighteen scheduled races.

Graham Rahal had help with fuel saving yellow flag laps where the racers were slowed and held behind the pace car for several laps while track crews cleaned up after cars that had collected the wall, or each, other around the track during the last stint before the checkered flag that would end the race.

In the final re-start with just a few laps left, it was feared that Castroneves, with all of his winning experience (two-time Indy 500 Champion), would be able to get the drop on the much younger, non-winning Rahal, but Graham’s age hides the fact that he comes from a grand racing DNA tradition being the son of past Three-Time CART Champion, Indy 500 Winner (both as a driver and team owner) and IRL team owner (Rahal-Letterman Racing), Bobby Rahal. Graham Rahal answered the challenge at the re-start by bringing the field up to racing speed before the first turn of the main straightaway to receive the checkered flag and resume racing. All Helio Castroneves could do is maintain position as Graham placed a little distance between them until the end of the rain-dampened race.

Some of the best news for the Indianapolis Racing League in this year of unification is how well the CCWS T-Teams did in a race venue that was completely new to most all of the teams and drivers. Five of the top ten places were occupied by T-Team drivers. P1 - Graham Rahal (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing), P4 - EJ (Ernesto) Viso (Former Minardi Team USA – HVM Racing), P5 - Enrique Bernoldi (Conquest Racing - with consulting from Forsythe), P7 - Oriol Servia (KV Racing Technology), P8 - Will Power (KV Racing Technology). That is competitive no mater how one slices it!

The Indianapolis Racing League wants to say "Transition tag gone!" (as per an article posted at indycar.com by Dave Lewandowski) but until the IRL management shows an interest in the race weekend at Long Beach (which happens over the same weekend as the engine supplier race (Honda) held in Motegi, Japan), the ChampCar teams will always be viewed as T-Teams!

Com' On! the Long Beach Grand Prix race can not get any play as being listed as a race in the schedule at indycar.com website - No opportunity to link to event information - No ticket sales - NOTHING (as of the writing of this post). To be fair, the ChampCar site isn't much help either, although, this site at least has a link to additional information.

Heck, the race in Long Beach can not even be mentioned by the house writer in his article about Saint Petersburg ... you know, that the next race one will be able to see this race winner, Graham Rahal, compete in is LONG BEACH ... not Motegi, Japan! (please note: the possibility exists that Graham could race in Japan, catch a private jet and start the Long Beach race from the back of the field - pure speculation)

Again, Good on Graham Rahal and the ChampCar World Series Transition Teams for a great showing in the streets of Saint Petersburg, Florida before these guys give one last hurrah to the PANOZ DP01 through the streets in Long Beach.

The DP01 chassis will be featured in the final ChampCar race, and the only ChampCar race that will award IRL points toward the 2008 IRL season championship in the streets at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 17-20, 2008 - Long Beach, California.

See you all on Shoreline Drive!

UPDATE - 4-15-2008:

IndyCar Series News & Notes - April 14, 2008
By indycar.com

Today's IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines
**One weekend, two races in two hemispheres
**Rahal's win broke three-team, 37-race streak
**Web traffic spikes at indycar.com
Reference Here>>

Two of the greatest takeaway’s of the article referenced are

1.) Rahal's win broke three-team, 37-race streak: Graham Rahal's victory in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg April 6 for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing was the first by a driver for a team other than Andretti Green Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing or Team Penske since Aug. 14, 2005 - a span of 37 IndyCar Series races. Fernandez Racing's Scott Sharp won the race at Kentucky Speedway in 2005 before the streak started.

Read that as T-Team success!

2.) Web traffic spikes at indycar.com: The unification of open-wheel racing under the IndyCar Series banner has already resulted in increased car counts and a renewed interest among sponsors and fans. Another sign of the growing excitement surrounding the unified IndyCar Series is the drastic increase in web traffic at the series' official Web site, http://www.indycar.com/. The site, which unveiled a new, improved design in March, has seen tremendous growth since the beginning of the year.

Read this as people wanting to get information on unification but can not get any.

This article mentions that there is a race in Long Beach … but try to get any direct information on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach from the indycar.com website.

… notes from The EDJE

ChampCar and IndyCar Become One In 2008

Indy Racing League CEO and founder Tony George shook hands with Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven in front of a packed meeting room at Homestead-Miami Speedway to formally announce the unification. Standing behind them as a sign of unity were nearly two dozen drivers from both series. In photo looking on from left to right: Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti of Andretti/Green Racing, and Robert Doornbos of Minardi Team USA - Image Credit: Shawn Payne

ChampCar and IndyCar Become One In 2008

… and then there was one!

Video Of Announcement

That’s right, there will no longer be two competing major professional open-wheel racing series to split the pool of available team owners, drivers, sponsors, loyalties of fans, and formula rules managed here in North America.

With unification, it will give participants the ability for all to build a competitive series of annual races (Tony George, President of the IRL looks to have 20 races in the schedule for 2009) that will lend the world an alternative to the “Anything Goes” structure of Formula One (which currently has races in 18 venues).

“American” open-wheel automobile racing has always sought to have a formula on which to race focused on safety, and controlling costs while allowing racing teams to have a greater than equal chance at being competitive with each other. On any given race day, any driver could win a pole position or a race because the equipment and the rules that govern the use of the equipment and on track race management (stoppages for debris, accidents and pit stops) help to promote parity.

In Formula One, the expenditures for equipment are basically not an issue and the rules that govern use of technology are at a minimum. On track race management rules do not allow for drivers to catch up during stoppages for accidents and there is no “Yellow Flag” restart process as there is in American auto sports. While the automobiles that are created bust the bounds of imagination in performance, the competition basically remains with the racing teams that spend the most money. Winning is left in the control of two to three teams throughout the course of a season.

Image Credit: indycar.com

This excerpted from Racing One –

Unification Announced
J.J. O'Malley - RacingOne Contributor - HOMESTEAD, Fla - Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2008

After 12 years of division - and nearly 30 years of animosity - the leaders of American open-wheel racing declared it's time to look forward and proceed with a unified IndyCar Series.

Indy Racing League CEO and founder Tony George shook hands with Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven in front of a packed meeting room at Homestead-Miami Speedway to formally announce the unification. Standing behind them as a sign of unity were nearly two dozen drivers from both series.

Brian Barnhart, IRL vice president of operations, said that anywhere from 8-12 cars from former Champ Car teams could be added to the grid for the season-opening Gainsco Auto Insurance Indy 300, set for March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Champ Car teams joining the IndyCar Series will each get two Dallara chassis from a pool of exiting new and used chassis; a one-year Honda engine lease; and $1.2 million per car from the IndyCar TEAM program.

To facilitate the transition, Champ Car teams will be partnered with IndyCar Series teams. For instance, Kalkoven's team (now known as KV Racing in partnership with Jimmy Vasser) will work with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Rahal Letterman will work with Newman/Haas/Lanigan, and Andretti Green will work with Forsythe.

Also to be consolidated into the IndyCar Series are several of Champ Car's tangible properties - including the medical transporter - and intellectual and historical properties, including Champ Car's historical records. [View List Of Drivers That Competed In CART and Champ Car World Series That Will Now Join The History Of The Indianapolis Racing League]

As rumored, the April 20 race at Long Beach, California, will be the final event for the current Champ Car Panoz chassis and Cosworth engines, although it will follow the IndyCar Series purse and point structure. Kalkhoven hinted that he would not be surprised to see several of the IndyCar Series drivers flying in from the Saturday IndyCar Series race at Motegi, Japan, to also race at Long Beach.

In addition, races at Edmonton, Canada, and Surfer's Paradise, Australia, may be added to the current 16-race IRL schedule.

George said at the beginning of the conference that he was recently reflecting on the 30th anniversary of his grandfather's death (former Indianapolis Motor Speedway head Tony Hulman, who passed away in 1977), and realized that it had been 30 years since the sport has been truly unified.
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Kalkhoven said that he and George have talked about the unification for four years.

"It's been a long and hard road to get here," Kalkhoven said. "But, we are here. Unification in itself is not a magic bullet. This will take a lot of hard work. This still requires a huge amount of work."

Barnhart said that there was 100 percent attendance by the Champ Car teams at a recent orientation in Indianapolis.

"They were genuinely pleased with the package they were offered," he said.
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"We hope to get through this 2008 season and make this a story for the fans," George said. "If the fans are happy, we will have happy teams and sponsors.
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The Indy Racing League began competition in 1996, running an initial three-race schedule. The IRL and CART ran head-to-head on the Memorial Day weekend that year, with the U.S. 500 run at Michigan International Speedway the same time that the Indianapolis 500 was run.
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Homestead Testing Underway
Wednesday also marked the opening of two days of testing for the IndyCar Series on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval. None of the Champ Car teams had cars at the test, with 17 IndyCar Series regulars participating.

Spring Training continues March 3-6 at Sebring International Raceway. The series will be divided into two groups of cars, each testing for two days.

While the Champ Car teams are not expected to be ready for the Sebring test, they will have two days of testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Monday and Tuesday March 24-25.

In addition to the four cars from Andretti-Green Racing (Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick and Hideki Mutoh) and two each from Team Penske (Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe), Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon) and Marty Roth Racing (Roth and Jay Howard), A.J. Foyt (Darren Manning), Rahal Letterman (Ryan Hunter-Reay) and Panther Racing (Vitor Meira) had one car each for the Homestead test. Vision Racing brought a second car for Anthony Foyt to partner with Ed Carpenter, while Dreyer Reinbold brought a second car for Milka Duno to join Buddy Rice.
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The 2008 [unified] IndyCar Series season takes the green flag at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, with the Gainsco Auto Insurance Indy 300
Reference Here>>

Graham Rahal charging a corner ... Team Rahal Letterman will work with Team Newman/Haas/Lanigan - Image Credit: Newman/Haas/Lanigan

Several ChampCar teams that have issued first responses are as follows:

First off, Forsythe Racing will not compete in the unification series (originally paired up with AGR for the transition) opting to pull out and race only in the former feeder series of Formula Atlantic which becomes an unassociated and independent entry-level professional series.

Statement from Frosythe Racing website -

Forsythe Racing to Focus on Atlantic Championship
Champ Car February 28, 2008

Forsythe Championship Racing LLC, which has participated in CART and Champ Car over the past 13 seasons, will cease operations following the April 20th Long Beach Grand Prix. Parent company Forsythe Racing, Inc. will continue its Atlantic program with drivers James Hinchcliffe and David Garza.

Thanks to all the fans who supported us over the years!
Reference Here>>

This, from a strong team with the following statistics:
TEAM STATS Years: 16 Victories: 32 Poles: 34

Paul Tracy needs a ride - Career: 30 Champ Car Wins, 25 Poles, 2003 Champ Car Champion

Conquest Racing was the first team to issue an announcement from team owner, Eric Bachelart stating that they will field two cars fot the season opening race to be held March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Franck Perera was announced as one of the drivers, with the other driver still to be announced.

This excerpted from the IndyCar website -

"Finally, we have come together as one," Bachelart said. "It's been a long time coming and we can now all move ahead in the same direction under one roof. The work is only starting, but now that there is solidarity in open-wheel racing it will make it that much easier to take this sport to where it needs to be.

"It's a great moment for open-wheel racing in general and for the fans and our sponsors. We are happy to be competing under the Indy Racing League banner with our other fellow 'Champ Car' competitors against established IndyCar Series teams and we are also looking forward to the new challenge that this unification brings us."

Added Bachelart, who participated as a driver in the 1992 and 1995 Indianapolis 500:

"The first few races won't be easy, but we gladly accept the challenge. Thankfully, we will not be in complete unknown territory having competed in the IRL in 2002.

Obviously, the competition level has increased since then and there is a lot of work that needs to be done before we get to the same level as the IRL teams, but that's what racing is all about. We are really excited and can't wait to get to work on the Dallaras."
Reference Here>>

Tony Kanaan, right, chats with Bruno Junqueira, while Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe (in red) listen in. Image Credit: Dave Lewandowski - indycar.com

PKV Racing’s site is under construction.

Dale Coyne Racing’s site hasn’t had a news release since the end of last year although Bruno Junqueira was in attendance at the Homestead announcement.

Rocketsports Racing – No Update since 2-5-2008

Dutchman, Robert Doornbos of Minardi Team USA in the "Fountain Corner" at the 2007 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Sutton Motorsport Images

Minardi Team USA - No Update since 2-4-2008

This excerpted from Walker Racing website –

UPDATE FOR THE FANS: Back to the Future
By: Derrick Walker - February 23, 2008

After four long weeks, we can finally say the deal is done. Walker Racing wanted to take this opportunity to update the fans again with what we know and where we go from here.
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Now the merger is done. It's day one of the rest of our lives. What are we doing and what is needed to complete the transition for the teams?

One of the major hurdles for the teams is going to be getting access to all of the parts necessary to turn up and compete at a level similar to what they were doing in Champ Car. There is a lot to learn about the new car, which will be a separate learning curve and a separate hurdle. In the next six weeks the teams have to get cars, kits and all the parts necessary to run the cars, build them and test for at least four to six days, which will be a luxury if they manage it for the first event.
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Top down view of the very capable DP01 racing chassis that will go away after the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Image Credit: Walker Racing

Probably the most difficult factor for the teams will be acquainting themselves to an IRL car. There is a lot to be done in a short span of time and, because of the time frame, it will be an expensive six weeks for the teams to endure.

Having said that, it's probably the cart before the horse when looking at what needs to be done. Once it's known what the series is doing and everyone has gotten over the merger announcement, it needs to be determined if the sponsors are still interested.
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If you take Walker Racing specifically, since the last race in 2007, we have gone from a two car program in Champ Car to maybe a two car program in the IndyCar Series. A lot of time has been lost in being able to move forward and secure a two car program. One car is the first step. I think the Champ Car teams are going to be somewhat surprised when they see the cost of the Indy Car and this will be an ongoing concern as the season unfolds.

For example, in Champ Car you can't do wind tunnel testing. In the IndyCar Series you can.
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These are all differences and transitional ramp up elements, which is specifically team related. As we have seen in the Champ Car situation, it is possible to reduce the cost and not affect the show. For the 2007 season, there were more competitive entries and more challenges for race wins than there probably was in the last three years prior. Stabilizing the formula, bringing the costs down, and containing development would really be a request, if nothing else, to the league for 2010.
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All of the employees and drivers (Will Power and Simon Pagenaud) have been extremely patient with the process. It's hard to imagine saying to an athlete who's racing or playing for a championship to put their careers on hold for several months while the sport decides if it's going to be playing at Wimbledon or not. It's hard to imagine the effect on a driver to be put on hold like this, but Will has been very supportive of the team and has been standing by for this important announcement to be made so that he can get into the car and go racing.

We would like to continue to thank the fans for your continued support. We will keep you posted on this new journey and what this means for open wheel racing and Walker Racing.
Reference Here>>

Image Credit: Pacific Coast Motorsports (LAT, 2007)

And finally, this from Pacific Coast Motorsports website –

Pacific Coast Motorsports Statement on the Unification of Open-Wheel Racing
Katie Brannan, Feburary 22, 2008

Tyler Tadevic, Team Director - Pacific Coast Motorsports

“We are thrilled to have a unified series, without a doubt this provides the strongest platform for our partners going forward. It is our intention for Pacific Coast Motorsports to continue its open-wheel endeavors. Our goal is to be on the IRL grid at the GAINSCO Grand Prix in Miami with two IndyCars. We are working diligently on this program and welcome all opportunities.

In addition, it is our intention to continue our Atlantic program with our young American stars Frankie Muniz and Carl Skerlong. Vicki O’Connor (Atlantic President) has a long, successful history leading the Atlantic series and we are confident she will find the series a good home.

We are grateful to the Champ Car community and to our fans who have shown us great support and we look forward to a brighter future for Open-Wheel Racing in North America.”
Reference Here>>

Let's Go Racing!

... notes from The EDJE