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2005 CHAMP CARS - CART

• R14 of 14, Nov. 6 Mexico City
  Winner: Wilson; Pole: Wilson

• R13 of 14, Oct 23 Australia
  Winner: Bourdais ; Pole: Servia *** 6th win for Bourdais ***
  *** BOURDAIS WINS CHAMPIONSHIP ***

• R12 of 14, Oct. 16 Korea *** CANCELLED ***
  Kevin Kalkhoven:"It is regrettable that we have to remove a race from what has been a very successful season. But we believe that this decision will help build a stronger event in the long-term future. We remain focused on bringing our series to Asia and the Pacific Rim, and will continue to build toward our goal of conducting world-class events in these regions."

• R11 of 14, Sept 24 Las Vegas
  Winner: Bourdais ; Pole: Bourdais *** 5th win for Bourdais ***

• R10 of 14, Aug. 28 Montreal
  Winner: Servia; Pole: Bourdais

• R9 of 14, Aug. 14 Denver
  Winner: Bourdais; Pole: Bourdais *** 4th win for Bourdais ***

• R8 of 14, July 31 San Jose
  Winner: Bourdais; Pole: Bourdais *** 3rd win for Bourdais ***

• R7 of 14, July 17 Edmonton
  Winner: Bourdais; Pole: Allmendinger

• R6 of 14, July 10, 2005 Toronto
  Winner: Wilson; Pole: Bourdais *** maiden win for Justin Wilson ***

• R5 of 14, June 26, 2005: Cleveland
  Winner: Tracy; Pole: Tarcy
  *Tracy takes over the championship lead from Bourdais*

• R4 OF 14, June 19, 2005: Portland
  Winner: Da Matta; Pole: Wilson

• R3 of 14, June 4, 2005: Milwaukee
  Winner: Tracy; Pole: Vasser
  *Junquiera to miss race; Servia fills in*

• *** INDY 500 *** MAY 29, 2005
  (Bourdais 12th; Junquiera injured)

• R2 of 14, May 22, 2005: Monterrey, Mexico
  Winner: Junqueira; Pole: Bourdais
  Toyota Atlantic winner: Charles Zwolsman; Legge 5th

• R1 of 14, April 10, 2005: Long Beach - SEASON OPENER
  Winner: Bourdais ; Pole: Tracy
  Toyota Atlantic winner: Katherine Legge

• 1 Charles Zwolsman
• 2 Tonis Kasemets
• 3 Katherine Legge: "I'm really looking forward to next year. I'm hoping to do Atlantic again with Polestar and I'm hoping to win the championship. For me to move up to Champ Cars, I need to prove I'm better than anybody else. I'm not going to get there just because I'm a girl.

• DA MATTA RETURNS FROM F1
  2002 Champcar champion Cristiano da Matta will rejoin the Champcar series after 2 years in F1 (Toyota).
  PKV (Dan Pettit): "... The addition of Cristiano to PKV Racing's driver lineup gives us the strongest team we have had in our three year existence and one of the most exciting in Champ Car history. Cristiano is, obviously a tremendous driving talent, a past champion and a driver who knows how to win races."
  DA MATTA: "... The Champ car is more physical than the F1 car, but the F1 car is difficult on your neck .... With the steel brakes, no power steering and the fact that you have to shift the car you use more of your body than you do in F1. My heart rate in an F1 race ranges from 150-160 beats per minute but in the Champ car it's 160-175bpm ... From a racing standpoint it (Champ Car) is the most competitive series in the world and one that puts a premium on a driver's ability. The decision to join PKV Racing was not a difficult one. I really only talked to three teams and, in the end the best opportunity for me was here."
• WIRDHEIM & BREMER JOIN HVM RACING
  Two scandinavian drivers will make their Champcar debut with HVM Racing team. 25 year old Bjorn Wirdheim from Sweden won the International F3000 championship in 2003. He has tested with several Champcar teams as well as Formula 1 Jaguar team. His team-mate will be 26 year old Ronnie Bremer from Denmark. He competed in Toyota Atlantic Championship in 2003.
  WIRDHEIM: "I've been looking to Champ Car for a long time. This series has been at the top of my list and I look forward to the interesting races on the Champ Car calendar"
  BREMER: "This is a dream come true for me. Champ Car has been a goal of mine since I started racing and I can't wait to get started in Long Beach. I had a very good test with HVM in Sebring and was impressed with their teamwork and communication. The engineering staff is top-notch; I knew this was the team I wanted to drive for."
• NEW TEAM AUSTRALIA
  Walker Racing will become the new Team Australia. It is a joint venture between Derrick Walker and Australian businessmen Craig Gore and John Fish. Aussie rookie driver Marcus Marshall and Canadian Alex Tagliani will drive the new green and gold Team Australia Lolas.
• JOURDAIN SWITCHES TO NASCAR (JAN 7)
  

  28 year old Michel Jourdain Jr. left Champcar to join stockcar racing - Nascar Busch in 2005. He becomes the first hispanic driver to drive full time in Nascar. He will drive a Ford Taurus for ppc Racing. Jourdain made his Champcar (CART) debut in 1996 aged just 19. His best result was in 2003 when he won 2 races and finished 3rd overall for Team Rahal.
  JOURDAIN: "... I wanted to thank everyone who helped me in Champ Car the last nine seasons ... There were so many great crew guys, owners and drivers there. It's hard to leave the series, and I wish them the best, but this was an opportunity that I could not turn down. It's time for another chapter in my career."
  CHAMPCAR (Dick Eidswick, President): "... We are disappointed to lose a driver of the caliber of Michel from our series and we wish him success in his new endeavor. Michel's decision to stay in Champ Car after the departure of his former team prior to the start of the season was a key in building momentum for a successful 2004 and is something that Champ Car will always be grateful for."
• 18 YEAR OLD RANGER JOINS MI-JACK CONQUEST
  2004 Atlantic series rookie-of-the-year Andrew Ranger (CAN) will make his Champcar debut with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing team.
  RANGER: "I've worked hard to get where I am and I'm really pleased to see that my efforts and those of my sponsors that have supported me from the very beginning of my racing career have been rewarded ... I'm extremely grateful to Mr. Bachelart for the confidence he has expressed in me and I intend to prove that he made the right choice in giving me a ride with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing."
  MI-JACK (Bachelart): "I had heard a lot about Andrew and I had been watching him for some time, but I was really struck by his composure and dexterity in handling the car ... This is a very exciting time for MJCR. We have worked extremely hard during the off-season to improve the technical and engineering program, and we feel that we have two very capable drivers in Nelson and Andrew to take full advantage of our technical package. "

• RuSPORT

  RuSPORT (Carl Russo): "... Both of these drivers just get in and go; they have very good feedback and, I believe that they are both willing to share and learn. I'll probably have the tallest and shortest drivers on the grid next year; I think they'll be winners."
  A.J. Allmendinger, (US), 2004 Rookie of the Year: "... Next year I'll have a stronger team around me and a good chance to take the championship ... This team including Justin will have a huge benefit. I have a lot of respect for Justin and know he's capable and fast. He'll push me to get better and I think we'll push each other in 2005 battling for wins."
  Justin Wilson (UK): "... This is a very professional team and I look forward to the new season working with A.J. He's very quick ... Champ Car met my expectations and I think the new owners are doing the right things in the right order ant the right time. Champ Car has a lot to offer drivers,"

COSWORTH ENGINE OWNERSHIP CHANGE

• Cosworth engine company bought by Champcar owners
  Ford Cosworth engine company which powered Champcars in 2004 has been sold by Ford. The new owners are Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe - Champcar series owners. Cosworth has around 600 employees based in England and US. They will be retained by the new ownership and will continue to supply engines to all Champcar teams, Indycar Chevrolet teams as well as Minardi and the new "Red Bull" Formula 1 teams.
  FORD (Parry-Jones): "... I personally am absolutely delighted by Kevin and Gerry's purchase of Cosworth ... They have a tremendous history in the sport"
  COSWORTH (Routsis): "... This sale has been distracting for our organization as we struggled with uncertainty over our future. I have been delighted with the performance and professionalism of our entire staff at Cosworth and find their activities inspirational," under the weight" of future employment uncertainty ... We intend to maintain and strengthen our position in the motorsports world ... and you may expect ongoing announcements for expansion of the Cosworth brand."

• 14 round competition in 2005 season
• 4 countries outside US:
  Canada - 3 races ; Mexico - 2 races ; Australia - 1 race ; Korea - 1 race
• 3 new venues for 2005:
  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - July 17, 2005
  Ansan, Korea - October 17, 2005
  California's Silicon Valley - July 3, 2005

2005 RULE CHANGES

• Pit intervals and mandatory pit stops abolished
• Pits closed during full-course yellow flag
• Wet track qualifying limited to 15 laps

• 2004 FINAL STANDING
  1 Sebastien Bourdais 369
  2 Junqueira 341
  3 Carpentier 266
  4 Tracy 254 ; 5 Dominguez 244 ; 6 Allmendinger 229

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