2006-2007 ChampCar Silly Season

All about the Champ Car World Series (CCWS)

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2006-2007 ChampCar Silly Season

Post by mlittle » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:49 am

As with the other major open-wheel series in NA motorsports, the 2006-2007 ChampCar silly season thread will begin with an interesting first posting.........one of the major news items from last night's unveiling of the 2007 Panoz DP01 chassis was the announcement that Gelles Racing, which currently competes in the Atlantic Championship, will be making the move up to the ChampCars next year. Here are some quotes from those involved................

Bob Gelles, Owner--Gelles Racing:
I'm very ecstatic to be a part of the Champ Car World Series in 2007; its' something I've truly dreamed about and been working on for (the past) five years and it's nice to see it come true. We have not chose our drivers, but Colin Fleming is one guy we are talking to. Ideally we would like one veteran driver and one young driver. I've been involved in motorsports all my life and the Champ Car ladder program is a continuation of that.
Steve Johnson, President, Champ Car World Series:
We are excited about welcoming Gelles Racing to Champ Car in 2007. The team has demonstrated its' passion for open-wheel racing, and we look forward to seeing them on the grid for many years to come.
Kevin Kalkhoven, Owner-PKV Racing & Co-Owner, Champ Car World Series:
We set off on a strategy to rebuild the Champ Car World Series from the ground up. The first step of that strategy was the rebuilding of the Atlantic Championship Series. The second step was the introduction of the 2007 chassis, which will allow Atlantic teams to move up to Champ Car. We welcome Gelles Racing as proof of the success of that strategy.
In addition, numerous reports are former American Spirit Racing team owner Stefan Johannson is also interested in returning to the ChampCar paddock for 2007.

Maybe it's just me......but I think it's safe to assume that silly season has officially begun. 8) :lol: :lol: :shock: 8)
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2nd-generation American to test for NHR

Post by mlittle » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:10 pm

According to multiple sources(speedtv.com, autoracing1.com), current Atlantic Championship driver Graham Rahal, who has 4 wins in the Atlantic season this year, will test for Newman-Haas Racing next month in Sebring; reports are that a mulit-year sponsorship package is being worked on by NHR sponsor guru Ralph Hansen, and that, barring anything unexpected, will either drive in the car currently driven by Bruno Junquiera or in a third NHR car. There are also reports that, if NHR cannot find enough funding to run a third car for Graham, series co-owner/PKV Racing co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven has promised to offer the kid a third seat alongside Oriol Servia and Katherine Legge for 2007, saying to Speed's Robin Miller,
Graham still hasn't tested yet but after he does I believe he'll receive an offer from Newman-Haas and, for some reason if they don't, then PKV will offer him one.
My view.......unless anything happens, its' almost certain that the kid will be in a Champcar for 2007, meaning that for the first time since 2005, there will be at least 2 Americans on the ChampCar grid when the 2007 season begins in Las Vegas.
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First Projected Driver Lineup for 2007

Post by mlittle » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:49 pm

With silly season now essentially a year-long affair, enjoy the first edition of the 2007 driver lineups..............

~~CTE/HVM Racing(2): Nelson Phillipe, Dan Clarke. With competitive runs of late from both drivers, don't expect either to leave. If Cedric the Entertainer can help provide additional funding(read sponsors....) to go with the new Panoz DP01, then this team is set

~~Dale Coyne Racing(2): Mario Dominguez, Jan Heylen(?), Ronnie Bremer(?). After being released from Forsythe, Mario Dominguez has put up some strong runs and will likely head for a mid-pack team in 2007; the DP01 will allow DCR to stretch the budget in 2007

~~Forsythe Championship Racing(2): Paul Tracy, A.J. Allmendinger. All assumptions are that this team's lineup is set for 2007.

~~Gelles Racing(2): Ryan Hunter-Reay(?), Colin Fleming(?), Alex Barron(?), Robbie Pecorari(?). In announcing his intent to run a 2-car team in 2007, team owner Bob Gelles made it clear his lineup will include a veteran(Hunter-Reay and Barron) and a rookie driver(Fleming and Pecorari).

~~MiJack-Conquest Racing(2): Charles Zwolsman(?), Andrew Ranger(?), Enrico Toccacelo(?). After Montreal, Ranger's sponsorship(read.....funding) goes out, so he could be gone by Road America; hence, the reason the team tested Toccacelo at Road America in early August

~~Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junquiera, Graham Rahal(?). If his Sebring test in September is a success, then expect the second-generation racer to drive for NHR in 2007.

~~PKV Racing(2-3): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Graham Rahal(?). When NHR made the above annoucement concerning where Graham Rahal will drive in 2007(concerning the Sebring test), team co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven said that "if NHR can't find him(Graham) a seat in 2007, then we will".

~~Rocketsports Racing(1-2): Tonis Kasemets(?), Nicky Pastorelli(?). Right now, no one is sure who will drive for Paul Gentilozzi's team in 2007. Expect whoever can bring money AND sponsorship to determine who drives in 2007.

~~RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta. Unless da Matta's recovery is longer than expected, no changes in the driver lineup is expected.

~~Team Australia(2): Will Power, Alex Tagliani. Both drivers had have their ups and downs, but are expected to return in 2007.

Their are a few provisional entries for 2007......
Prov. 1} American Spirit Racing(once owned by Stefan Johansson in 2003), drivers unknown

Prov. 2} McCaw Racing(back in Portland, former PacWest owner Bruce McCaw was rumored to be in the process of fielding a team in 2007), drivers unknown

Prov. 3} Parrott Racing(former Penske and Mo Nunn engineer Peter Parrott is running Panoz's testing of the 2007 Panoz DP01 w/driver Roberto Moreno and could field a 1-car team)

Prov. 4} Rahal-Letterman Racing. In 2003, the team fielded three drivers(Michel Jourdain, Jr., Danica Patrick and Kenny Brack) in Champ Car, Atlantics and the IndyCar Series, so it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the Hilliard, Ohio-based team could field 2 entries in both the IRL and ChampCar in 2007.

Prov. 5} Polestar Racing. Depending on how the funding and sponsorships shake out, team owner Jim Griffith has hinted that he could move up to ChampCar in 2007 with a 1-car effort centering around either Ronnie Bremer or Alan Scuito.

Prov. 6} Stoddart Racing. Just as in Formula 1 w/Minardi, expect whoever can bring the biggest checkbook to drive for Paul Stoddart in 2007.

Number of Confirmed Seats: 1
Number of Open Seats: 18-21
Number of Potential Seats: 6
Expected Car Count: 19-24
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PCM to field ChampCar team in 2007.....

Post by mlittle » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:53 am

Pacific Coast Motorsports, which currently fields a Daytona Prototype entry w/Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge in the Rolex Sports Car Series, announced Saturday that they will be fielding a 2-car team in the Champ Car World Series for 2007, and that both Dalziel and FIgge will drive for the team. The team's director, Tyler Tadevic, also announced that PCM will continue its' sportscar efforts in Grand-Am for 2007.

Accordingly, the silly season thread will be updated later this afternoon......
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Silly Season Projections, 5 Sept. 2006

Post by mlittle » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:17 pm

1}CTE/HVM Racing(2): Nelson Phillipe, Dan Clarke. No changes at present.

2}Dale Coyne Racing(2): Mario Dominguez(?), Jan Heylen(?), Ronnie Bremer(?). Word from Mexico City is that Dominguez may not have a ride for the season finale; coupled with 1-no expected CC race in Monterrey, and 2-no other Mexican drivers in the series, and you have the makings of a major headache for the series.

3}Forsythe Championship Racing(2): Paul Tracy, A.J. Allmendinger. No changes at present.

4}Gelles Racing(2): Ryan Hunter-Reay(?), Colin Fleming(?), Alex Barron(?), Robbie Pecorari(?). No changes at present.

5}Mi-Jack-Conquest Racing(2): Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman. No changes at present; Ranger has full sponsorship from Wal-Mart and Tide for the last three rounds of 2006

6}Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junquiera, Graham Rahal. No changes at present.

7}Pacific Coast Motorsports(2): Ryan Dalziel, Alex Figge. The team announced over the weekend that, in addition to a 2-car Daytona Prototype effort in Grand-Am that they will be fielding a 2-car ChampCar effort in 2007.

8}PKV Racing(2-3): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Graham Rahal(?), Dario Franchitti(?). Although Franchitti is set to drive for RuSport in the last three rounds of the 2006 season, reports are that PKV might sign him to the team for 2007 if da Matta returns to racing at RuSport

9}Rocketsports Racing(2): Tonis Kasemets(?), Antonio Pizzonia(?), Nicky Pastorelli(?). No changes at present.

10}RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta, Dario Franchitti(?). The scenario is as follows; Franchitti, it is believed, will step in for Shorty for the remainder of 2006. If da Matta returns for 2007, then Franchitti, if he stays in ChampCar, is likely headed over to PKV; if da Matta's recovery is longer than expected, then Franchitti is likely staying here for 2007...... :?

11}Team Australia(2): Will Power, Alex Tagliani. No changes at present.

Prov. 1}American Spirit Racing; no changes at present.
Prov. 2}McCaw Racing; no changes at present
Prov. 3}Parrott Racing; no changes at present
Prov. 4}Rahal-Letterman Racing; no changes at present
Prov. 5}Polestar Racing; no changes at present
Prov. 6}Stoddart Racing; no changes at present


No. of confirmed seats: 3
No. of open seats: 19-22
No. of potential seats: 6
Expected car count: 22-26
Last edited by mlittle on Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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More news on Stoddart ChampCar team......?

Post by mlittle » Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:42 pm

According to autoracing1.com, two possible are in play for former Minardi F1 principal Paul Stoddart to enter ChampCar in 2007......

Option #1}According to ar1's sources, ChampCar series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven owns 50% of CTE-HVM Racing(Keith Wiggins owns the other 50%); if CTE-HVM is unable to become self-sufficient, Kalkhoven may buy out Wiggins's share, sell the team to Stoddart and use their Indy-based shop to give Stoddart a chance to hit the ground running for 2007

Option #2}Again, credit to ar1.com; according to their sources, PKV Racing's Indy-based facility could house up to 4 ChampCar teams. Kalkhoven could potentially set up a "B" team to PKV, which Stoddart would run(similar, in a sense, to the relationship in Formula 1 btwn. Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso) w/in the PKV facility.

All told, no firm commitment from Stoddart is expected until the end of September.
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2 teams to possibly expand in 2007.....?

Post by mlittle » Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:55 pm

According to multiple sources, there could be a bit of major expansion on the ChampCar grid in 2007. Two teams, Forsythe Championship Racing and RuSport Racing, are the teams mentioned, as follows.....

First, FCR. Currently a 2-car team with drivers Paul Tracy and A.J. Allmendinger(Tracy's already signed; Allmendinger is expected to sign soon), the team reportedly is talking to at least one top-shelf driver in both the IRL and ChampCar(the team and all available sources are sworn to secrecy at present...... :( .......)

Second, RuSport. Currently a 2-car team with drivers Justin Wilson and Cristiano da Matta. Although current IRL driver Dario Franchitti is expected to sign a three-race deal with the Colorado-based team, reports are that he and his business agent are talking to RuSport about a full-time ride in 2007 if da Matta's injuries take longer for him to recover from. If, on the other hand, his recovery is faster than expected, rumor has it the team could add a third car for Franchitti.
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Silly Season Projections, 17 Sept. 2006

Post by mlittle » Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:53 pm

~~CTE-HVM Racing(2): Nelson Phillipe, Dan Clarke. No changes at present; rumors are that, should former Minardi principal Paul Stoddart not be able to start his own team, he may buy half-ownership of this team from current principal Keith Wiggins

~~Dale Coyne Racing(2): Mario Dominguez(?), Jan Heylen(?), Juan Cacares(?), Ronnie Bremer(?), Giorgio Pantano(?), Jay Howard(?). This driver lineup's up in the air for 2007; reports are that Dominguez may be released by the team after Road America and replaced by Cacares. In addition, both Pantano and Howard(2006 IRL Indy Pro Series winner) have expressed an interest in driving for DCR

~~Forsythe Championship Racing(2+): Paul Tracy, A.J. Allmendinger. No changes at present.

~~Gelles Racing(2): Colin Fleming, Michael Valiante. Sources close to the team expect them to sign both Fleming and Valiante for 2007.

~~MiJack-Conquest Racing(2): Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman. No changes at present.

~~Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junquiera, Graham Rahal. This team is all but set; the only apparent hangup is sponsorship for Junquiera in 2007.

~~Pacific Coast Motorsports(2): Ryan Dalziel, Alex Figge. The team is expected to begin testing(to be done under series rules w/a Ford-Cosworth/Lola until January) within a few weeks.

~~PKV Racing(2): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Neel Jani(?), Graham Rahal(?). According to reports, Red Bull is expected to fully sponsor one PKV entry(w/Jani as the driver). No other changes at present.

~~Rocketsports Racing(2): Tonis Kasemets(?), Nicky Pastorelli(?). No changes at present.

~~RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta, Dario Franchitti(?). According to all reports, a potential deal to sign Franchitti fell through and the team has soured on bringing the Scotsman aboard; most liekly the team will remain a 1-car effort through the final three rounds of 2006; also, the team signed Wilson for 2007, securing at least half of the team's 2007 driver lineup.

~~Team Australia(2): Will Power, Alex Tagliani, Simon Pagenaud(?). Reports are that, should Pagenaud win the 2006 Atlantic Championship title that, as a reward for doing so, that Pagenaud will get to drive for the team at the 2006 season finale in Mexico City(as Charles Zwolsman did in 2005 after winning the Atlantic title); rumor has it that Tag's again making noises about changing teams, but unless anything significant comes up, Tag's likely staying w/Team Oz for 2007.

No changes in status for the provisional-listed teams.........

No. of Confirmed Seats} 4
No. of Open Seats} 18-21
No. of Potential Seats} 6
Expected Car Count} 22-26
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RuSport to hold Sebring shootout for #10 entry

Post by mlittle » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:11 am

According to mulitple sources, RuSport Racing will hold a driver shootout at the Sebring "short course" to determine who will replace injured driver Cristiano da Matta in the last two rounds of the 2006 season. While there has no mention of who will be involved, rumors are that three drivers, Ryan Briscoe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Franck Montagny are the most likely candidates for the driver shootout.
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Silly Season Projections, 6 October 2006......

Post by mlittle » Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:56 pm

~~CTE-HVM Racing(2): Nelson Phillipe, Dan Clarke. No changes at present.

~~Dale Coyne Racing(2): Jan Heylen(?), Juan Caceres(?), Ronnie Bremer(?), Giorgio Pantano(?), Jay Howard(?). The team announced at Road America that Caceres would not run at Surfers Paradise, so as to not ruin a possible rookie campaign in 2007; no decision yet on who will drive alonsgside Heylen on the Gold Coast.

~~Forsythe Championship Racing(2): Paul Tracy, A.J. Allmendinger. No changes at present; Allmendinger will run the second of his two Craftsman Truck Series races for NCTS' Bill Davis Racing this weekend at Talledega but is expected to run with FCR in 2007.

~~Gelles Racing(2): Colin Fleming, Michael Valiante(?). No changes at present.

~~MiJack-Conquest Racing(2): Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman. No changes at present.

~~Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Graham Rahal, Bruno Junquiera. No changes at present.

~~Pacific Coast Motorsports(2): Alex Figge, Ryan Dalziel. No changes at present.

~~PKV Racing(2-3): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Neel Jani. According to multiple sources(ar1.com, paddocktalk.com), PKV Racing has signed current Scuderia Toro Rosso Friday driver Neel Jani to a fully-funded ride w/Red Bull backing.

~~Rocketsports Racing(2): Antonio Pizzonia(?), Tonis Kasemets(?), Mario Dominguez, Nicky Pastorelli(?). No changes at present other than Dominguez' racing for the Lansing, Mich.-based team at Road America.

~~RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta(?), Ryan Briscoe(?), Ronnie Bremer(?). The team recently held its' driver shootout and, according to the report by ar1.com, Briscoe was the fastest of the drivers present and is expected to fill in for da Matta through the end of 2006; depending on how Shorty's continued recovery goes, the team is expected to keep Briscoe on in case he is needed to begin the '07 campaign in Shorty's stead.

~~Team Australia(2): Will Power, Alex Tagliani(?), Simon Pagenaud(?), Ryan Briscoe(?). No changes at present.

No changes in the provisional teams' status.......

No. of Confirmed Seats: 5
No. of Open Seats: 17-20
No. of Potential Seats: 6
Expected Car Count: 22-26
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Allmendinger headed to stock-car country

Post by mlittle » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:47 am

More info here...........

According to the above article, current Forsythe Championship Racing driver A.J. Allmendinger will indeed be headed over to NASCAR starting in 2007, as he has signed a three-year contract w/Team Red Bull and will drive in both their Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series entries for 2007. Accordingly, the silly season projections will be updated later this evening. :( :x
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Post by mlittle » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:35 am

Current driver projections....................

CTE-HVM Racing(2): Nelson Phillipe, Dan Clarke. No changes at present.

Dale Coyne Racing(2): Jan Heylen(?), Juan Caceres(?), Andreas Wirth(?), Jay Howard(?), Giorgio Pantano(?). No changes at present; Wirth drove his first ChampCar race at Surfers Paradise this past weekend and finished in the top-10.

Forsythe Championship Racing(2+): Paul Tracy, Buddy Rice(?). Rice will replace former FCR driver A.J. Allmendinger for the season finale in Mexico City and could be PT's teammate in 2007.

Gelles Racing(2): Colin Fleming, Michael Valiante, Jaime Melo(?). No changes at present.

MiJack-Conquest Racing(2): Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman. No changes at present.

Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junquiera, Graham Rahal. Bourdais confirmed to the media last Sunday that he will return for 2007 with NHR.

Pacific Coast Motorsports(2): Alex Figge, Ryan Dalziel. No changes at present.

PKV Racing(2-3): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Neel Jani. No changes at present.

Rocketsports Racing(2); Mario Dominguez, Antonio Pizzonia(?), Tonis Kasemets(?), Nicky Pastorelli(?). No changes at present.

RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta(?), Ryan Briscoe(?). No changes at present.

Team Australia(2-3): Alex Tagliani, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud(?). Pagenaud is expected to make his ChampCar debut for Team Australia at Mexico City(as MJCR's Charles Zwolsman did in 2005); no other changes at present.

No. of confirmed seats: 6
No. of open seats: 15-18
Expected car count: 22-26
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Open Wheel Musings................

Post by mlittle » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:31 am

Now that the NA motorsports season is in the record books, there are several questions of interest circling like hungry sharks aroundst the ChampCar paddock.............

1}Will RuSport Racing answer the bell in 'Vegas in 2007?
Answer.........probably. According to the team's president, Jeremy Dale, they will be back; what form, though, is undecided. Sources close to the team report that series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven and PKV co-owner Dan Pettit are interested in purchasing a stake in the Colorado-based company, but were noncommittal on the subject.

2}Where will Justin Wilson land in 2007?
Answer..............either with RuSport or with Forsythe Championship Racing; sources report that the lanky Brit has been in talks with both teams. Although he only won once this year(in Edmonton), Wilson's got the talent/skill to challenge Bourdais through an entire season, regardless of which team taps him for 2007?

3}Where will Katherine Legge land in 2007?
Answer..............according to PKV co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven, Legge will be back in ChampCar in 2007 with either PKV Racing or with Polestar Racing(Legge's team in Atlantics back in 2005) should they jump up to ChampCar in 2007.

4}What about Tag, Oriol and Junky?
Answer...............depends. Of the three, Alex Tagliani looks to be in the catbird's seat. Rumor has it that Team Australia will field an all-Aussie team of drivers(Will Power & Ryan Briscoe)for 2007, leaving Tag at the proverbial curb; if that occurs, look for the French-Canadian driver to return to Rocketsports Racing, where he notched his one(and currently, only....) win in ChampCar back in 2004. Servia, who's been with seven teams in his seven-year career, could increase that count to eight, as reports are true that PKV has indeed signed(with Red Bull backing....) Neel Jani for 2007(assuming, of course that Katherine Legge returns to PKV in 2007....). As for Bruno Junqueira, he didn't recover from his shortened 2005 campaign, garnering three podiums in 2006. Reports are that he wants to return to Newman-Haas Racing in 2007, giving the team a three-car stable(alongside Sebastien Bourdais and rising star Graham Rahal).

5}Finally, where will 2006 Atlantic Championship winner Simon Pagenaud take that $2 million winner's check with him to?
Answer.................two choices come to mind; Team Australia(with whom he won the Atlantic title)or Newman-Haas Racing(alongside mentor Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal).
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Premat to test with MiJack-Conquest......

Post by mlittle » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:09 pm

According to ar1.com's rumors page, current GP2 & A1GP driver Alexandre Premat is scheduled to test with MiJack-Conquest Racing at the Houston MSR racetrack sometime in late November; Premat, according to reports, is eyeing options in both Formula 1 and ChampCar for 2007.
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Post by mlittle » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:17 pm

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, here are the latest silly season driver projections..................

Dale Coyne Racing(2): Jan Heylen(?), Andreas Wirth(?), Jay Howard(?), Giorgio Pantano(?). No changes at present.

Forsythe Championship Racing(2+): Paul Tracy, Buddy Rice(?), Justin Wilson(?), David Martinez(?), Nelson Phillipe(?), Andreas Wirth(?). According to ar1.com, Justin Wilson is at the head of a long line of drivers vieing for a seat w/Forsythe in 2007; if the team expands to three or possibly four cars for 2007, then any of the others are in line.

Gelles Racing(2): Colin Fleming, Michael Valiante, Jamie Melo(?). No changes at present.

MiJack-Conquest Racing(2): Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman. No changes at present.

Minardi Racing(2+): Nelson Phillipe(?), Dan Clarke, Jos Verstappen(?). According to multiple sources, when the final announcement is made about Paul Stoddart's entry into ChampCar, it will be as part of CTE-HVM Racing(hence the name change....from CTE-HVM to Minardi); Stoddart will become part-owner of the team, along with Keith Wiggins and Cedric the Entertainer. Wiggins/Cedric will field a two-car team, while Stoddart will field at least a one-car(and possibly two-car) effort.

Newman-Haas Racing(2-3): Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junquiera, Graham Rahal. No changes at present.

Pacific Coast Motorsports(2): Alex Figge, Ryan Dalziel. No changes at present.

PKV Racing(2+): Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge, Neel Jani. No changes at present.

Rocketsports Racing(2): Alex Tagliani, Antonio Pizzonia(?), Tonis Kasemets(?), Mario Dominguez. According to ar1.com, Tagliani has all but been released by Team Australia; if so, expect him to return to Paul Gentilozzi's team for 2007.

RuSport Racing(2): Justin Wilson(?), Ryan Briscoe(?). The team is rumored to be on the selling block, so all bets are off as to who will drive for them in 2007.

Team Australia(2+): Will Power, Ryan Briscoe(?), Simon Pagenaud(?). The million-dollar question surrounding Team Oz is......which driver, Briscoe or Pagenaud, will replace Tagliani for 2007? Pagenaud, the 2006 Atlantic Champion, has the $2 million champion's prize going for him, while Briscoe would make the team an all-Oz driver squad for 2007..

No. of Confirmed Seats: 6
No. of Open Seats: 14-18
Expected Car Count: 20-25
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