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Power Packet Champ Cars For Indy |
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Wednesday, 14 March 2007 |
 The first major coup of the 2007 International motorsport season has been achieved by the Champ Car World Series, with three-time reigning champion Sebastien Bourdais shattering the existing Formula One lap record, during a recent official test day at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
If the outright speed and power of the new Panoz DP01 Champ Car being utilised in the 2007 Champ Car World Series is any indication, fans of the Lexmark Indy 300 on Australia’s Gold Coast are in for a Power-Packed program of racing events come October 18-21.
‘Spring Training’ saw some amazing driving feats around the 3.602km
road course, which was headlined by Bourdais’ topping of the timesheets
with a scintillating 1:05.880 run.
That effort was enough for
the Frenchman to better the Formula One lap record of 1:06.309 set by
Ricardo Zonta in a Toyota TF106 last year.
“From all accounts
the aerodynamics in cornering and the overall grip and handling of the
Panoz are far superior to all previous Champ Car models and at this
early stage that’s a great advertisement for the Series and in
particular the 17th Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast later in the
year,” said Lexmark Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton.
“It
wasn’t just Bourdais dialing in a competitive package with Gold Coast
pole-sitter from last year, Team Australia’s Will Power only a shade
outside the record and about half a second behind the leader.
“A
week and a half ago we saw a dynamic start to the Australian V8
Supercars and now great anticipation also surrounds the start of the
Champ Car World Series at Las Vegas on April 6-8.
“Of course
both formats traditionally crank it up a gear during the Lexmark Indy
300 so we see current developments as signaling just the start of
bigger things to come on October 18-21.
“Ticket sales are now in full swing so we encourage fans to book their seats and ‘Power On’ during the Lexmark Indy 300.”
Champ
Car drivers will also be aided this season by a new paddle
shift-operated gearbox that is part of the new Panoz DP01 Champ Car.
That
variable further qualifies the likelihood of drivers smashing existing
Champ Car lap records at established venues, which include the
picturesque 4.57km Surfers Paradse street circuit.
The current Lexmark Indy 300 record of 1:30.036 was set by 2001 race winner Cristiano da Matta in 2002.
Team
Australia’s Will Power clocked the second quickest time of 1:06.424 at
‘Spring Training’ and is now champing at the bit for a season start,
plus a return Down Under for his home event later in the year.
“Overall
the team has done a great job and we really are in a position this year
to go after the championship. A major part of that will be doing the
job on the Gold Coast later in the season,” confirmed Power.
“I
think on our last run at Spring Training we got the car just about
right, but there was a red flag so we didn’t really have a shot at it
(the Formula 1 lap record) and Bourdais was the only one that was able
to get a lap in.
“It was a good test overall, we were second
quickest and the team is working really well. We are understanding the
car and making it better with every session.”
The Team
Australia phenomenon is set to further grow in the lead up to the
Lexmark Indy 300 as Power’s French team mate, Simon Pagenaud was also
able to finish inside the top five rounding out a solid pre-season test
for the team.
2007 Champ Car World Series
Las Vegas - Apr 8
Long Beach -Apr 15
Houston - Apr 22
China - May 20
Portland - Jun 10
Cleveland - Jun 24
St. Jovite - Jul 1
Toronto - Jul 8
Edmonton- Jul 22
San Jose - Jul 29
Elkhart Lake - Aug 12
Denver - Aug 19
Holland - Sep 2
Belgium - Sep 9
Australia - Oct 21
Mexico City - Nov 11
Phoenix - Dec 2
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