Snrub

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I'm surprised that no one has mentioned anything about this. It looks like there will definately be one team from Eric Jensen and a good possibility of another from Ken Mandeville.

Eric Jensen has been very receptive to fan emails and his official announcement was to be open to the public. Apparently he has Konica sponsorship and initially stated that he wanted a Canadian driver. That lead the the obivous speculation that Valiente would drive for him, since Derek Walker who favoured Valiente has sold a controlling interest of his team to some Ausis and is now "Team Australia" with Tagliani and Marcus Marshall driving. The intial annoucement was delayed. Now there was speculation that Memo Gidley might do the race in Long Beach, but someone else for later. Gidley did two races last year, and a number several years ago. This year he's again in World Challange in a Focus, but also racing the DP class in Grand Am. Apparently Jensen purchased one of HVM's (formerly Herdez, run by Wiggans formerly of the Pacific F1 team) 6 Lolas.

Ken Mandeville's goal is to eventually start a North American F1 team. Sounds like a pipe dream, but he made an announcement that he will be in Champ Car.

Does anyone have any further info? Any personal contact with either of these guys?

Nick86

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Most people haven't commented about it (me included) because right now there is no real info. Mandeville's people releasedthe following statement, and have been quiet since:

Mandeville Motorsports Marketing, located in Toronto, Ontario, has announced the creation of Mandeville Racing, a Canadian-based Champ Car team.

According to a company press release, owner Ken Mandeville plans to launch its Champ Car operation as an initial step towards an eventual all-North American F1 effort.

The release stated that “strategic partners have been put in place”, include former F1 engineers. Mandeville would also be holding contacts with key “global sponsors” and drivers of F1 caliber.

No further information - such as a likely debut date - was given.


Much the same is said of Jensen. Their press release from a few weeks back went like this:

Veteran Toyota Atlantic squad Jensen MotorSport has announced its plans to enter a one-car effort in all 14 Champ Car World Series races this year.

Initially expected to contest just the four Canadian races this season, Jensen has been able to step up its programs thanks to newfound sponsorships, including backing from photo company Konica Minolta.

The Ontario-based operation will become the first major-league Canadian team in U.S. racing in two decades, and will unveil its driver and sponsors at a press event in Toronto on March 30.

“There are quite a few terrific driver prospects available to us,” team owner Eric Jensen revealed. “Our original plan was to participate in only four or five races in 2005, starting at the Molson Indy Toronto in July. However, we have had a terrific spring and some new corporate partners are providing us with the resources we need to run the whole season.”

The team believes it will be ready to test its Lola chassis on April 1st-3rd, one week ahead of the Long Beach season kickoff.


Like you said, Jensen was favouring Canadian Michael Valiente, but there was talk that Ryan Dalziel was in the hunt for the seat as well. I guess like everything n Open wheel these days it comes down to Sponsorship - who can and can't bring it. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Andrew Ranger can do - he's young, Canadian, carries personal sponsorship and has impressed everyone around him.

RacerJason

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Jensen is the real deal I've been speaking with Eric for the past two weeks. I can't say anything else for the moment but that testing went as planned.

Nick86

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Great!

And it seems that mister Dalziel is working with PKV this season...

PKV Racing has announced the hiring of 2003-2004 Toyota Atlantic series runner-up Ryan Dalziel as a “consultant” for the 2005 Champ Car season.

The Scot had tested with the squad last year at Barber Motorsports Park, and was considered for a 2005 race role until the signing of former Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta to partner Jimmy Vasser.

Dalziel’s duties include working with the engineering staff, debriefing with the drivers and be a part of the outfit’s marketing and PR functions. efforts. At the moment, saved unscheduled mishaps, the team has no plans for the 23-year-old to test or race during this season.

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

I have little doubt that Jensen is the real deal and apparently he's got a test lined up for Valiente and another driver who's name escapes me at the moment.

Jason, can you give us any further info/thoughts on Jensen that are either unrelated general in nature or info that simple doesn't infringe on his plans?

I'm interested to see Ranger perform as well. He didn't seem to be the equal of Dalziel last year, but he had less experience. Apparently the guy who runs Forsythe's team begged him to hire Ranger (name escapes me). Conquest is quiet taken with him as well.

What the heck is a "consultant?" I don't get that. Recall there was a shootout test between Bjorn Wirdhiem and Ryan Dalziel for the PKV spot and another one scheduled until the CDM/Newman-Hass thing fell through. Now Bjorn has a seat in Champ Car and it's well known that Vasser may retire at the end of the year. Apparently Vasser was quiet taken with Dalziel during the first test. Perhaps Dalziel has been promised the second PKV seat for 2006?

It's nice to see that Champ Car's ladder finally seems to be working again, with recent additions in the form of Hunter-Ray, Almendinger, Ranger and probably Valiente. If only Fogarty had gotten the shot he deserved. F1's ladder series is working well for Champ Car as well. They'll now have F3000 champs in the form of Junquiera, Bourdais, Wilson and Bjorn! Champ Car's lineup is the strongest it's been in a lot of years. The only problem right now it finding a Mexican replacement for Dominguez once he's gone to F1.

Nick86

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Here's the whole story. Whey you put it in context it seems to make sense - except for the fact that he wont be turning a wheel all year.

PKV Racing Hires Dalziel as Consultant

Written by: RACER staff Indianapolis, Ind. – 4/4/2005




Dalziel tested one of PKV's Lolas at Barber Motorsports Park last November (LAT Photo)



PKV Racing has announced the hiring of 2003-2004 Toyota Atlantic series runner-up Ryan Dalziel as a “consultant” for the 2005 Champ Car season.

The Scot had tested with the squad last year at Barber Motorsports Park, and was considered for a 2005 race role until the signing of former Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta to partner Jimmy Vasser.

Dalziel’s duties include working with the engineering staff, debriefing with the drivers and be a part of the outfit’s marketing and PR functions. efforts. At the moment, saved unscheduled mishaps, the team has no plans for the 23-year-old to test or race during this season.

“This is just one more example of how the Champ Car World Series ladder system can work to the benefit of both the teams and young drivers,” said team (and series) co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. “I am very pleased that Ryan will be working with PKV Racing this year and I look forward to watching him grow as a driver with our team.”

“We feel that Ryan has tremendous potential and should be a part of our team on a daily basis,” said PKV general manager Jim McGee to justify Dalziel’s hiring. “This agreement allows us to further our relationship with an outstanding young driver while allowing Ryan to benefit by learning from two of the best drivers and one of the top engineering staffs in the Champ Car World Series.”

“I feel very fortunate to have the chance to consult with, and be a part of, the PKV Racing team,” said the Scot, who has 19 podiums in 36 Atlantic starts. “When a young driver is given the opportunity to learn from a manager like Jim McGee, championship drivers like Cristiano da Matta and Jimmy Vasser, plus work with one of the top engineering staffs, you don’t have to think twice about saying yes. This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I look forward to taking full advantage of it,” he concluded.

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

Jensen Motorsports purchased one chassis from HVM. This past weekend they were in Indianapolis getting the car sorted and livery applied. I met with Eric last night to discuss opportunities with the team and he invited me to join them for a test weekend following Long Beach which they are set to run. He's serious and has an exceptional group of people and some good financing. Best of the rest for the first while I imagine or hope at least. Jensen also runs a Formula BMW team with two cars. He primarily operates out of a 10,000 square foot facility in Orlando but the team itself is largely Canadian.

Nick86

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That's fantastic! Good luck, I hope you work something out with them - it's always great to have an "insider"! lol Is the test at Firebird?


Huh - I hadn't realized that this was the same team that fielded the Atlantic cars - never made the connection. The formula BMW series is a very good series IMO.


I am really happy to see them in Champcar, if for no other reason than the ladder system is working properly. Driver development is one thing, but seeing teams like Jensen and Russo move up through the ladder is a great sign. It shows that the system in place is sound and that they can gain a measure of success at each "rung" of the ladder. With the NASCAR vacuum luring most of the good developing open wheel drivers in North America, it's nice to see some new young teams and drivers teaming up. I'm sure that with their resources it wont take long for the team to be competitive. I'll be pulling for them!

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

It still doesn't make that much sense to me. I understand the vauge generalities of the situation, but what tangable benifit either side will get from this arrangement in 2005? Working with the team people, I'm not sure what contribution he could make. "Vasser and CDM have it wrong, run more wing." Perhaps my lack of understanding comes from my ignorance of what goes on in a team.

Nick86

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LOL - I should have said "Whey you put it in context it seems to make some sense".

I agree though, this seems more like a case of PKV protecting their interests in Dalziel than anything else. Usually a "consultant" is hired for their expertise and experience - and with all due respect to Ryan, he has little of either in ChampCar. They are obviously grooming him in their system so he will slot in to the ride in 2006. I suppose though that the title of consultant is a lot more appealing than "Intern". I wonder if there is potential sponsorship dollars attached to Dalziel?

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

So Del Monte is driving and it sounds like Jensen would like him to run the whole season. **** happends and from what I've seen of Del Monte in Euro 3000 he's talented. Obviously a shame that Valiente didn't get a shot.

This is where things get wierd: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...acodalogin=yes

But the reality of the situation was where we were getting our money from. I have to look at the future. Where am I going to be able to generate the most money? Canada has not proven to be a very good market for generating corporate money. For years and years, all my racing has been U.S.- or European-funded.

So I could just see that I'd sell a lot more in Italy or the United States even though we're a Canadian team which is a bit disappointing. That's why I chose Fabrizio instead of Michael.

Apparently Del Monte is not bringing any money. Jensen's above comments are fair enough, but I have a tough time believing that an Italian has better sponsorship potential than say Gidley who's American and even one better, from CA. Then there's Fogarty, assuming he would be available. Then there's Dalziel who's a Brit. I'm sure there are others too. It just doesn't make much sense to me.

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

Gidley is a bit of a dip. If I owned a company I wouldn't sponsor his ***.

Del Monte is bringing some money or else the car would have quite a few more stickers on it.

Jensen is adamant that for the moment this is a one race deal.

Speculation that he'll run a second car at any point this year is incorrect.

What I read and understand is that there is already three CDN drivers in Champcar and finding a CDN company to back a fourth would be slim which is true. The media loves Ranger right now, Tracy is a fixture and past champion, and Tag fills the Quebecois role.

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

Jason, does that mean that you are you calling BS on Jensen's TO Star comments? Earlier you said Jensen has "some good financing," is it possible for you to be any more specific?

Del Monte qualified no where close to the pole time and they even had help from the series with the engineering. IMO Jensen deserves some credit for running a car with a HVM paint job and slapping a couple of Konica stickers on it, the definition of last minute.

Could you be more specific on why Gidley is a 'dip?' If you wouldn't sponsor him, what does that say about the US Military?

Nick86

iTrader: (1)

LOL - I had read a couple 'roundabout' quotes from Gentilozzi and Ganassi that said basically the same thing. Something to the effect of "it's too bad he does so well on the track, because he is poison for sponsors." I think he has little to no personality. Just what the US Military wants.

I feel bad for Del Monte. He's obviously a good driver, but the first time he ever sat in a ChampCar was for the friday practice - Talk about a steep learning curve. It will be interesting to see if this is truely a one-race deal, or if they'll bring in some more experienced driver.

As a side note, I see that Jos Verstappen has told the media that he may still be in Champcar this year. He said that since there is such a big break after LB, he is confident that he can put together a deal for the entire season in time for monterrey mexico.

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

I read Jos' comments on the SpeedTV website and while there might be some substance behind it, he really appeared to be grasping at straws.

I'm really looking forward to the race this afternoon. I'm dying to see a classic Champ Car passing orgy, but Long Beach is not particularly condusive to such racing.