Graham Rahal has only one goal for the Champ Car World Series finale in Mexico City – victory. His rookie season of racing with the Newman/Haas/Lanigan team, driving the Medi | Zone car has already produced four podium finishes and the elusive win is the aim for teenage racer, Rahal.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, named after Mexico’s most famous motor racing sons, Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez, plays host to the Series and Rahal is eager to finish the season on a high. "We have to go for the win – it’s the final race and that’s why we’re doing this" says Rahal.
"The team are very focused on working with me towards this, particularly with Sebastien now having the championship wrapped up. We just need to get it done and that’s the challenge."
"Although I haven’t raced at Mexico City, it’s the type of track that suits me with its fast and flowing configuration, and I know our goal is achievable. To finish the season out on top would be the best finish possible. I think the key to making it is a combination of things: not making any mistakes, doing everything right, getting the setup sorted early on in the weekend, making sure there are no issues with braking, getting off the grid well, there’s so many different elements which all have to come together in the race and give you the shot at taking the win."
The Mexico City circuit lies 2500 feet above sea level, with a 2.77 mile lap length that features 16 turns. It is renowned as a demanding circuit with sharp elevation changes and quick corners. The Mexico City Champ Car event has always produced thrilling racing and with a track that has some good passing zones, Rahal expects to be in the action at the front.
"It’s really important to make sure you’re close to the front – it’s not easy to pass any of these guys, so the further forward at the start, the better. I think we’ve struggled a few times as a result of not qualifying as well as could have done.
The Champ Car World Series organisers have introduced more boost opportunities for this race, with the Cosworth Power-to-Pass being doubled for this race, with an 100bhp available and an extended time of 75 seconds, although as Rahal says, "I might have double the power boost, but so has everyone else! It’ll add to the race strategy we employ and could be another unknown factor in the outcome of the race. I think it’ll certainly add to the excitement for the fans."
The Mexico City race weekend – the Gran Premio Tecate Presented by Banamex – will complete a season of 14 races for Rahal and to date the youngster has recorded top ten finishes in ten of the 13 races held so far. Lying fifth in the drivers’ championship, Rahal could overhaul fourth placed Will Power, with 14 points separating the two and a maximum of 32 points on offer.
The racing action kicks off on Friday 9 November, with the race taking place on Sunday 11 November.
David Martinez and Ricardo Aladro
David Martinez announced today at a press conference held in Mexico City that AXTEL, a leading Mexican telecommunications company, will be an official sponsor of his Forsythe Racing’s #7 Champ Car at the Gran Premio Tecate, ... mehr
Nelson’s Momentum driving him to the top
After a top-six finish in his first race of the season, Nelson Philippe (#34 Juniper Soul / Opes Prime / Cosworth / DP01 / Bridgestone), is looking forward to a strong finish to the 2007 Champ Car World Series season ... mehr
With only one race remaining on the 2007 Champ Car World Series schedule, Minardi Team USA drivers Robert Doornbos and ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke intend to end the year with a bang – the good kind, hopefully - and bring home another trophy.
Rookie Robert Doornbos finished a strong fourth in Surfers Paradise. Despite starting fourteenth, he made up ten positions and nearly scored ... mehr
Pacific Coast Motorsports, a two-car team in the Champ Car World Series will be featured on the January 14, 2008 episode of The History Channel’s "Modern Marvels."
The episode which was filmed Monday at the team’s Oxnard, California headquarters will be titled "Carbon" and will prominently feature PCM’s DP01 Champ Cars, team and corporate partners. The film crew for the h ... mehr
For the Team Australia, the Surfers Paradise rendezvous in Australia turned out to be special. Even if the team comes from Indianapolis (USA), its main sponsor Aussie Vineyards and one of the drivers are Australians. It increased the stakes and the pressure of the last but one r ... mehr
Pacific Coast Motorsports will test Atlantic standout Carl Skerlong in the #29 PCM/DP01/Cosworth/Bridgestone Champ Car at Buttownwillow Raceway on November 28th.
Skerlong’s rookie season featured two podium finishes en-route to his to ... mehr
Armed with a competitive car, Nelson Philippe (#34 Juniper Soul / Cosworth / DP01 / Bridgestone) was not ready to sit back and accept his 13th starting position on the grid. He knew this was going to be a difficult first race back in the Champ Car World Series, but he was able to take advantage of his previous race experience and success at the difficult Surfers Paradise circuit ... mehr
David Martinez proved today that he is ready to compete at the front in Champ Car regardless of the lack of experience that he has compared to the rest of the field and the fact that he hadn’t been in a race car for a year.
In what is considered the toughest track of the season, Martinez completed a successful race in which he managed to pick up many positions and finish ... mehr
Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Justin and the #9/CDW/RuSPORT team took home a well-earned second place in the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Brisbane, Australia today. Sebastien Bourdais (Newman/Haas/Lanigan) claimed the victory and his fourth Champ Car Drivers Championship, while Bruno Junqueira, more than 40 seconds be ... mehr
SERVIA 14TH
SURFERS PARADISE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA -- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007 -- Round #13 – 2007 Champ Car World Series season – PKV Racing finishes in eighth place with Neel Jani, while his team mate Oriol Servia finished 14th today in the Lexmark Indy 300 Champ Car Grand Prix on the 2.795-mile, 12-turn street course in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, A ... mehr
It was another exciting race in Surfers today for the 2007 Lexmark Indy 300, and despite starting the race at the back of the grid (in 14th), Minardi Team USA driver Robert Doornbos rebounded to score a top-four finish. He nearly came home with another podium but in the end finished fourth. For team-mate ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke, his race began very well, moving up from tenth to eight ... mehr
Figge Hangs on for 13th without Brakes
The Lexmark Indy 300 - Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Alex Figge #29 Conrad Jupiters/DP01/Cosworth/Bridgestone
Started: 15th Finished: 13th Highest Race Position: 8th
Alex on the race: "I am a bit disappointed in ... mehr
It was a long weekend for the Rocketsports Racing team, and a long race today in Surfers Paradise, Australia that almost saw Alex Tagliani salvage a top-five finish, but team will take a top-ten result knowing they worked very hard to deserve it.
During the Warm Up session, Tagliani demonstrated that the team was ready to fight in today’s Lexmark Indy, by finish ... mehr
Surfers Paradise, Qld Australia (October 20, 2007) - After two days of re-familiarization with the Champ Car World Series and coming to grips with the new DP01, Nelson Philippe (#34 Juniper Soul / Cosworth / DP01 / Bridgestone) will start 13th on the grid for tomorrow’s Lexmark Indy 300. He and Conquest will be working to improve the package overnight and be looking forward to a ... mehr
NEEL JANI EIGHTH
Round #13 – 2007 Champ Car World Series season – PKV Racing qualified on the front row with Oriol Servia starting in second place while teammate Neel Jani places eighth for tomorrow’s Lexmark Indy 300 Champ Car Grand Prix in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.
Servia, #22 Pay By Touch PKV Racing Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone car, q ... mehr
David Martinez completed the second day of activities for the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise by qualifying on the ninth row for Sunday’s race. After being off the race tracks for almost a year, Martinez has used this race weekend to adapt to the 750 horsepower Champ ... mehr
After little, to almost no, time on track during Friday’s kick-off Champ Car activities for the Lexmark Indy 300, Rocketsports Racing was able to rebound by getting in quality track time and a suitable car for the final round of qualifying today in Surfers Paradise, Australia. ... mehr
The Lexmark Indy 300 - Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Alex Figge #29 Conrad Jupiters/DP01/Cosworth/Bridgestone
Saturday AM Practice 15th 1:33.519 107.593
Pre-Qual Warm-Up 9th 1:34.770 106.173
Saturday Qual ... mehr
It was not the best result for Minardi Team USA drivers Robert Doornbos and ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke in today’s second round of qualifications at the Lexmark Indy 300 but both are looking to the race tomorrow, in which anything can happen. Dan will start the race in tenth position, ... mehr
Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
After their strong showing at Surfers Paradise on Friday, Justin and the #9/CDW/RuSPORT team continued to run competitively on Saturday, but didn’t have the results they hoped for. Justin was third quickest in morning p ... mehr
Justin and the #9/CDW/RuSPORT team made a fantastic start towards Sunday’s Lexmark Indy 300 in Surfers Paradise, Australia by topping the timesheets during both of Friday’s sessions. With Justin’s win at the last round in Assen, Holland, the #9/CDW team secured the first pitlane spot, just several yards from pit exit. Being the first car out on the very busy and often treacherous ... mehr
Alter almost a year Mexican driver David Martinez finally returned to Champ Car and completed his first laps around the tricky and complicated 2.795 mile temporary street circuit at Surfers Paradise, Australia.
The priority today for the Monterrey native was to complete as many laps as possible in order to familiarize himself with the track and even though he only manage ... mehr
An Unforgiving Track and New Rule Cause a Rough Start for Rocketsports Racing’s Tagliani Down Under
The Surfers Paradise, Australia street circuit is one of the most challenging and unforgiving tracks on the Champ Car World Series schedule, add that with a new Champ Car Friday-qualifying rule, and that equals a bad day for Rocketsports Racing and driver Al ... mehr
...Champ Car Grand Prix at Surfers Paradise (Australia)
JANI QUALIFIES 5TH
SURFERS PARADISE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA -- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2007 -- Round #13 – 2007 Champ Car World Series season – PKV Racing’s Oriol Servia has provisionally qualified in pole position today securing him a front row grid spot. His teammate Neel ... mehr
.. Effort for the Provisional Qualifying in Surfers Paradise
In his first qualifying session of the 2007 season, Nelson Philippe (#34 Juniper Soul / Cosworth / DP01 / Bridgestone) turned in a respectable top-ten qualifying time at today’s provisional session. His progression was slowed by the two red flags during the qualifying session but he was able to ta ... mehr
It was the first day on track at the beautiful Surfers Paradise circuit and Minardi Team USA drivers Robert Doornbos and ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke were glad to be behind the wheel of their DP01s again for the first time in several weeks. With a messy qualifying session for some of their competitors, Robert and Dan ended up sixth and eleventh, respectively.
Doornbos sits third ... mehr
The Lexmark Indy 300 - Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Alex Figge #29 PCM/DP01/Cosworth/Bridgestone
Friday Practice 16th 1:36.580 104.183
Pre-Qual Warm-Up 16th 1:35.539 105.318
Friday qualifying 15th 1:44.381 96.397
Alex on qualifying: "Wow, the circuit here is awesome and the event is non-stop ... mehr
Graham Rahal has been nominated for the prestigious Autosport magazine ‘Rookie of the Year’ award, as voted for by Autosport.com readers.
Rahal is currently in his debut year of the Champ Car World Series with the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team, driving the Medi | Zone entry. The candidates for the award have been revealed today, with ten drivers from seven different ch ... mehr
SERVIA AND JANI BOTH ATTEMPTING TO MOVE INTO TOP-FIVE IN STANDINGS
With just two races remaining in the 2007 Champ Car World Series season, PKV Racing drivers Oriol Servia and Neel Jani will both be looking to maximize points at this weekend’s Lexmark I ... mehr
Event: The Lexmark Indy 300, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Round: 13 of 14 in the 2007 Champ Car World Series
Where: Streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia – 2.795 mile temporary street circuit
TV: ESPN Classic 11:30 pm October 20th
Racing to Repeat: Mario Dominguez scored his first Champ Car win on the streets of S ... mehr
Podium Potential for Rocketsports Down Under As Team Prepares to Finish 2007 Champ Car Season on a High Note
Lexmark Indy 300 Streets of Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Round 13 of 14 – Champ Car World Series
October 19 – 21, 2007
Provisional Qualifying: Friday, October 19, 1:55 p.m. Australian EST (1 ... mehr
Graham Rahal arrived in the Australian playground of Surfers Paradise today ahead of this weekend’s Lexmark 300, the street race on the Gold Coast that has established itself as one of the top sporting occasions in the country. Eighteen-year-old Rahal will be debuting at the event this season in his first year of running with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing in the Champ Car World Seri ... mehr
Nelson’s Adopted Hometown
While he may credit Valence, France as his hometown, Nelson Philippe (#34 Juniper Group/Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) has recently adopted Surfers Paradise as his new residence. He has been living in the seaside town with ... mehr
... for the 2008 Champ Car Atlantic Championship Season
At a news conference in his hometown, Mexican rising star David Garza today announced that he will join the Forsythe Championship Racing Team for the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season.
Garza, who will turn 20 years of age midway through the 20 ... mehr
Walker Racing continues to ramp up its efforts for the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season as they successfully commenced their second round of testing in Sebring, Florida today.
It has been all work and no play for the Indianapolis based squad, who has been making preparations for the upcoming season. Entering their thir ... mehr
Minardi Team USA and the Champ Car World Series will hit the streets of Surfers Paradise on October 19-21, 2007, and the team’s Australian co-owner, Paul Stoddart, hopes for nothing less than another podium visit for drivers Robert Doornbos and ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke.
Aust ... mehr
Popular French driver returns to the Champ Car World Series to defend his Australia title this month with the support of Juniper Property Development Group
Nelson Philippe, the popular French driver who was the youngest driver t ... mehr
Conquest racing is pleased to announce a partnership agreement with leading financial services firm, Opes Prime Group Ltd, for the #34 car of the Champ Car World Series.
Opes Prime is a stock broking and asset management firm based in Australia and Singapore, which specializes in securities lending, equity financing, structured products, trade execution and corporate adv ... mehr
Alex Figge and Mario Dominguez wrapped the final test session of the team’s rookie season yesterday at Sebring International Raceway. It was a very productive test for the California based team, rookie Alex Figge ran in the top-six both days and his ne ... mehr
