|
|
|
|
 Tuesday, March 20, 2001
CART preview:
Handicapping the 2001 season
By Jack Arute
Special to ABC Sports Online
With the CART FedEx Champ Car season ready to kick off on March 11th at the 2.1-mile Monterrey, Mexico road course, it's time to handicap the teams for the 2001 Championship and the Vanderbilt Cup.
|  | | Gil de Ferran is aiming for a repeat of his 2000 CART title. |
Arciero Brooke Racing -- 100-1
Max Wilson spent most of last season testing tires for Michelin as the tire giant explored its return to Formula One. The native of Hamburg, Germany will have no shot at the championship.
Sigma Autosport -- 100-1
This is CART's newest team, led by Tom Weiringa with Oriol Servia at the wheel.
Ford/Lola is their package and Servia will snare some attention if he continues the form he showed in his rookie season.
Team PRG -- 100-1
Much of the old Project Indy operation comprises this team for Michael Krumm and Luiz Garcia Jr. Look for Team PRG to be a one-car effort (likely Garcia) for most of the season.
Walker Racing -- 100-1
Derrick Walker is an excellent teacher. He will need to be with rookie Tora Takagi, last year's Formula Nippon champion. Team manager Rob Edwards will have to split his time (along with Walker) between CART and their promising IRL entry of Sarah Fisher.
Dale Coyne Racing -- 50-1
Alex Barron has made his mark known on the CART circuit during his two years of competition. He got the most out of Dan Gurney's Eagle several years ago. Coyne's Ford/Lola operation suffers from the same malady that Gurney did -- lack of funds.
Herdez Bettenhausen -- 50-1
The team is still recovering from the loss of its owners, Tony and Shirley Bettenhausen, last season in a plane crash. Michel Jourdain Jr. will solider on in his Ford/Lola. The entire CART community would love to see this team enjoy some success. They certainly have earned it.
Team Rahal -- 20-1
Both Max Papis and Kenny Brack return. Bobby Rahal has left the day-to-day operations of the Miller and Shell teams to direct the fortunes of Jaguar in F1. That's why the team will remain with Ford Power. They have switched to Lola for their chassis and Brack should break into the winner's circle this season, while Papis should get back there as well, but the team would be a big surprise if it chased the title.
PacWest Racing Group -- 15-1
Gone is Mark Blundell. Joining "Big Mo" Mauricio Gugelmin is New Zealander Scott Dixon. Dixon took the Dayton Indy Lights title last season, but the learning curve will still be a steep one.
Fernandez Racing -- 15-1
Adrian Fernandez left his spot at Patrick Racing to start his own operation, using the Honda/Reynard package, thereby controlling his own destiny. The addition of former Team Target GM Tom Anderson is a definite plus. Fernandez should win a race and his teammate, Shinji Nakano, might with Anderson's calming influence.
Forsythe Racing -- 10-1
This operation is actually two teams. Player's/Forsythe Racing features an all Canadian driving roster of Alex Tagliani and Patrick Carpentier. Zakspeed Forsythe is led by German Marcel Tiemann and Buckeye native Bryan Herta. Some very talented guys, including Tony Cicale have come on board to guide this juggernaut. The team is still trying to recover from the death of Greg Moore at the end of '99 and this will be the year when they turn the corner.
Target/Chip Ganassi Racing -- 8-1
If any other team started the season with two rookies, they would be far longer shots for the championship. But Bruno Junqueira and Nicolas Minassian have one thing going for them in their rookie CART season. Through the past five years, Team Ganassi has been the dominant force in CART. Juan Montoya, Alex Zanardi (2) and Jimmy Vasser all have hoisted the Championship Cup for Ganassi.
Newman/Haas Racing -- 8-1
Brazilian Christian Fittipaldi takes the team lead here. Christiano da Matta brings his Chicago win to Newman/Haas, but this team will suffer from the loss of Michael Andretti. The team has left Ford's camp and will put Toyotas in their Lolas this season.
Mo Nunn Racing -- 5-1
Tony Kanaan did a terrific job for Nunn last season, but the return of Zanardi to CART and his association with Mo Nunn will dramatically improve the team's performance. Zanardi's donuts after wins should once again punctuate post-race festivities at a number of tracks.
Patrick Racing -- 4-1
Roberto Moreno finally got his win last season and was right in the championship hunt until the last race at Fontana. Now the Patrick Team has added former CART champ Jimmy Vasser. Vasser is hungry. He wants to prove Chip Ganassi's decision to release him was ill-advised. Add the input of Jim McGee, a Toyota/Reynard package, and you can see why this team will again be a favorite to fight for the Vanderbilt Cup.
Team Green -- 3-1
Again this operation is two teams. Team KOOL Green includes Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy, while Michael Andretti will carry Motorola Blue. On paper, this group may be the best bet to give Penske a run. Andretti and Tracy have buried the hatchet. They might not take vacations together, but under the guidance of Kim and Barry Green, they will be effective teammates. The addition of the steady Franchitti provides Green with the balance needed for solid performances week in and week out.
Marlboro Team Penske -- 3-1
The Captain is back! Roger Penske completely overhauled his operation last season, and under the watchful eye of Tom Wutz, both Helio Castroneves (3 wins) and Gil de Ferran (2 wins) saw the winner's circle. De Ferran's CART FedEx title capped Team Penske's comeback. There is no reason to think that their Honda/Reynard package should be any less effective this season. After all, Penske has an entire chassis manufacturing facility in Poole, England to massage his Reynards.
Jack Arute mans the pits for ABC Sports' auto racing coverage. He writes a column every Monday for ABC Sports Online.
|
|
|
|
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
|
 |
 Christian Fittipaldi won the Marlboro 500, but Gil de Ferran is the 2000 CART/FedEx champion.
avi: 2333 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jimmy Vasser takes the checkered flag in the Houston Grand Prix.
avi: 2810 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Helio Castroneves takes the checkered flag in Monterey.
avi: 2086 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Paul Tracy takes the checkered flag in the Vancouver Molson Indy.
avi: 1366 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
|
