Indy Car and Final Champ Car Series News and Notes

The IndyCar Series is off this week, however there is much going on in Indianapolis and elsewhere. The Indy Racing League plays a ?split series? game next week as the traditional IndyCar racing teams travel to the land of the rising sun and the teams from the Champ Car series play in the sunshine of Southern California.

The IndyCar Series released some statistics regarding their Japan adventure. The teams are packed and ready to go for their 6,400-mile trip to Japan. After returning from the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, teams had just four days at their race shops to prepare their equipment for the trip to Japan, which will culminate with the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi on April 19. Two Boeing 747 cargo planes will depart from Indianapolis International Airport for Japan on Saturday, April 12.

By the numbers:

9 ? Teams that are packed and ready to go to Japan
35 ? Dallara chassis that will make the trip to Japan
6,400 ? Air miles between Indianapolis and Tokyo
2 ? Boeing 747 cargo planes
13 ?Time difference in hours between Indianapolis and Tokyo
11 ? Days between the race at St. Petersburg and the start of practice at Twin Ring Motegi
6 ? Days between the race at Twin Ring Motegi and the start of practice at Kansas Speedway

Walker Racing announced their entry for the upcoming Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18-20. The Indianapolis based team brings Canadian Alex Tagliani back into the fold as they say farewell to the Champ Car World Series and the 750 horsepower, turbocharged, DP01?s.

Walker Racing is excited to have Tagliani back for one last race. Team owner, Derrick Walker remarked, ?We have many fond memories of our time in Champ Car. The team is really geared up to have a good weekend. Long Beach is our last chance to pay tribute to all of the loyal CART/ Champ Car race fans, officials and employees, who served and supported the series over these years. It?s the end of an era and we are left with some great memories and are left to wonder what it could have been. We thank our fans and sponsors who gave us the opportunity to be a part of it. I also want to thank Alex for volunteering to race with us this weekend as well,?

Joining Tagliani are Champ Car veterans, Mario Dominguez and Roberto Moreno, bringing the entry list to 20. The Champ Car swan song should have the biggest field at Long Beach since 2002.

Dominguez will drive a second car for Pacific Coast Motorsports (PCM) joining teammate Alex Figge while Moreno, will drive the #14 Minardi/HVM Racing car. Moreno?s teammates at Long Beach will be Nelson Phillippe and E. J. Viso.

They?ll join a starting field that is scheduled to include:

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

racingnation.com

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