While most would regard the reunification of open-wheel racing in America as a positive thing, it has been tough on some of the drivers that had come to dominate the Champ Car World Series. Essentially dumped into a field of IndyCar drivers, even the most accomplished Champ Car pilots have had trouble finding a ride.
Take Paul Tracy, for example. The Canadian driver – arguably the nation's most successful this side of Jacques Villeneuve – started out long before the split after winning the Indy Lights title. He went on to win numerous Indy races, and took the Champ Car title in 2003. But since the two series were reconciled, he's had trouble finding a ride, contesting a race here and a race there for a variety of different teams.
This year, Tracy will reportedly be back for at least a few races with Dragon Racing – the team operated by the son of his former team boss, Roger Penske, Jay, who recently split with Gil de Ferran. Tracy will drive at Long Beach, Texas, Toronto, Edmonton and Sears Point for Dragon Racing, and will contest the Indy 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – a team with limited success to its name, but it's an outfit that has fielded such names as two-time champion Al Unser, Jr. and racing scions Graham Rahal, Tomas Scheckter and John Andretti. We'll be watching to see how Tracy does against the younger field, particularly his returning nemesis, Sebastien Bourdais.
[Source: Autosport | Image: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]
Take Paul Tracy, for example. The Canadian driver – arguably the nation's most successful this side of Jacques Villeneuve – started out long before the split after winning the Indy Lights title. He went on to win numerous Indy races, and took the Champ Car title in 2003. But since the two series were reconciled, he's had trouble finding a ride, contesting a race here and a race there for a variety of different teams.
This year, Tracy will reportedly be back for at least a few races with Dragon Racing – the team operated by the son of his former team boss, Roger Penske, Jay, who recently split with Gil de Ferran. Tracy will drive at Long Beach, Texas, Toronto, Edmonton and Sears Point for Dragon Racing, and will contest the Indy 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – a team with limited success to its name, but it's an outfit that has fielded such names as two-time champion Al Unser, Jr. and racing scions Graham Rahal, Tomas Scheckter and John Andretti. We'll be watching to see how Tracy does against the younger field, particularly his returning nemesis, Sebastien Bourdais.
[Source: Autosport | Image: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]
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