CCWS News - Back In The Habitat
18/09/2006
After a hiatus in the 2005 campaign, Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series action returns to the favorite circuit of nine in every 10 Champ Car drivers: Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The 4.048-mile road course, long dubbed "America's Spa" for its high-speed, highly technical character, has been a staple of Champ Car racing since 1982 and is defined by many as the natural "habitat" for the 750-horsepower turbocharged machines since they can showcase their full potential on the circuit's long straights and sweeping bends.
"From my first day as Champ Car President, I was inundated by our fans, sponsors and teams asking me to find a way to get back to Road America," Champ Car president Steve Johnson reveals.
But the usual excitement of the scenic circuit won't be the only attraction of the weekend. Road America will also host the season finale and title decision of the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic championship between Simon Pagenaud and Graham Rahal - who will be battling for the $2 million check awarded to the champion - and it will mark the first official public appearance of the "Future of Racing," the new 2007 Panoz DP01 Champ Car chassis.
Current Team Australia driver Alex Tagliani conquered his sole Champ Car victory in the series' last visit to Elkhart Lake back in '04 (above) driving for Rocketsports Racing. The 2006 Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America is scheduled for September 22-24.