SpeedCenter News Archive 2000

 
December
2000
  December 22, 2000

Tagliani Tests 2001 Reynard
Sebring test produces positive results

Fittipaldi Completes First Test with 2001 Toyota-Powered Champcar
Driver very happy with all-new Toyota Phase 7 engine

December 21, 2000

CART 2001 TV Schedule
20 of 22 races to be broadcast live. December 20, 2000

Mo Nunn Test Photos from Homestead
Alex Zanardi tests the #55 Hollywood Honda Reynard

December 18, 2000

Mo Nunn Test Photos from Homestead
Tony Kanaan tests the #55 Hollywood Honda Reynard

December 7, 2000

Pioneer Electronics Partners with Mo Nunn and Walker Racing for 2001
Two Pioneer cars to provide "great entertainment"

December 6, 2000

Pioneer Electronics To Sponsor Second Mo Nunn Entry for Zanardi As Kanaan Gets a Teammate and Team Moves to Honda Power in 2001
“The opportunity is so good that I cannot continue with my ‘vacation’”

December 5, 2000

More Photos from Sebring
Photos from Sebring testing, including Michael Andretti's new Motorola Honda/Reynard

December 4, 2000

CART Announces Heitzler As Sanctioning Body's New President And CEO
Selection Concludes a Six Month Search

December 3, 2000

Patrick Racing Signs Jimmy Vasser for 2001 Season
Sponsorship Still Not Set For Vasser's Car


November
2000
  November 30, 2000

CART Not Returning To Nazareth Speedway After 2001 Season
Declining Attendance To Blame

November 29, 2000

Walker Racing Announces New Driver and Engine Supplier for 2001
Pioneer Electronics Signs On As New Sponsor

November 27, 2000

Team Player's Hires Former Reynard Executive Bruce Ashmore
Ashmore will oversee the team's engineering operations

November 21, 2000

Team Player’s Sets Its Sights on the 2001 CART Championship as Carpentier and Tagliani Look to Build on Last Season’s Efforts
"We have all the elements in place to have an outstanding season"

November 17, 2000

Sebring Test Quick Shots - Day Two
Cristiano joins the fun

November 16, 2000

Sebring Test Quick Shots - Day One
Moreno and Fittipaldi Try New Toyotas

Toyota To Supply Power For Moreno's 2001 Visteon/Patrick Racing Effort
Visteon Stays In Spite of Ford Leaving

November 15, 2000

New Team Target Drivers Get First Taste of Oval Racing
Junqueira and Minassian impressive despite poor weather conditions

November 13, 2000

Team Sigma Completes First Test As New Team
Completes an informal test at the Route 66 Speedway

November 8, 2000

da Matta To Join Fittipaldi At Newman/Haas Racing For 2001
Team Switches To Toyota Power


October
2000
  October 30, 2000

CART Announces Winners At Season-End Awards Banquet
Celebrated one of the tightest points races in CART history

Juan Montoya Named WorldCom Most Popular Driver
CART Fan Zaron Wins Trip To CART Season Finale

October 28, 2000

Update: Championship Points Battle Narrows to Four
All in search of their first Championship

Newly Formed Brooke Racing Team Announced For 2001 Season
Whether to run Champ Cars or Indy Lights is the question

Fernandez Racing To Enter CART FedEx Championship Series
Sponsorship contracts run 3-5 years

Zakspeed Motorsports and Forsythe Racing Found a CART Team: Zakspeed Forsythe Racing
Team will be called "Team Zakspeed Forsythe Racing"

October 27, 2000

Servia Fined $20,000, Forfeits Australia Race Points For Multiple Infractions At Honda Indy 300
The ruling came after extensive review of the incident on tape, as well as interviews

Junqueira and Minassian to Drive for Team Target in 2001
Young, talented drivers looking to begin new championship streak for Target Chip Ganassi Racing

PPI Motorsports and Toyota End 19-Year Relationship
"It is especially rewarding to have been a part of their CART engine development program "

October 25, 2000

CART Reports Third Quarter 2000 Results
Earnings were up $0.09 compared to Q3 1999

October 24, 2000

Della Penna Motorsports Regrouping for 2001
"There's no manufacturer prepared to supply us with engines"

October 23, 2000

Championship Points Battle Narrows to Five
All in search of their first Championship

October 18, 2000

Casey Mears to Drive Third Team Rahal Entry at Fontana
Indy Lights star gains Champcar opportunity with Rahal

October 9, 2000

2001 Rio Event Shifts From February to March, Oval to Road Course
Adjusted season schedule now opens March 11 in Mexico

October 5, 2000

Five Finalists Announced For Greg Moore Legacy Award
Award to honor driver who typifies Moore's spirit

October 3, 2000

CART Chief Financial Officer Resigns
Dzierzawski leaves after 10 years with CART


September
2000
  Sept. 26, 2000

Motorola and Michael Andretti Join Forces
The Team Motorola entry will be prepared and maintained by Team Green

Sept. 25, 2000

Australian Jason Bright to Make Champ Car Debut at Surfer's Paradise
Gidley vacates Della Penna ride for one event

Sept. 22, 2000

Ganassi Evaluates Drivers for 2001 Season
Team Target Holds Driver Evaluation to Fill Seats for 2001 CART FedEx Series

Sept. 21, 2000

BMW WilliamsF1 Team Sign Juan Pablo Montoya
Will start testing in F1 car in December

Sept. 20, 2000

Bobby Rahal Named As New Jaguar Racing Team Boss
Ex-CART champ to head Jaguar Racing as CEO and president for 2001

Sept. 14, 2000

All Signs Point To Rahal Leaving CART To Head Jaguar in Formula 1
Barry Green May Soon Follow To F1

Sept. 10, 2000

Mark Blundell to Depart PacWest at Season’s End
Blundell joined PacWest from the ranks of formula one in 1996

CART Announces Turbo Pressure Reduction to Slow Champ Cars During 2001, 2002 FedEx Series Seasons
The changes will decrease horsepower from the current 900 level to 775 for the 2002 season

CART Announces Details for Revised Weekend Race Schedules for 2001 FedEx Championship Series Events
Out-of-season testing also will be limited

Sept. 9, 2000

Mercedes-Benz Stops its' Champ Car Activities
We had a good time in CART

Sept. 1, 2000

CART Announces Creation of Greg Moore Legacy Award to Honor Late Canadian Star
"We are proud that CART would choose to recognize Greg's contributions in this manner."


August
2000
  August 30, 2000

Tracy and Franchitti Renew Contracts
Tracy signs long term Team KOOL Green contract; Franchitti returns for 2001 season

August 26, 2000

Castroneves Sets Unofficial Course Record in Final Day of Open Testing at Laguna Seca Raceway
Penske cars continue to set the pace on natural terrain road courses

August 25, 2000

Carpentier Sets the Pace on First Day of Open Testing at Laguna Seca Raceway
"I'm very happy, although we should've been quicker"

August 24, 2000

Positive Day for PacWest at Laguna Seca Test
Gugelmin and Dixon test for PacWest on first day at Laguna

MoNunn Racing Test Notes Laguna Seca Day One
Team expects to improve on Friday

August 13, 2000

CART Franchise Board Approves Changes In Testing Rules, Race Weekend Schedules For 2001 Season
"Fans are at the core of our racing – they are what the sport is truly about"

August 11, 2000

Kurosawa Out For Rest Of Season
Replacing Takuya here at Mid-Ohio will be Gualter Salles driving the #19 SPORTS TODAY Lola.

August 4, 2000

CART Announces 2001 Schedule
Record 22 races comprise the schedule for 2001

August 3, 2000

Memo Gidley Signs with Della Penna Motorsports
I can't have two drivers switching back and forth.


July
2000
  July 29, 2000

FedEx Champion to Annually be Awarded Re-creation of the Vanderbilt Cup, America's Oldest Motorsports Trophy
Vanderbilt was a pioneer in auto racing as well as an accomplished driver in the early 1900s.

July 28, 2000

Transportation Secretary Slater and CART Interim President and CEO Rahal Extend Saftey Partnership
"Racing is our business and safety is a significant part of everything we do."

Team Rahal extends contract with driver Kenny Brack
Shell also re-signs as primary sponsor

Patrick Racing's Moreno Leading Votegetter For Midseason CART All-Star Team
"And it's great to finally lose the 'SuperSub' tag"

July 23, 2000

PPI Motorsports Signs Cristiano da Matta Through 2001
"I feel lucky to be here"

July 20, 2000

Tony Kanaan Cleared to Drive at Michigan 500
rasilian makes fast return from injury to defend his 1999 win

July 19, 2000

PPI to Combine CART and NASCAR Operations in Hickory, N.C. in 2001
Offroad program to remain in California

July 18, 2000

Dario Franchitti Tests F1 Car for Jaguar
He is within one second of Jaguar's regular test driver

July 17, 2000

Memo Gidley to Drive for Della Penna Motorsports in the Michigan 500
Norberto to sit out due to lack of superspeedway experience

July 13, 2000

CART Stars to Cameo in "Champs"
Andretti, Montoya, Franchitti to share screen with Stallone

July 12, 2000

CART Adds New English Oval Track To 2001 Schedule
Rockingham Motor Speedway to host first-ever British CART race

July 12, 2000

CART to Race in Germany in 2001
CART Celebrates Its European Premiere With The "German 500"

July 11, 2000

CART to Race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001
New market for CART; "first class facility"

July 7, 2000

da Matta Quickest in Chicago
Overall speeds increase on day two of open test

July 6, 2000

Franchitti Fastest Day One of Open Test at Chicago
Defending Champion Montoya second fastest

Tagliani Unhurt After Testing Accident in Chicago
Damage to the car forces Team Player’s to return to Indianapolis

American Driver Memo Gidley Sole Entry in Novato to Indy Crab-Trailer Rally
Gidley relocates in style

July 5, 2000

Mauricio Gugelmin - a Father Again
Timing was perfect

Blundell Swaps Colors for Chicago Test
"Fifth" Pacwest car is painted in Nextel colors

Champ Car Test in Chicago Open to the Public
Thursday and Friday tests to determine wing package for Target Grand Prix


June
2000
  June 20, 2000

Herta To Sub for Injured Kanaan Starting in Portland
Tony shooting to make it back in time to defend his U.S. 500 title

June 16, 2000

CART Takes Next Step In Solidifying 2001 Schedule
Announces It Will Not Return To Homestead-Miami Speedway

June 16, 2000

CART Appoints Bobby Rahal as Interim CEO To Replace Andrew Craig
Craig Resigns To Pursue Other Business Alternatives

June 14, 2000

CART, Dover Downs Work Together To Pursue Champ Car Racing Opportunities
CART Not Returning to Gateway in 2001

June 10, 2000

"A thrilling weekend that I'll remember my whole life"
Carpentier's champcar battles a CF-18

June 8, 2000

Penske Drivers Continue Strong Performance at Mid Ohio Open Test
De Ferran tops speed charts on both days

June 7, 2000

Gidley Subs for Fontana at Mid Ohio Test
Fontana to return to cockpit tomorrow

June 7, 2000

Marlboro Team Penske Drivers Stand Out During CART Open Test At Mid-Ohio
Teams preparing for upcoming road courses


May
2000
  May 29, 2000

Fontana and Della Penna Not to Race at Milwaukee
Sponsorship woes threaten future of team

May 22, 2000

Inside CART TV Show Debuts This Week
Magazine-style television show launches on ESPN2

Team Kool Green Tests at Milwaukee
TKG and others test at the Mile

May 19, 2000

Nakano Returns to Oval Testing, Sits Out Nazareth
Team will not attempt to compete at Nazareth

May 17, 2000

Carpentier to Race F-18 Hornet Jet
June 10 event is part of Ville de La Baie's International Air Show

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

May 14, 2000

Sigma Champcar Reveals CART Plans
Team Names Max Wilson As Driver - Begins Testing This Fall

May 11, 2000

Gidley's Indy Effort Gets Underway While He Competes in Japan
Do-it-yourself race team prepares for Memorial Day

Newman/Haas Team Penalized For Rio 200 Pit Incident
Team will forfeit 4 points awarded to Andretti and prize money

May 5, 2000

Carpentier Return Delayed
Memo Gidley to sub at Motegi

May 3, 2000

Injured Newman-Haas Crewman Returns Home
Injury required no surgery

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. Expands Board of Directors
Board adds three new members

May 2, 2000

Swift, Dale Coyne Create New CART Championship Series Entry
Second Coyne car to be a Swift starting in Japan


April
2000
  April 19, 2000

CART Statement Regarding Event in Detroit
Belle Isle canceled does not mean Detroit scratched

April 15, 2000

ESPN Set For Live Broadcast Of Rescheduled Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented By Toyota
One-day Affair On Memorial Day Weekend

April 14, 2000

CART's FedEx Championship Series To Visit Mexico In 2001
State-Of-The-Art Facility In Monterrey To Host Champ Cars

April 12, 2000

Have Helmet, Will Travel
Memo Gidley arrives in a CART cockpit after roller coaster week

April 11, 2000

Gidley to Sub for Carpentier at Long Beach
Carpentier suffers broken wrist in his Las Vegas home

Memo Gidley Aces Rookie Test at Indy
Another CART alumni prepares for Indy 500

Newman Haas Joins Celebrities in "Kids Race Against Drugs" Kick-Off Event
Andretti, Newman, Fittipaldi and others to appear April 13 at KMart in Carson, CA


March
2000
  March 31, 2000

Nakano Hurt in Testing
Shinji Nakano involved in testing incident at Milwaukee Mile

March 29, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

March 19, 2000

New Team Enters FedEx Championship Series
Arciero Project Racing Group to compete at all events

March 17, 2000

Argentine VideoMatch Backs Countrymen Della Penna and Fontana
Hearn to return with second car if funding is secured

Fontana Confirmed for Della Penna
Announcement in Buenos Aires

March 16, 2000

Forsythe Championship Racing Withdraws from 2000 CART Season
Forsythe withrdraws team over franchise issue

March 15, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

March 10, 2000

Newmann-Haas Team Wraps up Homestead Oval Tests
Andretti runs fastest lap in pre-season testing

March 9, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

March 6, 2000

Bräck Not in Indy 500
Team Rahal statement about Brack's involvement in this year's 500

March 3, 2000

Fontana Sets the Pace on Homestead's Road Course
Argentine talent fast at Homestead

Gugelmin Concludes Test in the West
A full day at Firebird Roadcourse

Jourdain Jr. Ends Phoenix Test Early
Engine problems cut session short

March 1, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams


February
2000
  February 29, 2000

Radio Changes for 2000
CART announces changes in radio network programming for the 2000 season

Bräck Talks About Being a "Rookie"
Indy 500 winner looking for a successful rookie season

February 28, 2000

Long Beach Toyota Celebrity Field Entrants
George Lucas, Ashley Judd and Christian Slater among stars participating in event

Della Penna Motorsports Gives Seat Time to Argentine Noberto Fontana
Team hopes to expand to two cars

February 23, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

Tony Brunetti Joins Forsythe Championship Racing
Horne successor chosen

Supplemental TV Programming Announced by CART
"Inside CART" and "CART Insider" programs to boost visibility of series

Jourdain's Sebring Test Continues
Down to 52.0 seconds, lower times expected

February 22, 2000

Blundell Takes 130mph Hit at Sebring Test
Driver walks away from massive crash

Horne Resigns from Forsythe Championship Racing
Not ready for long-term committment to Swift development

First Road Course Test for Jourdain
Herdez/Bettenhausen Motorsports tests at Sebring

February 21, 2000

CART 2000 TV Schedule
Record number of broadcast hours

February 20, 2000

Bettenhausen and Herdez to Carry On
Team committed to continue racing

February 19, 2000

CART's Inaugural Test Session for Women's Driver Development Program Concludes With Great Success
Three women take spin in Formula Atlantic car

February 15, 2000

Hollywood to MoNunn Racing
Paint scheme for Kanaan's 2000 Hollywood ride announced

Hollywood Inks Multi-Year Deal with Mo Nunn Racing
Brazilian tobacco brand to back newly formed team

Bettenhausen Tribute: Andrea Montermini

Bettenhausen Tribute: Bruce McCaw

Joint Statement from Mercedes-Benz USA and Ilmor Engineering

Tragedy Strikes Bettenhausen Motorsports

February 14, 2000

CART Owner Bettenhausen, Wife Shirley, Partner Roberts Killed in Plane Crash
Twin-engine plane crashed into a hillside near Leesburg, Ky.

Franchitti Released from Hospital
Determined to be back for season opener

Nike Joins CART to Create Nike Racing Apparel Line
Nike to promote program in mass- and trade-media

February 11, 2000

Team Rahal On Top at Spring Training
Ford teams dominate two day test

Ford Engine Dominates Speed Charts at Homestead
New Ford XF in 7 of the top 10 cars

February 10, 2000

Medical Update on Dario Franchitti
'99 runner-up sidelined for several weeks

Blundell Quickest Mercedes at Spring Training
PacWest drivers lead Mercedes contingent

February 3, 2000

It's Official: Tony Kanaan Takes the Wheel for Nunn Racing
1998 Rookie of the Year to drive the #55 for Nunn Racing

CART Headed to Fifth Annual Spring Training
Changes abound as teams prepare for testing at Homestead

February 1, 2000

Servia Signs with Telefonica and PPI Motorsports
1999 Indy Lights Champion Joins Da Matta on Climb to Champ Cars

New Look, New Name for da Matta and PPI Motorsports
Da Matta to Drive the #97 Pioneer Electronics/MCI WorldCom Champ Car for PPIM


January
2000
  January 30, 2000

Blundell Completes First Road Course Test With 2000 Package
135 miles at Firebird "deepens faith" in package

PacWest Continues Testing at Firebird
Fourth day of testing in five days

January 29, 2000

Gugelmin Named Chairman of Championship Drivers Association
Veteran driver replaces Scott Pruett

January 28, 2000

Della Penna Motorsports Completes First Oval Test
Team "didn't set the world on fire," but learned a lot

Gugelmin Completes Testing Marathon at Phoenix
PacWest driver logs 200 miles on PIR oval

January 27, 2000

Carpentier Among the Fastest in Phoenix Tests
Carpentier fastest among 12 cars on Wednesday

January 26, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

Moreno Pleased With First Test
"Fantastic first two days of testing"

Blundell Completes First Test Since '99 Season Finale
Test to continue tomorrow

PPG Still a CART Sponsor
PPG Industries named official automotive paint and refinishing supplier of CART

January 20, 2000

Herta Takes First Laps in New Honda/Swift
Wet track keeps the speeds down

January 17, 2000

Bryan Herta Joins McDonald's Team
Tony Kanaan Released from Contract

January 14, 2000

CART News Roundup
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

January 12, 2000

Testing Continues for Della Penna Motorsports
Team impressed with new engineer Diane Holl

January 11, 2000

Player's Team Tests at Homestead
First oval test for new driver lineup

January 5, 2000

elf Race Fuels Named Official Fuel Supplier for CART
elf replaces Valvoline

Cleveland Race Title Sponsor Named
Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland named after communications and IT company

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