I really like Timo Glock. I like his aggressive nature and his take no prisoner attitude. He stepped into a Champ Car and immediately turned some heads, back in Sebring earlier this year. You just know he tackled that Mile with his go-get-‘em attitude and unfortunately hit the wall pretty hard. This kid is good for the series, a genuinely nice person with a passion for the sport. I can only hope that his injuries suffered at the hands of Lady Mile are temporary and that he’s fit to go this weekend in Monterrey. He’s the kind of driver that will push Hunter into the next level of racing. Hunter need not be complacent and needs a teammate to drive him (pun intended) and I believe that Glock is that person. Frankly, I don’t know Glock all that well just yet and look forward to spending time with him and getting to know him. But everybody knows that he pushes the car to the limit, wants to make a strong impression early in his career and is determined to make his mark in the Champ Car World Series. That’s good for RHR. He needs that. Although I obviously liked Mario Dominguez and RHR as teammates, I thought they were the ‘brats’ of the series, the Boston Red Sox to Newman/Haas’ Yankees. The rugrats spoiling the fun for the big guys. But as they get older, their outlook became different and I think splitting them up was good for both of them.

Mario wants to go to F1 and has a possible deal lined up for 2006. RHR has mentioned that he aspires one day to tackle that circuit. It seemed last year that both of them were looking ahead instead of focusing on the ‘now’. This year, Mario sees PT and all the success he’s had, and the passion in his eyes and that will motivate Dominguez, he’ll realize that Champ Car is an end all and be all. I’m sure his aspiration for F1 won’t fade, but he may not be looking so far down the road.

Same thing with Ryan. Now he’s teamed up with a kid who came from the Formula One world and is trying his hardest to compete in the Champ Car World Series. This kid made the trip over the pond to compete in the world that RHR has been privileged to be part of for the last couple of years. I am not stating that RHR was taking things for granted. Not at all. But having a teammate who is so driven by Champ Cars, who is so appreciative of Champ Car can only help RHR. Champ Car is the top in North American open-wheel racing and, though second in terms of prestige and monetary around the world, every year that gap between F1 and Champ Car seems to be shrinking.

Having said all that, my main man Mario Haberfeld is standing by. That’s great news. Not that I want Timo to miss the race, but this will give Mario a chance to walk around the paddock and remind people just exactly who he is and what kind of driver he is/was in Champ Car. Hey, PKV has a third car for this event. What if Haberfeld brought along some money, can he sit in a third PKV car for the remainder of the season? If that happens, I guarantee that within a few races, the pecking order of that team will change.

Champ Car baby! Champ Car for life!