I really like the driver diary idea that Champ Car decided to do this year. Its fun knowing what happens in between races in the mind of a racecar driver. Apparently with Paul Tracy, it involves moving into a huge house in Florida on the ocean. Not too shabby, this life of a driver.

Come on GoodYear, don’t be like that! Let Michel run in Monterrey. It makes absolutely no difference to you guys. Its not even in the United States. It’s a one-off that would benefit everyone involved. Michel races at home, Champ Car has two Mexicans for the race and the fans have local boys to cheer for. Everybody wins. It’s not like there is a Busch race that weekend. He’s not going to go and plug Bridgestone at every opportunity. Michel Jourdain Jr is a smart man who knows who he works for. In fact, this really benefits the Busch series and Goodyear all together. They are looking for more exposure in Mexico. Well, a Busch driver doing a one-off in Open-Wheel in Mexico is exactly what the doctor ordered! The media will surely mention his Busch career and for the very few people who aren’t already Michel Jourdain fans in Mexico, well they will be exposed to him and should they want to continue following him? Well they would turn to the NASCAR Busch series powered by Goodyear (in this case). Its literally win-win.

So now Pat Carpentier and Eddy Cheever are all buddy-buddy again, now that they had to meet face to face for the practice session at Indy. Isn’t that convenient? When 1000 miles apart, then we can yap at each other all we want and send each other mean letters like school girls. But when it comes to seeing each other, well, uh, let me clarify what I really meant. Yes, yes, me too. Uh, let me tell you what I meant to say. Those nasty journalists, always spinning stories. Yes, those jerks. What I meant to say was that I love Driving for Cheever and finishing in the top 15 on a good day. Oh, and yes, what I meant in the letter I wrote to Pat was that I love him finishing in the top 15. Seriously. We’re good buddies now. Until after that Indy 500 that is.

Speaking of Indy, I understand that some Champ Car fans are upset with all the coverage given to the Indy500 by our reporters. They have a good point. If I am a Champ Car reporter, why should I be covering the Indy500? Unfortunately it goes beyond logic with this race and no matter what era we are in, the month of May will be reserved for the Indy500 in the world of Open-Wheel racing. Most of the reporters are old school (some very old school) and whoever they are covering, the Indy500 will always be the spectacle of racing in the US. And they will inevitably migrate to Indy for the month of May. Its inevitable. This year, it’s a little easier for them to justify their actions, given that we have two Champ Car drivers participating. But, they would be there anyway (the reporters that is).

But!! We are only a week away from the race in Monterrey. Thank god! I wish I could attend, but alas, my Spanish isn’t up to par. I will be watching closely on my television set, which is good, because it will give me a chance to watch a television broadcast and therefore be able to state an opinion on the production values. I heard mixed rumblings for the first race. We’ll see what happens here!! Its always bittersweet watching a race on television for me. I love the show, naturally, but I hate not being there. Its frustrating a little. Watch for Bourdais to continue his dominant reign. I don’t see it stopping next weekend. His rookie season in 2003, the most impressive drive he had all year was in Monterrey, if you ask me. I forget the exact details,
it may have been a pitstop blunder during the race, but he ended up at the back of the pack and watching him climb the ladder was so beautiful. It was similar to his drive in Denver last year, except that this was his 2nd champ car race ever. The kid is truly special and I can’t wait to watch him next week.
Champ Car baby! Champ Car for Life!

Well it seems like I may be a little less dedicated to this blog recently, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t necessarily want to write anything simply to write something down. That can be dangerous. We see it all the time with reporters. They have a deadline from their editor and they need their story. So, if nothing major is happening, they dig. And then dig some more if necessary. And when they still can’t find a story? They make it up.

I don’t want to be doing that. Not just yet in my career anyway. There’s a difference between an op-ed piece and a news story. Unfortunately that line is blurred more and more and its increasingly difficult to tell what is fact and what is opinion.

You see this a lot on the internet. People online will post things on forums and sometimes they post things that are so exaggerated its kind of humorous. Luckily, most of the posters want proof or a link as to where they got their info. In fact, a few posters out there have lost all credibility. People don’t even take their comments with a grain of salt. They simply dismiss their comments all together. Unfortunately that is harder to do with print or any other forms of media. Again, editors want their stories and have a deadline.

Nevertheless, blogs aren’t news pieces and I can say whatever the heck I want about anything. But I digress. Its not my style to talk for the sake of talking. I’ll continue to post my opinions when stories surface. But if its quiet, then I will be quiet. But keep checking, cause I am always ready to write another piece and I never know when I get motivated or inspired!

If Paul Tracy wants to hang up his Champ Car boots and put on NASCAR boots, there’s one thing we should all do: thank him for everything he’s done and wish him the very best racing stock cars. There are only a handful of people who have demonstrated their passion for Champ Car like Paul Tracy and we should be grateful for that. When the chips were down, he came through for our series. He could have bailed with AGR, he could have gone to the IRL and fade away there. But he stuck to his beliefs. He was there when the series needed him most. He believed in Gerry Forsythe’s plan of actions. He believed in Chris Pook and now believes in the three amigos. He’s always worn his emotions on his sleeves and he’s exactly what the series has needed the last couple of seasons when it was redefining itself. Critical when he thought something was wrong, but quick to praise when he saw something being done right.

What Paul Tracy has accomplished in his career is truly remarkable and he’ll go down as one of the great open-wheel drivers that North America has ever seen. From his first win as a chubby kid in Long Beach back in 94 to his dominant season in 03, he’s had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But through it all, he remained the one thing he was best at: a racecar driver.

When talking about a Champ Car Team and its operation, we value each individual’s position within that team, be it a mechanic, an engineer or a PR. Each has their role and is expected to fulfill them with their utmost capabilities. Paul Tracy is an exceptional racecar driver and knows it. He knows his role on the team. His role is to drive the car, given to him by his team, to the checkered flag. He lets the engineer do their jobs and lets the mechanics do their jobs. Naturally he offers suggestions when asked, but he’s very good at letting his team do their work. To me, that’s a very important skill to have. It makes the team feel appreciated and confident. Some drivers always seem to be looking over the mechanics shoulder to ensure he or she is doing the right thing. That can be annoying and doesn’t evoke too much assurance within the team.

If, and this is a big if, but if Paul Tracy can be competitive in the Nextel Cup, then Champ Car will profit. Paul will always speak fondly of Champ Car and always sourly of the IRL. If he starts putting strong results, people will take note of where he comes from. NASCAR is very good at detailing the origins of their drivers and how they got to the Nextel Cup. Tracy would speak nothing but praise of Champ Car and that can only benefit the series.

Tracy is very competitive and has always been. Driving open-wheel racecars is not easy and if he feels that because of his age he can’t be as competitive as he wants to be, then he will walk away. But I don’t know that he feels that yet or will feel that anytime too soon. He’s clearly in the best shape of his life. He also sees these young drivers coming in and would like nothing to prove to himself and the world that he’s better than them. But whatever decision Tracy makes about his future, he’ll always be part of Champ Cars some way or another. And we should always be grateful to him.
Champ Car baby! Champ Car for Life!