You know why I like the show RockStar INXS? Because the contestants are not only very talented, but they perform rock classics. Seeing their take on classics is much more interesting than American Idol singers performing ‘pop’ song after pop song with the help of no band or musical performer. I can understand why RockStar INXS isn’t as popular. I mean, who cares about INXS, right? but its primarily because the youth of today don’t care for the rock classics and have no interest in seeing performers put a little of their soul in the soulful work of others. Its too bad. The kids could learn.

Anyway, still reeling over what was Edmonton and the amazing response from the city. Now the question is, will they all return next year? While I fully believe in the knowledge of Edmontonians towards motorsports and clearly saw that the city is full of gearheads, you have to ask yourself the question. How many people will return next year after witnessing it this year? Is it going to be a case of ‘been there, done that’ or a case of Champ Car having created new fans? I’m looking at the latter, considering that the Atlantics and the Champ Cars put on very good races. I also expect Edmonton to expand next year in terms of festivities and support series. Could we get more than 90k next year on race day? I’m sure there are many doubters out there. But Edmonton has taught us to expect the unexpected, so I am not going to bet against it happening!

Sorry this is short, but busier I could not be.
Champ Car baby! Champ Car for life!

I apologize for not being able to write about the race right after it happened, but I was fortunate enough to join some wonderful people for a nice dinner on Sunday night as well as attend the ‘Champ Car Girls’ party or the driver party, or whatever you want to call it. Needless to say, I didn’t have time Sunday night and Monday was spent in the airports!
Champ Car is on a very good streak of highly entertaining races. I don’t know that I recall a string this good in the past. I suppose Portland may have been the ‘quietest’ race this season, but it was drama-filled anyway. Champ Car seems to be hitting their marks in terms of rules and options to make the races more exciting. Whether it’s the Bridgestone Reds, or the Power to Pass, or the open pit stops, they just seem to have found the properly formula.

A lot of people came down hard on AJ, no one more than himself, after he brushed the wall and saw his first victory slip away. Two races in a row where a mental lapse causes him the win or a podium. Part of becoming a great driver is developing the mental as well as the physical and sometimes the best way to do that is to suffer a few lapses. I have a feeling these last two races will probably end up making him a better driver in the big picture. It’ll also make that first victory all the sweeter!

Katherine Legg is my hero! She is absolutely amazing. I must admit that I had been cheering her on privately, mainly because she’s such a nice person, sparkling personality and just a joy to be around with. But after Long beach, though she did have a podium in Portland, she needed this win so badly to completely establish her credibility as a female driver. When constantly compared to Danica, who has never won anything, it becomes hard to legitimize women in the sport as more than just novelty. She has proven that she belongs and that there’s an avenue and option for young girls who want to get in the sport. I know I’m talking like she’s the first ever to do it and she’s obviously not. But the fact that she’s winning is what separates her from the other female drivers in open-wheel racing.

Best quote of the weekend with regards to the Edmonton event

“This place has a lot of mojo”
-Tonis Kasamets

Champ Car baby! Champ Car for life!

Every qualifying session, when teams wait and wait to go out, I generally lists reasons on the air as to why they should be out there. Sometimes I feel I am over-stepping my boundaries by giving my opinion on how to qualify, especially when the track is quiet and the teams actually hear what I say. I usually follow my comments with something like “but that’s why I’m up in the booth and not running a race team”. But today, after what happened in qualifying, I felt more like saying “I told you so!”

When every teams waits until the last possible minute to go out there, then this is exactly what happens. Sure, going out early would have probably meant going somewhat slower than if waiting for more rubber and a dryer track. But, isn’t it better than what happened today? I don’t know if teams expected to beat AJ’s time from yesterday, and that’s why they waited at the very last minute to go. But some team should have gone out early, had the entire track to themselves and at least put down some times that may have been good enough for provisional pole. It would have today! AJ was the fastest driver out there today and he accomplished that ‘quick lap’ on his 4th before a red came out. Then traffic a plenty. Then another red. Nobody teams were able to get a good flow out there and as a result, only two drivers, I think, actually completed 7 of their 15 allotted laps. Not even half!

Hey, when there’s no action on the track during green flag qualifying, I need something to talk about. So I bring up the positives of going out early. Am I just filling dead-air? For the most part. But dang it, most of the time I firmly believe that teams should go out and run a stint early. It may not pay-off every time, but today it would have. I told you so!

That Chuck Swolzman continues to impress with every race as he captured the pole position for the tomorrow’s Napa Auto Part Atlantic race. That’s bad news for the rest of the field, cause like I mentioned last week prior to Toronto, he’s got an ability to take off from the pack and just staying with him is difficult, let alone passing him. Its going to be very tough for these Atlantic cars to pass in Edmonton and most of the passing will need to be done right off the opening green or following yellow flags. There’s lots of wide open space for passing, but its so fast (the track is) that Swolzman is definitely sitting in a great position to capture his 4th win of the season. However, last week he seemed on his way when he suffered a mechanical breakdown. Certainly not likely to happen two races in a row, but I bet there are a few teams in the Atlantic Paddock that hope it does!

66 thousand plus on a rained plagued Saturday. Yeah, not bad.