2004 Champ Car season
| 2004 Champ Car season | |
|---|---|
| BridgestonePresents the Champ Car World Series Powered byFord | |
 | |
| Season | |
| Races | 14 |
| Start date | April 18 |
| End date | November 7 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion |  Sébastien Bourdais |
| Constructors' Cup |  Lola |
| Nations' Cup |  Canada |
| Rookie of the Year |  A. J. Allmendinger |
The2004 Champ Car World Seriesseason was the 26th overall season in theCART/Champ Cargenealogy, and the first under the ownership of Open-Wheel Racing Series (OWRS) as theChamp Car World Series.It began on April 18, 2004, and ended on November 7 after 14 races. For sponsorship purposes, it was branded asBridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.The Drivers' Champion wasSébastien Bourdais.The Rookie of the Year wasA. J. Allmendinger.
The open-wheel racing organization Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. had operated until2003.After that year's season, CART declared bankruptcy and was liquidated in anIndianapoliscourtroom in January 2004. Three team owners who had participated in the CART series,Gerald Forsythe,Kevin Kalkhoven,andPaul Gentilozzi,purchased CART's liquidated assets and resurrected it as Open-Wheel Racing Series for the 2004 season.
Champ Car races were broadcast onSpike TV.[1]Also, high-definition live broadcasts were onHDNet.
Drivers and teams[edit]
TheFord-CosworthXFE, a 2.65 literturboV8engine remained the exclusive power plant for the reorganized Champ Car series.Bridgestoneremained the exclusive tire supplier as well. They also continued the marketing agreement that branded the seriesBridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.The followingteamsanddriverscompeted in the 2004 Champ Car season.
From CART to Champ Car[edit]
On January 28, 2004, the assets of the bankrupt Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (CART) were awarded to Open-Wheel Racing Series, LLC, over a bid fromIndy Racing LeagueownerTony Georgeas the judge decided that OWRS's bid would allow CART's debt holders a better chance at recouping their money.[2]Despite this victory, the OWRS partnersKevin Kalkhoven,Gerald Forsythe,andPaul Gentilozzi,would still have to work hard to ensure the 18 racecars they promised would be on track for the scheduledGrand Prix of Long Beachon April 18. Two CART teams founded in 2003, American Spirit Team Johansson and Fittipaldi-Dingman Racing, would not race in 2004, whileU. E. Patrick,one of the original founders of CART, sold off his CART team assets before starting a short-lived IRL effort.[3]
Long Beach Season Premiere and its aftermath[edit]
On March 9 a "Season Premiere" promotional event was held inLong Beach, California,announcing 12 confirmed drivers and a 16 race schedule.[4]However, just two days later on March 11,Adrián Fernándezthrew the plans for the season into serious doubt by announcing the one car team he had presented at Long Beach would not compete in the Champ Car series. He instead expanded his Indy Racing League team to two cars (even though the IRL season had already seen its first race).[5]Another blow came a week later on March 18 whenBobby Rahal,onetime CEO of CART and 3 time series champion and who also presented a one car team in Long Beach, announced he would not compete in CART and would also run a two car IRL team like Fernández.[6]
Champ Car makes it to Long Beach[edit]
Momentum for Champ Car began to turn in the aftermath of Rahal's exit when his driver,Michel Jourdain Jr.,announced that he and his sponsor, the Mexican supermarketGigantewould not follow Rahal to the IRL.[7]Jourdain ended up driving for the newRuSPORTteam, partnering with rookieA. J. Allmendinger.[8]On March 20,Herdez Competitionannounced thatRyan Hunter-Reaywould race a 2nd car for them.[9]On March 24 Gerald Forsythe expanded his team from two cars to three, providing a seat forPatrick Carpentier.[10]Conquest Racingannounced a two car team featuring ex-Formula OnedriverJustin Wilsonon March 25,[11]withAlex Speraficofilling the second seat two days later.[12]Walker Racing's one car team announced on April 8 proved to be the final piece of the puzzle to get to the 18 car field promised by the Champ Car partners in January.[13]Although his participation with two cars was already known,Dale Coynewaited until just before practice began for theGrand Prix of Long Beachto announce that his drivers would be Champ Car veteransOriol ServiàandTarso Marques.[14]
Mid-season changes[edit]
- ExF1DriverGastón MazzacanereplacedTarso MarquesatDale Coyne Racingbeginning with the race inMilwaukee.
- Rocketsports Racingswapped out rookie driverNelson Philippefor Champ Car veteranMemo Gidleyafter "contractual issues" atToronto.[15]
- Rocketsports changed drivers again for theRoad Americaround, bringing inIndy Lightsand sports car veteranGuy Smithto replace Memo Gidley.[16]
- Mi-Jack Conquest Racingbrought in Nelson Philippe to take the place ofAlex Speraficobeginning with theDenverround.
- Mi-Jack Conquest's #14 team began racing aLolachassis beginning inMontreal.
- Walker Racingbrought out a second car for the final two rounds of the season. AustralianDavid Besnarddrove the car atSurfer's Paradise.Toyota AtlanticveteranMichael Valiantetook over the drive atMexico City.[17]
- Dale Coyne Racing replaced Gastón Mazzacane withJarek Janišfor the race at Surfer's Paradise.[18]
- Tarso Marques returned to Dale Coyne Racing for the final race of the season at Mexico City.[19]
Rule changes[edit]
- The mandatory pit window rule from the previous two seasons was eliminated. At early races, teams were given a mandatory number of green flag pit stops but this was also dropped after the first two races of the season. However, the rule was re-instituted for the Las Vegas round to eliminate a possible fuel economy race with no push to pass.
- For non-oval track races, Bridgestone introduced two types of tires, both of which had to be used unless wet weather tires were used: A primary black-walled tire and a secondary red-walled option tire. The option tire was a softer, faster tire but less durable than the primary tire.
- For non-oval track races, Ford-Cosworth introduced the "push to pass" button, giving each driver an additional 50 horsepower for 60 seconds per race. The driver activated the function with a green button on the steering wheel, the boost would continue until the driver took his foot off the throttle for 1 second or time ran out.
Season summary[edit]
Schedule[edit]
OOval/Speedway
RRoad/Street course
The initial schedule announced by Champ Car at the Long Beach Season Premiere event included 16 races.[20]One event that didn't make the final schedule was a race on a street circuit inSeoul, South Koreaon October 17, a week before the Surfers Paradise race, but the race was cancelled on September 24 because of "environmental issues",[21]two months after reports that government approval for a race nearSeoul World Cup Stadiumcould not be arranged in time.[22]The second was a "TBA" event that was scheduled to take place somewhere in the United States after theGran Premio Telmex/Tecatein Mexico City and never materialized. A second TBA event on the initial schedule became theBridgestone 400on September 25 at theLas Vegas Motor Speedway,which was announced on July 7.[23]
Race results[edit]
Final driver standings[edit]
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Nations' Cup[edit]
- Top result per race counts towards the Nations' Cup
| Pos | Country | LBH
|
MTY
|
MIL
|
POR
|
CLE
|
TOR
|
VAN
|
ROA
|
DEN
|
MTL
|
LAG
|
LAS
|
SUR
|
MEX
|
Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada
|
1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 380 |
| 2 | France
|
3 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 358 |
| 3 |  Brazil
|
2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 352 |
| 4 | United States
|
7 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 310 |
| 5 | Mexico
|
5 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 295 |
| 6 |  Spain
|
15 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 195 |
| 7 |  England
|
6 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 195 |
| 8 |  Argentina
|
16 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 73 | ||||
| 9 | Australia
|
7 | 17 | |||||||||||||
| 10 |  Czech Republic
|
18 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Pos | Country | LBH
|
MTY
|
MIL
|
POR
|
CLE
|
TOR
|
VAN
|
ROA
|
DEN
|
MTL
|
LAG
|
LAS
|
SUR
|
MEX
|
Pts |
ChassisConstructors' Cup[edit]
| Pos | Chassis | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lola
|
462 |
| 2 | Reynard
|
168 |
| Pos | Chassis | Pts |
Driver breakdown[edit]
| Pos | Driver | Team | Entries | Wins | Podiums | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bourdais
|
Newman-Haas Racing
|
14 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 506 | 369 |
| 2 | Junqueira
|
Newman-Haas Racing
|
14 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 123 | 341 |
| 3 | Carpentier
|
Forsythe Championship Racing
|
14 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 66 | 266 |
| 4 | Tracy
|
Forsythe Championship Racing
|
14 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 286 | 254 |
| 5 | Domínguez
|
Herdez Competition
|
14 | -- | 3 | 6 | 11 | -- | 10 | 244 |
| 6 | Allmendinger
|
RuSPORT
|
14 | -- | 2 | 5 | 9 | -- | 16 | 229 |
| 7 | Tagliani
|
Rocketsports Racing
|
14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -- | 29 | 218 |
| 8 | Vasser
|
PKV Racing
|
14 | -- | 1 | 5 | 9 | -- | 5 | 201 |
| 9 | Hunter-Reay
|
Herdez Competition
|
14 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 250 | 199 |
| 10 | Servià
|
Dale Coyne Racing
|
14 | -- | 1 | 2 | 8 | -- | 6 | 199 |
| 11 | Wilson
|
Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
|
14 | -- | -- | 2 | 8 | -- | 1 | 188 |
| 12 | Jourdain Jr.
|
RuSPORT
|
14 | -- | 2 | 3 | 6 | -- | 13 | 185 |
| 13 | Haberfeld
|
Walker Racing
|
14 | -- | -- | 1 | 7 | -- | -- | 157 |
| 14 | Lavín
|
Forsythe Championship Racing
|
14 | -- | 1 | 2 | 5 | -- | 3 | 156 |
| 15 | Roberto González
|
PKV Racing
|
14 | -- | -- | -- | 5 | -- | -- | 136 |
| 16 | Philippe
|
Rocketsports RacingMi-Jack Conquest Racing
|
11 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | 89 |
| 17 | MazzacaneR
|
Dale Coyne Racing
|
10 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 73 |
| 18 | Smith
|
Rocketsports Racing
|
7 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | 53 |
| 19 | SperaficoR
|
Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
|
8 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 47 |
| 20 | Besnard
|
Walker Racing
|
1 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 18 |
| 21 | Gidley
|
Rocketsports Racing
|
2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 15 |
| 22 | Marques
|
Dale Coyne Racing
|
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 9 |
| 23 | ValianteR
|
Walker Racing
|
1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7 |
| 24 | JanišR
|
Dale Coyne Racing
|
1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 |
Notes[edit]
- ^The First Network For OWRS: Champ Car On Spike TV- Sports Business Daily, 11 March 2004
- ^"OWRS awarded CART assets".motorsport.com. 2004-01-28. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Patrick Racing, Unser Jr to debut at Indy500".motorsport.com. 2004-03-21. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-07-04.
- ^"Out of the woodwork in Long Beach".motorsport.com. 2004-03-09. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Fernandez moves to the IndyCar Series".motorsport.com. 2004-03-11. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Two Rahal cars for IndyCar Series".motorsport.com. 2004-03-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Jourdain leaves Team Rahal".motorsport.com. 2004-03-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Jourdain joins RuSPORT for 2004".motorsport.com. 2004-03-31. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Herdez adds Hunter-Reay to second car".motorsport.com. 2004-03-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Forsythe commits to three cars".motorsport.com. 2004-03-20.Retrieved2010-06-20.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Justin Wilson to pilot Conquest Racing Lola".motorsport.com. 2004-03-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Sperafico joins Wilson at Conquest".crash.net. 2004-03-27.Retrieved2019-03-12.
- ^"Walker Racing will compete in 2004".motorsport.com. 2004-04-08. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Marques, Servia secure rides with Coyne Racing".motorsport.com. 2004-04-16. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-06-20.
- ^"Memo Gidley To Drive For Rocketsports Racing In Toronto".motorsport.com. 2004-07-09. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2008-05-11.
- ^"Rocketsports signs Guy Smith".motorsport.com. 2004-08-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2008-05-11.
- ^"Walker Racing enters second car in Australia".motorsport.com. 2004-10-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2008-05-11.
- ^"Jaroslav Janis gets ride with Coyne".motorsport.com. 2004-10-21. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2008-05-11.
- ^"Marques returns with Coyne for Mexico City".motorsport.com. 2004-11-04. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2008-05-11.
- ^"The 2004 schedule is more complete".motorsport.com. 2004-03-08. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-07-05.
- ^"Three events remaining in season".ESPN.2004-09-24.Retrieved2019-08-05.
- ^"No Seoul for Champ Cars".AutoWeek. 2004-07-25.Retrieved2019-08-05.
- ^"Champ Car to run at Las Vegas".motorsport.com. 2004-07-07. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2010-07-05.
References[edit]
- Åberg, Andreas."Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford 2004".Driver Database.Archivedfrom the original on 2008-10-05.Retrieved2009-05-19.
- "2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford".Champ Car Stats.Archivedfrom the original on 2008-11-22.Retrieved2009-05-19.
- "Standings after Mexico City".Champ Car World Series. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-22.Retrieved2009-05-19.