Thursday Official Announcements: Rahal & Dominguez
Written by Scott Keller · March 29, 2007
Newman/Hass/Lanigan: Graham Rahal to Drive the No. 2 Medi | Zone Race Car for Newman/Haas/ Lanigan Racing in the 2007 Champ Car World Series Championship.
Forsythe: Mario Dominguez and Forsythe Championship Racing Reunite
CHAMPCAR.WS
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (March 29, 2007) - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) announced today that 18-year-old American Graham Rahal will join the team for the 2007 Champ Car World Series season. MEDI | ZONE will be the primary sponsor of the No. 2 race car.
“It’s an honor and dream to drive for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing,” said Graham Rahal, 18, who finished second in the Champ Car Atlantic championship last season and is in the midst of his senior year of high school in New Albany, Ohio. “My dad always told me it was his dream to drive a car for Mr. Newman and Mr. Haas and now I’ve got a leg up on him. I’m looking forward to working with our new sponsor MEDI | ZONE and to spread the word on wellness and living a healthy lifestyle.”
CHAMPCAR.WS
Wheeling, Illinois- April 29th, 2007- Forsythe Championship Racing is proud to announce that it has secured the services of veteran Mexican Champ Car Driver Mario Dominguez to pilot the #7 Telmex/INDECK Cosworth/Bridgestone/DP01 for the first three rounds of the 2007 Champ Car World Series. This will be the second time that Dominguez and the Forsythe Team join forces, as the Mexico City native competed with the blue and white team for the full 2005 Season and four events in 2006, securing 2 podiums finishes, and a career first Pole Position for Dominguez at the Houston Grand Prix.
Dominguez is one Champ Car’s most experienced drivers and will begin his sixth full Season of Champ Car competition in the Series. In his 78 starts he has captured two Victories, one Pole Position, 11 Podiums, and has finished among the top 10 in the Championship four times. He has also become one of the most recognizable sports figures among Latin American fans both in Mexico and in the United States.
Both announcments have their ironies. First, NHL now have a “health oriented sponsor”, MEDI|ZONE, on one car, and “McDonalds” on the other. Second, Forsythe has brought back a guy whom crashed out their lead driver in the opening race last year, and was fired from a ride that later was driven to a bunch of races in 2006 by AJ Allmendinger.
Business-wise, Forsythe’s move makes sense, but it sure doesn’t help in terms of building better team chemistry. However, Dominguez did run strong in Houston last year before he blew a possible podium finish by overshooting turn 1. If he can adjust to the new car, maybe he could redeem himself in Houston.
All in all, a good day for Champ Car so far.
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Some good news instead of the usual gloom.fingers crossed for 2007
Why did Forsythe bring Dominguez back to the team? One word spells it out very clearly; TELMEX.
He no doubt brought the sponsor, but apparently it’s only for four races. I guess if they do well TELMEX may extend for the season.
Doesn’t Forsythe own a multi-million dollar power company? Is Forsythe that hard up for money? I guess he’s tired of funding ChampCar on his own dime (I don’t blame him). When it comes to funding and sponsorships, always use someone else’s money - if you can.
Forsythe vowed he would not run a second car without outside sponsorship this year. We’ll see what happens after race 4 this year.