October 21, 2024
Here is a look at some great old days of Indy Car racing when Champ Car AND the IRL both existed. It was called "The Split" and friend Paul Zimmermann has written a good book on the whole mess. It was a mess that almost killed Indy Car. Thank you Tony George for almost destroying Indy Car racing.
The Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225 was the Champ Car race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 4, 2006 with Sebastien Bourdais in the pole position and winning the race. The late Justin Wilson took second and Nelson Philippe third.
Got to be friends with French driver Nelson Philippe who had a very sore neck during practice. I had some Bio Freeze in my truck that I use and I gave it to him to help calm his neck pain down a bit. It did, and he gave me his helmet visor for being nice!
Alexander Tagliani destroyed his car in practice right in front of me in turn 4 and was very lucky that he didn't get hurt at all. Alex was Will Power's teammate that year for Derrick Walker and Aussie Vineyards racing.
The Champ Car was a beautiful looking car and the Aussie Vineyards and McDonalds liveries are beautiful. Really a lot better looking than the IRL race car and faster I believe.
Justin Wilson led 61 laps, Katherine Legge 12 laps and A.J. Allmendinger led 7 laps.
Enjoy a look at some pretty cars and a mangled wreck of Alex Tagliani's car.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
February 12, 2024
I keep finding photos of races that I don't have in my website at www.richzimmermann.com. Here is one of those missing races that I've scanned in now.
It is the Road Runner 225 Champ Car race held on June 3, 2005 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Jimmy Vasser would get the last pole position of his career and I have his helmet visor from the pole winning run!
Paul Tracy won the race and led most of the laps of the day with his beautiful Forsythe Racing Champ Car.
I spent a lot of time with the Mi-Jack racing team with drivers Andrew Ranger from Canada and Nelson Philippe from France.
Andrew had a lot of promise as did Nelson but they finished the race 16th and 12th respectively. Andrew would continue racing after one more year of Champ Car then back to racing in Canada.
Nelson Philippe had a heavy shunt during a practice session and was just very sore. I shared my Bio Freeze with him! I always carry it with me and use for my sore neck and back. Got his helmet visor for that. He's a very nice guy.
Oriol Servia was racing for injured Bruno Junquiera and finished third with future star A. J. Almendinger finishing second.
Great late racer and friend Justin Wilson finished fourth. Justin was one of the nicest guys in pit lane. He always had time for a chat.
Sebastien Bourdais won the championship in 2004 and would win it again in 2005 but only finished sixth here. Love the photo of Carl Haas giving Sebastien a thumbs up before the race and hugging the nose of Oriol Servia's car as he always did with his cars.
Enjoy a look at that weekend.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann