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Jourdain Jr. hailed as new star of CART Series
Milwaukee, June 07: The CART Champ Car Series has been searching for a new star, someone to capture the imagination of American racing fans.
Milwaukee, June 07: The CART Champ Car Series has been searching for a new star, someone to capture the imagination of American racing fans.
Well, here comes Michel Jourdain Jr., in his eighth Champ Car season despite being only 26 with cover-boy good looks and loads of potential on the racetrack. All Jourdain had to do to lay claim to star-in-waiting status was win.
Now, after 126 races, the youngster from Mexico is a winner -- and a rising star in the Champ Car firmament -- taking the checkered flag after dominating the race Saturday in Milwaukee.
"I always felt that there was untapped potential in Michel and he has proved me right numerous times since we signed him," said Bobby Rahal, a former champion driver who is now co-owner of Team Rahal with talk show host David Letterman.
It was Rahal who put together a deal with sponsor Gigante, one of the leading retail chains in Mexico, and brought Jourdain to his team just weeks before the start of the 2002 season.
After years with underfinanced and underperforming teams, the unexpected call from Rahal gave Jourdain the chance to show what he could do with top equipment and personnel.
"I would not want to insult the teams and people I was with before, but the professionalism and preparation I saw when I came to Bobby's team was just tremendous," Jourdain said. "I knew if I could not win for this team, then I would never win races."
Jourdain immediately became one of the most consistent drivers in the open-wheel series, posting 17 points (top-12) finishes in 19 races and finishing a career-high 10th in the points in 2002. His best previous points finish was 20th the year before.
His point total last year (105) was more than his previous six seasons combined. Now, heading into the seventh races of this season, the June 15 Grand Prix of Monterey, Jourdain already has 77 points and is leading the standings by 10 over Paul Tracy.
It's Tracy who is the only real established star in the CART series now, with the recent defections of name drivers like Michael Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran to the rival Indy Racing League.
Now, the series has nine rookies -- most of them complete unknowns -- in its 19-car field. A brewing rivalry between Tracy and Jourdain would certainly enhance the entertainment value of a series that has drawn well at the track but attracts only meager audiences on television.
"I welcome the competition from Michel," said Tracy, who started the season with three straight wins and 66 points and has managed no better than a 12th-place finish (and one point) in the three races since. "He is definitely coming into his own as a driver," Tracy added.
One of the Canadian driver's victories came at Long Beach, where he spent most of the race trying in vain to catch Jourdain. Only a broken gearbox with seven laps remaining kept Jourdain out of the winner's circle that day.
Except for his 15th-place finish in Long Beach, Jourdain has been among the top six in every event in 2003. The difference? "It's our qualifying," Jourdain said. "Last year, we were very fast during the race, but starting from 18th. I think my average start was like 15th or 16th last year.
"Starting at the front makes it much easier, so we worked very, very hard during the winter to try to improve qualifying, and I think it is paying off."
His starts this season include a pole at Long Beach and only one worse than fifth -- 10th last month in England.
"We're just so much more competitive," said Jourdain, already a star in his native country. "Last year, I think we just were in the front because a lot of people had a lot of problems."
"Every year, I get more experience and I know more about the car, about the tracks, about what needs to be done to be fast all the time."
A year ago, Jourdain also left Milwaukee with the points lead, only to quickly drop out of the championship chase.
"It's completely different," Jourdain said. "At the beginning, we were fast last year, but nothing compared to this year." Rahal, who won three championships and 24 races before he retired from the cockpit, said he is confident Jourdain will get a lot more wins.
"With the way he learns and communicates with the team, and with the talent he obviously has, I think Michel has the ability to win a lot -- and I think he's ready to be a championship contender, too."
Bureau Report
Well, here comes Michel Jourdain Jr., in his eighth Champ Car season despite being only 26 with cover-boy good looks and loads of potential on the racetrack. All Jourdain had to do to lay claim to star-in-waiting status was win.
Now, after 126 races, the youngster from Mexico is a winner -- and a rising star in the Champ Car firmament -- taking the checkered flag after dominating the race Saturday in Milwaukee.
"I always felt that there was untapped potential in Michel and he has proved me right numerous times since we signed him," said Bobby Rahal, a former champion driver who is now co-owner of Team Rahal with talk show host David Letterman.
It was Rahal who put together a deal with sponsor Gigante, one of the leading retail chains in Mexico, and brought Jourdain to his team just weeks before the start of the 2002 season.
After years with underfinanced and underperforming teams, the unexpected call from Rahal gave Jourdain the chance to show what he could do with top equipment and personnel.
"I would not want to insult the teams and people I was with before, but the professionalism and preparation I saw when I came to Bobby's team was just tremendous," Jourdain said. "I knew if I could not win for this team, then I would never win races."
Jourdain immediately became one of the most consistent drivers in the open-wheel series, posting 17 points (top-12) finishes in 19 races and finishing a career-high 10th in the points in 2002. His best previous points finish was 20th the year before.
His point total last year (105) was more than his previous six seasons combined. Now, heading into the seventh races of this season, the June 15 Grand Prix of Monterey, Jourdain already has 77 points and is leading the standings by 10 over Paul Tracy.
It's Tracy who is the only real established star in the CART series now, with the recent defections of name drivers like Michael Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran to the rival Indy Racing League.
Now, the series has nine rookies -- most of them complete unknowns -- in its 19-car field. A brewing rivalry between Tracy and Jourdain would certainly enhance the entertainment value of a series that has drawn well at the track but attracts only meager audiences on television.
"I welcome the competition from Michel," said Tracy, who started the season with three straight wins and 66 points and has managed no better than a 12th-place finish (and one point) in the three races since. "He is definitely coming into his own as a driver," Tracy added.
One of the Canadian driver's victories came at Long Beach, where he spent most of the race trying in vain to catch Jourdain. Only a broken gearbox with seven laps remaining kept Jourdain out of the winner's circle that day.
Except for his 15th-place finish in Long Beach, Jourdain has been among the top six in every event in 2003. The difference? "It's our qualifying," Jourdain said. "Last year, we were very fast during the race, but starting from 18th. I think my average start was like 15th or 16th last year.
"Starting at the front makes it much easier, so we worked very, very hard during the winter to try to improve qualifying, and I think it is paying off."
His starts this season include a pole at Long Beach and only one worse than fifth -- 10th last month in England.
"We're just so much more competitive," said Jourdain, already a star in his native country. "Last year, I think we just were in the front because a lot of people had a lot of problems."
"Every year, I get more experience and I know more about the car, about the tracks, about what needs to be done to be fast all the time."
A year ago, Jourdain also left Milwaukee with the points lead, only to quickly drop out of the championship chase.
"It's completely different," Jourdain said. "At the beginning, we were fast last year, but nothing compared to this year." Rahal, who won three championships and 24 races before he retired from the cockpit, said he is confident Jourdain will get a lot more wins.
"With the way he learns and communicates with the team, and with the talent he obviously has, I think Michel has the ability to win a lot -- and I think he's ready to be a championship contender, too."
Bureau Report