Former Formula One Principal Craig Pollock Joins Champ Car
World Series with Formation of PK Racing
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 15, 2003; Well-versed in what it
takes to win in the major leagues of open-wheel auto racing, former British
American Racing team principal Craig Pollock and high-tech industry giant
Kevin Kalkhoven have set their sights on the 2003 Champ Car World Series with
today's announcement of the formation of PK Racing, a new one-car entry for
the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford
season.
Pollock and Kalkhoven, along with CART President and CEO Christopher R.
Pook, made the announcement today at a news conference in Indianapolis. They
will then conduct a similar announcement in Montreal, the site of the Molson
Indy Montreal and the city in which Pollock, the manager of Formula One driver
and 1995 CART champion Jacques Villeneuve, has business and community-related
interests.
"This has all come together very quickly," Pollock said of the PK Racing
operation. "Just prior to Christmas, I got a call from Kevin about looking
into the possibility of starting up a team in CART. The timing is perfect,
because CART is in the process of reinforcing its organization and priorities,
and has done a tremendous job in that regard over the last few months."
The 46-year-old Pollock has hired long-time CART team manager Russell
Cameron in that capacity for PK Racing and will tap into his experience in
order to fully prepare his team for the February 23 season opener.
"It's a short period of time to put the whole thing together," said
Pollock. "The fact that all CART teams will be running with the same engine
this season will make the start-up a bit easier for us because it's a level
playing field for everyone. The CART series is extremely competitive. If we do
our jobs well, we should be able to field a competitive team. But we're going
to make sure that we walk before we run."
Pollock said PK Racing has narrowed its selection of a driver to "about
three or four candidates," and an announcement will be made shortly. He added
that Villeneuve has no involvement in the PK Racing venture, "but he is very
supportive of our fielding a team in CART." The team will be based in
Indianapolis, as the team has purchased a state-of-the-art shop on Methanol
Lane.
"We are very excited about having owners with the racing and business
acumen of Craig and Kevin," said Pook. "Having this team join the Champ Car
World Series, especially given Craig's years with Formula 1, illustrates that
we have built a series that is a destination for the top teams and drivers in
the world."
Kalkhoven will not be involved in the daily racing operations, but he is
no stranger to the sport. A life-long racing enthusiast, he has competed as a
driver and recently renewed his SCCA national license. As the Chairman and CEO
of JDS Uniphase, the corporation's market cap grew from $35 million to $100
billion. Prior to his retirement, Kalkhoven was among the top 50 CEOs on the
Worth Magazine list.
"My interest in life is building businesses, and I regard PK Racing as a
business," said Kalkhoven. "Craig and I have had the opportunity to discuss
the business of racing quite frequently over the year, and I'm pleased that we
are able to join forces in fielding a team in the CART series. I believe with
CART's new rules it has made it possible for fresh teams and new blood to
enter North American open-wheel road racing. I am sure this will create
exciting and close racing for the fans."
Starting a racing team from scratch isn't new for Pollock. He was at the
helm of BAR from its 1998 inception. Within two years, BAR had climbed to
fourth in the constructors' standings. Pollock left BAR in 2001, although
Pollock remains a shareholder and a member of the team's board of directors.
"We have made some mistakes in the past, but we have also done some very
good things," said Pollock. "We're going to tap into the knowledge bank of
what went right with the BAR start-up experience and use that as a type of
blueprint for PK Racing, making sure that we don't make the same mistakes that
slowed the development of BAR."
Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. owns, operates and
markets the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by
Ford. 2002 CART champion Cristiano da Matta led a list of open-wheel stars
this past season competing with teams such as Newman/Haas Racing,
Player's/Forsythe Racing, Team Rahal, Fernandez Racing, Patrick Racing, Herdez
Competition, Walker Racing and others. CART Champ Cars are thoroughbred racing
machines that reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, showcasing the
technical expertise of manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company, Lola Cars,
Reynard Motorsport and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC. The 19-
race 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford will
be broadcast by television partners CBS, FOX and SPEED Channel. CART also owns
and operates its top development series, the Toyota Atlantic Championship.
Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at http://www.cart.com .
