Carl Haas Automobile Imports to Service USF2000 National Championship Series

PALMETTO, January 25, 2009: Last Wednesday’s announcement that Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc. (CHA) will distribute products manufactured by Élan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) had an immediate and very positive impact on the USF2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Racing Tires and powered by Mazda.

Since complete Van Diemen F2000 cars manufactured by EMT and many other race car components distributed by CHA will be used by the USF2000 series’ competitors, CHA will provide trackside service at all of the series’ races. CHA will also handle the inventory and distribution of all of EMT’s products from its headquarters in Lincolnshire, Ill.

The most obvious line of interest to the USF2000 competitors is Van Diemen race cars and parts, which are manufactured by the Van Diemen arm of EMT, part of the Panoz Motor Sports Group based in Braselton, Ga. The USF2000 series’ top class, the Championship class, is composed totally of Van Diemens manufactured in 2001 or later, including the brand-new 2010 DP08.

Van Diemens that were manufactured in 1999 and 2000 are also eligible for this class provided that they have been updated to the 2001 model’s specifications. Since 2010 is the first season for the revitalized series, its officials will allow teams to use non-Van Diemen aero components this year, provided that they declare the aero package they are using and continue to use it until they switch to the 2010 Van Diemen package. The 2010 Van Diemen aero package from CHA will be mandatory for all cars in the Championship class in 2011.

Van Diemen has a long list of championships. Just last September Van Diemens swept all the podium positions in Formula Continental at the SCCA National Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

CHA will also be the USF2000 competitors’ source for special heavy-duty Hewland LD200 wide gearsets that will be required of cars competing in the Championship class after the St. Petersburg, Fla. season-opening doubleheader on March 27-28. A short stack set-up and a long stack set-up will be available. All cars in the top class will be required to use a 13:36 ring and pinion set-up as well.

Founded in 1957, Hewland Engineering invented the bespoke race car gearbox. Today it supplies 21st century motorsports transmissions to an amazing, worldwide client list.

Looking ahead, in 2011 the USF2000 series’ Championship class will also require the use of OZ wheels, which will also be available from CHA. Last year 29 of the 33 starters in the Indianapolis 500 used wheels made from the Italian manufacturer. When Helio Castroneves won the race it marked the 11th time in 13 years that the winner’s Firestone tires where mounted on OZ wheels.

“Carl Haas Automobile Imports has represented the ultimate in service for race cars and parts for many years now, and to have them in our paddock at all USF2000 events is an absolute delight,” said Dan Andersen, the president and chief executive officer of Andersen Promotions, which administers the USF2000 series . “Their list of high-quality manufacturers, including Hewland, Dynamic Suspensions, OZ and of course Élan/Van Diemen, exemplify what they do, which is to deliver quality in a totally professional way. They are a great partner for any series, and we are pleased that they will be ours for many years to come.”

“Everyone at Carl Haas Auto is looking forward to representing Van Diemen, Hewland and Dynamic Suspensions in the USF2000 series,” said Carl Haas, president and owner of Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc. “Our parts department staff really enjoys the challenge and responsibility of providing spares to an entire grid of cars, and working with Dan Andersen and all of the dedicated people of the USF2000 series will be an added bonus!”