CART: FedEx Championship Series Happenings
30 September 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams,
With but one event remaining to qualify for the finals of the inaugural Craftsman Pit Crew Challenge, there is yet another leader atop the point standings.
The crew for Paul Tracy (KOOL Honda Reynard) took over the top spot following its single-pit-stop victory in Sunday's Texaco Grand Prix of Houston, becoming the third crew to lead the points race in as many events.
Heading into the Oct. 17 Honda Indy 300 on Australia's Gold Coast - the last event at which crews may qualify for a chance at the top prize of $50,000 - Tracy's crew leads the field with 149 points, one more than the crew for FedEx Championship Series leader Juan Montoya (Target Honda Reynard), which stands second at 148.
The crew for Max Papis (Miller Lite Ford Reynard) stands third with 141 points, followed by the crew for Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Ford Swift), which moved into fourth with 129.
Points are awarded according to the same scale used to determine the FedEx Championship Series champion, but based on total time spent in the pits at each event. Points will be accumulated through the first 19 events of the season, and the top four teams will compete in a specially staged pit stop competition at the season finale to determine the winner of the $50,000 grand prize presented by Craftsman.
Still in contention for one of the top four spots are the crews for Christian Fittipaldi/Roberto Moreno (Big Kmart Ford Swift), with 127 points; Greg Moore (Player's Forsythe Racing Team Ltd. Mercedes Reynard), with 123, and Dario Franchitti (KOOL Honda Reynard), with 112.
* ANDREW CRAIG TO VISIT LAUSITZRING
CART President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Craig will travel to Berlin next week for a series of meetings with government officials and officials of the newly constructed oval racing facility at the Lausitzring. Included on Craig's itinerary is a meeting on Friday, Oct. 8 with Dr. Manfred Stolpe, Prime Minister of the state of Brandenburg, followed by a visit to the site of the Lausitzring, located just outside the city. The visit has been planned to explore the feasibility of bringing a FedEx Championship Series event to the Lausitzring at an unspecified future date.
* EMCEES ANNOUNCED FOR SECOND ANNUAL "RUNWAY MADNESS"
They've been dubbed "The Dream Team," and they've been chosen to serve as Masters of Ceremonies for the second annual Runway Madness Presented by FedEx live show and auction scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29 in Ontario, Calif. The quartet includes Paul Page and Parker Johnstone, broadcasters of FedEx Championship Series events on ABC-TV and ESPN, as well as veteran Indianapolis Star-News motorsports writer Robin Miller and John Szymanski, the one-man-show and unofficial Director of Enthusiasm for Newman/Haas Racing. Runway Madness II, proceeds of which benefit Championship Auto Racing Auxiliary (CARA) Charities, will include food, carnival games, celebrity guests, live and silent auction items, a raffle and entertainment. All American Racers team owners Dan and Evi Gurney and Newman/Haas Racing driver Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Ford Swift) and his wife, Leslie, are honorary co-chairpersons of the event, which was attended by more than 1,200 guests and raised more than $110,000 for charity last year. Tickets and sponsorship information are available from CARA Charities at (317) 299-2277.
* SERIES LEADERS
FedEx Championship Series points and earnings leaders heading into the Oct. 17 Honda Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia:
FedEx Championship Series Points for the PPG Cup
1. Juan Montoya, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing 200
2. Dario Franchitti, Team KOOL Green 187
3. Paul Tracy, Team KOOL Green 155
4. Michael Andretti, Newman/Haas Racing 141
5. Max Papis, Team Rahal 117
FedEx Championship Series Earnings
1. Juan Montoya, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing $926,250
2. Dario Franchitti, Team KOOL Green $740,250
3. Paul Tracy, Team KOOL Green $644,750
4. Michael Andretti, Newman/Haas Racing $545,000
5. Gil de Ferran, Walker Racing $446,750
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