The Champ Car World Series, which along with the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series will form the feature racing program of Queensland’s Lexmark Indy 300 on October 18-21, has announced a first-ever team showdown during the upcoming three-event July swing through Canada.
Officially dubbed the “Champ Car Canadian Triple Crown, ” the team competition will pit teams against each other over the three successive Canadian races, beginning this week in Mont-Tremblant (July 1), continuing next week in Toronto (July 8) and concluding on July 22 in Edmonton.
The standings for the Triple Crown will be based on the combined average finish for each team and with solid results secured already this year, Team Australia is bound to be in the mix to take the inaugural crown.
“A Champ Car Triple Crown competition in Canada will be a fun way to draw extra attention to this country’s three great events, ” said Team Australia’s Will Power.
“Of course as drivers we’re all for anything that involves more competition against each other.
“I don’t know about the other drivers, but I know that I’ll be quite happy if Simon finishes exactly one spot behind me in all three races, and we share the podium each and every time. ”
Added Power’s French team mate Simon Pagenaud: “I like our chances. Team Australia has a great team manager in Rob Edwards, a great crew and Will’s not a bad driver to pair up with.
“Those two Newman/Haas/Lanigan boys will be a tough duo to beat, and so will Tag and Justin, and Oriol and Paul Tracy, who of course will be a big favorite here in Canada. ”
Power and Pagenaud are currently third and eighth respectively, in the Champ Car World Series points standings, while Newman/Haas/Lanigan teammates Sebastian Bourdais and Graham Rahal are first and seventh.
Other teams to watch are Alex Tagliani and Justin Wilson, driving for RSports who and currently fourth and fifth, respectively, in the standings, and Oriol Servia (sixth) and recent Cleveland winner Paul Tracy (tenth).
“Our three events in Canada are very important to us and we wanted to make them even more special this year, ” said Champ Car President and CEO Steve Johnson.
“We have a strong base of very loyal Champ Car fans throughout the entire country and over the next three races the Canadian Triple Crown will add another interesting element to the media coverage and fan interest. ”
The team averaging the best finishing position during the Champ Car Canadian Triple Crown events will receive an Inuit Stone Carving representing their status as winners of the inaugural team competition.
This type of stone carving is rooted in the ancient past of the native Canadian Inuit tribe. In addition to the traditional stone carving, the winning team will be treated to an array of Canadian-themed rewards.
The Canadian Triple Crown also features a diverse selection of race courses, thereby showcasing the drivers with a range of driving skills. Beginning on Canada Day with the Champ Car Mont-Tremblant, the first leg will feature a new circuit for the competitors in the Champ Car World Series.
The 2.65-mile (4.26km) permanent road course in picturesque Quebec last played host to a Champ Car event in 1968.
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