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Success In Atlantics Can Offer | ||
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By Kurt Helin For drivers, it’s all about going fast, both around the course and up the ladder of competition. And the fastest way to the top rung of the Champ Car circuit may be through the Toyota Atlantic series. Last year, as a 17-year-old rookie, Andrew Ranger finished on the podium in six Atlantics races, half of the 12-race season. This year, he’ll be driving a Champ Car. In 2003, the Atlantics series champion was A.J. Allmendinger. This year will be his second in Champ Car. And the list goes on and on back to legends such as Paul Tracy, Michael Andretti and Jacques Villeneuve, which is why drivers are eager to get their shot in the Atlantics. This year, 21 drivers are expected to be in the starting grid in Long Beach. Among the drivers drawing attention this year are 2004 Formula BMW champion Andreas Wirth, who along with teammate Fernando Rees will drive for Brooks Associate Racing. People who are fans of the Atlantics — or people who just follow the circuit when it makes its annual pass through Long Beach each year — will be familiar with several of the drivers on the starting grid as well. Rocky Moran Jr., who has won the Long Beach Atlantic race twice, will be back to go for three. Owner/Driver Eric Jensen will be back for the eighth year, driving for Jensen Motorsports. Also expected to be back is last year’s winner of the Long Beach Atlantic race, Scotland’s Ryan Dalziel. He has been the series circuit runner-up the past two seasons. For the second straight year, a woman driver will be one of the favorites on the Atlantics circuit — Katherine Legge from England will drive for Polestar Racing. Last season, Danica Patrick finished third in the season standings for Atlantics. The Atlantics cars are similar to, although somewhat less powerful than, the open-wheel cars driven in the Champ Car World Series. The 31-year-old Atlantic series is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Champ Car. All 12 Atlantics races this season will be broadcast on Speed Channel, including the first test of the year in Long Beach. The Atlantics Race will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, starting off a full day of racing. To find out more about the Atlantic series, log on to www.toyotaatlantic.com. | ||
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