2007 Champ Car season

Last updated

2007 Champ Car season
Champ Car World Series
Champ Car simplified logo (2003-2008).svg
Season
Races17 14
Start dateApril 8
End dateNovember 11
Awards
Drivers' champion Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais
Rookie of the Year Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos
  2006
2008 (CCWS)
2008 (ICS) 
Sebastien Bourdais in 2021 (51221641988) (cropped).jpg
Justin Wilson 2013.jpg
Sébastien Bourdais (left) won the Champ Car World Series driver's title for the fourth time; Justin Wilson (right) finished second in points.

The 2007 Champ Car World Series season was the fourth and final season of the Champ Car World Series. It began on April 8, 2007 and ended on November 11 after 14 races. Unbeknownst at the time, this would end up being the final contested season of Champ Car, as the following February, the series unified with the Indy Racing League (IRL), marking the end of the Champ Car World Series for good.

Contents

For 2007 Champ Car underwent some major changes. The opening race of the season was switched from the Grand Prix of Long Beach to Las Vegas for the first running of the Vegas Grand Prix. The Long Beach Grand Prix was the second race of the season, followed by the Grand Prix of Houston. Also, the entire schedule was held on road and street courses, and the events were timed races instead of races for a set number of laps. The full 2007 schedule was announced on Wednesday, September 27, 2006.

Champ Car officials confirmed that Panoz would be the sole chassis supplier for Champ Car for the three years beginning in 2007. The Panoz DP01 was built by sister company Élan Motorsport Technologies and was powered by a turbo-charged Cosworth engine. The new formula was reported to significantly lower the costs of competing in the series, which was in turn expected to increase car counts for the 2007 Champ Car season. However, 2007 entries did not exceeded those of 2006. Ford announced it would no longer badge the Cosworth engines as Ford sold Cosworth to Kevin Kalkhoven. Mazda was then confirmed as the new pace car and courtesy vehicle supplier.

ESPN announced a new, multiyear agreement that marked the return of the Champ Car World Series to the network in 2007. [1]

On January 16, 2007, Champ Car announced their return to Europe, for the first time since 2003, with races scheduled for August 26, 2007 at the historic Zolder circuit in Belgium, and September 2, 2007 at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. [2]

On January 23, 2007, Champ Car unveiled its new logo for the Champ Car World Series and the Atlantic Series. According to its website, it is a sleeker design with the new Panoz DP01 chassis on the right with an emphasis on a chicane-style layout, representing the street track racing that dominates Champ Car. There were no oval tracks on the calendar, with Milwaukee removed after the 2006 race.

The 2007 Champ Car World Series season also marked that last time an IndyCar Series Championship was secured before the final race of the season until Álex Palou's win in the 2023 IndyCar Series Season. [3]

Rule changes

The new rules of the 2007 season included the implementation of standing starts at venues where they could be safely implemented. Additionally, all events were timed events instead of running a set number of laps. As the time limit approaches, the drivers were notified that they were beginning the last lap. The leader would NOT be shown the white flag, which was instead employed in a similar manner to its use by the FIA. Teams were also allowed unlimited access to their tires during all qualifying sessions. The requirement for each team to use at least one set of the alternate Bridgestone Potenzas during the race would remain in place.

Starting this season drivers no longer received a bonus point for leading a lap of the race.

Drivers and teams

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2007 Champ Car World Series season. All teams used a Cosworth 2.65-litre turbocharged V8 engine, a Panoz DP01 chassis, and Bridgestone tires.

TeamNo.Driver(s)Rounds
Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 1 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais All
2 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal  R All
Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing 3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 1, 4–14
Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià 2–3
7 Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 1–3
Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià 4–12
Flag of Mexico.svg David Martinez  R 13–14
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA 4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Clarke 1–10, 12–14
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 11
14 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos  R All
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australia 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power All
15 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud  R All
Flag of the United States.svg RSPORTS 8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani All
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson All
Flag of the United States.svg Dale Coyne Racing 11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Katherine Legge All
19 Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Junqueira All
Flag of the United States.svg PKV Racing 21 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Neel Jani  R All
22 Flag of France.svg Tristan Gommendy  R 1–7, 9–12
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 8
Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià 13–14
Flag of the United States.svg Pacific Coast Motorsports 28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ryan Dalziel  R 1–8, 10–12
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 9, 13–14
29 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Figge  R 1–2, 4–14
Flag of Brazil.svg Roberto Moreno 3
Flag of the United States.svg Conquest Racing 34 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matt Halliday  R 1–3
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jan Heylen 4–12
Flag of France.svg Nelson Philippe 13–14

Mid-season changes

Schedule

The 2007 Champ Car season ended up having 14 races, down from the proposed 17 races.

RndDateRace NameCircuitLocation
1April 8 Flag of the United States.svg Vegas Grand Prix Streets of Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada
2April 15 Flag of the United States.svg Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach [9] Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California
3April 22 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Houston [9] JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park [10] Houston, Texas
4June 10 Flag of the United States.svg Mazda Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland Presented by Joe's Sports and Outdoor [11] Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
5June 24 Flag of the United States.svg Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by LaSalle Bank [12] Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio
6July 1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Champ Car Mont-Tremblant [13] Circuit Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
7July 8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto [10] [13] Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario
8July 22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton [13] Edmonton City Centre Airport Speedway Edmonton, Alberta
9July 29 Flag of the United States.svg San Jose Grand Prix at Redback Raceway [14] Streets of San Jose San Jose, California
10August 12 Flag of the United States.svg Generac Grand Prix Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
11August 26 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix [14] [15] [16] [17] Circuit Zolder Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
12September 2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix Powered by Audi, Gant, Hertz, Jumbo & Pioneer [14] [15] [16] [17] TT Circuit Assen Assen, Netherlands
13October 21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lexmark Indy 300 Surfers Paradise Street Circuit Surfers Paradise, Australia
14November 11 Flag of Mexico.svg Gran Premio Tecate Presented by Banamex Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Mexico City, Mexico

Season summary

Race results

RndRace Name Pole position Fastest lap Lead most lapsWinning driverWinning teamReport
1 Flag of the United States.svg Vegas Grand Prix Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australia Report
2 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Long Beach Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
3 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Houston Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
4 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Portland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
5 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Cleveland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing Report
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mont-Tremblant Grand Prix Flag of France.svg Tristan Gommendy Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA Report
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australia Report
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grand Prix of Edmonton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
9 Flag of the United States.svg San Jose Grand Prix Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA Report
10 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Prix of Road America Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
11 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bavarian Grand Prix Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Clarke Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson Flag of the United States.svg RSPORTS Report
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lexmark Indy 300 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report
14 Flag of Mexico.svg Gran Premio Tecate Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Report

Final driver standings

PosDriver LAS Flag of the United States.svg LBH Flag of the United States.svg HOU Flag of the United States.svg POR Flag of the United States.svg CLE Flag of the United States.svg MTT Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg TOR Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg EDM Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg SAN Flag of the United States.svg ROA Flag of the United States.svg ZOL Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ASS Flag of the Netherlands.svg SUR Flag of Australia (converted).svg MEX Flag of Mexico.svg Pts
1 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais 131*1*1122*91*51*1*71*1*364
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson 144102*453213851*210281
3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robert Doornbos  RY 2133321611114713416268
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power 1*311410*3115416414162262
5 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal  R 17829871136339114243
6 Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià 24117910*63*468143237
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Junqueira 76713161757792337233
8 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud  R 1214585444101112656232
9 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Neel Jani  R 107151236292108589231
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani 459568814155915713205
11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 3Wth101151451112101795171
12 Flag of France.svg Tristan Gommendy  R 511137131215Wth87164140
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Clarke 15121761114128172Wth111717129
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ryan Dalziel  R 119814910712171510116
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Katherine Legge 610161715111616161511121515108
16 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jan Heylen 151416131096132104
17 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Figge  R 816Wth161713171314131416131195
18 Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 917617121712878
19 Flag of France.svg Nelson Philippe 61228
20 Flag of Mexico.svg David Martínez  R 101418
21 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matt Halliday  R 16151418
22 Flag of Brazil.svg Roberto Moreno 129
PosDriver LAS Flag of the United States.svg LBH Flag of the United States.svg HOU Flag of the United States.svg POR Flag of the United States.svg CLE Flag of the United States.svg MTT Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg TOR Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg EDM Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg SAN Flag of the United States.svg ROA Flag of the United States.svg ZOL Flag of Belgium (civil).svg ASS Flag of the Netherlands.svg SUR Flag of Australia (converted).svg MEX Flag of Mexico.svg Pts
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished
(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish
RedDid not qualify
(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn
(Wth)
BlackDisqualified
(DSQ)
WhiteDid Not Start
(DNS)
Race abandoned
(C)
BlankDid not
participate
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*Led most race laps
 RY Rookie of the Year
 R Rookie

Driver breakdown

PosDriverTeamRacesWinsTop 3Top 5Top 10PolesLaps Led
1 Flag of France.svg Bourdais Flag of the United States.svg N/H/L Racing 148910116463
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wilson Flag of the United States.svg RSPORTS 14159122113
3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Doornbos  R  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA 14267961
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Power Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australia 1425895153
5 Flag of the United States.svg Rahal  R  Flag of the United States.svg N/H/L Racing 14451118
6 Flag of Spain.svg Servià Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing
Flag of the United States.svg PKV Racing
13351085
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Junqueira Flag of the United States.svg DC Racing 14341133
8 Flag of France.svg Pagenaud  R  Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australia 1461019
9 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jani  R  Flag of the United States.svg PKV Racing 14341230
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tagliani Flag of the United States.svg RSPORTS 1441014
11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tracy Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing 12124749
12 Flag of France.svg Gommendy  R  Flag of the United States.svg PKV Racing 1125131
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clarke Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA 131132
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dalziel  R  Flag of the United States.svg PC Motorsports 11616
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Legge Flag of the United States.svg DC Racing 142
16 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Heylen Flag of the United States.svg Conquest Racing 9114
17 Flag of the United States.svg Figge  R  Flag of the United States.svg PC Motorsports 131
18 Flag of Mexico.svg Domínguez Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing
Flag of the United States.svg PKV Racing
Flag of the United States.svg PC Motorsports
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Minardi Team USA
83
19 Flag of France.svg Philippe Flag of the United States.svg Conquest Racing 21
20 Flag of Mexico.svg Martínez  R  Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Racing 21
21 Flag of New Zealand.svg Halliday  R  Flag of the United States.svg Conquest Racing 3
22 Flag of Brazil.svg Moreno Flag of the United States.svg PC Motorsports 1

Notes

  1. Champ Car coming to ESPN beginning in 2007 – Racing – ESPN
  2. "Champ Car > News Tuesday, January 16, 2007". Archived from the original on March 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
  3. Kelly, Paul. "PALOU CLINCHES CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DECISIVE PORTLAND VICTORY". IndyCar.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  4. "Servià keeps Forsythe drive". autosport.com. May 22, 2007. Archived from the original on May 25, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  5. "Heylen at Conquest for rest of year". autosport.com. June 1, 2007. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  6. "Pacific Coast Motorsports signs Mexican Superstar Mario Domínguez". champcarworldseries.com. September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  7. "He's back!Nelson Philippe returns to Conquest Racing team". champcarworldseries.com. October 3, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
  8. "Oriol Servià To Compete For PKV Racing At Lexmark Indy 300". champcarworldseries.com. October 16, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. 1 2 "Vegas Grand Prix opens 2007 Champ Car season". reviewjournal.com. August 1, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2006.
  10. 1 2 "Sponsor boost for Toronto, Houston". crash.net. March 13, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
  11. "Mazda New Title Sponsor for Portland Champ Car Grand Prix". whowon.com. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  12. "Cleveland 2007 date announced". motorsport.com. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
  13. 1 2 3 "Champ Car set to add Quebec pit stop". globeandmail.com. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  14. 1 2 3 "2007 Champ Car Schedule Coming – China, Europe to be Added?". paddocktalk.com. September 17, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2006.
  15. 1 2 "Champ Car in 2007 naar Assen?". telesport.nl. August 26, 2006. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2006.
  16. 1 2 "Champ Car coming back to Europe". grandprix.com. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  17. 1 2 "Champ Car adds 2 European races". indystar.com. January 15, 2007. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2007.

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References

See also