Forsythe Championship Racing

Last updated
Flag of the United States.svg Forsythe Championship Racing
Founded1982
Folded2008
Team principal(s) Gerald Forsythe
Former series Champ Car World Series
Indy Lights
Champ Car Atlantic Championship
Noted drivers Flag of the United States.svg Danny Sullivan
Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr.
Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jacques Villeneuve
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore
Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani
Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Herta
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy
Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger
Drivers'
Championships
Champ Car World Series 2003 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy

Indy Lights
1995 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore
1996 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham

Atlantic Championship

1998 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lee Bentham
Bryan Herta's #77 Forsythe Reynard at Rockingham Motor Speedway in 2001 BryanHerta 2001.jpg
Bryan Herta's #77 Forsythe Reynard at Rockingham Motor Speedway in 2001

Forsythe Championship Racing was an American racing team that competed in the Champ Car World Series owned by Gerald Forsythe. The Champ Car effort ceased operations after the 2008 unification of North American open wheel racing. The team won the 2003 championship with driver Paul Tracy.

Contents

History

1981–1985

Forsythe Racing began sponsoring Lee Brayton's entry for his son Scott in 1981. Forsythe later started his own team, racing in CART part-time in 1982 with Héctor Rebaque and Danny Sullivan who drove for the team in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 and finished 13th and 14th, respectively. Later that season Rebaque won at Road America. Before Indy, Sullivan finished third at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Also that season Al Unser Jr. made his CART debut for the team at Riverside International Raceway and finished fifth. Moderate success continued from 1983 to 1985, most notably with rookie driver Teo Fabi who won four races in 1983, and started on the pole position at Indianapolis.

1994–1997

The team returned in 1994 as Forsythe-Green Racing with co-owner Barry Green, but by the next year the two had split and Green took their driver Jacques Villeneuve and Canadian cigarette sponsor Player's LTD to his new Team Green and won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and CART championship. Forsythe reunited with Teo Fabi in a full-time effort in 1995 with Combustion Engineering sponsoring their team. Forsythe did keep sponsor Player's LTD for his Indy Lights team and Canadian Greg Moore brought home the 1995 Indy Lights championship for Forsythe. Moore tested a Champ Car for Team Penske late in 1995 so Forsythe quickly signed Moore to run their single 1996 Champ Car entry with Player's moving back from the Team Green squad as Villeneuve left IndyCar for Formula One. Moore would drive with Forsythe for the five seasons in total, one in Indy Lights where he would win 10 of 12 races, and four in Champ Car until his death at the end of the 1999 season. In Champ Car, Moore would capture five wins and place a best of fifth in the 1998 points standings, all with Forsythe Racing.

1998–2008

In 1998, the team expanded to two cars by adding Patrick Carpentier to the all-Canadian squad. Carpentier would drive for Forsythe through 2004 when he was hired by Cheever Racing of the rival Indy Racing League for 2005. Patrick captured five wins with the team. For 2000, Forsythe tabbed rookie Alex Tagliani to drive alongside Carpentier. In three seasons, Tagliani scored three poles and five podiums but no wins, so Alex was replaced by veteran Paul Tracy for the 2003 season. Tracy would win seven races on his way to bringing Forsythe its first CART championship in CART's final year of operations. In 2006, Mario Domínguez, who had replaced Carpentier, was fired mid-season and Forsythe brought in displaced American A. J. Allmendinger. Allmendinger proceeded to win his first three races with the team, his first Champ Car victories. Allmendinger was teammates with Paul Tracy who finished fourth in points in 2004 and 2005 after his championship-winning season. However, Allmendinger and the team were not able to come to terms for 2007 and Allmendinger announced he would be going to NASCAR Nextel Cup with Team Red Bull. Forsythe would later announce Dominguez's return to his team on March 30. Dominguez, however, was replaced by Oriol Servià on a race by race basis until Servia was hired full-time. For the 2008 season, Jerry Forsythe and former RuSPORT owner Dan Pettit, were to merge their teams into Forsythe/Pettit Racing to field at least two cars. [1] However, changes brought about the unification of open wheel racing into the IndyCar Series. This made competitive racing financially unviable in the eyes of Forsythe and he elected not to race in the IndyCar Series in 2008. The team's Atlantic operation, Forsythe Racing continued to contest that series through the end of the 2008 season and the team fielded three of the team's Panoz DP01 chassis in the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. [2]

On July 15, 2008 Forsythe Racing announced that they would return to the Firestone Indy Lights Series grid in 2009. According to additional reports, Forsythe Racing were close to finalizing IRL IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series programs for 2009, according to team manager Ken Swieck. Swieck confirmed that Forsythe intended to compete in both series rather than choosing one or the other. [3] However, Forsythe never fielded any entries in either series.

Statistics

The Forsythe team and its derivatives have amassed 34 CART and Champ Car victories and single championship in 2003 with Canadian Paul Tracy.

Drivers who competed for Forsythe

Racing results

Complete CART / Champ Car World Series results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearChassisEngineTyresDriversNo.123456789101112131415161718192021Pts PosPts
1982 PHXATLMILCLEMCHMILPOCRIVROAMCHPHX
March 82C Cosworth DFX V8 t G Flag of Mexico.svg Héctor Rebaque 3213DNS1825DNP20115th48
Flag of the United States.svg Danny Sullivan 3332122nd28
Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 521st30
1983 ATL INDY MILCLEMCHROAPOCRIVMDOMCHCPLLAGPHX
March 83C Cosworth DFX V8 t G Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi 3320264315151*21*3251*1*2nd146
1984 LBHPHX INDY MILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHPHXLAGCPL
March 84C Cosworth DFX V8 t G Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi 33RetRetRet123Ret1325th15
Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Cogan 810DNQ24th17
Lola T800 Flag of Italy.svg Corrado Fabi Ret106Ret28th11
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kenneth Acheson DNQ40th0
1985 LBH INDY MILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHLAGPHXMIA
Lola T900 Cosworth DFX V8 t G Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Lammers 3252026th11
3313
Flag of the United States.svg Howdy Holmes 14101117132291021162118DNS25th12
1995 MIA SFR PHXLBHNAZ INDY MILDETPORROATORCLEMCHMDONHAVANLAG
Reynard 95i Ford XB V8 t G Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi 331613737847239419417121999th83
1996 MIA RIO SFR LBH NAZ 500 MIL DET PORCLE TOR MCHMDOROAVANLAG
Reynard 96i Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore 997183222135202534179232569th84
1997 MIA SFR LBHNAZRIOGATMILDETPORCLETORMCHMDOROA VAN LAG FON
Reynard 97i Mercedes-Benz IC108D V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore 994223162131*152423272181724137th111
1998 MIA MOT LBH NAZ RIO GAT MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MDO ROA VAN LAG HOU SFR FON
Reynard 98i Mercedes-Benz IC108E V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 3311192813171525159925872827172292619th27
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore 9924631313527251112221202126825th141
1999 MIA MOT LBH NAZ RIO GAT MIL POR CLE ROA TOR MCH DET MDO CHI VAN LAGHOU SRF FON
Reynard 99i Mercedes-Benz IC108E V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 3372617146229972211102362919242513th61
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore 991*481286213184202331126202316172610th97
Honda HRS V8 t Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan 4421622*235718152261716231192196811th85
2000 MIALBHRIOMOTNAZMIL DET PORCLETOR MCH CHIMDOROA VAN LAGGATHOU SRF FON
Reynard 2Ki Ford XF V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 3252135105741472124921951411th101
Flag of the United States.svg Memo Gidley 2181820th20
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani 339413*151922613165169914*1823141622616th53
Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Herta 77418th26
2001 MTY LBH TXS NAZ MOT MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH CHI MDO ROA VAN LAU ROC HOU LAG SRF FON
Reynard 01i Ford XF V8 t F Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 322523C 1 2519178526211239163161026111010th91
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani 332118C 1 222212211292667823*211419153311th80
Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Herta 771610C 1 212122151431852125241727151312182522nd28
2002 MTY LBH MOT MIL LAG POR CHI TOR CLE VAN MDO ROA MTL DEN ROC MIA SFR FON MXC
Reynard 02i Ford XF V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 327194155516101*51*715173162343rd157
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani 335162191012775772111218468108th111
2003 STP MTY LBH BRH LAU MIL LAG POR CLE TOR VAN ROA MDO MTL DEN MIA MXC SFR
Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 31*1*117121232*2*1*1*151*64161*131st226
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 328865731*1647135231761455th146
2004 LBH MTY MIL POR CLE TOR VAN ROA DEN MTL LAG LSV SFR MXC
Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 11*71731751*122*410184*104th254
Flag of Mexico.svg Rodolfo Lavín 310139189141521111124151314th156
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier 744241631614921*31663rd266
2005 LBH MTY MIL POR CLE TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL LSV SRF MXC
Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 32151*31*163216*817*1734th246
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 751374171355210418129th198
2006 LBH HOU MTY MIL POR CLE TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL ROA SRF MXC
Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 31724167162515621047th209
Flag of Mexico.svg David Martínez 922nd13
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 743*6149th202
Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger 1*1*1*371*171163rd285
Flag of the United States.svg Buddy Rice 1023rd11
2007 LSV LBH HOU POR CLE MTT TOR EDM SJO ROA ZOL ASN SFR MXC
Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 3310115145111210179511th171
Flag of Spain.svg Oriol Servià 246th237
7117910*63*468
Flag of Mexico.svg Mario Domínguez 917618th78
Flag of Mexico.svg David Martínez 101420th18
  1. ^ The Firestone Firehawk 600 was canceled after qualifying due to excessive g-forces on the drivers.

Complete IndyCar Series results

(key)

YearChassisEngineTyresDriversNo.12345678910111213141516171819Pts PosPos
2008 HMS STP MOT LBH 1 KAN INDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO EDM KTY SNM DET CHI SRF 2
Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE V8 t B Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy 31133rd51
Flag of France.svg Franck Montagny 72NC
Flag of Mexico.svg David Martínez 378NC
  1. ^ Run to Champ Car specifications.
  2. ^ Non-points-paying, exhibition race.

IndyCar wins

#SeasonDateSanctionTrack / RaceNo.Winning DriverChassisEngineTireGridLaps Led
1 1982 September 19 CART Road America (R)32 Flag of Mexico.svg Héctor Rebaque (R) March 82C Cosworth DFX V8 t Goodyear 91
2 1983 August 14CART Pocono 500 (O)33 Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi (R)March 83CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear2116
3September 11CART Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (R)33 Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi (R) (2)March 83CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear240
4October 23CART Laguna Seca Raceway (R)33 Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi (R) (3)March 83CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyearPole95
5October 29CART Phoenix International Raceway (O)33 Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi (R) (4)March 83CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyearPole138
6 1997 June 1CART Milwaukee Mile (O)99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore Reynard 97i Mercedes-Benz IC108D V8t Firestone 5104
7June 8CART Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (S)99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore (2)Reynard 97iMercedes-Benz IC108D V8tFirestone720
8 1998 May 10CART Rio 200 (O)99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore (3)Reynard 98iMercedes-Benz IC108E V8tFirestone75
9July 26CART Michigan 500 (O)99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore (4)Reynard 98iMercedes-Benz IC108E V8tFirestone1436
10 1999 March 21CART Homestead–Miami Speedway (O)99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Moore (5)Reynard 99iMercedes-Benz IC108E V8tFirestonePole96
11July 25CART Michigan 500 (O)44 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Reynard 99i Honda HRS V8tFirestone117
12 2001 July 22CART Michigan 500 (O)32 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier Reynard 01i Ford XF V8tFirestone213
13 2002 July 14CART Grand Prix of Cleveland (S)32 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier (2)Reynard 02iFord XF V8t Bridgestone 266
14August 11CART Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (R)32 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier (3)Reynard 02iFord XF V8tBridgestonePole89
15 2003 February 23CART Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone271
16March 23CART Fundidora Park (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (2)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone269
17April 13CART Grand Prix of Long Beach (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (3)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone233
18June 15CART Laguna Seca Raceway (R)32 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier (4)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole87
19July 13CART Exhibition Place, Toronto (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (4)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole112
20July 27CART Streets of Vancouver (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (5)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole77
21August 10CART Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (R)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (6)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole69
22October 12CART Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (R)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (7)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole64
23 2004 April 18CART Grand Prix of Long Beach (S)1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (8)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone378
24July 25CART Streets of Vancouver (S)1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (9)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole81
25September 12CART Laguna Seca Raceway (R)7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrick Carpentier (5)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone240
26 2005 June 4CART Milwaukee Mile (O)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (10)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone5192
27June 26CART Grand Prix of Cleveland (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (11)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole46
28 2006 June 18CART Grand Prix of Portland (R)7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone2100
29June 25CART Grand Prix of Cleveland (S)7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger (2)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestonePole36
30July 9CART Exhibition Place, Toronto (S)7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger (3)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone238
31August 13CART Grand Prix of Denver (S)7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger (4)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone245
32September 24CART Road America (R)7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger (5)Lola B02/00Ford XFE V8tBridgestone57
33 2007 June 24CART Grand Prix of Cleveland (S)3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy (12) Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE V8tBridgestone726

References

  1. Malsher, David. Pettit joins Forsythe as RuSPORT close, autosport.com, November 26, 2007
  2. Racer Staff, Forsythe Championship Racing Ceases Operations Archived 2008-03-03 at the Wayback Machine , SpeedTV.com/Racer Magazine, February 28, 2008
  3. Phillips, David. Forsythe plan IRL and ALMS for '09, Autosport.com, July 19, 2008


2008 Champ Car season
NHL Forsythe/Pettit Minardi Australia Rocketsports Coyne PKV PCM Conquest
1  Wilson
2  Rahal
3  Tracy
7 TBA
4 TBA
14  Doornbos
5  Power
15 TBA
8  Bernoldi 11 TBA
19 TBA
21 TBA
22  Servià
28 TBA
29  Figge
24  Perera
34 TBA
Long Beach - Houston - Laguna Seca - Zolder - Jerez - Cleveland - Mont-Tremblant - Toronto - Edmonton - Portland - Road America - Assen - Surfers Paradise - Mexico City