A1GP » Patrick for Team USA?
Wednesday, 1st October 2008

IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick is rumoured to be gracing the A1 Team USA seat at Zandvoort this weekend.

Rumours not only abound that Andretti-Green Racing is poised to confirm that it has taken over the running of the American 'entry' in the A1 Grand Prix 'World Cup of Motorsport', but that it will bring IndyCar racewinner Danica Patrick to contest the opening round at Zandvoort this weekend.

AGR's omission from Acura's plans for next season's American Le Mans Series heightened speculation that the team was to branch out into other arenas, with A1GP, perhaps surprisingly, topping the list. Those rumours have grown since the time the ALMS announcement was made, and now includes the suggestion that AGR IndyCar favourite Patrick may be lining up on the grid in Holland on Sunday.

A1GP's own confused state makes it difficult to gauge exactly which countries will be present for the 'opening round' - Mugello had been slated to start the 2008-09 campaign last month - and AGR is not being forthcoming when questioned on its possible involvement. Crash.net sources in America, however, believe that the team already has a crew in place in Europe, working on the Team USA entry.

The downside of A1GP attracting such a prestige name as Andretti Green is that there could be a challenge from erstwhile 'seatholder' Rick Weidinger, whose PR team claims that Patrick being run by AGR this weekend would represent a breach of agreement because Team USA Holdings has the deal to run the US car, with Weidinger as principal. According to sources, he hasn't yet received one of the new Ferrari-built cars, and is not going to the Netherlands.

Weidinger has run a blend of old and new American talent in his car over the first three years of the A1GP initiative, with veterans like Bryan Herta and Buddy Rice being eclipsed by last year's achievements with Atlantics runner Jonathan Summerton.

Summerton is otherwise engaged this weekend, as he chases the 2008 Atlantics crown with Newman-Wachs Racing at Road Atlanta.

Reason why GBR won't be there is because they had their car taken from them and given to the Russian team instead (due to A1 borrowing lots of money from the Russians, or so I'm told).

Italy launches new car
Thursday, October 02, 2008

A1 Team Italy has displayed its new colours ahead of the first weekend of the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car era.



The team unveiled their driver line-up and new 600bhp car to the media at a launch event in Milan.

The team confirmed that Eudardo Piscopo will return to the squad having been capped 14 times for the team, and this season will be joined by Euroseries 3000 racer, Fabio Onidi.

“When A1GP was born four years ago I immediately understood that I could launch new drivers in a very important world competition,” said seat holder Piercarlo Ghinzani, who brought in Piscopo last season when he was a relative unknown.

The red, green and white livery marks a change in style for the team, who went with the national sporting colour of dark blue for the first three seasons of A1GP.

“This car is very different from the one I was driving last year,” added Piscopo. “It’s much better performing in the engine, handling and braking. I was immediately impressed by the ‘lightness’ of it – it will let us take more risks during the race and that’s good for the show.”

The team has yet to confirm who will race at Zandvoort this weekend, with both drivers set to be present in the Netherlands.

Reason why GBR won't be there is because they had their car taken from them and given to the Russian team instead (due to A1 borrowing lots of money from the Russians, or so I'm told).

When did Russia suddenly come back to the series?

Any news already about the weather on Sunday?

I need to know if I have to take my umbrella with me

Any news already about the weather on Sunday?

I need to know if I have to take my umbrella with me