Mixed bag for Indy transition teams

By Todd Golden
The Tribune-Star

Speedway May 25, 2008 11:46 pm

— Oriol Servia could afford to see the sunny side of life. After all, he shone brightest among the so-called transition drivers during Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
Servia finished 11th in race, but was the best finisher of the drivers on teams that moved over from Champ Car after the Indy Racing League and Champ Car unified in March.
“We know we have a little bit of a disadvantage on development, and it is what it is, but we’re happy. I was so close to a top 10, but I really enjoyed my first Indy,” said Servia, who drives for KVM Racing.
The former Champ Car teams had little time to make the transition to the IRL, which has a different chassis and engine package than Champ Car did. As a result, the Champ Car teams have struggled on ovals, which were abandoned by Champ Car in its late years, and were expected to struggle in the Indianapolis 500.
None of the ex-Champ Car drivers were in contention, but several drivers made a good account of themselves and finished on the leap lap. Servia was on the lead lap for the entire race and was especially effective on restarts to gradually gain spots.
His teammate, Will Power, finished on the lead lap in 13th. Conquest Racing’s Enrique Bernoldi finished 15th and was the last car on the lead lap, but that alone was a surprise, given that the former Formula One driver had struggled mightily on ovals to this point in the season.
“It was a very good race for me. I was pushing hard all the time and was like, really racing. Real racing. I think that’s a big plus for the team for the ovals,” Bernoldi said.
Other ex-Champ Car drivers weren’t as happy. Graham Rahal, probably the best known of the transition drivers, was first out of the race on lap 10 when he hit the turn 4 wall. His Newman/Haas/Lanigan teammate, Justin Wilson, also left due to an accident on lap 132. Jamie Camara, Bernoldi’s teammate, also wrecked on lap 79.
E.J. Viso, who was as high as 11th, left the race with a faulty gearbox. Bruno Junqueira, one of the few ex-Champ Car drivers with Indy experience, saw his race ruined when one of his rear view mirrors fell off early in the race. Junqueira did manage to lead two laps before he was compelled to pit to replace the mirror.
The only other transition driver to lead was Mario Moraes, who drives for Dale Coyne Racing. He led three laps, but was outclassed while leading on a restart and rapidly fell back into the pack. He later brushed the wall coming out of turn 1 and eventually fell six laps behind.
The next four races are on ovals before the IRL goes to the Watkins Glen road course on July 6. Rahal won the only non-oval race to date, taking the checkered flag in April at the St. Petersburg, Fla. street course. Power also has a victory at Long Beach, but only former Champ Car teams participated there.