By Dave Lewandowski, indycar.com
July 15, 2008
Derrick Walker initially missed the train, Paul Tracy wanted to get on board and the IndyCar Series has a roundtrip ticket to Edmonton, Alberta.
Those factors/metaphors led to collaboration between Vision Racing, Walker Racing and the championship driver to compete in the Rexall Edmonton Indy on July 24-26 - the first race in Canada under the IndyCar Series banner.
Tracy, 39, will drive the No. 22 Subway/Vision Racing Honda-powered Dallara, which will be maintained by a Walker Racing crew at the temporary Edmonton City Centre Airport racetrack. Northlands, the promoter of the Rexall Edmonton Indy, will be an associate sponsor. Additional races are possible, according to Vision Racing co-owner Tony George.
"I've been away for a little while, but I want to be back in a car and this is the first step to getting back," said Tracy, who last competed on the streets of Long Beach (Calif.) in the Champ Car farewell in April. "It's been a frustrating year, for sure, but I think with Tony's equipment and Derrick's preparation we can be competitive. We want to be competitive, I don't want to be just another car in a 27-car field. I enjoy Edmonton because it's a track that rewards you for being aggressive."
Tracy, first among active Indy-car racing drivers with 31 victories, competed in the Edmonton races under Champ Car sanctioning the past three years. Last July, he started 14th on the 17-car grid but raced his way to fifth (28 seconds behind winner Sebastien Bourdais). He also was fifth in '06 and third in the inaugural event. Tracy, native of Scarborough, Ontario, will compete in an IndyCar Series event for the first time since the 2002 Indianapolis 500.
"I'm excited about the opportunity with Vision Racing and Walker Racing," said Tracy, who was without a ride after North American open-wheel racing unification when Forsythe Racing decided not to compete in the IndyCar Series in 2008. "Obviously, it's key to have a good sponsor and a proper effort. Tony George has done a great job with that. We have that now with Subway and these two teams working together."
Longtime open-wheel racing team owner Derrick Walker, who also decided not to compete in the unified series this year after sponsorship disolved, said this is a step in that direction.
"A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with Paul and I said to him the IndyCar train had left the station and we weren't on it," said Walker, who will be the race strategist. "So Edmonton represents a chance to get back on the train. There are a lot of benefits that have obviously been reaped from one series now. We're all looking forward. We're not looking back, as we always were, talking about what used to be.
"We're now looking at what can be. So we'd like to be part of it. And Edmonton gives us an opportunity to tell everybody a couple of old renegades still here looking to get back on the train.
"The original idea came from Canada, from some folks I know up there who had some sponsorship, who maybe were interested in supporting an entry for Paul. And we've been working on it for several weeks. But it wasn't getting enough traction. So without Tony and Vision Racing and Paul buying into it, it wouldn't have happened. It's a good opportunity as well to work with Paul. Having raced against him for many years, I've always admired him as a very competitive driver. There is no doubt we are all going into this event with our eyes wide open. We just want to execute the best that we can and the results will take care of themselves."
The Edmonton event is the last in a string of six consecutive weekends of racing, which includes the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by Westfield Insurance this weekend. Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV also will compete for Vision Racing on the physical 1.96-mile Edmonton City Centre Airport circuit.
"This entire season has been about everyone coming together and going the extra mile, working the extra hours, to take advantage of unification wherever and whenever possible to grow our sport," George said. "This is just another great opportunity for the IndyCar Series and Vision Racing to bring back a great driver and colorful character for not just our Canadian fans but for all IndyCar racing fans. This could not have happened without the support of the league, the promoter and the sponsors.
"I am sure this partnership with Paul Tracy and Walker Racing will give us a better understanding of the platform we need to take to the event to be as successful as possible. I am very proud of Vision Racing personnel who have very unselfishly worked to provide five cars to transitioning teams before the season started and before it began to focus on its own effort. Because of the professional way the team has conducted itself so far I am sure we will be able to collaborate with Walker Racing to put forth a quality effort for this race."