2008 Atlantic Championship season

2008 Atlantic Championship season
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2008_Atlantic_Championship_season".

2008 Atlantic Championship logo post merger

The 2008 Atlantic Championship season is the thirty-fifth Atlantic Championship season. It began on April 20, 2008 and will end on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of Champ Car's premier series with the Indy Racing League, the Champ Car owners will continue to own and operate the series under a new legal entity, Atlantic Racing Series, LLC.¹ Champ Car continued to sanction the first two events of the season at Long Beach and Laguna Seca with the remainder of the season running under IMSA sanction.²

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Events

The original 2008 Altantic season sponsored by Mazda of 12 races which featured many supporting runs during Champ Car World Series events had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheen reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Monterey, Edmonton, Road America, and Mont-Tremblant races had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification. The Road America races were changed, as the American Le Mans Series' Generac 500 weekend meet was changed from one to two races (a Saturday and Sunday race). The Edmonton race, now part of the Indy Racing League, will also switch to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and Miller Motorsports Park were not affected. The Quebec race is part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), and the Utah race is conducted as part of the Grand American Road Racing Association Sunchaser 1000 weekend. Neither race was affected by the reunification. ³ On April 3rd a revised post reunification schedule was released featuring 11 races including the seven weekends that were kept (with two races at Edmonton and Road America), and two new races, one at New Jersey Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta. The series, in addition to running as the featured race in Mont Tremblant and New Jersey, will run with the Champ Car World Series final event at the Long Beach Grand Prix, as well as the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series presented by DirecTV HD, American LeMans Series, Rolex Sports Car Series, and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Rd	Race Name	Circuit	City/Location	Race Date
1	Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach⁴	Long Beach Grand Prix	Long Beach, California	April 20
2	Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship ⁵	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca	Monterey, California	May 18
3	Sommet des Legends	Circuit Mont-Tremblant	Mont-Tremblant, Quebec	June 29
4	Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 1	Edmonton Indy	Edmonton, Alberta	July 25
5	Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 2	Edmonton Indy	Edmonton, Alberta	July 26
6	Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1 ⁶	Road America	Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin	August 9
7	Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2 ⁶	Road America	Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin	August 10
8	Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières⁴	Circuit Trois-Rivières	Trois-Rivières, Quebec	August 17
9	Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom⁴	New Jersey Motorsports Park	Millville, New Jersey	September 14
10	SunRichGourmet.com 1000⁴	Miller Motorsports Park	Tooele, Utah	September 21
11	Atlanta Atlantic Challenge	Road Atlanta	Braselton, Georgia	October 3

Television

The 2008 series will be televised at 5 PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9th on Speed TV.⁷

-November 9th – Grand Prix of Long Beach
-November 16th – Laguna Seca and Race 1 of Edmonton
-December 14th – Race 2 of Edmonton and Race 1 of Road America
-December 21st – Race 2 of Road America and Trois Rivières
-December 28th – Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta

Drivers and Teams

The following teams and drivers are confirmed to be competing in the 2008 Atlantic Championship season. All teams are using the Swift 016.a chassis powered by a Mazda-Cosworth MZR 2.3 liter inline-4 engine and Cooper tires.⁸

Team	No	Drivers	Sponsor	Notes
Brooks Associates Racing	8	Markus Niemelä	Mr. Jones Bar & Kitchen
	88	Andreas Wirth	Wirsol/Sueba USA	First 3 Rounds
	88	Tom Sutherland	ClickAway Computers & Networking
Condor Motorsports	6	Junior Strous	Shell/HTP/Muermans Group/Red White & Bluezz
	9	Dominick Muermans	Hugenholtz Property Group/Jumbo Supermarkten/Muermans Group
	11	Douglas Soares	Banco BMG
	77	Brian Thienes	Bare Elegance/Valley Ball Cabaret	Long Beach Only
EuroInternational	46	Luis Schiavo	Constructora Iriaca	Did not appear at New Jersey or Miller
EuroInternational	70	Daniel Morad⁹	Metro Directories of Georgia	Did not appear at New Jersey, Miller and Road Atlanta
Forsythe Championship Racing	3	James Hinchcliffe¹⁰	Indeck
	7	David Garza Pérez¹¹	Axtel/Madisa Cat/Tecate
	7	David Martinez	Axtel/Madisa Cat/Tecate	Injury replacement for Road America, Trois-Rivières, New Jersey, Miller
Genoa Racing	17	Alan Sciuto	Deans Ultra Plug	Long Beach Only
		Tõnis Kasemets		Road America Only
		J.R. Hildebrand		Road Atlanta Only
	19	Dane Cameron¹²	MAZDASPEED/Finlay Motorsports/Lynx Racing
Jensen MotorSport	2	Henri Karjalainen		Did not appear at Road Atlanta
Jensen MotorSport	22	Eric Jensen		Trois-Rivières and New Jersey only
Mathiasen Motorsports	26	Jonathan Bomarito¹³	RLM Investments/Discount Tire Centers/Stone Brewing
Newman Wachs Racing	34	Simona de Silvestro	Nuclear Clean Air Energy
Newman Wachs Racing	36	Jonathan Summerton	Nuclear Clean Air Energy
Pacific Coast Motorsports¹⁴	14	Carl Skerlong¹⁴	King Taco	Did not appear at Road Atlanta (injury)
Pacific Coast Motorsports¹⁴	41	Frankie Muniz¹⁴	Hard Rock Cafe
Paladin Motorsports	45	Greg Minium		Long Beach Only
Paladin Motorsports	45	Christopher Zoechling	X8ment4u.com	Laguna Seca & Edmonton Only
Polestar Motor Racing	66	Rich Zober	Zober Industries	New Jersey Only
PR1 Motorsports	32	Mike Forest	Konica Minolta/Earthwater/Dynacor Media	Long Beach Only
Walker Racing	5	Greg Mansell¹⁵	Sunseeker
	15	Leo Mansell¹⁵	Sunseeker
	25	Kevin Lacroix¹⁶	Uni-Select/Deans Knight/Wasteco

Full series results

Rd	Race	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning driver	Winning team	Report
1	Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach	Jonathan Bomarito	Carl Skerlong	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	Report
2	Monterey Festival of Speed	James Hinchcliffe	Douglas Soares	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Pettit Racing	Report
3	Sommet des Legends	Junior Strous	Junior Strous	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	Report
4	Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton - Race 1	James Hinchcliffe	David Garza Pérez	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	Report
5	Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton - Race 2	Carl Skerlong	Carl Skerlong	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	Report
6	Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1	Dane Cameron	Tõnis Kasemets	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	Report
7	Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2	Jonathan Bomarito	Dane Cameron	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	Report
8	Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières	Jonathan Bomarito	Jonathan Summerton	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	Report
9	Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom	Carl Skerlong	Carl Skerlong	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	Report
10	SunRichGourmet.com 1000	Markus Niemelä	Carl Skerlong	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	Report
11	Atlanta Atlantic Challenge	Jonathan Summerton	J.R. Hildebrand	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	Report

Race summaries

Round 1: Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach

Sunday April 20, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. EDT
Streets of Long Beach - Long Beach, California (1.968 mile street circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 38 laps / 74.784 miles
Race weather: 60° F, Sunny skies
Television: Speed (November 9, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 93.286 mph (150.125 km/h)
Race Summary

The 2008 Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach was won by the young Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro making her only the second female driver to ever win an Atlantic Championship race after Katherine Legge.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	34	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	38	50:51.261	15
2	4	17	Alan Sciuto	Genoa Racing	38	+1.285	0
3	5	25	Kevin Lacroix	Walker Racing	38	+2.256	0
4	6	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	38	+2.983	0
5	1	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	38	+4.605	23
Race average speed:
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 1 for 2 Laps

Round 2: Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship

Sunday May 18, 2008 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Monterey, California
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 34 laps / 76.092 miles
Race weather: 89° F, sunny skies
Television: Speed (November 16, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #3 James Hinchcliffe, 1:16.189 (105.748 mph)
Race Summary

Canadian James Hinchciffe took the pole at Laguna Seca with a 1:16.189 which was a track record qualifying run on by an Atlantic car on Saturday after taking the provisional pole on Friday. He then went on to dominate Sunday's race.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps Led
1	1	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe/Pettit Racing	34	50:50.352	28
2	2	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	34	+2.391	6
3	4	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	34	+6.671	0
4	5	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	34	+13.027	0
5	11	9	Dominick Muermans	Condor Motorsports	34	+18.404	0
Race average speed: 89.803 mph
Lead changes: 2
Cautions: 2 for 9 laps

Round 3: Sommet des Legends

Sunday June 29, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (2.621 mile road circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 30 laps / 78.630 miles
Race weather: 75° F, Partly cloudy skies
Television: TBA
Pole position winner: #6 Junior Strous, 1:28.805 (106.251 mph)
Race Summary

Dutch driver Junior Strous dominated the weekend by taking pole and leading every lap in the race. The win was his first ever in the Atlantic Championship, as was his pole position. He leads the season championship with 74 points over James Hinchcliffe and Markus Niemelä who are tied at 67.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	1	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	30	53:50.600	30
2	3	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	30	+0.487*	0
3	4	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	30	+0.966	0
4	5	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	30	+1.514	0
5	8	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	30	+2.057	0
					* Race finished under caution
Race average speed: 87.621 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 3 for 10 Laps

Round 4: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 1

Friday July 25, 2008 - 5:15 p.m. MDT
Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 38 laps / 74.974 miles
Race weather: 80° F, Partly cloudy skies
Television: Speed (November 16, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #3 James Hinchcliffe, 1:05.910 (107.765 mph)
Race Summary

Polesitter James Hinchcliffe led from the green flag but was closely stalked by Jonathan Bomarito, who finally made the pass in Turn 1 on lap 31. A late race caution set up a one lap sprint to the finish with Bomarito holding off Markus Niemelä to become the fourth race winner in as many races this season. The win was Bomarito's third Atlantic victory and the first victory for his team, Mathiasen Motorsports, in 36 starts. In the points chase, Niemelä leads Hinchcliffe 94-93.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	38	45:18.942	8
2	5	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	38	+0.691	0
3	1	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	38	+1.151	30
4	4	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	38	+1.757	0
5	6	7	David Garza Pérez	Forsythe Championship Racing	38	+2.170	0
Race average speed: 99.269 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 1 for 3 Laps

Round 5: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 2

Saturday July 25, 2008 - 12:45 p.m. MDT
Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 36 laps / 71.028 miles
Race weather: 80° F, Mostly cloudy skies
Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #14 Carl Skerlong, 1:05.455 (108.514 mph)
Race Summary

A1 Grand Prix veteran (but Atlantic rookie) Jonathan Summerton jumped into the lead from third on the starting grid and dominated the race, leading every lap on the way to his first Atlantic series win. He became the fifth different winner in five races and the first rookie to top a podium this year. James Hinchcliffe finished third and jumped to the top of the points table. He has 118 points, five more than Markus Niemelä.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	3	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	18	45:08.751	36
2	1	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	18	+2.222	0
3	4	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	18	+6.039	0
4	5	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	18	+6.719	0
5	2	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	18	+7.195	0
Race average speed: 94.398 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 1 for 5 Laps

Round 6: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1

Saturday August 8, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. CDT
Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 18 laps / 72.864 miles
Race weather: 76° F, Partly cloudy skies
Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #19 Dane Cameron, 1:59.190 (122.265 mph)
Race Summary

Jonathan Bomarito became the first multiple time winner in the 2008 Atlantic series. He took the lead from pole sitter Dane Cameron at the standing start. On lap 10, Cameron passed Bomarito in Canada Corner but Bomarito was able to pass him back on the following lap, taking the lead which he would hold for the remainder of the race. James Hinchcliffe finished fifth, high enough to keep the points lead with 139 points. Markus Niemelä trails Hinchcliffe by 7 and Bomarito is only 9 points back. Atlantic and Champ Car veteran Tõnis Kasemets made his first appearance since last year's Atlantic round at Road America and finished on the podium in third.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	18	45:02.334	17
2	1	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	18	+0.411	1
3	8	17	Tõnis Kasemets	Genoa Racing	18	+0.978	0
4	9	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	18	+6.384	0
5	3	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	18	+7.230	0
Race average speed: 97.068 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 6 Laps

Round 7: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2

Sunday August 9, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. CDT
Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 20 laps / 80.960 miles
Race weather: 75° F, Partly cloudy skies
Television: Speed (December 21, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 1:59.564 (121.883 mph)
Race Summary

Race 1's winner Jonathan Bomarito led away from the pole, while behind him Jonathan Summerton was charging up through the field from ninth place on the grid. On lap 18, Summerton passed Bomarito in Turn 1, leading only the final two laps home to the checkered flag. Even with the second place finish Bomarito jumped to the top of the points chase. He leads with 157, three in front of the previous leader James Hinchcliffe and six in front of Markus Niemelä.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	9	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	20	46:39.544	2
2	1	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	20	+1.084	18
3	2	17	Tõnis Kasemets

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