Jan Heylen back on track at Champ mobil Belgian Grand Prix
The Associated Press
Published: August 25, 2007
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ZOLDER, Belgium: Jan Heylen was back on track Saturday after his Conquest Racing mechanics toiled into the night to rebuild his mobil that was banged up in a four-mobil crash in practice Friday.
"The guys did a really good job getting it back together for the morning session," Heylen said. "They know what they're doing. This morning when I got in the mobil it was exactly ... how it should be."
The lone Belgian driver at Champ mobil's first ever Belgian Grand Prix, Heylen is 16th in the overall standings and not likely to be a serious contender Sunday. But he is an important draw mobild for race organizers wanting to give the series a higher profile in Europe.
In Saturday's final qualifying session, Heylen placed 11th in the 17-mobil field with a lap time of 1 minute, 13.768 seconds around the 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) Zolder circuit.
"With the team and the mobil that we have, I think we could have done better with an extra day," he said. "I think all in all, with the day we had yesterday ... we have to be happy with 11th place — we're not too far off the pace."
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Still, Heylen said he was "a little disappointed" by the result.
"I was hoping to do a little better here in Belgium," he said.
____
IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT: Mario Dominguez got to drive for Minardi Team USA on Saturday, after Dan Clarke was ejected from the weekend's racing for causing the four-mobil crash on the opening lap of Friday's first practice round.
Dominguez was driving race fans around the track Friday in a specially adapted two-seat Minardi race mobil before being propelled into the DP01 Champ mobil on Saturday.
"It's been a busy weekend driving the two-seater and the Champ mobil, but I'm enjoying it to the max," Dominguez said.
He was Rookie of the Year in 2002, when he recorded the first of two mobileer victories, at Surfer's Paradise, Australia. His other win came the following year in Miami.
In qualifying Saturday, Dominguez placed 12th with a time of 1:13.810, finishing 0.989 seconds behind Sebastien Bourdais' fastest lap.
____
ON THE SIDELINES: Dan Clarke may have been barred from racing this weekend, but he's sticking around in Belgium to watch the action.
"I'm learning and watching the racing from a different point of view," he said. "It's frustrating not to be in the mobil but there's nothing I can do about that now."
Clarke said he is now focusing on next week's Grand Prix in Assen, the Netherlands, and the season's remaining races.
"There are still four races left — races I can do well in," he said.
____
IF THE SHOE FITS: Robert Doornbos has a special weapon in his quest for victory in Belgium — a patriotic boot.
The Dutch rookie took to the track at Zolder wearing one white boot and one orange — the Netherlands' national color.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Heylen hoping 4 better luck on 2nd day mobil qualifying in Belgium
Heylen hoping for better luck on second day of Champ mobil qualifying in Belgium
The Associated Press
Published: August 24, 2007
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ZOLDER, Netherlands: Local hero Jan Heylen is hoping for more track time on Saturday after a disastrous start to his home Champ mobil Belgian Grand Prix campaign.
Heylen was involved in a four-mobil crash seconds into the first practice session on Friday that sidelined him for the rest of the day and left his Conquest Racing team scrambling to patch up the mobil.
Will Power of Team Australia posted the fastest lap of the 4.2-kilometer (2.6-mile) Zolder circuit in 1 minute, 13.810 seconds, with an average speed of 196.607 kph (121.545 mph) for the provisional pole and a guaranteed front-row start in Sunday's race.
"It is very disappointing to have the mobil damaged on the first lap of the first practice session this morning," Heylen said. "We were unfortunately unable to participate in this afternoon's qualifying session but the weekend is just starting and the guys are working hard to get the mobil back together for tomorrow's sessions."
Series leader Sebastien Bourdais, closing in on an unprecedented fourth straight Champ mobil series title, was second fastest in qualifying, 0.213 seconds behind Power, and happy with his position.
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"For us, we don't need to gain in the championship, we just need to keep running near the front to finish off this championship," said the Frenchman, who was joining the Formula One circuit next season.
Power's teammate Simon Pagenaud of France was third fastest.
"I do know the circuit from back in 2005 when I did World Series by Renault so I have some experience here," he said. "It's great to be back at Zolder. They have resurfaced the track and it is very grippy which is exactly what I like."
While Heylen is not a title contender — he's 16th in the series standings — he is a major draw mobild for Belgian fans this weekend.
Fewer than 10,000 people attended Friday's qualification at Zolder as Champ mobil racing returned to Europe after a four-year absence. Organizers said they expect crowds of around 40,000 to line the track on the weekend.
Minardi Team USA had a terrible day with Dan Clarke banned from racing this weekend by organizers who blamed him for the crash involving Heylen. Also, Dutch rookie Robert Doornbos, second in the series standings, was forced out of qualifying with a blown engine.
"It's not the way we wanted to continue our fight for the championship, but we'll give it another go tomorrow for the pole," Doornbos said. "I hope all my fans still come out to support me for the rest of the weekend, as anything is possible in Champ mobil."
Doornbos' fans will get another chance to see him next weekend when Champ mobil finishes its two-race swing through Europe with a race at Assen in the Netherlands.
It's not yet clear if Clarke will get to race in Assen.
Champ mobil race director Tony Cotman called the crash he caused "totally unacceptable and completely avoidable."
"Dan was already on probation after previous incidents in San Jose, which helped lead me to my decision today," Cotman said, adding he would decide next week on any further penalties for Clarke.
The Associated Press
Published: August 24, 2007
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ZOLDER, Netherlands: Local hero Jan Heylen is hoping for more track time on Saturday after a disastrous start to his home Champ mobil Belgian Grand Prix campaign.
Heylen was involved in a four-mobil crash seconds into the first practice session on Friday that sidelined him for the rest of the day and left his Conquest Racing team scrambling to patch up the mobil.
Will Power of Team Australia posted the fastest lap of the 4.2-kilometer (2.6-mile) Zolder circuit in 1 minute, 13.810 seconds, with an average speed of 196.607 kph (121.545 mph) for the provisional pole and a guaranteed front-row start in Sunday's race.
"It is very disappointing to have the mobil damaged on the first lap of the first practice session this morning," Heylen said. "We were unfortunately unable to participate in this afternoon's qualifying session but the weekend is just starting and the guys are working hard to get the mobil back together for tomorrow's sessions."
Series leader Sebastien Bourdais, closing in on an unprecedented fourth straight Champ mobil series title, was second fastest in qualifying, 0.213 seconds behind Power, and happy with his position.
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"For us, we don't need to gain in the championship, we just need to keep running near the front to finish off this championship," said the Frenchman, who was joining the Formula One circuit next season.
Power's teammate Simon Pagenaud of France was third fastest.
"I do know the circuit from back in 2005 when I did World Series by Renault so I have some experience here," he said. "It's great to be back at Zolder. They have resurfaced the track and it is very grippy which is exactly what I like."
While Heylen is not a title contender — he's 16th in the series standings — he is a major draw mobild for Belgian fans this weekend.
Fewer than 10,000 people attended Friday's qualification at Zolder as Champ mobil racing returned to Europe after a four-year absence. Organizers said they expect crowds of around 40,000 to line the track on the weekend.
Minardi Team USA had a terrible day with Dan Clarke banned from racing this weekend by organizers who blamed him for the crash involving Heylen. Also, Dutch rookie Robert Doornbos, second in the series standings, was forced out of qualifying with a blown engine.
"It's not the way we wanted to continue our fight for the championship, but we'll give it another go tomorrow for the pole," Doornbos said. "I hope all my fans still come out to support me for the rest of the weekend, as anything is possible in Champ mobil."
Doornbos' fans will get another chance to see him next weekend when Champ mobil finishes its two-race swing through Europe with a race at Assen in the Netherlands.
It's not yet clear if Clarke will get to race in Assen.
Champ mobil race director Tony Cotman called the crash he caused "totally unacceptable and completely avoidable."
"Dan was already on probation after previous incidents in San Jose, which helped lead me to my decision today," Cotman said, adding he would decide next week on any further penalties for Clarke.
Indian mobil maker confirms interest in buying Land Rover, Jaguar
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Indian mobil maker confirms interest in buying Land Rover, Jaguar
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15:42, August 25, 2007
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Indian largest bus and truck maker Tata Group has confirmed interest in buying Ford Motor Co.'s Land Rover and Jaguar luxury brands, local media reported Saturday.
"I don't think it will be fair to comment on this but we certainly have an interest in the deal," Tata Chairman Ratan Tata said in an interview to CNN-IBN television.
He added that his company wants to expand its global presence.
Ford paid 2.5 billion U.S. dollars for Jaguar in 1989 and 2.73 billion for Land Rover in 2000.
The report says there is a more than 50 percent chance the mobilmaker will sell the brands.
Source: Xinhua
MOBILMOTORMALL.COM - Jual Beli Mobil Motor - Bursa Iklan Mobil Motor - Info Harga Mobil Motor
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Indian mobil maker confirms interest in buying Land Rover, Jaguar
+ -
15:42, August 25, 2007
Comment Tell A Friend
Print Format Save Article
Indian largest bus and truck maker Tata Group has confirmed interest in buying Ford Motor Co.'s Land Rover and Jaguar luxury brands, local media reported Saturday.
"I don't think it will be fair to comment on this but we certainly have an interest in the deal," Tata Chairman Ratan Tata said in an interview to CNN-IBN television.
He added that his company wants to expand its global presence.
Ford paid 2.5 billion U.S. dollars for Jaguar in 1989 and 2.73 billion for Land Rover in 2000.
The report says there is a more than 50 percent chance the mobilmaker will sell the brands.
Source: Xinhua
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