2008 Atlantic Championship season | |
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Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda | |
Season | |
Races | 11 |
Start date | April 20th |
End date | October 3rd |
Awards | |
Drivers' champion | Markus Niemelä |
Chronology | |
Previous season | Next season |
2007 | 2009 |
The 2008 Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-fifth Atlantic Championship season. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of Champ Car's premier series with the Indy Racing League, the Champ Car owners continued to own and operate the Atlantic Championship 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] The Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Drivers' Champion was Markus Niemelä driving for Brooks Associates Racing.
The original 12-race 2008 Atlantic Championship calendar, which featured many supporting runs during Champ Car World Series events, had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheel reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Road America races, which had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification, remained in the calendar. 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 IndyCar Series, also switched to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres and Miller were not affected, since the Quebec race was part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), and the Utah race was conducted as part of the Rolex Sports Car Series Sunchaser 1000 weekend.[3] On April 3 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 and a second Road Atlanta (as a support race to the Petit Le Mans).
The 2008 series was be televised at 5 PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9, 2008 on Speed TV.[7]
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 Atlantic Championship season. All teams used 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jensen MotorSport | 2 | Henri Karjalainen | Did not appear at Road Atlanta | |
22 | Eric Jensen | Trois-Rivières and New Jersey only | ||
Forsythe Championship Racing |
3 | James Hinchcliffe | Indeck | |
7 | Davíd Garza Pérez | Axtel/Madisa Cat/Tecate | ||
David Martínez | Injury replacement for Road America, Trois-Rivières, New Jersey, Miller |
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Walker Racing | 5 | Greg Mansell | Sunseeker | |
15 | Leo Mansell | Sunseeker | ||
25 | Kevin Lacroix | Uni-Select/Deans Knight/Wasteco | ||
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 | |
Brooks Associates Racing |
8 | Markus Niemelä | Mr. Jones Bar & Kitchen | |
88 | Andreas Wirth | Wirsol/Sueba USA | First 3 Rounds | |
Tom Sutherland | ClickAway Computers & Networking | |||
Pacific Coast Motorsports |
14 | Carl Skerlong | King Taco | Did not appear at Road Atlanta (injury) |
41 | Frankie Muniz | Hard Rock Cafe | ||
Genoa Racing | 17 | Alan Sciuto | Deans Ultra Plug | Long Beach Only |
Tõnis Kasemets | Road America Only | |||
J.R. Hildebrand | Road Atlanta Only | |||
19 | Dane Cameron | MAZDASPEED/Finlay Motorsports/Lynx Racing | ||
Mathiasen Motorsports | 26 | Jonathan Bomarito | RLM Investments/Discount Tire Centers/Stone Brewing | |
PR1 Motorsports | 32 | Mike Forest | Konica Minolta/Earthwater/Dynacor Media | Long Beach Only |
Newman Wachs Racing | 34 | Simona de Silvestro | Nuclear Clean Air Energy | |
36 | Jonathan Summerton | Nuclear Clean Air Energy | ||
Paladin Motorsports | 45 | Greg Minium | Long Beach Only | |
Christopher Zoechling | X8ment4u.com | Laguna Seca & Edmonton Only | ||
EuroInternational | 46 | Luis Schiavo | Constructora Iriaca | Did not appear at New Jersey or Miller |
70 | Daniel Morad | Metro Directories of Georgia | Did not appear at New Jersey, Miller & Road Atlanta |
|
Polestar Motor Racing | 66 | Rich Zober | Zober Industries | New Jersey Only |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | Genoa Racing | 20 | +6.202 | 0 | |
4 | 10 | 25 | Kevin Lacroix | Walker Racing | 20 | +6.832 | 0 | |
5 | 4 | 14 | Carl Skerlong | Pacific Coast Motorsports | 20 | +8.993 | 0 | |
Race average speed: 104.108 mph | ||||||||
Lead changes: 1 | ||||||||
Cautions: 2 for 5 Laps |
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos |
St. Pos |
Car No. |
Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps led | |
1 | 1 | 26 | Jonathan Bomarito | Mathiasen Motorsports | 44 | 50:17.453 | 44 | |
2 | 2 | 36 | Jonathan Summerton | Newman Wachs Racing | 44 | +1.590 | 0 | |
3 | 8 | 6 | Junior Strous | Condor Motorsports | 44 | +5.682 | 0 | |
4 | 11 | 34 | Simona De Silvestro | Newman Wachs Racing | 44 | +7.878 | 0 | |
5 | 4 | 19 | Dane Cameron | Genoa Racing | 44 | +10.015 | 0 | |
Race average speed: 79.844 mph | ||||||||
Lead changes: 0 | ||||||||
Cautions: 2 for 9 Laps |
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos |
St. Pos |
Car No. |
Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps led | |
1 | 1 | 14 | Carl Skerlong | Pacific Coast Motorsports | 42 | 50:49.282 | 42 | |
2 | 2 | 8 | Markus Niemelä | Brooks Associates Racing | 42 | +2.464 | 0 | |
3 | 4 | 36 | Jonathan Summerton | Newman Wachs Racing | 42 | +10.441 | 0 | |
4 | 3 | 25 | Kevin Lacroix | Walker Racing | 42 | +22.772 | 0 | |
5 | 6 | 6 | Junior Strous | Condor Motorsports | 42 | +23.914 | 0 | |
Race average speed: 107.948 mph | ||||||||
Lead changes: 0 | ||||||||
Cautions: None |
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos |
St. Pos |
Car No. |
Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps led | |
1 | 1 | 8 | Markus Niemelä | Brooks Associates Racing | 20 | 50:40.529 | 20 | |
2 | 2 | 36 | Jonathan Summerton | Newman Wachs Racing | 20 | +0.446 | 0 | |
3 | 3 | 19 | Dane Cameron | Genoa Racing | 20 | +2.296 | 0 | |
4 | 6 | 14 | Carl Skerlong | Pacific Coast Motorsports | 20 | +2.828 | 0 | |
5 | 4 | 34 | Simona De Silvestro | Newman Wachs Racing | 20 | +22.363 | 0 | |
Race average speed: 106.229 mph | ||||||||
Lead changes: 0 | ||||||||
Cautions: None |
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos |
St. Pos |
Car No. |
Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps led | |
1 | 3 | 8 | Markus Niemelä | Brooks Associates Racing | 35 | 50:19.931 | 3 | |
2 | 4 | 25 | Kevin Lacroix | Walker Racing | 35 | +0.730* | 0 | |
3 | 7 | 3 | James Hinchcliffe | Forsythe Championship Racing | 35 | +1.311 | 0 | |
4 | 11 | 34 | Simona De Silvestro | Newman Wachs Racing | 35 | +1.807 | 0 | |
5 | 8 | 5 | Greg Mansell | Walker Racing | 35 | +4.174 | 0 | |
* Race finished under caution | ||||||||
Race average speed: 105.976 mph | ||||||||
Lead changes: 1 | ||||||||
Cautions: 2 for 7 Laps |
Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
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Points | 31 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Bonus Points
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Preceded by 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season |
2008 Atlantic Championship season | Succeeded by 2009 Atlantic Championship season |
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