CHAMPCARS
07/04/2006
Clarke Ready For Californian Street Racing Glamour
200,000 For Long Beach
  
Clarke Ready For Californian Street Racing Glamour

Dan Clarke lines up on the grid for the first Champ Car race of his career this weekend at The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which attracts a crowd of around 200,000. The 21 year old British driver’s debut at this blue ribbon event will undoubtedly be the most exciting experience of this young driver’s life so far and he is ready for the challenge ahead.

Clarke signed to drive for CTE Racing-HVM only two weeks ago, but he has been preparing for this moment for many weeks and with an intensive fitness programming, and as much testing in the car as possible, he is determined to show his racing ability in this leading US racing series.

Clarke explains, “Aside from the necessary fitness training, and having a bit of time in the car, I’ve been learning the Long Beach circuit on the official Champ Car PC game, I finally have a legitimate excuse to play a computer game!

He adds, “My aim this weekend is to concentrate on working with the team to absorb as much as I can and learn from the people around me who have a wealth of experience. There’s so many new aspects for me to take in, whether it’s the rules, the PR duties, race strategy, the circuit and conditions, I’m just going to try and stay calm, focus on myself, my car and the team.”

“I know this is the biggest race weekend of the Champ Car calendar and there will be Hollywood celebrities and motorsport icons around the paddock, but although I love all the glamour there’s no time to party, there’s much more important things for me, and none more so than performing well for my team.”

Clarke graduates from British Formula 3 to the US-based Champ Car Series, a big step up for him and one which he is grasping with both hands. He expects this year to be a learning season, getting to grips with the tracks, understanding the style of racing and the requirements from the driver to get the best from the car.

The Champ Car series comprises 15 races in the USA, Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Australia, with many household names of motorsport having competed in the championship from Mario Andretti to Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya to Nigel Mansell.

The Long Beach event kicks off with first practice and preliminary qualifying on Friday, final practice and qualifying on Saturday, warm up and the 76 lap race on Sunday. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach takes place on a 1.96 mile temporary street circuit which winds along the shore of the Los Angeles beach resort.



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