Autosport Plus

Champ Car Corner: Reflections on Edmonton

By:

After a financial and competitive slump that threatened to kill Champ Car racing in the United States, the series seems to enjoy a revival this year, with more close racing and wheel to wheel battles. And last weekend, the series visited Edmonton, Canada, for the first time. Alex Sabine looks at last weekend's event and analyses just why it has been branded a major success

Impressive. Challenging. Fun. A bit daunting. An unbelievable event.

It's hard to convey the vibe at last weekend's inaugural Edmonton Champ Car race without resorting to a torrent of superlatives, simply because that was what you heard when you asked anyone connected with the series what they thought of the event. The promotion, the organisation, the circuit layout, the spectator experience, the atmosphere - all were showered with accolades, and rightly so.

Indeed, so many aspects of this first-time event were exemplary that it seemed almost churlish to draw attention to a few well-founded concerns about safety - the only minor blemishes on an otherwise flawless canvas. Even these were partially allayed by refinements to the tyre barriers and pit exit over the course of the weekend, and there's every sign that the organisers will iron out the few remaining wrinkles before next year's race.

shares
comments

Distant Rivals

The 2005 German Grand Prix Review

Inside Toyota’s alternative path to the future of motorsport

Inside Toyota’s alternative path to the future of motorsport

Plus
Plus
Le Mans
Jim Holder

Inside Toyota’s alternative path to the future of motorsport Inside Toyota’s alternative path to the future of motorsport

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Kevin Turner

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever

How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever

Plus
Plus
BF3
Marcus Simmons

How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever

The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad

The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad

Plus
Plus
General
2022 Autosport Awards
Alex Kalinauckas

The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad

The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right

The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right

Plus
Plus
General
Gary Watkins

The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right

Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past

Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past

Plus
Plus
Historics
Gary Watkins

Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past

Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return

Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return

Plus
Plus
General
Gary Watkins

Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return

Rating the best drivers of the century so far

Rating the best drivers of the century so far

Plus
Plus
General
Kevin Turner

Rating the best drivers of the century so far Rating the best drivers of the century so far

Subscribe