Drivers positive about merged team

RuSPORT founder Carl Russo sold his team to PKV Racing co-owner Dan Pettit during the winter, while Rocketsports endured a difficult 2006 season with a fluctuating driver line-up and only one podium finish.

The two teams have a single fully-funded entry apiece for Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani respectively, but decided to merge operations and collaborate after failing to put together programmes for second cars.

The alliance began at this weekend's Spring Training at Laguna Seca, and both teams were positive about its benefits.

"I think that working with Rocketsports was a great opportunity, and we all worked very well together," said Wilson.

"It was definitely an advantage to have a teammate, especially an experienced one like Alex. I feel that we were both able to benefit from working together and it showed."

"It has been a great two days for us," agreed Tagliani. "We have been so fast, and due to a combination of two things: my new engineer Chris Lerch, and our joint efforts with RuSPORT."

But Team Australia co-owner Craig Gore attacked Pettit and Rocketsports owner Paul Gentilozzi for choosing to merge at a time when Champ Car is receiving negative publicity for its small grid sizes. Only 16 cars ran at the final test before the season-opener.

"The rest of us are busting our asses 24/7 to do two cars and what Dan Pettit and Paul Gentilozzi are doing is, in my opinion, crap," Gore told speedtv.com.

"I think a 17 or 18 car grid is feasible but it would be better to have 20 cars; I think the series would benefit hugely.

"As series owners, I think it's their responsibility to run two cars. I'm making a serious investment in the sport of auto racing here in the United States. When Dan Pettit and Paul Gentilozzi don't make a similar investment, what message does that send?"

But Pettit and Gentilozzi dismissed Gore's criticisms.

"I'm running three cars," Pettit told speedtv.com. "I'm still involved in PKV and I stepped in to save RuSPORT. Craig is entitled to his opinion, but I'm investing a lot more money than he thinks."

Gentilozzi added: "Craig is like a lot of people out there who just don't understand how much money everybody has spent the past few years."