Ranger abandons Champ Car career

The 20-year-old was tipped to become Champ Car's next big Canadian star after he took a podium finish in only his second CCWS start in 2005, but struggled for funds throughout his two seasons with Conquest Racing.

"I raced two years in Champ Car and I liked the series, but it's very expensive," said Ranger.

"I need to have a future and I don't know if there was a future in Champ Car. I'd have to fight (to get a drive) every year and again this year I didn't have a ride, so I decided to go to NASCAR."

Ranger's manager Alan Labrosse was sanguine about his departure from single-seaters.

"For Andrew, it's a relief from the financial responsibilities," Labrosse said. "People may perceive this as a step back and I wouldn't argue with that, but sometimes you have to take a half-step back to take three or four steps forward.

"NASCAR has become a very strong North American series and Andrew sees this as an opportunity."

Ranger tested for former champions Forsythe before joining Conquest. The team's general manager Neil Micklewright said that Ranger's NASCAR move exemplified the current difficulties faced by Champ Car.

"I know that Andrew has been trying very hard to keep a full-time seat in Champ Car," Micklewright said.

"But it's really a sign of the times that we're in. I think clearly we've still got a lot of work to do in order to build Champ Car racing to the point where it can attract the type of sponsorship that we'd all like to see.

"I'd much prefer the teams were able to bring in a sponsor and then choose the drivers. It's just not where we are at the moment."