View Full Version : CCWS report on Legge's first day testing with PKV
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9896
Will she or won't she?
Legge will return to the test track on Wednesday morning continuing her rapid development as a driver as she strives for her ultimate goal of one day competing in the Champ Car World Series. "Last week's test with Rocketsports really helped me get used to driving a Champ Car and I think I did a good job today," said Legge. "But I still need to work on getting more consistent in the car."
They should put her with Coyne for a year, it won't cost a great deal more (relatively speaking) than a championship level Atlantic effort in 2006 and she'll get to learn the ropes at the top level. Also, this guarantees she won't get smoked in 2006 Atlantics and they have an issue with moving her up in 2007.
IlliniRacer
12-21-05, 12:39 PM
Read into this what you like:
I caught a great interview with her on FoxSportsRadio Race Daywith Rob D'Amico and Michele Rahal. Several times she referred to Atlantics as "they" and ChampCar as "we."
I think she's on the starting CCWS grid at Long Beach. :thumbup:
Read into this, too...Ryan Daziel just signed a re-up contract with Pacific Coast Motorsports. If Legge goes elsewhere either Pantano is in, daMatta isn't going anywhere or Jeemy isn't hanging up the Nomex.
Or this...Pantano says he is confident he'll find a place with PKV "based on the test data." (as fast as Bruno, faster than Legge, so far) He thought the CC would be like an Indy Car but was pleased to find out "it was a true road racer." Legge says she'll find out who is hired "before christmas." Petit says they're "looking to fill 1-2 seats." Sure would like to see a 3-car effort as an investment in the '07 CC season. If Daziel thinks he's out maybe daMatta and Pantano would be PKV's best bet to unseat N/H or derail RuSport and Legge and Lyons can try to get used to things Rocketsports? Rumor already says she might be on loan there for one season.
Dr. Corkski
12-21-05, 07:56 PM
Perhaps Champ Car has already found their RHR replacement for the most overrated and overhyped nice driver known more for their looks than results.
Too soon for Champ Cars, IMO. Don't do it!
51.5 reported as her quick lap today in conditions cooler than last week.
Last week:
1 -- B. Junqueira 50.900
2 -- G. Pantano 50.900
3 -- R. Briscoe 51.000
4 -- C. Zwolsman 51.800
5 -- T. Kasemets 54.400
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9898
For the second consecutive day, Legge logged 119 laps on the 1.66-mile road circuit at Sebring International Raceway for the PKV squad. She completed both long and short runs on the tough test track and posted a top unofficial lap time of 51.51 seconds, surpassing her quick mark from Tuesday of 52.04 seconds.
NObody has overrated or overhyped Katherine Legge. It is Vasser's opinion she certainly can compete at this level. He said a decision would be made by mid-January and I can't believe he or anyone else on the team will make decisions based on hype or what others may think they know.
Remember, in the same car and in nearly the same conditions she was 1.0 slower than Lyons last week. Few would argue that the PKV tester isn't a better car than the Rocketsports entry, but a 1.7 sec. improvement is nothing to ignore. Give Lyons a 1.8 sec. improvement because he was faster to begin with and he could have turned a 50.4 in that car and ended up #1, a big .5 faster than Pantano or Bruno! (maybe more, with the mentioned lack of rubber and cold temp? Possible?) I sure hope Lyons gets another chance to catch on with a top team.
Too soon for Champ Cars, IMO. Don't do it!
My thoughts as well. I'd much rather see her hone her skills in Atlantics for another year. Perhaps a few select Champ Car races.
Andrew Longman
12-22-05, 10:43 AM
NObody has overrated or overhyped Katherine Legge. It is Vasser's opinion she certainly can compete at this level. He said a decision would be made by mid-January and I can't believe he or anyone else on the team will make decisions based on hype or what others may think they know.
Agreed. But the reality of the sport is also that the driver plays a big role in generating fan and sponsor interest.
Granted Danica showed in the extreme what a woman driver can do in this regard (and how much people will try to hype something when they are desperate for any attention), and so if Katherine can bring attention to PKV and the series while being competitive then that will surely figure into the equation. Jimmy and KK are surely interested in winning a championship, but there has to be a championship worth winning first.
I'm not saying she has, will be or should be hyped, just that her "novelty" is part of the mix. And I too don't want her in the series until she is truly ready. Maybe that's this year. I'll leave that to the experts.
Perhaps Champ Car has already found their RHR replacement for the most overrated and overhyped nice driver known more for their looks than results.
When I see her mug on the front page of the paper or the cover of SI, then she'll be overhyped. However, none of this has happened outside of your bubble, Corky. Legge is still buried on the back pages with the rest of CCWS news.
:shakehead
-Kevin
Legge herself points out those testing "with six times more experience" but says she will not turn down the offer if it comes. Would you? She'll have more time to think about it over Christmas. KK has offered use of his Aspen home for the holidays! :D
TKGAngel
12-22-05, 01:10 PM
One of the pics on the CC website quite clearly shows Legge's name decaled on the car. Did they do this last week for the other drivers participating in the PKV gong show?
Accipiter
12-22-05, 01:31 PM
Yes. They did that for all the drivers testing.
TKGAngel
12-22-05, 02:13 PM
Yes. They did that for all the drivers testing.
Well, darn. There went my conspiracy theory.
Well, darn. There went my conspiracy theory.
The question is did they take her name off after the test?
Insomniac
12-22-05, 02:51 PM
Too bad no one else tested this week. Give some type of comparison. Maybe that is what they wanted?
TKGAngel
12-22-05, 03:45 PM
The question is did they take her name off after the test?
Read into this what you will, but the official JV website - jimmyvasser.com - no longer exists.
Accipiter
12-22-05, 05:00 PM
Well, darn. There went my conspiracy theory.
It was a good one while it lasted.
Well, if she goes to champ car in 2006 I'd be happy with a picture of her on the podium in one of the races. That would show me more than a dubious "4th place win" at Indy. :shakehead
Lizzerd
12-23-05, 02:30 AM
My bowling buddy's bet with is friend still stands. We talked about it tonight. Katherine will win a major OW series race before that little chic in the other series wins one. And I use the terms "major" and "other series" together with a bit of trepidation.
Personally, I'd rather she wait a year and go for the $2M.
My bowling buddy's bet with is friend still stands. We talked about it tonight. Katherine will win a major OW series race before that little chic in the other series wins one. And I use the terms "major" and "other series" together with a bit of trepidation.
I wouldn't bet on anything related to the other series. Never underestimate their willingness to make something happen.
Legge's latest time get added to the cummulative Sebring CCWS testing results:
1 B. Junqueira 50.900
2 G. Pantano 50.900
3 R. Briscoe 51.000
4 R. Dalziel 51.500
5 K. Legge 51.500
6 C. Zwolsman 51.800
7 A. Danielsson 52.100
8 J. Heylen 52.100
9 R. Lyons 52.200
10 K. Legge 53.200
11 D. Clarke 53.500
12 T. Kasemets 54.400
Conspiracy fans may resume posting now. ;)
oddlycalm
12-24-05, 03:00 AM
Regardless of what happens and who gets a seat in a Champ Car, Legge did a good job in the Minardi, the AR1 and the PKV seats. That seat time in higher powered cars combined with the advice she's gotten along the way should have her feeling more confident regardless what seat she eventually ends up in.
oc
Andrew Longman
12-24-05, 08:37 AM
Regardless of what happens and who gets a seat in a Champ Car, Legge did a good job in the Minardi, the AR1 and the PKV seats. That seat time in higher powered cars combined with the advice she's gotten along the way should have her feeling more confident regardless what seat she eventually ends up in.
oc
And if she winds up in Atlantics again she brings more credibility and attention to it.
Dr. Corkski
12-24-05, 07:56 PM
11/23 Minardi Test
1 J. Caceres Minardi Bridgestone 01:21.019 10
2 K. Legge Minardi Bridgestone 01:21.176 27
3 C. Nissany Minardi Bridgestone 01:24.650 50
12/9 A1GP Dubai
Robbie Kerr 01:48.234
Katherine Legge 01:50.659
12/13 Champ Car Sebring Test
1 R. Dalziel PKV Racing 51.500 116.668 187.758
2 G. Pantano PKV Racing 51.500 116.668 187.758
3 A. Danielsson Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 52.100 115.324 185.596 0.600
4 R. Lyons Rocketsports Racing 52.200 115.103 185.240 0.700 0.100
5 C. Zwolsman Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 52.200 115.103 185.240 0.700
6 K. Legge Rocketsports Racing 53.200 112.940 181.759 1.700 1.000
7 D. Clarke Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 53.500 112.307 180.740 2.000 0.300
12/20 Champ Car Sebring Test
1 K. Legge PKV Racing 52.000
12/21 Champ Car Sebring Test
1 K. Legge PKV Racing 51.500
Now when will professors from Ohio start threads pimping Juan Caceres, Robbie Kerr, and Richard Lyons too? Or do they not matter because they have a Y chromosome? :gomer:
I think you are the only one playing "the sex card", don't know the other 2 but I've been pushing Lyons for a couple of years. Sure wouldn't call that pimping as I believe he'd have bested both Bruno and Pantano easily if he'd been given a chance to wring 1.7 secs. out of the 12 car as Legge did. Her 3rd fastest time (out of twelve runners) deserves notice, Xs and Ys not withstanding. Those tests were revealing for me anyway and I wish there was room at the inn for at least FOUR of 'em! :)
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