NA-F2000: SCCA Pro Fax V.3, N.20 (Atlantic and FF2000)

SCCA PRO FAX - Volume 3, Number 20 - September 13, 1996

LEMOND TO RACE U.S. FF2000 IN '97: World Cycling Champion and Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has joined Miller Brothers Racing and will contest the 1997 United States Formula Ford 2000 Championship, joining team owner John Miller driving Van Diemen Fords. It's clear I'm hooked on racing, said LeMond. To compete with a championship caliber team, in arguably the top ride available, in the highly competitive U.S. FF2000 Pro Series, exceeds my greatest expectations. LeMond was impressive in his professional motorsports debut earlier this season, as he finished 12th in the rain soaked SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series race at the Children's Grand Prix of Minnesota. Impressed, the Miller Brothers Racing Team offered LeMond a test session at Blackhawk Farms Raceway under the guidance of veteran FF2000 driver Steve Knapp. LeMond was offered the opportunity to join the team following the test. Greg is truly a class act, said Miller. His obvious talent and competitive desire, coupled with his strong belief in giving back to the community through his charitable activities, are a wonderful asset to the team. Greg's extensive sports marketing background and insight will be invaluable to the team. This strategic alliance between one of the true legends of the sports world and one of the top, up and coming motorsports teams foretells great things for the future. The Minneapolis-based Miller Milling Company, one of the largest U.S. millers of wheat for the pasta industry, will continue its long-standing involvement with the team.

CARPENTIER CLOSES OUT ATLANTIC SEASON IN STYLE: Player's/Toyota Atlantic Champion Patrick Carpentier capped his dream season with a flourish, posting his record eighth-straight victory from the pole at the Laguna Seca season finale on Saturday, Sept. 7. Carpentier's ninth victory of the 1996 season tied him with the legendary Gilles Villeneuve for most Atlantic victories in a single season. Also, by earning the $22,000 winner's share, Carpentier also broke the single-season record for earnings with $226,500, eclipsing the record set in 1993 of $214,863 by David Empringham. The 25-year-old French Canadian, who clinched the title two races ago, had little difficulty in round 12, as he averaged 84.502 miles-per-hour to beat runner-up Case Montgomery by 2.3 seconds. Paul Jasper, the Lake Forest, Illinois, driver finished seventh to close out a fine year in which he won Player's/ Toyota Atlantic Rookie-of-the-Year honors. ESPN2 will broadcast the final round of the 1996 Player's/Toyota Atlantic Championship on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Eastern).

SWIFT ENGINEERING SELECTED TO BUILD NEW ATLANTIC CHASSIS: Swift Engineering, of San Clemente, California has been awarded the contract to build the next generation Player's/ Toyota Atlantic chassis. The decision to award the contract to Swift was based both on its past accomplishments in Atlantic with the very successful DB-4, as well as its North American location, commented Vicki O'Connor, president of Pro-Motion Agency, Ltd. Our decision was extremely difficult due to the quality of all the proposals received from the various manufacturers. Swift was one of eight manufacturers to present proposals. The overall approach to the 1998 chassis is to update current Atlantic design with new safety ideas and use the latest technology available, while utilizing the 1600cc Toyota A-GE engine which generates 240 horsepower in race trim.

U.S. FF2000 RULES: The U.S. Formula Ford 2000 National Championship series promoter Formula Motorsports has announced a package of series rules revisions designed to control cost escalation. The new rules package includes a limit on testing and restricts development of Formula One-style raised-nose aerodynamics and third spring technology that assists in ride height control.