Mazda Atlantics Champion signs with AGR

[ChicagocrewIRL]

Robin Miller via Speedtv.com
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/42575/

IndyCar.com
http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=10413

Raphael Matos heads over to Andretti Green's IPS operation to drive the #27 AFS Pro Series Car. Looks like he also will be in a fifth AGR/ ICS car for the Indy 500.

Whats does it say about the direction of the IndyCar Series when the champion of the ladder series to CCWS heads over, forfeiting a 2 million dollar cash infusion to drive in the senior ChampCar series.

I think it is an incredibly healthy indicator for the future that IPS is attracting some incredible talent and also attracting well organized teams that could one day make the jump to IndyCar. IPS realistically could have 30 car grids this season.

[mlittle]

This can't be good for ChampCar whatsoever.........something is seriously wrong over there for their reigning Atlantic champion to forego the $2 million prize(which, IIRC, was supposed to help with finidng a ride over there) and make, at the very least, a lateral move to the IPS(albeit with one of the top-end teams in the IRL)

On the other hand.....Matos will have to adapt to running on ovals, something that, thanks to the powers-that-be in the other series, has all but become a thing of the past, but if he does as well in IPS as he has in Atlantics and, before that, in Star Mazda, he could do pretty darn' well.

[Placid]

I would have imagine if he would have been good enough for GP2.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

I am TRYING SO HARD not to gloat but having endured the angst of CCWS fans over the years against the IRL and Tony George, I can't help but have a little grin on my face. I apologize X 1000 for that but I cannot help it.

[gofastandwynn]

I am TRYING SO HARD not to gloat but having endured the angst of CCWS fans over the years against the IRL and Tony George, I can't help but have a little grin on my face. I apologize X 1000 for that but I cannot help it.

You have nothing to apologize about. I wish the pages from after the 2001 Indy 500 were still around so you could read the trash thrown in the IRL fans faces, or anything from 1997-2002.

I treat them the same as they treated me.

[mlittle]

I am TRYING SO HARD not to gloat but having endured the angst of CCWS fans over the years against the IRL and Tony George, I can't help but have a little grin on my face. I apologize X 1000 for that but I cannot help it.

Try to imagine what everyone at 16th and Georgetown must've thought when it was announced that the other series had lost its' Atlantic champion to the Indy Pro Series(and to one of the teams it seems ChampCar fanatics[I meant, fans.....] love to gripe at and about).......... :eek:

Then throw in the news that the one person in ChampCar's organization that actually knew what they were doing had resigned(a/k/a Tony Cotman) and one can't help but grin...... :eek: :eek:

Go ahead and gloat.......let 'em have it! :arrows:

[Jimmy Magnusson]

To return to the discussion at hand... At first glance this looks like a very good move for Matos. If he'd used his $2mil to fund a Champ Car ride he would have gotten a season there, and his best hope would have been to become a regular driver like Junqueira, Servia, Wilson, Tags etc. With AGR he's got the potential not only in running in what appeares to be the more "secure" series now but also, and more importantly I think, the prospect of ALMS outings. I don't know if Matos has to bring sponsorship with him, but I have read that the $2mil was not enough for a full season in Champ Car.

[BobbyC]

Matos is too old for GP2 at 27, as he spent his years servicing karting equipment (nice way to learn car setup and control) while developing his way up the US racing ladder through Barber and Star Mazda before making it to Mazda Atlantics.

Too bad that CC spurned him, but he's grateful that IRL folks did it again. First it was Jim Gutherie (remember the guy who found an engine genius to fix the problem with failing Auroras that led to the upset win at PIR) who let him drive his son's Indy Pro car when Sean was underage. Now he's signed with the 2-time Indy 500 champions for a developmental deal, and Michael Andretti is probably smiling at this move.

Matos is thinking a 2-time Indy 500 championship organisation with Tony Kaanan helping, and Michael Andretti at the helm -- a car owner who can do more than any Champ Car owner can because of his background.

[DanicaFan]

I think its a good move on his part. If he does well and steps up to IndyCar, he will have much better exposure, payoff, etc.

And he couldnt have started his Pro Series career with a better team than with Andretti Green!http://www.ptalkforum.com/images/smilies/icon_bigthumbsup.gif

[Civic]

It's a continuation of, and not a start of his IPS career. Looking forward to see if he improves on the ovals.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

Did Matos ever race IPS ovals ??? I don't think he ever did. But I'm not sure.

[gofastandwynn]

Did Matos ever race IPS ovals ??? I don't think he ever did. But I'm not sure.

No he has done St. Pete, The Glen and the Speedway Road Course with the USGP.

[sanguin]

Here's a good rumor from a pretty reliable poster-

"Newsflash -- AGR getting some help from anonymous donors!! Could we think of a better way for TG to undermine the best open wheel development series in North America? There's a lot more to this tale than will be made public."

[Lee Roy]

Here's a good rumor from a pretty reliable poster-

"Newsflash -- AGR getting some help from anonymous donors!! Could we think of a better way for TG to undermine the best open wheel development series in North America? There's a lot more to this tale than will be made public."


I guess believing fantasies like this is much easier than accepting the truth that Champ Car ***** and is going to die because of it.

[sanguin]

I guess believing fantasies like this is much easier than accepting the truth that Champ Car ***** and is going to die because of it.

CC isn't going to die because a feeder series driver went to another feeder series.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

I love you Sanguin