CHAMPCAR/CART: Dominguez, Forsythe part company

For the second time in less than a week, a major Champ Car team has decided to reshuffle its driving lineup. Following a one-plus year relationship, Mario Dominguez and Forsythe Racing have decided to go their separate ways. Dominguez joined Forsythe's team as an 11th hour replacement at the beginning of 2005, and scored two podiums and one pole during his tenure there. The decision now leaves Mexico without a full-time driver in the series.

Dominguez has always been known as a driver capable of great things but sometimes a touch too aggressive. Just this year alone he has caused two first lap accidents, at the season opener in Long Beach and on the oval in Milwaukee. Both wrecks took out Bruno Junqueira and most notably, his teammate Paul Tracy. His crash at Milwaukee drew the stewards' wrath, as he lost all his 14th-place points (7) for avoidable contact.

The press release put out by Forsythe said, "changes in the engineering structure of the team no longer suit both parties and it was mutually agreed that the best direction forward would be to part ways."

Dominguez added, "My management and I have decided that it is in the best interest of my career to part ways with Forsythe Championship Racing. I was in a position where playing No.2 in the team was not what I wanted to do this early in the championship, so I believe what's best for my career is to go somewhere where I can be a leader."

If Dominguez fails to find a seat somewhere on the grid, he will join a large number of countrymen that have left the series behind. Adrian Fernandez and Michel Jourdain Jr. come to mind immediately, but others such as Luis Diaz and Rodolfo Lavin have also left for greener pastures. It remains to be seen where or if he resurfaces.

While Forsythe did not immediately name a replacement, all signs would point to A.J. Allmendinger to fill the second car. Allmendinger is Tracy's former protégé, an American, and currently ride less following his own breakup with RuSPORT. A seat at Dale Coyne Racing is also open, with Cristiano da Matta's move. This marks the second consecutive season that Coyne has had to scramble to replace a big name. Oriol Servia was a DCR driver for a season plus but got his big break at Newman/Haas when Junqueira suffered season-ending injuries in the 2005 Indianapolis 500.

The game of musical chairs should stop by Friday, when the field lines up in Portland for the 5th race weekend of the season.