CHAMPCAR/CART: Sigma Champ Car successful shakedown in Chicago

JOLIET, Ill. - Sigma Champ Car, new to the FedEx Championship Series for 2001, conducted a successful shakedown of it's car with rookie driver Max Wilson, Friday afternoon at the Route 66 race track located southeast of Chicago.

For Wilson, it was the first time for him to turn a wheel in a champ car and it was the first time Sigma had a car run on a track under its banner. Sigma will contest a Lola-Ford/Cosworth next season and used a 2000 Lola-Ford for the shakedown. Wilson, 28, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a former test driver for the Williams Grand Prix Engineering Formula One team. He has also raced in Formula 3000, and is a former karting champion in Brazil.

Wilson was signed on to be Sigma Champ Car's driver this past summer.

The shakedown, conducted in the presence of a CART official was not a test, but rather a run to see if the car would run without trouble in anticipation of an upcoming CART-sanctioned test later in November at Sebring, Fla.

Wieringa was present for the shakedown as was veteran CART team manager Paul Cherry.

Both deemed it successful as did Wilson.

"I was very pleased at the chance to finally get behind the wheel of a Champ Car," said Wilson. "To be honest, I couldn't tell you what the car was really like, but the engine was very strong and more powerful than anything I have ever driven. I'm really looking forward to taking the car out for some real testing soon. There's so much I need to learn about this car and series."

Later this month, Sigma Champ Car plans to announce its 2001 sponsorship package.