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The '''2008 Atlantic Championship season''' was the thirty-fifth [[Atlantic Championship|Atlantic Championship season]]. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of [[Champ Car World Series|Champ Car]]'s premier series with the [[Indy Racing League]], the Champ Car owners continued to own and operate the Atlantic Championship under a new legal entity, Atlantic Racing Series, LLC.<ref>[http://atlantic-championship.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3378 Champ Car Atlantic News]</ref> Champ Car continued to sanction the first two events of the season at Long Beach and [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]] with the remainder of the season running under [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]] sanction.<ref>[http://atlantic-championship.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3377 Champ Car Atlantic News]</ref> The Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Drivers' Champion was [[Markus Niemelä]] driving for [[Brooks Associates Racing]].
The '''2008 Atlantic Championship season''' was the thirty-fifth [[Atlantic Championship|Atlantic Championship season]]. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of [[Champ Car World Series|Champ Car]]'s premier series with the [[Indy Racing League]], the Champ Car owners continued to own and operate the Atlantic Championship under a new legal entity, Atlantic Racing Series, LLC.<ref>[http://atlantic-championship.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3378 Champ Car Atlantic News]</ref> Champ Car continued to sanction the first two events of the season at Long Beach and [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]] with the remainder of the season running under [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]] sanction.<ref>[http://atlantic-championship.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3377 Champ Car Atlantic News]</ref> The Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Drivers' Champion was [[Markus Niemelä]] driving for [[Brooks Associates Racing]].


==Teams and drivers==
==Events==
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 [[Atlantic Championship|Atlantic Championship season]]. All teams used the [[Swift Engineering|Swift]] 016.a chassis powered by a [[Mazda]]-[[Cosworth]] MZR 2.3&nbsp;liter [[Straight-4|inline-4]] engine and [[Cooper Tire & Rubber Company|Cooper]] tires.<ref>[http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3322 Champ Car Atlantic News]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
The original 12-race 2008 Atlantic Championship calendar, which featured many supporting runs during [[Champ Car World Series]] events, had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheel reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Road America races, which had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification, remained in the calendar. The Road America races were changed, as the [[American Le Mans Series]]' [[Generac 500]] weekend meet was changed from one to two races (a Saturday and Sunday race). The Edmonton race, now part of the [[IndyCar Series]], also switched to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres and Miller were not affected, since the Quebec race was part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the [[NASCAR Canadian Tire Series]]), and the Utah race was conducted as part of the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] Sunchaser 1000 weekend.<ref name="Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Set For 35th Anniversary Season in 2008">{{cite news | url =http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3301 | title =Set For 35th Anniversary Season | publisher =champcaratlantic.com| date = 2007-02-27 | accessdate =2008-02-27}}</ref> On April 3 a revised post-reunification schedule was released featuring 11 races including the seven weekends that were kept (with two races at Edmonton and Road America), and two new races, one at New Jersey and a second Road Atlanta (as a support race to the [[2008 Petit Le Mans|Petit Le Mans]]).

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
|-
! Rd
! Race Name
! Circuit
! City/Location
! Race Date
|-
! 1
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach|Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules">{{cite news | url =http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3257 | title =Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules | publisher =champcaratlantic.com| date = 2007-11-05 | accessdate =2008-01-30}}</ref>
| [[Long Beach Grand Prix]]
| [[Long Beach, California]]
| April 20
|-
! 2
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship]]<ref name="Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announces Weekend Schedule for Festival of Speed">{{cite news | url=http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?ID=401 |title=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Announces Weekend Schedule for Festival of Speed | publisher=Mazda Raceway| date=2008-03-05 | accessdate=2008-03-06 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080311070323/http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?ID=401 |archivedate = 2008-03-11}}</ref>
| [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]]
| [[Monterey, California]]
| May 18
|-
! 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant|Sommet des Legends]]
| [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant]]
| [[Mont-Tremblant, Quebec]]
| June 29
|-
! 4
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Edmonton Indy|Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 1]]
| [[Edmonton Indy]]
| [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]]
| July 25
|-
! 5
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Edmonton Indy|Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 2]]
| [[Edmonton Indy]]
| [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]]
| July 26
|-
! 6
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Road America|Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1]]<ref name="Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up">{{cite news | url=http://www.roadamerica.com/images/main/ra_sched_addition_03.pdf |title=Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up | publisher=Road America| date=2008-03-10 | accessdate=2008-03-12}}{{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| [[Road America]]
| [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin]]
| August 9
|-
! 7
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Road America|Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2]]<ref name="Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up" />
| [[Road America]]
| [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin]]
| August 10
|-
! 8
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />
| [[Circuit Trois-Rivières]]
| [[Trois-Rivières, Quebec]]
| August 17
|-
! 9
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />
| [[New Jersey Motorsports Park]]
| [[Millville, New Jersey]]
| September 14
|-
! 10
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Miller Motorsports Park|SunRichGourmet.com 1000]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />
| [[Miller Motorsports Park]]
| [[Tooele, Utah]]
| September 21
|-
! 11
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Road Atlanta|Atlanta Atlantic Challenge]]
| [[Road Atlanta]]
| [[Braselton, Georgia]]
| October 3
|}

===Television===
The 2008 series was televised at 5&nbsp;PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9, 2008 on Speed TV.<ref>[http://champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5439 2008 ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS TO AIR ON SPEED THIS FALL AND WINTER September 29, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114135926/http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5439 |date=November 14, 2008 }}</ref>

* November 9 – Grand Prix of Long Beach
* November 16 – Laguna Seca and Race 1 of Edmonton
* December 14 – Race 2 of Edmonton and Race 1 of Road America
* December 21 – Race 2 of Road America and Trois Rivières
* December 28 – Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta

==Drivers and Teams==
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 [[Atlantic Championship|Atlantic Championship season]]. All teams used the [[Swift Engineering|Swift]] 016.a chassis powered by a [[Mazda]]-[[Cosworth]] MZR 2.3&nbsp;liter [[Straight-4|inline-4]] engine and [[Cooper Tire & Rubber Company|Cooper]] tires.<ref>[http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3322 Champ Car Atlantic News]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
Line 110: Line 23:
!Drivers
!Drivers
!Rounds
!Rounds
!Sponsor
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Jensen MotorSport]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Jensen MotorSport]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Henri Karjalainen]]
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Henri Karjalainen]]
| 1–10
| 1–10
|
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 22
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Eric Jensen (racing driver)|Eric Jensen]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Eric Jensen (racing driver)|Eric Jensen]]
| 8–9
| 8–9
|
|-
|-
| rowspan=3 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Forsythe Championship Racing]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Forsythe Championship Racing]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| All
| All
| [[Gerald Forsythe|Indeck]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;"| 7
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 7
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[David Garza (racing driver)|David Garza]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[David Garza (racing driver)|David Garza]]
| 1–5, 11
| 1–5, 11
| rowspan=2|[[Axtel]]/Madisa Cat/[[Tecate]]
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[David Martínez (racing driver)|David Martínez]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[David Martínez (racing driver)|David Martínez]]
| 6–10
| 6–10
|-
|-
| rowspan=3 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Walker Racing]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Walker Racing]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Greg Mansell]]
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Greg Mansell]]
| All
| All
| rowspan=2| Sunseeker
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 15
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Leo Mansell]]
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Leo Mansell]]
| All
| All
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 25
| style="text-align:right;" | 25
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kevin Lacroix (racing driver)|Kevin Lacroix]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kevin Lacroix (racing driver)|Kevin Lacroix]]
| All
| All
| Uni-Select/Deans Knight/Wasteco
|-
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{flagicon|United States}} Condor Motorsports
| rowspan="4" | {{flagicon|United States}} Condor Motorsports
| style="text-align:right;"| 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Junior Strous]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Junior Strous]]
| All
| All
| Shell/HTP/Muermans Group/Red White & Bluezz
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 9
| style="text-align:right;" | 9
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Dominick Muermans]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Dominick Muermans]]
| All
| All
| Hugenholtz Property Group/Jumbo Supermarkten/Muermans Group
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 11
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
| {{flagicon|BRA}} Douglas Soares
| {{flagicon|BRA}} Douglas Soares
| All
| All
| Banco BMG
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 77
| style="text-align:right;" | 77
| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Thienes
| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Thienes
| 1
| 1
| Bare Elegance/Valley Ball Cabaret
|-
|-
| rowspan=3 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Brooks Associates Racing]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Brooks Associates Racing]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 8
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Markus Niemelä]]
| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Markus Niemelä]]
| All
| All
| Mr. Jones Bar & Kitchen
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;"| 88
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 88
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Andreas Wirth]]
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Andreas Wirth]]
| 1–3
| 1–3
| Wirsol/Sueba USA
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Sutherland
| {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Sutherland
| 4–11
| 4–11
| ClickAway Computers & Networking
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|United States}} [[Pacific Coast Motorsports]]}}
| rowspan="2" | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|United States}} [[Pacific Coast Motorsports]]}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 14
| style="text-align:right;" | 14
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| 1–10
| 1–10
| [[King Taco]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 41
| style="text-align:right;" | 41
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Frankie Muniz]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Frankie Muniz]]
| All
| All
| [[Hard Rock Cafe]]
|-
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[O2 Racing Technology|Genoa Racing]]
| rowspan="4" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[O2 Racing Technology|Genoa Racing]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right;"| 17
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | 17
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Alan Sciuto]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Alan Sciuto]]
| 1
| 1
| Deans Ultra Plug
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|EST}} [[Tõnis Kasemets]]
| {{flagicon|EST}} [[Tõnis Kasemets]]
| 6–7
| 6–7
|
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. R. Hildebrand]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. R. Hildebrand]]
| 11
| 11
|
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 19
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
| All
| All
| MAZDASPEED/Finlay Motorsports/Lynx Racing
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports|Mathiasen Motorsports]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports|Mathiasen Motorsports]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 26
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| All
| All
| RLM Investments/Discount Tire Centers/Stone Brewing
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports|PR1 Motorsports]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports|PR1 Motorsports]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 32
| style="text-align:right;" | 32
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Mike Forest
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Mike Forest
| 1
| 1
| [[Konica Minolta]]/Earthwater/Dynacor Media
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Newman Wachs Racing]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Newman Wachs Racing]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 34
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
| {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Simona de Silvestro]]
| {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Simona de Silvestro]]
| All
| All
| rowspan=2 | Nuclear Clean Air Energy
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 36
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
| All
| All
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{flagicon|United States}} Paladin Motorsports
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United States}} Paladin Motorsports
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;"| 45
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 45
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Greg Minium
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Greg Minium
| 1
| 1
|
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|AUT}} Christopher Zöchling
| {{flagicon|AUT}} Christopher Zöchling
| 2, 4–5
| 2, 4–5
| X8ment4u.com
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{flagicon|United States}} [[EuroInternational]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[EuroInternational]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
| {{flagicon|VEN}} [[Luis Schiavo]]
| {{flagicon|VEN}} [[Luis Schiavo]]
| 1–8, 11
| 1–8, 11
| Constructora Iriaca
|-
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 70
| style="text-align:right;" | 70
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Daniel Morad]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Daniel Morad]]
| 1–8
| 1–8
| Metro Directories of Georgia
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Polestar Motor Racing]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Polestar Motor Racing]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 66
| style="text-align:right;" | 66
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rich Zober]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rich Zober]]
| 9
| 9
| Zober Industries
|}
|}


==Schedule==
==Full series results==
The original 13-race 2008 Atlantic Championship calendar, which featured many supporting runs during [[Champ Car World Series]] events, had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheel reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Road America races, which had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification, remained in the calendar. The Road America races were changed, as the [[American Le Mans Series]]' [[Generac 500]] weekend meet was changed from one to two races (a Saturday and Sunday race). The Edmonton race, now part of the [[IndyCar Series]], also switched to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres and Miller were not affected, since the Quebec race was part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the [[NASCAR Canadian Tire Series]]), and the Utah race was conducted as part of the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] Sunchaser 1000 weekend.<ref name="Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Set For 35th Anniversary Season in 2008">{{cite news | url =http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3301 | title =Set For 35th Anniversary Season | publisher =champcaratlantic.com| date = 2007-02-27 | accessdate =2008-02-27}}</ref> On April 3 a revised post-reunification schedule was released featuring 11 races including the seven weekends that were kept (with two races at Edmonton and Road America), and two new races, one at New Jersey and a second Road Atlanta (as a support race to the [[2008 Petit Le Mans|Petit Le Mans]]).

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
|-
|-
! Rd
! Rd
! Race
! Race Date
! Race Name
! Pole Position
! Circuit
! Fastest Lap
! City/Location
! Winning driver
! Winning team
! Report
|-
|-
! 1
! 1
| April 20
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Long Beach Grand Prix|Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach]]
| '''{{flagicon|USA}} [[Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach|Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules">{{cite news | url =http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=3257 | title =Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules | publisher =champcaratlantic.com| date = 2007-11-05 | accessdate =2008-01-30}}</ref>'''
| [[Long Beach Grand Prix]]
| [[Long Beach, California]]
|-
! 2
| May 18
| '''{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship]]<ref name="Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announces Weekend Schedule for Festival of Speed">{{cite news | url=http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?ID=401 |title=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Announces Weekend Schedule for Festival of Speed | publisher=Mazda Raceway| date=2008-03-05 | accessdate=2008-03-06 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080311070323/http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?ID=401 |archivedate = 2008-03-11}}</ref>'''
| [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]]
| [[Monterey, California]]
|-
! 3
| June 29
| '''{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant|Sommet des Legends]]'''
| [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant]]
| [[Mont-Tremblant, Quebec]]
|-
! 4
| July 25
| rowspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Edmonton Indy|Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races]]'''
| rowspan="2" | [[Edmonton Indy]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]]
|-
! 5
| July 26
|-
! 6
| August 9
| rowspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|USA}} [[Road America|Road Race Showcase/Road America]]<ref name="Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up">{{cite news | url=http://www.roadamerica.com/images/main/ra_sched_addition_03.pdf |title=Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up | publisher=Road America| date=2008-03-10 | accessdate=2008-03-12}}{{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>'''
| rowspan="2" | [[Road America]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin]]
|-
! 7
| August 10
|-
! 8
| August 17
| '''{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />'''
| [[Circuit Trois-Rivières]]
| [[Trois-Rivières, Quebec]]
|-
! 9
| September 14
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />
| [[New Jersey Motorsports Park]]
| [[Millville, New Jersey]]
|-
! 10
| September 21
| '''{{flagicon|United States}} [[Miller Motorsports Park|SunRichGourmet.com 1000]]<ref name="Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules" />'''
| [[Miller Motorsports Park]]
| [[Tooele, Utah]]
|-
! 11
| October 3
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Road Atlanta|Atlanta Atlantic Challenge]]
| [[Road Atlanta]]
| [[Braselton, Georgia]]
|}
'''Cancelled events'''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%"
!Original
date
!Race name
!Track
!City
|-
|April 27
|'''{{flagicon|United States}} [[Grand Prix of Houston|Atlantic Grand Prix of Houston]]'''
|[[Reliant Park|JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park]]
|[[Houston]], Texas
|-
|June 22
|'''{{flagicon|United States}} [[Grand Prix of Cleveland|Atlantic Grand Prix of Cleveland]]'''
|[[Burke Lakefront Airport]]
|[[Cleveland]], Ohio
|-
|July 6
|'''{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto|Steelback Atlantic Grand Prix]]'''
|[[Exhibition Place]]
|Toronto, Ontario
|-
|July 26
| rowspan="2" |'''{{flagicon|United States}} [[Grand Prix of Portland|Atlantic Grand Prix of Portland]]'''
| rowspan="2" |[[Portland International Raceway]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Portland, Oregon]]
|-
|July 27
|-
|November 9
|'''{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Gran Premio Tecate|Atlantic Gran Premio Tecate]]'''
|[[Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez]]
|[[Mexico City]], Mexico
|-
! colspan="8" |References:<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-11-07 |title=CHAMPCAR/CART: 2008 schedules announced |url=https://au.motorsport.com/atlantic/news/champcar-cart-2008-schedules-announced/2251146/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |work=[[Motorsport.com]]}}</ref>
|}

===Television===
The 2008 series was televised at 5&nbsp;PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9, 2008 on Speed TV.<ref>[http://champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5439 2008 ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS TO AIR ON SPEED THIS FALL AND WINTER September 29, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114135926/http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5439 |date=November 14, 2008 }}</ref>

* November 9 – Grand Prix of Long Beach
* November 16 – Laguna Seca and Race 1 of Edmonton
* December 14 – Race 2 of Edmonton and Race 1 of Road America
* December 21 – Race 2 of Road America and Trois Rivières
* December 28 – Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta

==Race results==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
! rowspan="2" |Rd
! rowspan="2" |Track
! rowspan="2" |Pole Position
! rowspan="2" |Fastest Lap
! colspan="2" |Race winner
! rowspan="2" |Report
|-
! Driver
! Team
|-
! 1
| [[Long Beach Grand Prix]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
Line 288: Line 292:
|-
|-
! 2
! 2
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Monterey Festival of Speed]]
| [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Douglas Soares
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Douglas Soares
Line 296: Line 300:
|-
|-
! 3
! 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant|Sommet des Legends]]
| [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Junior Strous]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Junior Strous]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Junior Strous]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Junior Strous]]
Line 304: Line 308:
|-
|-
! 4
! 4
| rowspan="2" | [[Edmonton Indy]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Grand Prix of Edmonton|Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton - Race 1]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[James Hinchcliffe]]
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[David Garza Pérez]]
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[David Garza Pérez]]
Line 312: Line 316:
|-
|-
! 5
! 5
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Grand Prix of Edmonton|Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton - Race 2]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
Line 320: Line 323:
|-
|-
! 6
! 6
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Road America|Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Road America]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
| {{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Tõnis Kasemets]]
| {{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Tõnis Kasemets]]
Line 328: Line 331:
|-
|-
! 7
! 7
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Road America|Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dane Cameron]]
Line 336: Line 338:
|-
|-
! 8
! 8
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières]]
| [[Circuit Trois-Rivières]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Bomarito]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
Line 344: Line 346:
|-
|-
! 9
! 9
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom]]
| [[New Jersey Motorsports Park]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
Line 352: Line 354:
|-
|-
! 10
! 10
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Miller Motorsports Park|SunRichGourmet.com 1000]]
| [[Miller Motorsports Park]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markus Niemelä]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markus Niemelä]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carl Skerlong]]
Line 360: Line 362:
|-
|-
! 11
! 11
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Road Atlanta|Atlanta Atlantic Challenge]]
| [[Road Atlanta]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jonathan Summerton]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. R. Hildebrand]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. R. Hildebrand]]
Line 1,134: Line 1,136:
==Final driver results==
==Final driver results==


===Points system===
=== Points system ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; width:60%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
!Position
| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |&nbsp;'''1st'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |&nbsp;'''2nd'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |&nbsp;'''3rd'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |&nbsp;'''4th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |&nbsp;'''5th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |&nbsp;'''6th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |&nbsp;'''7th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |&nbsp;'''8th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |&nbsp;'''9th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |&nbsp;'''10th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''11th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''12th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''13th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''14th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''15th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''16th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''17th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''18th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''19th'''&nbsp;
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |&nbsp;'''20th'''&nbsp;
|-
|-
!Points
! Position
| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |31
| style="width:5%;"|1 || style="width:5%;"|2 || style="width:5%;"|3 || style="width:5%;"|4 || style="width:5%;"|5
| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |27
| style="width:5%;"|6 || style="width:5%;"|7 || style="width:5%;"|8 || style="width:5%;"|9 || style="width:5%;"|10
| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |25
| style="width:5%;"|11 || style="width:5%;"|12 || style="width:5%;"|13 || style="width:5%;"|14
| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |23
| style="width:5%;"|15 || style="width:5%;"|16 || style="width:5%;"|17 || style="width:5%;"|18
| style="width:5%;"|19 || style="width:5%;"|20
| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |21
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |19
|-
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |17
! Points
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |15
| 31 || 27 || 25 || 23 || 21 || 19 || 17 || 15 || 13 || 11 || 10 || 9
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |13
| 8 || 7 || 6 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1
| style="background:#CFEAFF;" |11
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |10
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |9
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |8
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |7
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |6
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |5
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |4
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |3
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |2
| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |1
|}
|}

'''Bonus Points'''
'''Bonus Points'''
* 1 point to fastest driver in a qualification session.
* 1 point to fastest driver in a qualification session.
* 1 point to driver who leads the most laps in the race.
* 1 point to driver who leads the most laps in the race.
* 1 point to driver who improves the most positions in the race.
* 1 point to driver who improves the most positions in the race.

===Driver results and standings===
{|
{|
|-
|-
Line 1,162: Line 1,193:
!valign="middle"| Pos
!valign="middle"| Pos
!valign="middle"| Driver
!valign="middle"| Driver
!width="27"| LGB {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| [[Grand Prix of Long Beach|LBH]]
!width="27"| LAG {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| [[Laguna Seca|LAG]]
!width="27"| MTT {{flagicon|Canada}}
!width="27"| [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant|MTT]]
!width="27"| EDM1 {{flagicon|Canada}}
! colspan="2" width="27" | [[Edmonton Indy|EDM]]
!width="27"| EDM2 {{flagicon|Canada}}
! colspan="2" width="27" | [[Road America|ROA]]
!width="27"| ROA1 {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|TRR]]
!width="27"| ROA2 {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|NJS]]
!width="27"| TRR {{flagicon|Canada}}
! width="27" | [[Utah Motorsports Campus|UTH]]
!width="27"| NJS {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[Road Atlanta|ATL]]
!width="27"| UTH {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| ATL {{flagicon|USA}}
!valign="middle"| Points
!valign="middle"| Points
|-
|-
Line 1,539: Line 1,568:
!valign="middle"| Pos
!valign="middle"| Pos
!valign="middle"| Driver
!valign="middle"| Driver
!width="27"| LGB {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| [[Grand Prix of Long Beach|LBH]]
!width="27"| LAG {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| [[Laguna Seca|LAG]]
!width="27"| MTT {{flagicon|Canada}}
!width="27"| [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant|MTT]]
!width="27"| EDM1 {{flagicon|Canada}}
! colspan="2" width="27" | [[Edmonton Indy|EDM]]
!width="27"| EDM2 {{flagicon|Canada}}
! colspan="2" width="27" | [[Road America|ROA]]
!width="27"| ROA1 {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|TRR]]
!width="27"| ROA2 {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|NJS]]
!width="27"| TRR {{flagicon|Canada}}
! width="27" | [[Utah Motorsports Campus|UTH]]
!width="27"| NJS {{flagicon|USA}}
! width="27" | [[Road Atlanta|ATL]]
!width="27"| UTH {{flagicon|USA}}
!width="27"| ATL {{flagicon|USA}}
!valign="middle"| Points
!valign="middle"| Points
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 10:55, 6 December 2024

2008 Atlantic Championship season
Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda
Season
Races11
Start dateApril 20
End dateOctober 3
Awards
Drivers' championFinland Markus Niemelä
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-fifth Atlantic Championship season. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of Champ Car's premier series with the Indy Racing League, the Champ Car owners continued to own and operate the Atlantic Championship under a new legal entity, Atlantic Racing Series, LLC.[1] Champ Car continued to sanction the first two events of the season at Long Beach and Laguna Seca with the remainder of the season running under IMSA sanction.[2] The Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Drivers' Champion was Markus Niemelä driving for Brooks Associates Racing.

Teams and drivers

[edit]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 Atlantic Championship season. All teams used the Swift 016.a chassis powered by a Mazda-Cosworth MZR 2.3 liter inline-4 engine and Cooper tires.[3]

Team No Drivers Rounds
Canada Jensen MotorSport 2 Finland Henri Karjalainen 1–10
22 Canada Eric Jensen 8–9
United States Forsythe Championship Racing 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe All
7 Mexico David Garza 1–5, 11
Mexico David Martínez 6–10
United States Walker Racing 5 United Kingdom Greg Mansell All
15 United Kingdom Leo Mansell All
25 Canada Kevin Lacroix All
United States Condor Motorsports 6 Netherlands Junior Strous All
9 Netherlands Dominick Muermans All
11 Brazil Douglas Soares All
77 United States Brian Thienes 1
United States Brooks Associates Racing 8 Finland Markus Niemelä All
88 Germany Andreas Wirth 1–3
United States Tom Sutherland 4–11
United States Pacific Coast Motorsports 14 United States Carl Skerlong 1–10
41 United States Frankie Muniz All
United States Genoa Racing 17 United States Alan Sciuto 1
Estonia Tõnis Kasemets 6–7
United States J. R. Hildebrand 11
19 United States Dane Cameron All
United States Mathiasen Motorsports 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito All
United States PR1 Motorsports 32 Canada Mike Forest 1
United States Newman Wachs Racing 34 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro All
36 United States Jonathan Summerton All
United States Paladin Motorsports 45 Canada Greg Minium 1
Austria Christopher Zöchling 2, 4–5
United States EuroInternational 46 Venezuela Luis Schiavo 1–8, 11
70 Canada Daniel Morad 1–8
United States Polestar Motor Racing 66 United States Rich Zober 9

Schedule

[edit]

The original 13-race 2008 Atlantic Championship calendar, which featured many supporting runs during Champ Car World Series events, had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheel reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Road America races, which had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification, remained in the calendar. The Road America races were changed, as the American Le Mans Series' Generac 500 weekend meet was changed from one to two races (a Saturday and Sunday race). The Edmonton race, now part of the IndyCar Series, also switched to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres and Miller were not affected, since the Quebec race was part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), and the Utah race was conducted as part of the Rolex Sports Car Series Sunchaser 1000 weekend.[4] On April 3 a revised post-reunification schedule was released featuring 11 races including the seven weekends that were kept (with two races at Edmonton and Road America), and two new races, one at New Jersey and a second Road Atlanta (as a support race to the Petit Le Mans).

Rd Race Date Race Name Circuit City/Location
1 April 20 United States Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach[5] Long Beach Grand Prix Long Beach, California
2 May 18 United States Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship[6] Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California
3 June 29 Canada Sommet des Legends Circuit Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
4 July 25 Canada Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races Edmonton Indy Edmonton, Alberta
5 July 26
6 August 9 United States Road Race Showcase/Road America[7] Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
7 August 10
8 August 17 Canada Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières[5] Circuit Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières, Quebec
9 September 14 United States Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom[5] New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, New Jersey
10 September 21 United States SunRichGourmet.com 1000[5] Miller Motorsports Park Tooele, Utah
11 October 3 United States Atlanta Atlantic Challenge Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia

Cancelled events

Original

date

Race name Track City
April 27 United States Atlantic Grand Prix of Houston JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park Houston, Texas
June 22 United States Atlantic Grand Prix of Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio
July 6 Canada Steelback Atlantic Grand Prix Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario
July 26 United States Atlantic Grand Prix of Portland Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
July 27
November 9 Mexico Atlantic Gran Premio Tecate Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Mexico City, Mexico
References:[8]

Television

[edit]

The 2008 series was televised at 5 PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9, 2008 on Speed TV.[9]

  • November 9 – Grand Prix of Long Beach
  • November 16 – Laguna Seca and Race 1 of Edmonton
  • December 14 – Race 2 of Edmonton and Race 1 of Road America
  • December 21 – Race 2 of Road America and Trois Rivières
  • December 28 – Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta

Race results

[edit]
Rd Track Pole Position Fastest Lap Race winner Report
Driver Team
1 Long Beach Grand Prix United States Jonathan Bomarito United States Carl Skerlong Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing Report
2 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Canada James Hinchcliffe Brazil Douglas Soares Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Pettit Racing Report
3 Circuit Mont-Tremblant Netherlands Junior Strous Netherlands Junior Strous Netherlands Junior Strous Condor Motorsports Report
4 Edmonton Indy Canada James Hinchcliffe Mexico David Garza Pérez United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports Report
5 United States Carl Skerlong United States Carl Skerlong United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing Report
6 Road America United States Dane Cameron Estonia Tõnis Kasemets United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports Report
7 United States Jonathan Bomarito United States Dane Cameron United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing Report
8 Circuit Trois-Rivières United States Jonathan Bomarito United States Jonathan Summerton United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports Report
9 New Jersey Motorsports Park United States Carl Skerlong United States Carl Skerlong United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports Report
10 Miller Motorsports Park Finland Markus Niemelä United States Carl Skerlong Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing Report
11 Road Atlanta United States Jonathan Summerton United States J. R. Hildebrand Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing Report

Race summaries

[edit]

Round 1: Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach

[edit]
  • Sunday April 20, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Streets of Long Beach - Long Beach, California (1.968 mile street circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 38 laps / 74.784 miles
  • Race weather: 60 °F, Sunny skies
  • Television: Speed (November 9, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 93.286 mph (150.125 km/h)
  • Race Summary
The 2008 Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach was won by the young Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro making her only the second female driver to ever win an Atlantic Championship race after Katherine Legge.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 2 34 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 38 50:51.261 15
2 4 17 United States Alan Sciuto Genoa Racing 38 +1.285 0
3 5 25 Canada Kevin Lacroix Walker Racing 38 +2.256 0
4 6 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 38 +2.983 0
5 1 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 38 +4.605 23
Race average speed:
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 1 for 2 Laps

Round 2: Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship

[edit]
Canadian James Hinchciffe took the pole at Laguna Seca with a 1:16.189 which was a track record qualifying run on by an Atlantic car on Saturday after taking the provisional pole on Friday. He then went on to dominate Sunday's race.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps
Led
1 1 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe/Pettit Racing 34 50:50.352 28
2 2 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 34 +2.391 6
3 4 6 Netherlands Junior Strous Condor Motorsports 34 +6.671 0
4 5 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 34 +13.027 0
5 11 9 Netherlands Dominick Muermans Condor Motorsports 34 +18.404 0
Race average speed: 89.803 mph
Lead changes: 2
Cautions: 2 for 9 laps

Round 3: Sommet des Legends

[edit]
  • Sunday June 29, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (2.621 mile road circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 30 laps / 78.630 miles
  • Race weather: 75 °F, Partly cloudy skies
  • Television: TBA
  • Pole position winner: #6 Junior Strous, 1:28.805 (106.251 mph)
  • Race Summary
Dutch driver Junior Strous dominated the weekend by taking pole and leading every lap in the race. The win was his first ever in the Atlantic Championship, as was his pole position. He leads the season championship with 74 points over James Hinchcliffe and Markus Niemelä who are tied at 67.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 1 6 Netherlands Junior Strous Condor Motorsports 30 53:50.600 30
2 3 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 30 +0.487* 0
3 4 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 30 +0.966 0
4 5 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Championship Racing 30 +1.514 0
5 8 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 30 +2.057 0
  * Race finished under caution
Race average speed: 87.621 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 3 for 10 Laps

Round 4: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 1

[edit]
  • Friday July 25, 2008 - 5:15 p.m. MDT
  • Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 38 laps / 74.974 miles
  • Race weather: 80 °F, Partly cloudy skies
  • Television: Speed (November 16, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #3 James Hinchcliffe, 1:05.910 (107.765 mph)
  • Race Summary
Polesitter James Hinchcliffe led from the green flag but was closely stalked by Jonathan Bomarito, who finally made the pass in Turn 1 on lap 31. A late race caution set up a one lap sprint to the finish with Bomarito holding off Markus Niemelä to become the fourth race winner in as many races this season. The win was Bomarito's third Atlantic victory and the first victory for his team, Mathiasen Motorsports, in 36 starts. In the points chase, Niemelä leads Hinchcliffe 94-93.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 2 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 38 45:18.942 8
2 5 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 38 +0.691 0
3 1 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Championship Racing 38 +1.151 30
4 4 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 38 +1.757 0
5 6 7 Mexico David Garza Forsythe Championship Racing 38 +2.170 0
Race average speed: 99.269 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 1 for 3 Laps

Round 5: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 2

[edit]
  • Saturday July 25, 2008 - 12:45 p.m. MDT
  • Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 36 laps / 71.028 miles
  • Race weather: 80 °F, Mostly cloudy skies
  • Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #14 Carl Skerlong, 1:05.455 (108.514 mph)
  • Race Summary
A1 Grand Prix veteran (but Atlantic rookie) Jonathan Summerton jumped into the lead from third on the starting grid and dominated the race, leading every lap on the way to his first Atlantic series win. He became the fifth different winner in five races and the first rookie to top a podium this year. James Hinchcliffe finished third and jumped to the top of the points table. He has 118 points, five more than Markus Niemelä.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 3 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 18 45:08.751 36
2 1 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 18 +2.222 0
3 4 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Championship Racing 18 +6.039 0
4 5 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 18 +6.719 0
5 2 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 18 +7.195 0
Race average speed: 94.398 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 1 for 5 Laps

Round 6: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1

[edit]
  • Saturday August 8, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. CDT
  • Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 18 laps / 72.864 miles
  • Race weather: 76 °F, Partly cloudy skies
  • Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #19 Dane Cameron, 1:59.190 (122.265 mph)
  • Race Summary
Jonathan Bomarito became the first multiple time winner in the 2008 Atlantic series. He took the lead from pole sitter Dane Cameron at the standing start. On lap 10, Cameron passed Bomarito in Canada Corner but Bomarito was able to pass him back on the following lap, taking the lead which he would hold for the remainder of the race. James Hinchcliffe finished fifth, high enough to keep the points lead with 139 points. Markus Niemelä trails Hinchcliffe by 7 and Bomarito is only 9 points back. Atlantic and Champ Car veteran Tõnis Kasemets made his first appearance since last year's Atlantic round at Road America and finished on the podium in third.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 2 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 18 45:02.334 17
2 1 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 18 +0.411 1
3 8 17 Estonia Tõnis Kasemets Genoa Racing 18 +0.978 0
4 9 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 18 +6.384 0
5 3 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Championship Racing 18 +7.230 0
Race average speed: 97.068 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 6 Laps

Round 7: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2

[edit]
  • Sunday August 9, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. CDT
  • Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 20 laps / 80.960 miles
  • Race weather: 75 °F, Partly cloudy skies
  • Television: Speed (December 21, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 1:59.564 (121.883 mph)
  • Race Summary
Race 1's winner Jonathan Bomarito led away from the pole, while behind him Jonathan Summerton was charging up through the field from ninth place on the grid. On lap 18, Summerton passed Bomarito in Turn 1, leading only the final two laps home to the checkered flag. Even with the second place finish Bomarito jumped to the top of the points chase. He leads with 157, three in front of the previous leader James Hinchcliffe and six in front of Markus Niemelä.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 9 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 20 46:39.544 2
2 1 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 20 +1.084 18
3 2 17 Estonia Tõnis Kasemets Genoa Racing 20 +6.202 0
4 10 25 Canada Kevin Lacroix Walker Racing 20 +6.832 0
5 4 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 20 +8.993 0
Race average speed: 104.108 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 5 Laps

Round 8: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

[edit]
Jonathan Bomarito led away from the standing start and was never seriously challenged on his way to his third Atlantic victory of the year. Bad days for James Hinchcliffe and Markus Niemelä allowed him to open a sizable lead in the season championship going into the final three races of the year. Bomarito leads the championship with 191, 28 points ahead of Jonathan Summerton who has 163. Hinchcliffe is still in third, but is 36 points back with 155.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 1 26 United States Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 44 50:17.453 44
2 2 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 44 +1.590 0
3 8 6 Netherlands Junior Strous Condor Motorsports 44 +5.682 0
4 11 34 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 44 +7.878 0
5 4 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 44 +10.015 0
Race average speed: 79.844 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 2 for 9 Laps

Round 9: Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom

[edit]
Carl Skerlong dominated the weekend, leading every session and leading every lap in the race to claim his first Atlantic victory. He even set the fastest lap, giving him a perfect score of 34 points for the weekend. Points leader Jonathan Bomarito finished ninth, which reduced his margin to 16 points over Jonathan Summerton and 22 over Markus Niemelä with two races left in the season.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 1 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 42 50:49.282 42
2 2 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 42 +2.464 0
3 4 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 42 +10.441 0
4 3 25 Canada Kevin Lacroix Walker Racing 42 +22.772 0
5 6 6 Netherlands Junior Strous Condor Motorsports 42 +23.914 0
Race average speed: 107.948 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: None

Round 10: SunRichGourmet.com 1000

[edit]
  • Sunday September 21, 2008 - 2:30 p.m. MDT
  • Miller Motorsports Park - Tooele, Utah (4.486 mile permanent road circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 20 laps / 89.720 miles
  • Race weather: 71 °F, Mostly Cloudy
  • Television: Speed (December 28, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #8 Markus Niemelä, 2:28.915 (108.448 mph)
  • Race Summary
Markus Niemelä followed up his first Atlantic series pole position with his first series victory, leading every lap in the race. Three drivers are still alive for the series championship going into the final round of the season. Jonathan Bomarito, who finished sixth, now leads with 224 points. He has an eight point advantage over Jonathan Summerton and a 10 point lead over Niemelä.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 1 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 20 50:40.529 20
2 2 36 United States Jonathan Summerton Newman Wachs Racing 20 +0.446 0
3 3 19 United States Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 20 +2.296 0
4 6 14 United States Carl Skerlong Pacific Coast Motorsports 20 +2.828 0
5 4 34 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 20 +22.363 0
Race average speed: 106.229 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: None

Round 11: Atlanta Atlantic Challenge

[edit]
  • Friday October 3, 2008 - 2:10 p.m. EDT
  • Road Atlanta - Braselton, Georgia (2.540 mile permanent road circuit)
  • Time: 50 minutes
  • Distance: 35 laps / 88.900 miles
  • Race weather: 72 °F, Clear
  • Television: Speed (December 28, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
  • Pole position winner: #36 Jonathan Summerton, 1:14.137 (123.339 mph)
  • Race Summary
Markus Niemelä won the race and clinched the series championship on an eventful day at Road Atlanta. At the start Dane Cameron took the race lead from the standing start while Niemelä got around the pole sitter Jonathan Summerton for second place. Jonathan Bomarito, the points leader going into the race, dropped out of the race with mechanical troubles after only 10 laps. Going into a restart on lap 33, Niemelä was in second and Summerton was in third, but Summerton was in line to clinch the championship. On the restart, Niemelä got around Cameron to take the lead on the track and Kevin Lacroix passed Summerton for third, which put Niemelä in position to take the championship. Summerton attempted to pass Cameron to put himself back into the championship position but they made contact and both cars were knocked out of the race. Niemelä cruised the final laps under yellow. Niemelä finished the season with 245 points followed by Bomarito at 228 and Summerton with 224.
Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos		 St.
Pos		 Car
No.		 Driver Team Laps Time Laps led
1 3 8 Finland Markus Niemelä Brooks Associates Racing 35 50:19.931 3
2 4 25 Canada Kevin Lacroix Walker Racing 35 +0.730* 0
3 7 3 Canada James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Championship Racing 35 +1.311 0
4 11 34 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 35 +1.807 0
5 8 5 United Kingdom Greg Mansell Walker Racing 35 +4.174 0
  * Race finished under caution
Race average speed: 105.976 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 7 Laps

Final driver results

[edit]

Points system

[edit]
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th   11th   12th   13th   14th   15th   16th   17th   18th   19th   20th 
Points 31 27 25 23 21 19 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Bonus Points

  • 1 point to fastest driver in a qualification session.
  • 1 point to driver who leads the most laps in the race.
  • 1 point to driver who improves the most positions in the race.
Pos Driver LBH LAG MTT EDM ROA TRR NJS UTH ATL Points
1 Finland Markus Niemelä (R) 7 4 2 2 6 6 6 Ret 2 1* 1 245
2 United States Jonathan Bomarito 5* Ret 6 1 4 1* 2* 1* 9 6 Ret 228
3 United States Jonathan Summerton (R) 4 6 12 6 1* Ret 1 2 3 2 Ret 224
4 Canada James Hinchcliffe 10 1* 4 3* 3 5 8 Ret 16 10 3 196
5 Netherlands Junior Strous 8 3 1* 13 9 8 11 3 5 8 8 196
6 United States Carl Skerlong 23 2 3 19 2 4 5 Ret 1* 4 Inj 189
7 United States Dane Cameron (R) 11 17 5 4 5 2 17 5 Ret 3 Ret* 169
8 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro 1 10 9 8 Ret 9 18 4 11 5 4 167
9 Canada Kevin Lacroix 3 15 13 7 7 14 4 Ret 4 11 2 161
10 United Kingdom Greg Mansell (R) 13 Ret DNS 9 Ret 12 13 9 7 9 5 105
11 United States Frankie Muniz 15 13 11 12 13 11 10 12 10 14 9 102
12 Canada Daniel Morad (R) 6 9 Ret 11 8 Ret 9 6 95
13 Mexico David Garza 12 7 8 5 10 Inj Inj Inj Inj Inj 6 94
14 Netherlands Dominick Muermans (R) 17 5 10 Ret 15 16 16 14 14 17 12 80
15 United States Tom Sutherland 10 Ret Ret Ret 8 6 7 10 78
16 Mexico David Martínez 7 7 7 8 13 74
17 Finland Henri Karjalainen (R) 14 16 Ret 14 11 Ret 14 10 15 12 70
18 Brazil Douglas Soares (R) 16 14 Ret 15 12 15 15 11 13 15 Ret 70
19 United Kingdom Leo Mansell (R) 19 11 Ret 17 Ret 13 Ret 13 12 16 11 68
20 Venezuela Luis Schiavo (R) 18 Ret DNS 16 14 10 12 16 7 60
21 Estonia Tõnis Kasemets 3 3 51
22 Germany Andreas Wirth 9 8 7 45
23 United States Alan Sciuto 2 27
24 Austria Christopher Zöchling (R) 12 18 16 18
25 Canada Eric Jensen 15 Ret 9
26 United States J. R. Hildebrand Ret 7
27 United States Rich Zober (R) 17 4
28 United States Brian Thienes 20 1
29 Canada Mike Forest 21 0
30 United States Greg Minium (R) 22 0
Pos Driver LBH LAG MTT EDM ROA TRR NJS UTH ATL Points
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
(Top 5)
Light Blue 6th-10th place
(Top 10)
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
(Ret)
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Driver
replacement
(Rpl)
Injured
(Inj)
No race held
(NH)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Champ Car Atlantic News
  2. ^ Champ Car Atlantic News
  3. ^ Champ Car Atlantic News[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Set For 35th Anniversary Season". champcaratlantic.com. 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  5. ^ a b c d "Champ Car Announces 2008 Schedules". champcaratlantic.com. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  6. ^ "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Announces Weekend Schedule for Festival of Speed". Mazda Raceway. 2008-03-05. Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  7. ^ "Road America Adds Speed World Challenge to August Line-Up" (PDF). Road America. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-12.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ "CHAMPCAR/CART: 2008 schedules announced". Motorsport.com. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  9. ^ 2008 ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS TO AIR ON SPEED THIS FALL AND WINTER September 29, 2008 Archived November 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
Preceded by 2008 Atlantic Championship season Succeeded by
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