July 7, 2006

2006 San Jose Grand Prix unveils track changes

Last year’s winner Sebastien Bourdais sees better race ahead with track improvements

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

San Jose Grand Prix officials unveiled new on-track changes for the 2006 race event at a press conference on June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center.

The changes, some dramatic while others subtler, promise to provide a better driving experience for drivers of the Champ Car Series, the officials said.

Among the biggest changes to the 2006 track, which races through the downtown streets of San Jose, was the widening of turn No. 2, formerly turn No. 4, as well as the widening of the circuit at turn No. 6, along Park Avenue, at the corner of Market Street and Balbach Street. No specific measurements of the widening at those areas were given.

In addition, the 2006 Grand Prix will see the track and pit lane swap sides of the street along Almaden Boulevard, allowing spectators in the Gold grandstands to be closer to the track.

Other changes include lengthening the runoff at the hairpin turn along Almaden Boulevard for better passing opportunities.

On hand for the media event was 2005 San Jose Grand Prix winner Sebastien Bourdais, who said the on-track changes should improve passing opportunities for drivers this year after last year’s track was roundly criticized by several drivers of the Champ Car Series for being too narrow.

“You’re going to probably have the best passing opportunities of the whole series with a top speed of around 175 or 180 miles per hour going into the hairpin,” Bourdais said of the track changes. “So, you’re going to probably see a lot of kamikaze moves going right into the inside. … Leading the race might actually be a little difficult or stressful going into the last few laps, but I think it’s going to be great.”

More subtle changes are also in the plans for the 2006 Grand Prix. Among the biggest obstacles for drivers in the 2005 event were VTA Light Rail tracks that crossed the track, resulting in several cars bottoming out throughout practice runs leading up to the race.

Grand Prix officials said improvements have been made in that area, with street resurfacing, placing the road flush to the curb at the track crossings along Almaden Boulevard and Market Street. While those changes should bring about better driving conditions, Bourdais said, negotiating the tracks during the event will still be a challenge at times.

“The only question that’s still in the air is the railroad tracks,” Bourdais said. “ … I guess until we go over it with the cars we won’t really know, but all I can say is all the best efforts have been done to really make this track a great success.”

With the on-track changes came the presentation of some off-track differences as well for the 2006 event, which supports the Canary Foundation. This year’s Grand Prix will see wider pedestrian crossover bridges, officials said, while adding a third bridge along Balbach Street. Track crossings will be added for 2006 as well. All told, officials said capacity for the bridges should be doubled from the 2005 event.

“This year we want to have as many people, or more (at the Grand Prix), but we wanted to fix up some of the issues that caused some of those congestion problems,” said San Jose Grand Prix President Dale Jantzen of doubling the pedestrian bridge capacity and adding a third bridge to the mix for this year. “...We’re expecting improvements in that.”

Additionally, the Gold grandstands will be elevated for the 2006 event, while other grandstands will see changes as well, such as the consolidation of two Silver grandstands into one, and the placement of another Silver grandstand closer to the track.

The 2006 Grand Prix will also see the return of Bourdais, the 2005 San Jose Grand Prix winner and two-time defending champion of the Champ Car World Series. Bourdais, driving for the Newman/Haas Racing team, is off to a rousing start in 2006, winning his first four starts this season to lead the Champ Car point standings. In total, the 27-year-old Bourdais has 20 career wins in 49 starts in Champ Car, while reaching the podium 28 times since 2003.

The 2006 San Jose Grand Prix will be held July 28-30.

For more information or to purchase tickets call (408) 277-6290 or visit www.sanjosegrandprix.com.