Conquest Racing - like Panther a candidate for the race team graveyard in recent seasons - will also take Australian backing to Homestead, following a late 2007 deal with financial group Opes Prime. The backing has allowed Eric Bacherlart's team to double in size, but Franck Perera and Enrique Bernoldi do not bring great levels of experience to the line-up. Like the absent Walker Racing, Conquest has prior IRL pedigree, but that will count for little this season.
“Enrique and Franck progressed well over both days [at Homestead] and did a very good job for never having driven on an oval," Bachelart comments, "But these last two days were only the beginning of what will be a year of learning ovals - the best experience they will get will be in a race situation, starting this weekend. Our goal is to do the best we can and learn as much as possible and to keep improving over the season.”
Again, like the IRL regulars, the Champ Car teams have their own pecking order, and 'the rest' will be hard pressed to make an impact this season. Dale Coyne Racing may have been around for a while, but has not been a facotr in the CCWS - Bruno Junqueira's tactical podium hat-trick last season aside - for some time. The Brazilian remains on board for 2008, and brings IndyCar experience to the team, but may have to overcome the mental scars of a back-breaking shunt last time out in the IRL at the 2005 Indy 500. Junqueira is paired with countryman Mario Moraes, but little is expected of the F3 graduate this season.
With Walker absent chasing funds, Gerry Forsythe having pulled the plug on his team and Paul Stoddart deciding not to pursue the Minardi Team USA programme, the final full-season entry comes from the Australian's former partner, Keith Wiggins, who had resurrected the HVM name to run rookie Ernesto Viso. Like NHLR, the team missed the Sebring test while it finished prepping its car, but Viso got valuable oval experience at Homestead earlier in the week.
![Dan Wheldon - Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Marco Andretti - Andretti Green Racing, Homestead Open Testing [Pic credit: IndyCar Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/410802.jpg)
