Having won the F3000 title in 2003 and testing for the Jaguar Formula One team, Bjorn Wirdheim headed stateside during the off season to join the HVM Champ Car World Series team.
As part of an all rookie line-up alongside Ronnie Bremer, Wirdheim made his Champ Car debut in the season opener at Long Beach with a twelfth place finish...
Q:
How would you sum up your first Champ Car weekend?
Bjorn Wirdheim:
Considering the circumstances, never having sat in the car or met the team before the first practice and spending a year away from racing, while testing for Jaguar
F1, it was a promising weekend. Not quite where I would have wanted to qualify or finish, but it was clear there is a lot more to come. So I left Long Beach, which by the way is a fantastic venue, on a good note.
Q:
What were the biggest surprises for you, regarding Champ Car, the team or the weekend?
BW:
The biggest surprise came during the drivers briefing before the race when I realised we (drivers) are not allowed to prevent other cars from overtaking by blocking. That is totally different from the racing in Europe and yet another thing that I need to get used to.
Q:
How does the Champ Car compare to the car you have most recently driven?
BW:
Compared to
Formula One, there is a huge difference. The Cosworth engine produces only slightly less horsepower, but the car is so much heavier. It’s easier to control and more drivable but needs more driver input without the electronic aids or power steering. From a driver’s point of view, I think it’s a more challenging car to drive, as you have to do all the shifting manually and all that comes with it, like blipping the throttle and using the clutch. The Champ Car is very similar to the Formula 3000 car, but Lola builds them both, so I guess perhaps that’s why.
Q:
What did you think of Long Beach as an event?
BW:
Long Beach is a great event, very well organised and it doesn’t make things worse that the layout of the circuit is very exciting. I really enjoyed the atmosphere; everyone is very friendly and open. It reminds me a little bit of my two years in International F3000, it’s incredibly competitive but most of the time everyone remains on good terms with each other. That makes things easier and more enjoyable. Another difference is in Champ Car the fans get to experience it a lot more as they have direct access to both the drivers and the teams during the weekend, I think that is fantastic.
Q:
What circuit are you looking forward to the most and why?
