It all came about the Saturday before the race. I was racing at Lime Rock in the Corvette and I got the call to go test on the Tuesday and that’s very much it. I was under the impression it was going to be for the whole season otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done a one-off outing - it’s not something that I think has helped me too much as far as my career goes. I’m disappointed that I won’t be finishing the season but it’s a bonus that I got one start.
Crash.net:
You’ve got your deal with the PKV team. What was their view on you getting the drive - they were obviously happy for you to take it...
Ryan Dalziel:
I think PKV were one of those who were pushing for it. I have a very good relationship with the manager Jim McGee and I spoke with him the whole time once Dale approached me. Between Jim, Jimmy Vasser and myself, we decided that it was something I couldn’t say no to, and that any experience is good experience. As far as expectations and goals are concerned, we think a top 14 would have been what we set out to achieve so to get a top ten was above expectations.
Crash.net:
The last two seasons, 2003 and 2004, you were runner-up in the Toyota Atlantics but then at the start of this season there wasn’t a place for you in Champ Cars - as was the case for the champion Jon Fogarty. How disappointed are you that that was the case?
Ryan Dalziel:
From my point of view, I give credit where credit is due - and Jon Fogarty is a guy who should have been in Champ Car years ago when he first won the title. Jon is a good friend of mine so it was kind of hard to speak to him at the last race and tell him that I was going to be doing this as I think he deserves a shot ahead of me.
I think it’s disappointing to look at the guys who have moved up in comparison to the guys who should have moved up and see people like Bremer and Ranger move up when they were beaten by myself and Jon for the last few seasons. Then again we are racing sportscars at a high level and, unlike most of the guys in Champ Cars, we are earning good money.
Crash.net:
Probably the most high profile Atlantic graduate from last season is Danica Patrick who has been making the headlines over in the IRL. Is that a route you would have looked at or was your aim always to go to Champ Cars?
Ryan Dalziel:
I’d consider anything as far as open wheel racing goes. The only thing that has ever ruled me out of IRL has been my loyalty to Champ Car. I’ve always had Champ Car as my foremost goal and still intend to race in it but if IRL approached with something then I’d consider it in the same way that sportscars aren’t my ultimate goal but you have to go where you are wanted.
