Andreas missed the last two events of the Atlantic series last year after being injured in an incident at Road America. First of all, Andreas, thanks for calling in from such a distance; and B, tell everybody a little bit about how you're doing health-wise.
ANDREAS WIRTH:
I am fully recovered now. I am ready to go, I am 100 percent again. I did a lot of working out in the last few weeks, and I just tried to recover as fast as possible so I can be back in the car as fast as possible.
I don't know how long it took after the accident to be in good shape again, but now I'm really -- I would say I'm now in the shape that I was in Denver, so I really have to finish some stuff.
ERIC MAUK:
If you're in the same shape you were in Denver, that spells trouble because you picked up your first Atlantic series win at the Grand Prix at Denver, also won a pole at Portland. You've got from the Atlantic side a little more experience than the rest of your stable mates. Tell us a little bit, it might be a little early, but do you have any expectations heading into this year?
ANDREAS WIRTH:
No. Like Leo already said, I think that it’s a new car, and it's new for everyone, I know that I knew the tracks and that's like a small advantage, but new cars and everyone has to get used to these cars, and I think there are a lot of good drivers around. I think it's just who gets used to the car first.
I mean, it includes the driver and the team, and I think with four drivers in the team, like Leo already said, we can test as much or more than the other teams because I don't think that there's another team around which has four cars. I think with four teammates, I think we are really good guys, and I think if everyone can drive some different stuff, we've had limited testing before Long Beach, I think we must be in front of the field.
ERIC MAUK:
Talk a little bit about joining a team like Forsythe Championship Racing, a team with a championship pedigree and obviously a big opportunity for you.
ANDREAS WIRTH:
What can I say, that's the biggest thing that could happen this year. I'm really, really happy to be a part of that team. That's really -- when I went to the U.S. in 2004 as part of the championship with BMW and we went together with Champ Car, it was always Forsythe. I wanted to be with Forsythe sometime. Now I'm one step closer. I'm not at that place at Forsythe where I want to be, but I would say I'm one step closer, and I think that's something where I can build something up to it.
ERIC MAUK:
We'll talk to James Hinchcliffe, James a young man that chased Andreas for most of the year for 2004, finished 2nd in Formula
BMW, won three races, finished second in last year's Mazda series, finished top five in the last eight races of the year. James, a big opportunity for you. Tell us a little bit about how you feel.
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE:
Well, I mean, it's pretty obvious. I think we all have the same feeling right now. Kind of like Leo and Andreas have already touched on, this is the calibre of team that every driver wants to race with at some point in their career. I don't think there's a single driver who's looking at Champ Car Atlantic right now who didn't dream about or try to get on this team. So to be one of the four drivers selected is just amazing.
The team has got a great history with Canadian drivers; many of my heroes have come through this team and driven on this team, so it's a dream come true.
ERIC MAUK:
Tell us a little bit -- it's a new deal for all of you, a very big undertaking four-car team, but you raced against Richard last year, you've raced against Andreas, you seem to know each other, seem to get along pretty well. Seems to be a good atmosphere. Do you think that makes things easier?
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE:
As much as you want to beat everyone on the track, it's also really important to work together. If you get along off the track, then the work you're going to produce is going to be ten times better and be more efficient and more effective. I've raced against both Richard and Andreas in the past, and I'm just getting to know Leo now, but we all seem to be getting along really well. When you know your teammates better and know the guys you're racing against, it improves everybody's game.
