| Rank |
Driver |
Package |
Odds |
|
1 |
Cristiano da Matta
Brazil
Age - 25
|
Newman Haas Racing #6 |
3:2 |
Comments:
Cristiano shows he had the speed, winning in three times in 2001. Now
more experienced and the Toyota engine rock solid, could this be the
year Newman Haas is back on top.
Strength:
Fast, Lola and Toyota
Weakness: Lack of consistent reliablility |
|
2 |
Kenny
Brack
Sweden
Age - 36 |
Target Chip Ganassi #12 |
2:1 |
Comments:
Kenny won the most races in 2001 with Team Rahal. He's back
with the same Lola chassis but now has Toyota who is keen on winning the
title.
Strength:
He showed speed on every type of circuit in 2001
Weakness: Will the team get back to dominating ways, which it
lost in 2001? |
|
3 |
Michael
Andretti
USA
Age - 39 |
Team Motorola #39 |
3:1 |
Comments: Still
one of the fastest drivers on the ovals, he now has both a Reynard and
Lola to choose from, CART's winningest driver's age now matches his car
number
Strength:
Outperformed both teammates last year. Will have Lola chassis and
a very hungry Honda
Weakness: Not as fast as his younger days, can experience
overcome age? |
|
4 |
Paul Tracy
Canada
Age 33 |
Team KOOL Green #26 |
4:1 |
Comments:
Still
mighty quick, and now on a fitness kick. Can he keep his brain in gear through the long grueling 20-race series
to be champion?
Strength: Like his teammate, Andretti, always goes 10/10ths
Weakness: Switch to Lola mid-season. Can he bounce back
from a winless 2001? |
|
5
Tie |
Jimmy Vasser
USA
Age - 36 |
Team Rahal #8 |
5:1 |
Comments:
Jimmy is now in the car that won the most races in 2001, can he
continue winning ways?.
Strength:
Experience. His best ride in years. Ford Cosworth wants to
go out winning
Weakness: New to Team Rahal, can he gel with them quick enough? |
|
5 Tie |
Dario Franchitti
Scotland 
Age - 28 |
Team KOOL Green #27 |
5:1 |
Comments:
Dario and Team Kool Green seemed to lose their way in 2001. Will
married life be just what the doctor ordered for Dario?
Strength: Honda wants to go out winning. Strong on any
circuit
Weakness: Switch to Lola mid-season |
|
7 |
Scott
Dixon
New Zealand
Age - 21 |
PWR Championship Racing #18 |
6:1 |
Comments:
Proved he can win in his rookie season. This guy has star
written all over him
Strength:
Fast and not intimidated.
Weakness: Can team learn new setups on Lola after using Reynard's
so long? |
|
8 |
Oriol Servia
Spain
Age - 27 |
PWR Championship Racing #17 |
8:1 |
Comments:
Servia has the best ride of his life and we have a funny suspicion
this team is going to turn some heads.
Strength:
Fast and aggressive
Weakness: New team. Must control aggression. Full
sponsorship may not be in place. |
|
8
Tie |
Bruno
Junqueira
Brazil
Age - 26 |
Target / Chip Ganassi Racing #4 |
8:1 |
Comments:
Proved he can win in 2001, but was inconsistent, especially on
ovals. Now he knows all the circuits, he knows he must win in 2002
to keep his ride in 2003
Strength:
Road Courses, very hungry
Weakness: He has yet to prove himself on ovals in race
conditions. |
|
10 |
Alexandre
Tagliani
Canada
Age -29 |
Players Forsythe #33 |
10:1 |
Comments:
He's fast, and now has experience to go with it.
Strength:
He's fast and can't wait to race in Montreal
Weakness: Can Reynard keep pace with Lola? |
|
11 Tie |
Townsend Bell
USA
Age - 27
Rookie |
Patrick Racing #20 |
15:1 |
Comments:
This guy is going to turn some heads in 2002
Strength:
Dominated Indy Lights, one cool customer
Weakness: Experience, Reynard and no teammate to trade setup data |
|
11 Tie |
Christian Fittipaldi
Brazil
Age - 31 |
Newman/Haas Racing #11 |
15:1 |
Comments:
Brilliant
in the wet and good on road courses, can he match the speed of his
younger teammate?
Strength:
Road & Street courses, especially in the wet.
Weakness: Inconsistent |
|
13 |
Adrian Fernandez
Mexico
Age - 36 |
Fernandez Racing #51 |
20:1 |
Comments:
The Tom
Anderson run team now has a year under their belt and new engineering
talent. We expect more success in 2002.
Strength:
Fast/large ovals. The addition of Lola and Don Halliday to the
team should help
Weakness: Does team ownership distract from his driving?
New to Lola |
|
14 Tie |
Tony Kanaan
Brazil
Age - 27 |
Mo Nunn Racing #55 |
25:1 |
Comments:
Last year he was set back by an injury in Detroit.
Strength:
Fast and now will have Reynard and Lola to choose from
Weakness: Team still has yet to prove they can win, and now has
no teammate to trade setups |
| 14
Tie |
Patrick
Carpentier
Canada
Age - 30 |
Players Forsythe #32 |
25:1 |
Comments:
Proved he was still a winner in 2001, can team overcome Reynard
deficit?
Strength:
Ovals
Weakness: Road courses. Reynard |
|
16 |
Max Papis
Italy
Age - 32 |
Sigma Motorsports #22 |
30:1 |
Comments:
Papis got his first win in Miami in 2000 and backed it up with two
wins in 2001
Strength:
Exuberance
Weakness: Can he come to grips with new team and no teammate to
trade setups? |
|
16 Tie |
Michel
Jourdain Jr.
Mexico
Age - 25 |
Team Rahal #7 |
30:1 |
Comments:
Jourdain has the best equipment and engineer behind him he has
ever had. We expect a number of top ten finishes this year.
Showed signs of potential last year
Strength:
Hard charger, now has Team Rahal behind him.
Weakness: Has yet to prove he has the fire in his belly to win.
No excuses this year |
| 18
Tie |
Shinji
Nakano
Japan
Age - 31 |
Fernandez Racing #52 |
50:1 |
Comments:
Was faster than his teammate at several tracks in 2001, but must
show consistency to get on the podium
Strength:
Road courses and Lola
Weakness: Short ovals and consistency |
| 18
Tie |
Tora
Takagi
Japan
Age - 28 |
Walker Racing #5 |
50:1 |
Comments:
Showed signs of speed in 2001, but desperately needs a teammate to
trade setup data.
Strength:
Road Courses. Nakano and Tora will push each other for top
Japan honors in the Honda vs. Toyota battle.
Weakness: Language barrier, and Walker Team has not
exactly been on fire in recent years |
|
20 |
Mario Dominguez
Mexico
Age - 27
Rookie |
Herdez/
Bettenhausen Motorsports #16 |
100:1 |
Comments:
Showed signs of potential in Indy Lights, but can he adjust
quickly to Champ Cars?
Strength:
Hard charger, the Herdez team showed some real promise in 2001.
Weakness: Desperately needs a teammate to share setup data |
