The Race of Champions- Nations CUP 2004 brings together 16 drivers from Formula One, the World Rally Championship, Champ Car, IRL IndyCar and NASCAR and the European touring cars championships. The drivers compete head-to-head as individuals for The Race of Champions and as members of two-driver teams representing their country for The Nations Cup.

Created by International Media Productions President Fredrik Johnsson and the worlds best female rally driver Michele Mouton in 1988, The Race of Champions remains the only event to allow drivers to race head-to-head heats in exactly the same cars and on a parallel-track. Using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on their talent alone.

The 17th running of the annual event takes place tomorrow at the 70,000 seat Stade de France in Paris in which a 1km figure-of-eight parallel course designed and built especially for the occasion.

Michael Schumacher teams up with Armin Schwarz for the German team, while David Coulthard and Colin McRae makes an exciting lineup for Great Britain. Felipe Massa is joined by the IRL IndyCar champion for the Brazilian squad while ChampCar Champion Sebastien Bourdais is joined by former Prost Grand Prix test driver - turned Rally driver - Stephane Sarrazin for France.

Jean Alesi is in action in the second French squad with Sebastien Loeb, while the USA is represented by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Former Champ Car and IRL racer Kenny Brack is in action for Sweden with DTM Champion Mattias Ekstrom while Finland has Heikki Kovalainen and Marcus Gronholm on hand.

“Having watched the event with interest for many years, I am very much looking forward to competing against the entry of World class contenders,” said David Coulthard who along with the rest will have the use of a Ferrari 360 Modena, Citroen Xsara WRC and Peugeot 307 WRC.

Massa looks to take on and beat Schumacher

Felipe Massa is also looking forward to the challenge. “I think it has to be my aim to beat Michael Schumacher,” said Massa. “But it is not just about trying to beat him. There will be some amazing drivers there like Loeb and Jeff Gordon."

“It’s going to be very interesting to drive in the middle of the Stade de France. I say interesting but I have no idea how it is going to be. To be racing for Brazil will be cool. Tony Kanaan is a good friend. We have two open wheel guys so I am not sure how we will do. I hope we can be in the top three.”

 

Can't wait to see this as well. Looks like it will be great fun!

 

Live in glorious 1080i on HDNet, replayed in standard def on Speed 12/12.

So dying to watch Schumi drive the WRC car.

EDIT: The schedule. All times EST.

<u>HDNet (1080i):</u>
LIVE! Sat., Dec. 4th 10:30 AM ET Race of Champions Nations Cup
Sat., Dec. 4th 8:30 PM ET Race of Champions Nations Cup
Sun., Dec. 5th 1:30 PM ET Race of Champions Nations Cup

<u>Speed (480i):</u>
12/12 8:00 pm Race of Champions Paris - 2004
12/12 9:30 pm Jimmie Johnson: Common Thread 2004 Race of Champions

 

Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has withdrawn from this weekend's Race of Champions, the season-ending all-star event scheduled for Paris’ Stade de France.

A severe case of the flu has forced Gordon to spend Wednesday night in a hospital, prompting him to cancel his trip to France as well as to NASCAR's parade through the streets of New York yesterday.

Caught by surprise, the event’s organizers promised to Gordon’s replacement at Team USA, whose other half consists of NASCAR regular Jimmie Johnson, later today.

Despite the black-eye from Gordon’s absence, 54,000 tickets have already been sold for this years ROC, leaving just 6,000 further seats available.

 

Send Junior!!!! (NOT)

That is a bummer. I am no ASSCAR fan, but Gordon is a great all around driver. I wonder who the replacement will be?

 

'd be cool if they sent Boris Said?

 

Or tony stewart

 

I would go with PD! Or Randy Pobst.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would go with PD! Or Randy Pobst.</TD></TR></TABLE>

as would I...
but Jeff and Jimmie sell more tickets.

 

Casey Mears is going in JG's place. I was also hoping for Tony Stewart.

 

Can the man turn right??

 

or A.J. almendinger

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SPiFF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can the man turn right??</TD></TR></TABLE>

Casey started out in off road racing, nearly won the Indy Lights championship in 2000, and ran replaced Alex Zanardi in 2001 after his accident. I'd say he'll be ok.

 

Bryan Herta would've been a decent replacement.

 

No IRL drivers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Despite the black-eye from Gordon’s absence, 54,000 tickets have already been sold for this years ROC, leaving just 6,000 further seats available.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ummm I'm pretty sure the European fans could really give a flying f*ck what hillbilly shows up from the US. Shumi, Jean Alesi, David Coulthard, Colin McRae . . . . . and Jimbob Who?

 

You completely underestimate Gordon's popularity with European fans. They DO know who he is, from both his NASCAR history and from past ROC successes.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You completely underestimate Gordon's popularity with European fans. They DO know who he is, from both his NASCAR history and from past ROC successes.

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep. I remember watching a BTCC race back in 1995 on PRiME I think it was called (that was a cool network, lots and lots of racing), and the British announcer made many references to NASCAR.

 

Oh yeah, here is a bigulated version of the track image posted at the top of the thread:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You completely underestimate Gordon's popularity with European fans. They DO know who he is, from both his NASCAR history and from past ROC successes.</TD></TR></TABLE>

There's no doubt they know who he is, but to say something like:

"Despite the black-eye from Gordon’s absence, 54,000 tickets have already been sold for this years ROC"

as if even 1/2 of the 54,000 people are going just because if a couple NASCAR guys is laughable.

 

It's funny, the ferrari has new bumpers already......

Is the show on HD Net in it's entirety?

 

They should have sent Pastrana again...he was doing amazing until he rolled. Boris said was there last year too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No IRL drivers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Brian Herta was a CART driver before the IRL and he was and is an excellent road racer.

 

The article failed to mention Tony Kanaan!

What's so great about Herta? Many F1 journalists felt he was good enough for F1, but he didn't really impress me in Champ Car (except at maybe Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio). I remember him more for being Zanardi'd twice.

 

I can't wait to see this in a week!

The course looks pretty tight, but should still be a good show. At least we'll know who is the better autocrosser of the bunch! So for this reason, if team America really wanted the best shot at this, as I said before I would have put in someone like PD or Pobst as the drivers. These guys are some of the best roadracers/autocrosser (and rally in PD's case) drivers in this country who are used to being fast quickly in all sorts of cars. If this event is not in their element, then I don't know what is. But I too think it wouldn't be "politically correct" to pick them over these other drivers who sell a ton more tickets in the US. Still it's too bad Jeff Gordon won't be there, I would have liked to see him again.