Overheard in Mexico

Mexican driver Rodolfo Lavin was roaming the paddock and told us he is trying to put a deal together for next year in Champ Car. He almost had a deal for the last two races this year, but could not pull it together. He had the backing of Corona for 11 years but they cut back their sponsorship………Zsolt Baumgartner would love to land a Champ Car ride but he told us right now he has no sponsor. He hopes to at least do the Minardi Champ Car 2-seater program again next year…….Richard Philippe, younger brother of Champ Car driver Nelson Philippe, is trying to land a ride with the top Euro F3 team ASM next year and we hear he hopes to get word one way or the other on Tuesday. He may come back to Champ Car Atlantic in 2008 if not……..Speaking of the Atlantic Series, we hear they will probably have at least as many cars in 2008 as in 2007, which was a stellar year…….Robert Doornbos may declare himself a free-agent and shop his Harry Muermans support elsewhere because he feels he is good enough to get paid and whoever he drives for next year is going to have to pay him a salary commensurate with his results…….Look for more Champ Car races on ESPN/ESPN2 in 2008 and less on ABC, perhaps as few as two on network TV. No word yet if Champ Car will broadcast in high-def next year like all the other top series, or continue to deliver in the current inferior resolution that makes it hard to see the sponsor logos on the cars. Hopefully the money saved in being on ESPN more means it will be invested into high-def……..We hear that Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, Mexico are interested in having Champ Car do a street race at their beachfront resort. Talks are ongoing. Mark C. reporting from Mexico City