Champ Car contingent make Super Bowl picks

The National Football League has a wide appeal and members of the Champ Car World Series community are no different. When they kick off for Sunday night's Super Bowl XLII, it's a certainty that Champ Car team owners, drivers and team personnel will be gathered at the Champ Car Super Bowl party in Sebring in front of a television set, watching the biggest football game of the year.

Several people with close ties to Champ Car have already expressed their favorites for Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Carl Haas, Paul Newman and Mike Lanigan, owners of the championship-winning Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing organization, have obvious experience in picking a winner. But the diversity in their selections might come as a surprise to some.

"I will be watching the Super Bowl again this year and expect the New England Patriots to make it a perfect season with another win," says Haas.

"You have to hand it to the Patriots, they look unbeatable…but, on Sunday I will be rooting for the Giants," adds Lanigan.

And Mr. Newman's pick? One might say a most diplomatic one.

"As an Easterner, it's delicious having two great 'local' teams," Newman maintains. "I wish it were the days before overtime. Then, I'd root for a tie."

Graham Rahal, back for his second year at NHLR, has a the kind of no-nonsense approach one would expect from someone born and raised in the football-crazy state of Ohio.

"The New York Giants will win 27-24–hopefully," Rahal suggests. "I hate the Patriots."

Justin Wilson, named as Rahal's teammate at NHLR, takes a most thoughtful approach despite coming from a country (England) who has a different concept of football.

"I follow the NFL a little bit, but the two teams I casually follow are the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos but neither one is in it this year," Wilson explains. "I have spent some time in each of those places so those are the two I casually follow. I will be pretty busy since the Super Bowl is during my first test as a driver for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and, even though I won't be in the car while it is going on, I'll be thinking about being in the car.

"It will be a good distraction for a couple of hours though and hopefully I will be able to spend some time with my new team watching it back at the hotel." Champ Car World Series