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2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape has been thoroughly updated for 2008, reinforcing the character and appeal that have made it America's perennial best-selling small sport-utility vehicle.

Sponsored by-
Ken Grody Ford

Ken Grody Ford

Champ Car Racers

Car: 3
Paul Tracy
Team: Forsythe Racing
Age: 39;
Birthplace: Scarborough, Ontario;
Residence: Las Vegas
Highlights: The career Champ Car victory leader among active drivers posted 31st series win in 2007. Three second-place finishes among six top-five showings in 2006. Four-time winner at Long Beach. Won Champ Car driving title in 2003.

Car: 4
Nelson Philippe
Team: Minardi Team USA/HVM Racing
Age: 21;
Birthplace: Valence, France;
Residence: Key Biscayne, Fla.
Highlights: Raced twice in 2007 Champ Car World Series, with one top-10 finish. Had breakout Champ Car season in 2006, recording his first victory, two third places and six other top 10s en route to fourth place in final standings. Won Bosch Most Improved Driver Award in 2005, his second Champ Car season.

Car: 5
Oriol Servia
Team: KV Racing Technology
Age: 33;
Birthplace: Pals, Spain;
Residence: Miami
Highlights: Champ Car veteran’s sixth-place standing in 2007 season included five top-five finishes. Recorded eight top 10s in 2006. Had best Champ Car season in 2005, with seven podiums, including first career win.

Car: 7
Franck Montagny
Team: Forsythe Racing
Age: 29;
Birthplace: Feurs, France;
Residence: Grand Vaux, Switzerland
Highlights: After racing in Formula Three and Formula 3000, was test and backup driver for Toyota’s Formula One effort in 2007 after driving seven Grand Prix contests in 2006.

Car: 8
Will Power
Team: KV Racing Technology
Age: 27;
Birthplace: Toowooba, Australia;
Residence: Carmel, Ind.
Highlights: Finished fourth in 2007 Champ Car World Series standings with two victories among five podium appearances. Sixth in Champ Car standings in rookie season in 2006, with nine top-10 finishes. Before that, competed in World Series by Renault and British Formula 3. Competing this year in IndyCar Series.

Car: 9
Antonio Pizzonia
Team: Rocketsports Racing
Age: 27;
Birthplace: Manaus, Brazil;
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Highlights: Competed in GP2 Series last season. Finished 10th in two of his four Champ Car World Series starts in 2006. Before that, was a test driver and part-time racer in Formula One.

Car: 10
Juho Annala
Team: Rocketsports Racing
Age: 24;
Birthplace: Lapna, Finland;
Residence: Tampere, Finland
Highlights: Competed last season in Europe’s Formula Master Series after spending two years in British Formula Three, where in 2006 he scored three wins and placed third in points.

Car: 12
Jimmy Vasser
Team: KV Racing Technology
Age: 42;
Birthplace: Canoga Park;
Residence: Las Vegas
Highlights: KV Racing co-owner takes the wheel in a Champ Car race for first time since 2006. Veteran’s 16th appearance at Long Beach, with five previous top-five showings and a victory in 1996, when he won Champ Car driving title.

Car: 14
Roberto Moreno
Team: Minardi Team USA/HVM Racing
Age: 49;
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Residence: Weston, Fla.
Highlights: Former Formula 3000 champion raced extensively in Formula One and Champ Car in 1990s and early 2000s. Retired from full-time racing in 2003 but still serves as a substitute and test driver.

Car: 15
Alex Tagliani
Team: Walker Racing
Age: 35;
Birthplace: Montreal;
Residence: Las Vegas
Highlights: Ten top-10 finishes in 2007 earned him 10th place in Champ Car standings. Eighth in 2006 standings with five top-five finishes and two podiums. Career-best seventh in standings in 2005 and 2004.

Car: 18
Bruno Junqueira
Team: Dale Coyne Racing
Age: 31;
Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil;
Residence: Miami
Highlights: Three podium finishes among 11 Champ Car top 10s in 2007. Rebounded from serious injuries suffered in a crash during the 2005 Indianapolis 500 to compete in all 14 races of 2006 Champ Car World Series, posting three second-place finishes that year. Competing in IndyCar Series in 2008.

Car: 19
Mario Moraes
Team: Dale Coyne Racing
Age: 19;
Birthplace: Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Residence: Miami
Highlights: Drove in British Formula Three International Series in 2007. Before that, finished second in South American F3 in 2006 with five wins among eight podiums. Competing in IndyCar Series this year.

Car: 29 Alex Figge
Team: Pacific Coast Motorsports
Age: 27;
Birthplace: Boulder, Colo.;
Residence: Denver
Highlights: Drove first Champ Car World Series season in 2007. Had two second-place finishes in Grand American Rolex Series in 2006 as co-driver with Ryan Dalziel. Before that, drove in American Le Mans Series and for three seasons in Atlantic series.

Car: 33
Ernesto Viso
Team: HVM Racing
Age: 23;
Birthplace and residence: Caracas, Venezuela;
Residences: Miami; Barcelona, Spain
Highlights: Competed in GP2 Series and European GT Championship in 2007. The year before, finished sixth in GP2 standings with two victories and three podium finishes. Competing this year in IndyCar Series.

Car: 34
Franck Perera
Team: Conquest Racing
Age: 24;
Birthplace: Montpellier, France;
Residence: Vicenza, Italy
Highlights: Finished second in Atlantic series last year, recording two victories, finishing in top five in all 12 races he contested and winning Rookie of the Year award. Graduating this year to IndyCar Series.

Car: 36
Enrique Bernoldi
Team: Conquest Racing
Age: 29;
Birthplace: Curitiba, Brazil;
Residence: Miami
Highlights: Joined StockCar Brasil series for 11 events in 2007, earning two podium finishes. Drove in Argentinian TC2000 in 2006. Competing this year in IndyCar Series.

Car: 37
David Martinez
Team: Forsythe Racing
Age: 26;
Birthplace: Tamaulipas, Mexico;
Residence: Monterrey, Mexico
Highlights: Competed twice in 2007 Champ Car World Series, with one top-10 finish. Placed ninth in his only Champ Car race in 2006. Also that year, finished fifth in Atlantic standings for second season in a row.

Car: 96
Mario Dominguez
Team: Pacific Coast Motorsports
Age: 32;
Birthplace and residence: Mexico City
Highlights: Three top-10 finishes in eight Champ Car races in 2007. Eight top-10 finishes in 2006 Champ Car World Series, including two podiums, and placed ninth in season standings. Was series Rookie of the Year in 2002.

Car: 02
Graham Rahal
Team: Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
Age: 19;
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio;
Residence: Hilliard, Ohio
Highlights: Son of former Champ Car champion Bobby Rahal finished fifth in Champ Car World Series standings in 2007. Placed second in season standings in Atlantic series in 2006. Won five races and, at 17, was youngest winner of an Atlantic race. Competing in IndyCar Series this year.

Car: 06
Justin Wilson
Team: Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
Age: 29;
Birthplace: Sheffield, England;
Residence: Dacono, Colo.
Highlights: In 2007, placed second in Champ Car World Series standings for second consecutive season. Had nine top-five finishes, including one victory. Captured his first two Champ Car victories in 2005. Competing this year in IndyCar Series.



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