RuSPORT

RuSPORT was an auto racing team that competed in the Champ Car World Series. It was founded in 1999 by Carl Russo and Steve Wulff.

Russo drove for the team then known as Performance Development and Racing (PDR) which was owned by Steve Wulff before Russo drove in the Toyota Atlantic Series before he gave up his seat to young driver Aaron Justus. Justus and A. J. Allmendinger were drivers in the team's 2003 Atlantic season, and Allmendinger cruised to the championship with seven victories from 11 starts.

Both RuSPORT and Allmendinger moved up to Champ Car in 2004, and added a second car at the 11th hour for Michel Jourdain Jr. to keep car count at the minimum of 18. Most of the team's resources were stretched and Jourdain and the team parted ways following the season. Justin Wilson was signed as a replacement for 2005.

The 2005 season was the team's breakout year with Wilson scoring two victories and finishing third in the championship. Allmendinger came close to victory, with four runner-up finishes during the season. For 2006 they were expected to be challengers to Newman/Haas Racing. Mid-way through the season, the team replaced Allmendinger with 2002 CART champion Cristiano da Matta who moved over to the team from Dale Coyne Racing. Cristiano Da Matta was injured in a collision with a deer during testing at Road America on August 3, 2006.

On September 17, 2006, the team announced that it would hold a "shootout" at Sebring Raceway to determine who would drive the #10 car in the final two races of the season. On October 9, it was revealed that the winner of the shootout was Australian Ryan Briscoe, who would make his first appearance for the team at his home race, the Lexmark Indy 300.

Towards the end of the 2006 season, Russo announced that he would no longer be a part of the RuSPORT team. It was unclear what would happen to the team until it was announced on November 28 that PKV Racing co-owner Dan Pettit had purchased the team from Russo. Steve Wulff is also no longer a part of the team.

On January 22, 2007, RuSPORT confirmed the return of Justin Wilson and title sponsor, CDW. They reportedly signed Wilson to a multi year contract. [ [http://www.rusport.com/news/archives/2007/01 RuSPORT News] , January 22, 2007] RuSPORT also formed a technical alliance with the Rocketsports team, and the team was dubbed RSPORTS. Tis alliance was ultimately not successful, except for Wilson's lone victory at Assen, and later separated. The RuSPORT team dissolved as of December 31, 2007 [Oreovicz, John. [http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=5&columnist=oreovicz_john&id=3100581 It's adios and au revoir as Champ Car season closes in Mexico City] , ESPN.com, Nocember 8, 2007] and Pettit merged his team ownership with Forsythe Championship Racing. [Malsher, David. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64124 Pettit joins Forsythe as RuSPORT close] , autosport.com, November 26, 2007]

Past Drivers

*flagicon|USA A. J. Allmendinger (2004-2006)
*flagicon|AUS Ryan Briscoe (2006)
*flagicon|BRA Cristiano da Matta (2006)
*flagicon|MEX Michel Jourdain, Jr. (2004)
*flagicon|GBR Justin Wilson (2005-2007)

References