Chapter 6

While controversies and questions can swirl, the FP Journe Watches sponsored Lotus Fan Force United team and their driver will continue to work, doing everything in their power (and with their power) to effectively prepare for the competition in the world’s greatest sporting event.

So at 1:30pm, under a bright blue sky, and having again climbed into the car to continue the onward march of progress towards his goal, Jean Alesi again steered his car on to the famous circuit, as he and the team quietly and steadily went about their business.  Right away, Jean posted laps above 207mph.  In and of itself, this is not exactly newsworthy, but this is a gain from the previous day, and all gains must be appreciated. 

There is dramatic action taking place on the racetrack, as cars run in packs.  Jean does his best to pick his spots so as not to interfere, while also doing what he can to run in some traffic and so improve his understanding of his racecar and how it will feel when there are cars around him.  Part of racing, of course, is learning the performance boundaries of your own machine and being prepared to run your own race at the edge of these boundaries while not affecting others in a negative way.  In this regard, each and every lap, in practice, in qualifying, and in the race itself, will be a valuable asset in the ongoing development of the Lotus powerplant.  A little insight – very experienced guys on the Force Fan United team, who are well aware of the car’s limitations and limiting factors and who have worked with some fairly outstanding racers in their careers, are expressing tremendous admiration for their driver, saying things like “Man, it would be great to be able to come back here next year with this guy and with equal power, because he really could win the whole thing.   He gets it.  He’s switched on.”  Perhaps they are channeling their inner Chicago Cubs fan (“there’s always next year”)?  Regardless, working with Jean, even if the team is nowhere near the top of the speed charts, is keeping everybody enthusiastic, which says a lot.

After a run that commenced at 2:03pm, which again saw Jean record some of his quickest laps of the week (with regular boost), Owen Snyder asks Jean if “the car is pretty good.”  Jean responds with a pronounced nod of the head.  So even though the team is dealing with some issues relating to downshift functionality, which is quite important due to the significant drafts/tows that are being created by the new generation IndyCar, the Fan Force United prepared mount is stout.  It seems quite likely that a big jump in horsepower and speed would not change Jean’s feeling about the car, and there are few on the team that, at this point, doubt Jean’s ability to run right up to the edge of the car’s performance capabilities.  At the close of this run, the team commences with their pit stop practices.  There has been so much to do to this point, that it has not been a possibility until now.  Naturally, they look good.  They are a bunch of old pros and seasoned veterans, after all, so there is no surprise here.  By the way, as it was noted that this particular run saw Jean post some of his best speeds of the week, it is also worth noting that the team peeled off tires that had seen 47 laps. 

Another reporter from the French television network, TF1, is here chronicling Jean’s odyssey for their program “Auto Moto.”  Putting aside issues of speed, the outpouring of support and interest from his native land indicates that he is something of a national treasure.  His story shares interested observers from around the globe, which was highlighted by the widespread interest in his talk of things being “unsafe” and the stories that such talk generated. 

Jean jumps out of the car briefly for some more in-depth consultation with his team.  The Fan Force United pit is a hive of activity, as usual.  An extensive and detailed plan is in place each day, as the less than two week old IndyCar portion of this team works to learn about their car, to get a “rookie” comfortable and up to speed, to gel as a group, and to assist in the development of the Lotus engine.  This requires a great degree of co-ordination and synchronization, all of it managed by very able individuals.  This team, though recently assembled, is handling all that has been thrown at them flawlessly.  Their chins are always up, and Jean has been more than effusive in his praise of the men behind his machine, whether he is speaking with Lotus brass, the media, or having pleasant conversations with his fellow competitors.  That makes a group of guys feel good.

Back in the car and back on the track, time is being spent working on draft/tow gearing and doing rev-limiter work.  Of course, Jean is working the driver-available controls, processing as much information as possible on every single lap at speed.  One thing must be said for certain, which is that this team is not sitting on its hands.  This car has been on track 7 of the 8 days for which it has been possible to run.  This team and its driver is doing all that it can to prepare and to get better.  In fact, today is the busiest day yet for the 64 car, as by the time the practice session comes to an end, Jean will have recorded 67 laps.  Every avenue is being explored in the pursuit of speed.  There is not quit.  There is no rest.  Not yet.  Jean and the team seeks the highest possible level of comfort and driveability, working closely with the Lotus engineers to wring the last ounce of performance from their engine.

Jean and the team made two trips from the garage to pit lane today, running in the early afternoon and in the later afternoon.  The program has been prepared, and items are being checked off one by one.  In the 5 o’clock hour, Jean spends time running in traffic, running laps at consistent speeds, as he and the team continue to demonstrate that they are extracting the highest level of performance that is available from their package. 

Amusingly, as Jean circles the track, the scoreboard briefly shows one of Jean’s competitors gaining significant speed from one lap to the next, as the 4 car is shown as having posted a lap at 571.429mph.  This generates chuckles all around. 

As has been so forcefully pointed out, Jean is on track as long and as much as possible, though he is actually able to run fewer laps than the team would like to see.  Today, he runs nearly to the end of the day, and when the checkered flag again waves over the Speedway, all are relatively pleased with the day’s results.  Of course, none are content.  Summing up his day, Jean offers his thoughts, stating: ““Today was a day for preparing to compete in traffic.  I tried to follow some cars.  I feel happy to run with cars.  Less lonely (laughs).  Now tomorrow we have to prepare for qualifying.  Every day is new for me, so I go step by step.”  As a follow-on to that, and probably taking into consideration all that has been said and written about this effort from the moment it was announced, Fan Force United co-owner Chris Williams also offer his own thoughts, saying “Today was just about preparing for the race.  Like yesterday, we had a program to follow and that’s what we did.  From the beginning, working with Jean has been great, and this team is just going about its business.”

We are at Indy, so business is good.  We are at Indy, so we appreciate every lap.  Yes, it’s a challenge, and no, it’s not been a smooth road.  If it was easy, maybe it would not be as rewarding…

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