2004 ISF Review

Cool The Engines!
The 2004 ISF Season Review
By  G. O. Odyear
Here is the 2004 ISF season review driver by driver:

The GTP championship car of Shea.  
John Shea:
GTP Preseason Prediction: Champion
GTP Actual 2004 Finish: Champion
I've written it before and will write it again.
It will be tough for anyone to dethrone John Shea.
"You jinxed me by picking me for the championship," Shea said to this writer before the season. Sorry. I just study the trends and pick them as I see them.
When asked if he could beat Shea to the championship with thrree races to go, Jim Iverson (who led the points for most of the season) said "I don't know. I've yet to beat him on the track."
Until someone does, John "Sheamacher" will continue to be the champ in this division.

John Shea's winning Ferrari.  
GT Preseason Prediction: 2nd in points
GT 2004 Actual: 0 Wins, 3rd in points
Shea’s GT program went back into the ground! Ill handling Ferraris, slow Volvos, and outclassed Chevy Cameros have been the bane of his existence in this division. He gave up the Corvette that challenged for wins and went back to Ferraris. Someday he'll get a car worthy of his talents.
F1 Preseason Prediction: 2nd in points
F1 2004 Actual: 3 Wins, 2nd in points
After having an off year in 2003, Shea was back to form in 2004. Three wins plus pole positions kept him in the championship hunt all year. Even money he will be the ISF F1 champion in 2005.
  
Chad Sorce:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 8th in points
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 1 Win, 7th in points
Sorce was the ISF’s original GTP champion. He mounted a strong challenge for the first four races of the season, taking a win at Clevelandstone. Then he disappeared.  The rest of the field needs and misses his competitive spirit and hopes he returns full time in 2005. Plus some people in the field owe him money.
GT Preseason Prediction: 6th in points
GT Actual 2004: NA
A switch to a Pontiac Fierro two seasons ago looked promising but it had no starts in the abbreviated 2004 GT schedule.

Chad Sorce's Jaguar won two races in 2004, then disappeared. 
F1 Preseason Prediction: 9th in points
F1 Actual 2004: 2 Wins, 6th in points
What would the title fight be like if Sorce was there for the entire championship? A switch from Sauber to Jaguar was a canny move and paid off with two wins and the points lead in the championship.
  
Everet Kamikawa:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 5th in points
GTP 2004 Actual Finish: 0 Wins, 4th in points
As Mr. Miagi told Danielson in the movie The Karate Kid, "Concentrate! Focus power!" Any race longer than 3 minutes he crashes and burns in spectacular fashion. Switching from Mercedes to Toyota at first didn’t improve that observation. A second switch from Mercedes to Toyota DID help. Suddenly Kamikawa was winning pole positions, challenging for heat race wins, and lasting the entire length of the race! The ISF GTP all time leader in 4th place finishes used to know how to win in this division. In 2005 he might remember how that was done.

The GT championship car of Kamikawa blurs past the finish line at Raven. 
GT Preseason Prediction: Champion
GT Actual 2004: 2 wins, Champion
Just like Shea in GTP, Kamikawa is the all time leader in wins and laps lead in this division. The F-40 is still the car to beat, although there were cracks in their domination this year as Jim Iverson mounted a serious title challenge. Kamikawa picked his team up and won the last two rounds to take the championship.
F1 Preseason Prediction: 3rd in points
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 4th in points
Kamikawa won the championship by one point over Larry Rotter in 2003. In 2004 he couldn't get out of his own way. Early crashes left him often times inearly foul trouble and two DNF's when leading didn't help.
 

Iverson's GTP Challenger.
Jim Iverson:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 2nd in points
GTP 2004 Actual Finish: 2 Wins, 2nd in points
“Bayside Jimmy's” Jaguar GTP program is starting to deliver. Two wins allowed him to take the fight to Shea in 2004, although as Iverson pointed out they were when John Shea wasn't around. If Iverson could just get some luck when racing against Shea in this division he would be the champion. Despite what he said, Iverson can beat him on the track! He has done it several times in the past. If Shea isn’t the champion in 2005, Iverson will be.
GT Preseason Prediction: 3rd in points
GT Actual 2004: 2 Wins, 2nd in points
He took the title fight to Kamikawa and was leading the points for half the season. His program in GT is on song and should be even money to win it in 2005.

Jim Iverson's winning Toyota crosses the finish line at Bayside for the marquee's first ISF win. They would go on to win the championship.
F1 Preseason Prediction: 4th in points
F1 Actual 2004: 2 Wins, Champion
A switch from McLaren to Toyota took a little time getting used to, as the crew had to learn how to set up the car. He won two races in 2004, including the famous "shoe gate." His Toyota was quick on every track and he should be even money to repeat as champion again in this division.    

Larry Rotter:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 3rd in points
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 3rd in points
A championship for Rotter in GTP would be very popular among the fans and paddock. He and Iverson kept Shea honest in the GTP division all year long. Rotter had no wins in 2004, however his consistant strong finishes kept him in the chase and threatening the other drivers to ssteal their wins. His stiring drive at Monza will be the stuff of legend for many years to come. With a little luck he can be GTP champion in 2005 because he definately has the pace.

Larry Rotter takes a turn at Monza.
GT Preseason Prediction: 4th in points
GT Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 4th in points
The Porsche just doesn’t have the grunt against the factory backed Porsche of Jim Iverson, or the Ferrari of Kamikawa. Could a switch back to the Ram be in the cards? He’ll find victory lane again in this division before too long.  
F1 Preseason Prediction: Champion
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 3rd in points
The two-time SlotCART champion is on a mission to win the F1 title. He just missed out in 2003. Some bad luck at the wrong times in 2004 kept him from the title. A championship by Rotter in this division would be very welcomed in the paddock. 
  
Dan Margetta:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 6th in points
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 2 Wins, 5th in points
Holy cow! John Shea could have some competition in GTP! There is no doubt that Margetta is a good racer. He jumped rides quite often in his ISF career as he never had a consistent schedule or program. Running the full schedule for the first time in 2005 he won twice upon teaming up with Mike Fitzlaff and Opus Racing.
"I'm running full time next year again! This is fun!" Margetta Exclaimed after winning Monza. The ISF is glad to have him.

Dam Margetta won two GTP races in this Opus Racing prepared challenger. 
GT Preseason Prediction: 5th in points
GT Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 6th in points
Margetta teaming up with Opus Racing could make him a winner in this division.
F1 Preseason Prediction: 5th in points
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 7th in points
The Miller Lite car did not come back to the track, but the Stewart did. Margetta looked good in the ride and running against his old SlotCART competition must have helped as he won two of the first three races in that series to start their season. 

Amy Butler:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 4th in points
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 12th in points
Amy surprised everyone how fast she was out of the box in 2003 and with a full race schedule for 2004 everyone expected her to do well. Plans did not work out they way they were supposed to and her season was limited to one GTP and one F1 race. Her H.O. Road America hosted two successful ISF events (even one when she wasn't there!) in 2004. That home track advantage should be of use in 2005. We hope to see her make more races.
GT Preseason Prediction: 7th in points
GT Actual 2004: NA
F1 Preseason Prediction: 6th in points
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 10th in points
  
Mike Fitzlaff:
GTP Preseason Prediction: 4th in points
GTP Actual Finish 2003: 0 Wins, 5th in pointsHe scratched his racing itch all season long and looked pretty good doing it. Jumping from GTP and GT car to different GTP and GT cars didn't help in terms of finishes, however this skilled driver was able to figure out how things work in the ISF. His late season pairing with Dan Margetta saw his team take two GTP victories to close the season. Look out for him in all divisions, wins are on the way!
GT Preseason Prediction: 7th in points
GT Actual 2003: 0 Wins, 5th in points

A switch to a Ferrari F-40, becoming the first private team to run one these cars, seems to have helped stabilize this program.


Mike Fitzlaff in the cockpit of his Jordan before the Rapids Grand Prix. 

F1 Preseason Prediction: 6th in points
F1 Actual 2003: 0 Wins, 11th in points

No wins this year, however the Jordan was very fast. Now that he knows the tracks, expect Fitzlaff to win in 2005. 

Adam Fitzlaff
GTP Preseason Prediction: NA
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 10th in points

He drove in the GTP division this year! He was quick in all divisions. He'll start winning heat races soon. The kid who literally has grown up on the mean streets of the ARA and ISF, keeps the "old guys" on their toes. Will 2005 be the year that he starts to win and makes the other drivers long for their days of youth?

GT Preseason Prediction: NA
GT Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 7th in points
F1 Preseason Prediction: NA
F1 Actual 2004: NA


Chris Sphert
GTP Preseason Prediction: NA
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 8th in points
One of the "young guns" of SlotCART started two events in the ISF season.Despite a relatively decent showing in those events, the younger Sphert did not participate in enough events to show this writer his potential against the strong competition the ISF offers. Here's hoping he will decide to return in 2005.
GT Preseason Prediction: NA
GT Actual 2004: NA
F1 Preseason Prediction: NA
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 9th in points

The GTP Aston Martin cars of Chris and Tom Sphert. 

Tom Sphert
GTP Preseason Prediction: NA
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 11th in points
The technical guru of SlotCART, like his son, only participated in two events. He made the B-Main in his second event then did not return to the series for the rest of the year. The elder Sphert is a class act and I'm sure the ISF would like to see him return.

GT Preseason Prediction: NA
GT Actual 2004: NA

F1 Preseason Prediction: NA
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 8th in points

Up in flames. Just like Burt Wilson's ISF career... 
Burt Wilson
GTP Preseason Prediction: NA
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 14th in points
Whatever happened to Burt Wilson? He made one start.
11 laps. 8 in GTP and 3 in F1. That is all his ISF career consists of at this point. Was it the tough competition that drove him away? He'll need to show up and prove the skeptics wrong if he wants to be something other than another piece in the ISF trivia puzzle. Anyone remember Dale Tait?

GT Preseason Prediction: NA
GT Actual 2004: NA
F1 Preseason Prediction: NA
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 12th in points

Mark Walczak
GTP Preseason Prediction: NA
GTP Actual Finish 2004: 0 Wins, 9th in points
A late season addition to the league, Walczak made two starts. He impressed his veteran counter parts with his racing knowledge and driving skills. An avid racer who know Greg Moore personally, this rookie should be ready to rip off a few heat wins after competing during the winter with SlotCART
GT Preseason Prediction: NA
GT Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 8th in points
F1 Preseason Prediction: NA
F1 Actual 2004: 0 Wins, 11th in points
Next year there will be new rules, new cars, and maybe a new track or two.
Games were raised this year by Iverson and Margetta. Kamikawa slipped and Shea missed some events. Will those factors conspire against them in 2005 and let Rotter, Fitzlaff, Iverson, or Margetta take the GTP or GT titles?
Will Shea and Kamikawa be toppled from their perches?
Stay tuned! April, and the start of the 6th ISF season, isn't that far away!

The GT and GTP Championship cars of Kamikawa and Shea with Slot IRL car.