OWW.net 5 years in: A look back in pictures

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, over the past five years the editors and photographers of OpenWheelWorld.net have had a lot to say via their camera lens. With more than 10.000 photos in the database, it wasn't easy for everyone to narrow it down to just one "favorite". But that we did. In this special look back, a group of OpenWheelWorld.net staffers look back on some of their favorite photos taken over the last five years. Enjoy!

Marcel ten Caat (The Netherlands):

Event: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – Long Beach, 2006
Driver(s): Paul Tracy, Oriol Servia & Mario Dominguez

The 2006 Champ Car World Series season kicked off with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. It also happened to be the first event ChampCar.nl covered live from the track and also my first visit to Champ Car, the Long Beach Grand Prix and in fact the United States itself. Being one of the few non-American media at the track meant we were given a place on the reserved photographer's area on the outside of Turn 1.

Being up there and capturing the action of the Atlantics and the pre-race action of the Champ Car World Series. After all 18 cars had gone through on their warm-up lap I prepared for the start. While the first cars went through I kept my camera focused on the two Forsythe cars that were dangerously close to each other. Into Turn 1 they collided, sending Tracy up into the air and quite literally on top of Servia. Four cars were immediately out of the race. I shot a few more laps from the same position, before heading back to the media centre where the pictures were greeted with cheers by our editors.

Barend Blom (The Netherlands):

Event: Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix Powered by Audi, Gant & Hertz – Assen, 2007
Driver(s): Justin Wilson

As devotee of American open wheel racing follower and photographer, it’s great to combine both your interests. I’d enjoy traveling and to explore the environment. It’s also great to meet people with different backgrounds and to work together with other photographers and editors.

2007 was big highlight for me. That year I attended five Champ Car events; Las Vegas, Long Beach, Edmonton, Zolder and Assen. The oversees races were of course combined with a little bit of vacation. The season started in Las Vegas with the good looking new Panoz DP01 cars and of course fellow Dutchmen Robert Doornbos, who made his debut that race. On the first day, there was a huge bump on the track, just before the cars went into the tunnel. The front of the cars sometimes came more than 20 centimeters lose from the ground, spectacular photo material! And of course also very cool for the visitors of the site.

But I can only pick one of my favorite photos. As a photographer, you always try to shoot technically the perfect photo. And that’s not easy with high-speed racing. Before you know it your chance is over. But that’s part of the game and makes it feel even better when everything works out as you expected.

The photo also needs to tell a story. For me it is this photo of Justin Wilson during the Dutch Champ Car Grand Prix in 2007. It was the fifth race I attended for as ChampCar.nl photographer that year and after a messy weekend in Zolder, everything was very well organized in Assen and the event was almost a sell-out, with sponsors like Bavaria and Jumbo Supermarkten. The atmosphere was great and away from the track we shared together a bungalow. It was the perfect weekend.

The photo I've selected isn’t perfect, but the amazing DP01, the Bridgestone reds look great on the car, the event title sponsor and race winner Justin Wilson all combined in one photo looks great. Justin always takes time for you when you’d like to take a photo and is loved among fans, team members and press.

Patrick Straver (The Netherlands):

Event: 2007 Generac Grand Prix - Road America, 2007
Driver(s): Alex Tagliani

As an editor for ChampCar.nl and later OpenWheelWorld.net, every time I’m at the track I carry a simple camera with me, just in case I spot something interesting for the site. It was early in the morning at Road America in 2007 when the Champ Car warm-up started. After a heavy storm had hit the track during the night, the skies had cleared and it was the start of a great day. I was walking through the pit and since there isn’t much to do for me when the cars are on track, I was trying some things out with the camera I bought just one week before. I was standing at the Rocketsports pit and made some shots of Tagliani preparing on his run. When the team started the Cosworth engine, I was hoping to make a nice shot of a burn-out and that’s exactly what I did.

After the session was over, I was checking the photos I made and was very surprised by what I saw - the Rocketsports burn-out shot was way better than I expected! Because the sun was still low on the horizon, the sun hit the tire in a great way. Apparently I took the photo at exactly the right moment, because the tire was spinning, while the rear wing was still very clear. The most awesome part of the photo is to see stripes of smoking coming off the tire, like I’ve never seen before. This photo was a great combination of the right weather, sun position and timing – and all these variables came with nothing other than a lot of luck together in this shot.

Michele-Marie Beer (Canada):

Event: Camping World Indy Grand Prix at The Glen – Watkins Glen, 2009
Driver(s): Justin Wilson

Looking back on all the photos I’ve taken over the years, it was hard to narrow it down to just one favorite. It’s certainly subjective, as each photo can be a favorite for a number of reasons. Technically superior, set up just right, captures the speed of the car, the color of the livery, the emotion of the moment. Each one is of equal importance when telling the story on race weekend. Sometimes it’s a matter of taking the time to technically set up the shot, experimenting with your settings and lenses, and of course the timing, to get it just right. And sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. The two pictures I chose were a product of the latter. Pure dumb luck. While one is special because I was the only one there to capture the moment, this one takes me back to that weekend so vividly, and evokes such emotion, that it’s my #1 shot. I’ll be going into more detail on that day in an upcoming editorial, but this picture to me captured the weekend, the day, the moment, so completely.

The absolute joy bursting from Justin. This was a dominating drive and was the win that removed any doubt that he deserved to be there, contending with the big teams. Justin had just done the “staged” victory arm pump for the TV cameras & the photographers bullpen, then turned sideways towards crowd of well-wishers. His focus was on his family, whom he was facing just off camera out of the shot, including his brother & fellow driver Stefan, his Dad, his wife Julia and their daughter. All were thrilled for him. And then there is Dale. The emotion on his face. A combination of gratitude & relief. The way he is looking up at Justin with such admiration. This was such a huge moment for Dale and Dale Coyne Racing, yet this humble man stood quietly in the shadows just soaking it all in. (he had to be coaxed into some photos)

Truthfully I’m surprised I was able to get any shots in that moment, as I was wiping away tears between each click of the shutter. As far as firsts go, this shot also went on to become my first professional published photo credit. (front page of the sports section of the Indianapolis Star no less!) I guess I was just as grateful to Justin as Dale was!

Andrew Bussa (USA):

Event: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – Long Beach, 2008
Driver(s): Simona de Silvestro



This photo was taking at Long Beach in 2008. I love the flow of the car, the driver and the track. Besides, Simona is also a great driver off the track! (I also have bit of a crush)





Steffen Bräutigam (Germany):

Event: Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix Powered by Audi, Gant & Hertz – Assen, 2007
Driver(s): Simon Pagenaud

I thought it would be nice to capture one of those pit boards of the pit crews, instead of always taking the same pictures of exploding cars in fire tails and screaming girls, that’s why I focused on Simon Pagenaud’s yellow-green pitboard. At the moment I pulled the 'trigger’ the crew member pulled out the sign and the car of Pagenaud appears to be ready for his pit stop and completed the picture with both elements.

Lars Buchweitz (Germany):

Event: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – Long Beach, 2009
Driver(s): Mario Moraes

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was always my favorite race in the US. It was one of the first races I watched on TV, back in the late Nineties and it was of course the first race I ever attended in 2006. I enjoyed at Long Beach always the palms, the blue sky & the brutal sun, the race at the beach, the parties and the special atmosphere all around. I made a very last minute trip just for the Champ Car Hallelujah in April 2008. This was also my first race working for CCW.net at the track. And I have no regrets. I was very skeptical when I came back in April 2009 to see my first Indycar Race at all at the Beach. But hey, it was still the same great party - the same great Grand Prix of Long Beach.

During that race I was mostly between the pit areas of KVRT and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, because of they had the biggest and sunproof screens to follow the race and a little bit shadow during this very hot day. So I was able to shot the last pit stop of Mario Moraes, racing for KVRT the 2009 season. Using the right mode of my camera I was able to capture the action during a race pit stop and of course a lot of burning tires!"

Btw the real reason I was at this particular place was Will Power's future wife... ha ha - just joking!


Michael Pina (North America):

Event: Rexall Edmonton Indy - Edmonton - July 2008
Driver(s): Will Power

While covering the Rexall Edmonton Indy July 2008, it was during lap 72 of the 91 that Will Power # 8 took a pit stop to find out what was causing his suspension to vibrate. It turned out that the left top a arm was the culprit. I spent this day on the island during the race and had this golden opportunity to capture this awesome moment. Just look at the reaction of Will while the crew finally all agree what was the problem. This ended the day for Team Aussie Vinyards. Will Power started in fifth position but finished 22nd on this fine weathered day.

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