Intro | 86-87 | 88-93 | 94-97 | 98-99 | 00-01 | 2002| 2003

2002

I signed up with Target Chip Ganassi Racing my third season in CART.

In the first race of the season in Monterrey, Mexico we did not exactly shine in qualifying, but the worse was still to come. In the start there was a Rookie that missed his braking and I think had I not been in the way he would have continued across the border into Texas. Unfortunately for me the race was over before it really started.

From there we went to Long Beach, CA, where we started fourth. We ran in second place most of the time but due to pit circumstances we finished fourth.

Pit stop circumstances was to be our fate during this year, we just did not know it yet.

We continued to show strong efforts and on the road course in Portland in June we looked set to take our first victory for the year. From my second starting position I managed to squeeze by Christiano Da Matta to hold the lead all the way until out second pit stop. After leaving the pits I found myself overtaken into Turn 1. Not by Da Matta but of my own rear tire….

I was very downbeat leaving the track. Not only should it have been my first road racing victory in CART, but it also could have given my team a boost of the positive energy that usually provides more success.

Although we ran competitively throughout the hectic summer period, we never got into the winning groove. Instead we struggled with finishing races, due to mechanical issues and race incidents.

It was not until Rockingham, England in September that we found our true form again. We dominated qualifying, taking pole, and led the majority of the race. But yet again pit disaster struck when we lost a nut on the left rear wheel in the last pit stop.

We went from leading to finishing 8th.

By this time I had accepted the fact we could not fight for the championship anymore but I still was fully focused on trying to at least win races before the end of the season.

I also felt good about the fact that we had been competitive enough to win the race as I had been thinking a lot lately of what to do for the coming season.

Next stop was Miami. We qualified 4th. In the race however the differential started to brake after 15 laps and finally gave up after another 60 laps.

After this race I decided a "Karma change" was needed and decided to accept an offer I had from Team Rahal for the next season. However it had to be kept a secret for many month to come yet.

Finally we arrived for the seasons last race in Mexico City in November. It was a fabulous facility. Technically a very difficult track, but wide with good grip and fast. It had grandstands big enough for 200.000 people, with a touch of 'new' to the whole thing. You could sense the atmosphere on race day when it would be packed.

So in the season's last race and my last road-racing race, at least for a while, for the Target team, we finally won. It was a convincing win, running away from the competition in the closing stages and it was a long time since I have been so happy after winning a race.

Sure it hurt's to think about that we should have won at least two more races but I am very happy to finally enter the winner circle for Chip Ganassi. The team was very happy too and it felt great to end things on the best possible note.

The driving season ended with my participation in the "Race of Champions" in Canary Islands in the end of November. A mixture of the best drivers in the world from different categories went head to head in World Rally Championship cars on gravel.

First I won the American Challenge over NASCAR ace Jeff Gordon, in competition with Christiano Da Matta and Jimmie Johnson. I also went furthest of the non-rally drivers in the competition but lost out to Harri Rovanpara when my car stalled on the start line in the quarter finals. It was a mistake from my side and if I ever get there again, I´ll know what not to do.

It was great to get to meet drivers from for example Formula 1, Rally Road racing and Speedway. We had a lot of fun in the evenings as events like this brings a much more relaxed atmosphere than a normal race.

I also hosted a year end party where Sweden's magic master Joe Labero showed his incredible talents and tricks. After we had checked our pockets to see that everything was still there I had the honor to take the to the stage with some of my country's best rock and blues musicians like Mats Ronander and Mikael Rickfors. The guitar playing takes a lot of my spare time these days. I really enjoy it.



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Intro | 86-87 | 88-93 | 94-97 | 98-99 | 00-01 | 2002| 2003

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