IRL border crossings very detailed

2009-07-11 00:20:03 -

TORONTO (AP) - Vince Kremer has worked as a mechanic, crew chief, driven a transporter, gone over the wall on a pit crew, displayed show cars, organized hospitality events, and now serves as team manager for HVM Racing of the IndyCar Series.
The 53-year-old American, who also worked in Champ Car, has pretty much seen everything up close in auto racing, and could probably pass an accountant's test to boot. Being precise when crossing into Canada for a couple of big races is paramount these days, especially in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States eight years ago.
«There's a lot of paperwork,» Kremer said as he prepared for Sunday's Honda Indy of Toronto and another race in Edmonton in two weeks. «The very first time I did it, it took the better part of 18 hours. Now I've got it down to four or five hours. You have a 53-foot (16-meter) truck that's full of parts, and that changes all the time, so the manifest of your transporter is constantly in flux.
«It's like doing your taxes in a way,» he said. «There are so many forms and they change all the time. We have to be packed up for two races, have all the equipment on board and know what we're taking out and back. Once you understand the format, the language, it's pretty easy. But it is time-consuming.
To make the crossings less tedious, the series helps teams with a broker who certifies the contents of the rigs.
«They facilitate the crossing, but they really don't do anything,» Kremer said. «They're there in case you have an issue when you go across the border. It used to be you just drove across the border _ 'This is what I've got' _ and they let you go.
Sometimes, it's harder to come back into the United States than it is to leave.
«I once drove a truck and I didn't stop on the American side to have my paperwork signed off on,» Kremer said. «When I came back, they didn't want to let me back in the country. They let me in, but they wouldn't let my car go in. I had to leave the trailer at the border for 24 hours and get a broker to smooth all the feathers.
SMOKIN' DALE: Dale Coyne was still in a celebratory mood on Friday.
Five days after English driver Justin Wilson gave Coyne his first career victory since entering the sport in 1984, Coyne was handing out cigars to all the IndyCar Series teams.
The cigars were encased in a plastic tube with this message taped around it: «Our 1st, Dale Coyne Racing, Watkins Glen, July 5, 2009.
«You only get one that's a first,» Coyne said. «Hopefully, we get a lot more wins. It has been a busy and enjoyable week.

PATRICK'S PERILS: A week after acquitting herself well on the difficult road course at Watkins Glen, Danica Patrick struggled again.
The No. 7 Andretti Green Racing Honda of Patrick, near the bottom of the speed charts in both practice sessions, suffered damage to the left rear when she skidded off course.
«It's been a frustrating day,» said Patrick, who finished 11th at Watkins Glen. «We didn't get in as many laps as we wanted to in the first session. Then I got into the wall at Turn 5 and we had to call it a day. I really needed to be able to spend some time on the track so I could get more comfortable with it. I hope we have a better day tomorrow.
SPARKPLUGS: Practice sessions on Friday afternoon were perilous. Besides Patrick, her teammate Marco Andretti and 40-year-old Canadian Paul Tracy spun off course in Turn 1 and Helio Castroneves also hit a wall. ... Tracy's father held the painting contract for the CN Tower when it was built in 1976. At 1,815 feet (553 meters), it was the world's tallest freestanding structure for 31 years and still ranks first in North America. ... Nearly a dozen drivers entered have competed at Toronto in CART/Champ Car-sanctioned events: Tracy leads with 16 starts; Alex Tagliani has 7; Dario Franchitti 6; Justin Wilson 5; Tony Kanaan and Castroneves 4 each; Scott Dixon, Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay 2 each; and Graham Rahal and rookie Robert Doornbos once each.