Owning shares in some big multinational company may be better for your bank balance but being a shareholder in Justin Wilson plc is definitely more interesting and more fun. It all began early in 2003 with a share issue - a novel scheme to raise the money to pay for Justin to drive for Minardi in Formula One. Whatever reasons people had for buying shares, and no matter how small their investment, it was to add a whole new dimension to their - and my - passion for motorsport. Never mind what Schumacher and the rest were up to, we were following Justin's every move - watching him make those rocket starts, wincing when pain from a trapped nerve forced him to retire in Malaysia, and smiling with satisfaction when he outraced his vastly more experienced team-mate Jos Verstappen. We followed him as he moved up the grid to join Jaguar, and celebrated when he scored a World Championship point at Indianapolis. And I even followed him to London's Hyde Park on a sunny July morning when he took the Minister for Sport for a ride in a Minardi two-seater in a publicity event for the British Grand Prix.
Justin made a big impression in his first season in Formula One, but unfortunately its surreal economics - where cash often talks louder than talent - made it impossible for him to continue this year, even as a test driver. But the share deal wasn't just for Formula One, it lasts until the year 2012 and covers all Justin's racing activities, so his shareholders are now following him down other routes - just as exciting as F1 but more rewarding, at least in terms of results.
For a while after his departure from Jaguar, Justin's future was a big question mark. Over the winter he kept up his profile via magazine articles and public appearances, including helping Jenson Button open the Autosport Show at the Birmingham NEC in January, but he really needed a race seat for 2004. His best prospects seemed to lie in the US, in either Champ Cars or the IRL, but first an opportunity came up to race a sportscar - the Taurus Sports team's Lola Judd - in the 12 Hours of Sebring. On his first outing at the Florida track, back in 2002, Justin finished sixth, and in March this year, with co-drivers Phil Andrews and Milka Duno, he was again running sixth when the car expired a couple of hours from the end of the race. It was a disappointing result, but he definitely attracted attention.
Meanwhile, Justin's management were closing in on a drive in what used to be the CART Champ Car series and is now officially titled "Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered By Ford". The series hung by a thread through the winter but it survived thanks to the efforts of its new owners, OWRS, and a handful of loyal teams. Shortly before the start of the Champ Car season, Justin signed for the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing team and, with a minimum of practice time in the Lola car, headed for the first race around the streets of Long Beach, California. He was an instant success, qualifying 11th, surviving a first-lap skirmish and finishing sixth. He was by far the highest-placed rookie, set the fifth fastest lap and scored an extra point for most places gained. Judging by comments on various internet forums, he was also an immediate hit with the Champ Car fans.
Unlike F1, there's no problem with a Champ Car driver taking part in other events, and Justin's impressive performance at Sebring led to an invitation from Dutchman Jan Lammers to drive for his Racing for Holland team in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. It was a late deal - the car replaced an entry that was withdrawn - but Justin had no hesitation in accepting, and he joined his new team-mates, fellow F1 refugee Ralph Firman and Dutch racer Tom Coronel, at the test day at the beginning of May.
Before the race in June, though, Justin competed in two more Champ Car events. The first was on a road course in Monterrey, Mexico, where he qualified a remarkable third, led a lap and recorded another sixth-place finish. Then came the Milwaukee Mile, his first ever race on an oval and, what's more, run under floodlights. The Conquest team didn't want to risk their only Lola chassis, so Justin drove one of their slower Reynards. After qualifying 12th, he nearly came to grief on the very first lap of the race. Caught out by a loss of downforce, he spun and brushed the wall, but miraculously avoided serious damage and was able to rejoin the race after a pitstop for a new nose cone. (There was a certain satisfaction in seeing Sébastien Bourdais and reigning champion Paul Tracy hitting the wall later on and having to retire!) Justin survived the 250 miles of turning left and finished 11th, scoring more points but probably relieved that there are no more ovals on the calendar.
