the team was known simply as Piquet Sports. In 2006, Paul Stoddart declared his intention to enter a new team called 'European Minardi F1 Team Ltd' into Formula One beginning in . His application was unsuccessful, with the 12th place on the grid being awarded to Prodrive. Instead, Stoddart turned his attentions to the U.S.-based Champ Car series. On 18 December 2006, it was confirmed that he had purchased a controlling interest in the CTE Racing-HVM Champ Car team and that the team would be renamed Minardi Team USA. In 2007, the team had reasonable success. Robert Doornbos took two wins and several podium places on his way to third in the series, winning Rookie of the Year honours. When the series folded before its planned 2008 season, Stoddart's involvement ceased, with the team entering the IndyCar Series under the HVM name. Stoddart retains the right to use the Minardi name for a British-registered company. Heads of Minardi F1 Owners 1985–1995 Giancarlo Minardi 1996–1997 Giancarlo Minardi and Flavio Briatore 1997–2000 Giancarlo Minardi and Gabriele Rumi 2001–2005 Paul Stoddart Technical Directors 1985–1988 Giacomo Caliri 1989–1995 Aldo Costa 1996–1998 Gabriele Tredozi 1999–2000 Gustav Brunner 2001–2005 Gabriele Tredozi Sporting Director 1998–2000 Cesare Fiorio 2001–2004 John Walton Commercial / Marketing Directors 1998–2000 Massimo Rivola 2001–2002 Rupert Manwaring 2003–2005 Paul Jordan Complete Formula One results (key) See also List of Formula One constructors References Further reading External links Minardi Sito Ufficale Minardi Team International Site Minardi Team International Site Minardi's F1 history Chequered Flag Motorsport ForzaMinardi.com - English fan site Formula Two championship results Minardi F1 Chassis Design Case History NEI Software Formula One constructors Formula One entrants Formula Two constructors Formula Two entrants Faenza Italian auto racing teams Italian racecar constructors Auto racing teams established in 1979