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CHAMP CAR: Zwolsman Sr. Link Takes DEA to Conquest Shop
Written by: Robin Miller   
02/14/2007 - 07:00 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
 


Zwolsman drove for Conquest last year but has nothing lined up for '07. His father was arrested in Holland last November for drug trafficking. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

The Drug Enforcement Administration and investigators from Holland paid a visit to Conquest Racing on Wednesday morning to question owner Eric Bachelart about his association with Dutch driver Charles Zwolsman.

Last year, the 26-year-old native of Lelystand drove one of Bachelart's cars in the Champ Car World Series and last November, Charles Zwolsman Sr. was arrested in The Netherlands for drug trafficking. He'd been convicted of a similar offense in the 1990s.

On Wednesday, DEA officials ordered all Conquest crew members out of the Westside Indianapolis shop for the day and searched the premises, along with Bachelart's home.

"They just wanted to ask questions and look around," said Bachelart, a former Indy-car and CART driver who started his own team in 1996. "We have nothing to hide and we haven't done anything wrong.

"Everything is OK and our shop will be back to normal tomorrow."

Zwolsman, the 2005 Formula Atlantic champion, bought his ride with Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing last season but has nothing lined up for 2007.

"I had heard his old man had gone to jail a few weeks ago but Eric and I didn't know anything about his past problems," said Mike Lanigan, the owner of Mi-Jack who remains partners with Bachelart in their Atlantic team. "This is like a bad joke."

Added Bachelart: "I didn't know any of that stuff about his father when I signed Charles and I feel bad for him because he's a sweet kid. He's just a victim of what his father has been doing."

The scenario is reminiscent of the plight of John Paul Jr., whose promising Indy-car career was interrupted and almost derailed by his criminal father. John Paul Sr. also dealt in drugs and was arrested for attempted murder but, because he wouldn't testify against his father, John Paul Jr. had to serve 18 months in prison in the mid-'80s and would never drive for a top team again.