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BOURDAIS WINS IN HOUSTON … AUSSIE POWER LEADING ROOKIE
Monday, 15 May 2006
Two-time defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais came from fifth position on the grid to win his second consecutive Champ Car World Series round at Houston in Texas yesterday.
Boudais, who drives from Newman/Haas Racing, has extended his championship lead to 18 points after two rounds in his quest to win a third successive Champ Car crown.
Australian driver Will Power secured his best Champ Car result finishing seventh and consolidating ninth place overall in the series standings.
The Toowoomba youngster in the Team Australia green and gold colours was the leading rookie in the Houston race and has now shot to the lead in the rookie standings.
Power is aiming to continue his progression to fight for victory when the Champ Car World Series reaches the Gold Coast for the Lexmark Indy 300 from October 19 to 22.
Bourdais won the Houston race from Canada’s Paul Tracy with Mexico’s Mario Dominguez finishing third after leading for 63 laps of the 96 lap race.
Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) moved into second place in the championship standings while team mate Tracy has shot up to seventh.
England’s Justin Wilson maintains third in the championship with a fifth-place finish in Houston.
It was another amazing performance from Bourdais who came from fifth place on the grid, moved into fourth after one lap, third after four laps, second after nine laps before briefly hitting the lead on lap 27.
Dominguez did regain the lead until lap 67 when he missed a corner and rolled into the runoff area at turn five before rejoining the race in third place.
“I really quite honestly never would have believed we could have won that race at the start,” said Bourdais.
“It’s just one of these situations where basically you start and you feel really, really strong. I just pushed really hard while I was one hundred percent fresh.”
Despite a drive through penalty on lap 71, Power flew the Team Australia flag proudly and continued his solid improvement curve.
“I felt good about the race. I just kept on, kept my line straight down and kept out of trouble,” said Power.
“I had really good pace and think we could have finished in the top four, but I will settle for seventh and the points that go with that. I think the track was one of the most physical tracks I have ever driven on.”
Power’s team mate Alex Tagliani was taken to hospital for overnight observation after hitting a wall at turn three with only six laps to go. The apparent brake failure was a result of an earlier incident with Spaniard Oriol Servia.
Tagliani was released from Herman Hospital in Houston this morning and believes he will be fit enough for this weekend’s third round of the Champ Car World Series in Monterrey, Mexico.
The talented Canadian suffered back pains due to the accident and he underwent x-rays, MRI and CT Scans of sections of his back.
Despite being given the “all clear”, Tagliani will travel to Indianapolis for further precautionary checks with Champ Car’s leading orthopedic consultant, Dr Terry Trammell.
“As every hour goes by I feel stronger and stronger and more flexible,” said Tagliani.
“I will head to Indianapolis to see doctor Trammell, but at this stage I feel like I will have no problems racing in Monterrey this weekend.
“The throttle stuck open and having front brakes just made everything worse. By the time I got to the switch to cut the engine I was in the wall.
“It was obviously disappointing because we were on track for a good points haul. We will just have to make sure we get them back in Monterrey.”
Queensland will host Round 14 of the Champ Car World Series with the Lexmark Indy 300 to be held from October 19 to 22. The annual Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast is a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG.
Round 2 – Houston - Race Results
1 - Sebastien Bourdais (Newman Haas Racing) 96 laps Active
2 - Paul Tracy (Forsythe Championship Racing) 96 laps Active
3 - Mario Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) 96 laps Active
4 - Nelson Philippe (CTE Racing – HVM) 96 laps Active
5 - Justin Wilson (RuSPORT) 96 laps Active
6 - Andrew Ranger (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 96 laps Active
7 – Will Power (Team Australia) 96 laps Active
8 - A.J. Allmendinger (RuSPORT) 96 laps Active
9 - Cristiano da Matta (Dale Coyne Racing) 95 laps Active
10 – Bruno Junqueira (Newman Haas Racing) 93 laps Active
11 - Alex Tagliani (Team Australia) 90 laps Contact
12 - Oriol Servia (PKV Racing) 87 laps Contact
13 – Jan Heylen (Dale Coyne Racing) 82 laps Active
14 – Katherine Legge (PKV Racing) 81 laps Contact
15 – Charles Zwolsman (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 69 laps Contact
16 – Dan Clarke (CTE Racing – HVM) 33 laps Mechanical
17 – Nicky Pastorelli (Rocketsports Racing) 29 laps Mechanical
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Boudais, who drives from Newman/Haas Racing, has extended his championship lead to 18 points after two rounds in his quest to win a third successive Champ Car crown.
Australian driver Will Power secured his best Champ Car result finishing seventh and consolidating ninth place overall in the series standings.
The Toowoomba youngster in the Team Australia green and gold colours was the leading rookie in the Houston race and has now shot to the lead in the rookie standings.
Power is aiming to continue his progression to fight for victory when the Champ Car World Series reaches the Gold Coast for the Lexmark Indy 300 from October 19 to 22.
Bourdais won the Houston race from Canada’s Paul Tracy with Mexico’s Mario Dominguez finishing third after leading for 63 laps of the 96 lap race.
Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) moved into second place in the championship standings while team mate Tracy has shot up to seventh.
England’s Justin Wilson maintains third in the championship with a fifth-place finish in Houston.
It was another amazing performance from Bourdais who came from fifth place on the grid, moved into fourth after one lap, third after four laps, second after nine laps before briefly hitting the lead on lap 27.
Dominguez did regain the lead until lap 67 when he missed a corner and rolled into the runoff area at turn five before rejoining the race in third place.
“I really quite honestly never would have believed we could have won that race at the start,” said Bourdais.
“It’s just one of these situations where basically you start and you feel really, really strong. I just pushed really hard while I was one hundred percent fresh.”
Despite a drive through penalty on lap 71, Power flew the Team Australia flag proudly and continued his solid improvement curve.
“I felt good about the race. I just kept on, kept my line straight down and kept out of trouble,” said Power.
“I had really good pace and think we could have finished in the top four, but I will settle for seventh and the points that go with that. I think the track was one of the most physical tracks I have ever driven on.”
Power’s team mate Alex Tagliani was taken to hospital for overnight observation after hitting a wall at turn three with only six laps to go. The apparent brake failure was a result of an earlier incident with Spaniard Oriol Servia.
Tagliani was released from Herman Hospital in Houston this morning and believes he will be fit enough for this weekend’s third round of the Champ Car World Series in Monterrey, Mexico.
The talented Canadian suffered back pains due to the accident and he underwent x-rays, MRI and CT Scans of sections of his back.
Despite being given the “all clear”, Tagliani will travel to Indianapolis for further precautionary checks with Champ Car’s leading orthopedic consultant, Dr Terry Trammell.
“As every hour goes by I feel stronger and stronger and more flexible,” said Tagliani.
“I will head to Indianapolis to see doctor Trammell, but at this stage I feel like I will have no problems racing in Monterrey this weekend.
“The throttle stuck open and having front brakes just made everything worse. By the time I got to the switch to cut the engine I was in the wall.
“It was obviously disappointing because we were on track for a good points haul. We will just have to make sure we get them back in Monterrey.”
Queensland will host Round 14 of the Champ Car World Series with the Lexmark Indy 300 to be held from October 19 to 22. The annual Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast is a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG.
Round 2 – Houston - Race Results
1 - Sebastien Bourdais (Newman Haas Racing) 96 laps Active
2 - Paul Tracy (Forsythe Championship Racing) 96 laps Active
3 - Mario Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) 96 laps Active
4 - Nelson Philippe (CTE Racing – HVM) 96 laps Active
5 - Justin Wilson (RuSPORT) 96 laps Active
6 - Andrew Ranger (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 96 laps Active
7 – Will Power (Team Australia) 96 laps Active
8 - A.J. Allmendinger (RuSPORT) 96 laps Active
9 - Cristiano da Matta (Dale Coyne Racing) 95 laps Active
10 – Bruno Junqueira (Newman Haas Racing) 93 laps Active
11 - Alex Tagliani (Team Australia) 90 laps Contact
12 - Oriol Servia (PKV Racing) 87 laps Contact
13 – Jan Heylen (Dale Coyne Racing) 82 laps Active
14 – Katherine Legge (PKV Racing) 81 laps Contact
15 – Charles Zwolsman (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 69 laps Contact
16 – Dan Clarke (CTE Racing – HVM) 33 laps Mechanical
17 – Nicky Pastorelli (Rocketsports Racing) 29 laps Mechanical
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