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THREE IN A ROW FOR BOURDAIS … AUSSIE POWER LEADS ROOKIE CHARGE
Monday, 22 May 2006
French motor racing ace Sebastien Bourdais won his third consecutive Champ Car round this morning by taking out the Grand Prix of Monterrey in Mexico.
The 2004 and 2005 series champion already has wins at Long Beach and Houston in his 2006 account, and proved too classy on a steamy Mexico day by winning the 76-lap shootout from England’s Justin Wilson and US driver A.J Allmendinger.
Team Australia had another solid result with Canadian veteran Alex Tagliani finishing fifth and Queensland talent Will Power in 11th.
Bourdais has stretched his lead in the championship standings and now sits on 102 points after three rounds with Wilson in second on 77 points. Tagliani continues to impress in fifth position with ‘Aussie’ Power maintaining ninth.
The Toowoomba born-and-bred star does however lead the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings in what has so far become an impressive debut Champ Car season.
Bourdais, driving for Newman/Haas Racing, led the first 25 laps of the race, then settled in behind RuSPORT’s Wilson and Allmendinger after the first pit stop.
The classy Frenchman then hit the lead after his second pit stop and outdueled Wilson over the final 20 laps to take the victory. Wilson’s second moved him back into second place in the series standings while Allmendinger settled for third, scoring his first podium finish of his 2006 campaign.
Bourdais became the first driver since Al Unser Sr. in 1971 to follow a title-winning season by winning the first three races of the following year.
“The out-lap after the second stop was extremely crucial,” said Bourdais. “Just from there on, it was a sweet ride.
“We just had to make sure we were not going to make any mistakes. In the meantime, I wanted to get the point for the quickest lap of the race, which we did, not by much though.
“You know, I'm just extremely happy for this whole McDonald's team. It couldn't be a better start for this season.”
Tagliani’s fifth place marked the fifth consecutive season that he has earned a top-five finish in Monterrey.
“I’m pretty satisfied with top five - we scored some great points,” said Tagliani. “When the car is not perfect I think coming out with a top five finish is pretty good.
The guys did a fantastic job in the pit. After the second pit stop we didn’t know how much fuel we got in, so just to be on the safe side they told me to hit a fuel number, save fuel and stop fighting for fourth with Paul (Tracy). As a result I had to save fuel and just bring the car home safe today.”
Team mate Power has now widened his lead in the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings to nine points over Belgian driver Jan Heylen.
“Today was a tough race - it was very hot out there and I got really fatigued,” said Power. “This was definitely another race where I learned something new, and I’m happy I finished as one of the highest rookies.
“My goal is to keep finishing and get points. The track gripped up a lot today, but overall the car did well and the guys did a great job on the car which made it better at the end of the race.”
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 3 – Monterrey - Race Results
1 - Sebastien Bourdais (Newman Haas Racing) 76 laps Active
2 - Justin Wilson (RuSPORT) 76 laps Active
3 - A.J. Allmendinger (RuSPORT) 76 laps Active
4 - Paul Tracy (Forsythe Championship Racing) 76 laps Active
5 - Alex Tagliani (Team Australia) 76 laps Active
6 - Mario Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) 76 laps Active
7 - Andrew Ranger (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 76 laps Active
8 - Oriol Servia (PKV Racing) 76 laps Active
9 - Cristiano da Matta (Dale Coyne Racing) 76 laps Active
10 – Bruno Junqueira (Newman Haas Racing) 75 laps In Pit Lane
11 – Will Power (Team Australia) 75 laps Active
12 – Charles Zwolsman (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 75 laps Active
13 – Dan Clarke (CTE Racing – HVM) 75 laps Active
14 – Katherine Legge (PKV Racing) 74 laps Active
15 – Nicky Pastorelli (Rocketsports Racing) 74 laps Active
16 – Jan Heylen (Dale Coyne Racing) 71 laps Active
17 - Nelson Philippe (CTE Racing – HVM) 0 laps Contact
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The 2004 and 2005 series champion already has wins at Long Beach and Houston in his 2006 account, and proved too classy on a steamy Mexico day by winning the 76-lap shootout from England’s Justin Wilson and US driver A.J Allmendinger.
Team Australia had another solid result with Canadian veteran Alex Tagliani finishing fifth and Queensland talent Will Power in 11th.
Bourdais has stretched his lead in the championship standings and now sits on 102 points after three rounds with Wilson in second on 77 points. Tagliani continues to impress in fifth position with ‘Aussie’ Power maintaining ninth.
The Toowoomba born-and-bred star does however lead the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings in what has so far become an impressive debut Champ Car season.
Bourdais, driving for Newman/Haas Racing, led the first 25 laps of the race, then settled in behind RuSPORT’s Wilson and Allmendinger after the first pit stop.
The classy Frenchman then hit the lead after his second pit stop and outdueled Wilson over the final 20 laps to take the victory. Wilson’s second moved him back into second place in the series standings while Allmendinger settled for third, scoring his first podium finish of his 2006 campaign.
Bourdais became the first driver since Al Unser Sr. in 1971 to follow a title-winning season by winning the first three races of the following year.
“The out-lap after the second stop was extremely crucial,” said Bourdais. “Just from there on, it was a sweet ride.
“We just had to make sure we were not going to make any mistakes. In the meantime, I wanted to get the point for the quickest lap of the race, which we did, not by much though.
“You know, I'm just extremely happy for this whole McDonald's team. It couldn't be a better start for this season.”
Tagliani’s fifth place marked the fifth consecutive season that he has earned a top-five finish in Monterrey.
“I’m pretty satisfied with top five - we scored some great points,” said Tagliani. “When the car is not perfect I think coming out with a top five finish is pretty good.
The guys did a fantastic job in the pit. After the second pit stop we didn’t know how much fuel we got in, so just to be on the safe side they told me to hit a fuel number, save fuel and stop fighting for fourth with Paul (Tracy). As a result I had to save fuel and just bring the car home safe today.”
Team mate Power has now widened his lead in the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings to nine points over Belgian driver Jan Heylen.
“Today was a tough race - it was very hot out there and I got really fatigued,” said Power. “This was definitely another race where I learned something new, and I’m happy I finished as one of the highest rookies.
“My goal is to keep finishing and get points. The track gripped up a lot today, but overall the car did well and the guys did a great job on the car which made it better at the end of the race.”
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 3 – Monterrey - Race Results
1 - Sebastien Bourdais (Newman Haas Racing) 76 laps Active
2 - Justin Wilson (RuSPORT) 76 laps Active
3 - A.J. Allmendinger (RuSPORT) 76 laps Active
4 - Paul Tracy (Forsythe Championship Racing) 76 laps Active
5 - Alex Tagliani (Team Australia) 76 laps Active
6 - Mario Dominguez (Forsythe Championship Racing) 76 laps Active
7 - Andrew Ranger (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 76 laps Active
8 - Oriol Servia (PKV Racing) 76 laps Active
9 - Cristiano da Matta (Dale Coyne Racing) 76 laps Active
10 – Bruno Junqueira (Newman Haas Racing) 75 laps In Pit Lane
11 – Will Power (Team Australia) 75 laps Active
12 – Charles Zwolsman (Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) 75 laps Active
13 – Dan Clarke (CTE Racing – HVM) 75 laps Active
14 – Katherine Legge (PKV Racing) 74 laps Active
15 – Nicky Pastorelli (Rocketsports Racing) 74 laps Active
16 – Jan Heylen (Dale Coyne Racing) 71 laps Active
17 - Nelson Philippe (CTE Racing – HVM) 0 laps Contact
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