It is becoming a history making season for French Champ Car driver Sebastien Bourdais.

This weekend at Round five of the Champ Car World Series in Portland, Oregon, a victory would elevate Bourdais (Newman/Haas Racing) to heights reached by only two drivers in the 98-year history of Champ Car racing.

It would also move him one step closer to a third consecutive championship - something done only once in those same 98 seasons.

With wins this year already secured at Long Beach, Houston, Monterrey and Milwaukee, a fifth consecutive victory would move him alongside A.J. Foyt and Al Unser Sr. as the only drivers in series history to win five consecutive rounds.

Foyt holds the all-time record with seven straight victories while Unser won five in a row on two separate occasions during his illustrious career.

Not only has Bourdais the form on the board in 2006, but he has good experience at Portland including a 2004 win after starting from pole position and a second placing last year.

So far this season, the Newman/Haas Racing driver has three poles to go with his four wins and has led 267 of the season’s 443 laps, a percentage (60.2) that is second only to the 66.8 put up by Unser in 1970.

“We’ve had mixed fortunes at this race with tough luck in 2003, a win in 2004 and a disappointing second place finish in 2005 so why not win again in 2006?” said Bourdais.

“First and most important, it would be great to win in Portland to build a little larger gap in the standings because it’s still pretty close.

“And to win five in a row and do something that hasn’t been done since before Newman/Haas was even a team, or I was born, would be a great reward for all the hard work the McDonald’s team has put in to get us these results.”

The early-season rout has prompted a number of changes throughout the Champ Car paddock as championship hopefuls look for ways to keep in touch with the rampaging Bourdais.

Defending Portland winner Cristiano da Matta from Brazil made the first move, vaulting to RuSPORT to partner last year’s Portland polesitter and current series second placesitter Justin Wilson from England.

American prodigy A.J. Allmendinger has also found a new home, slotting in alongside mentor and former karting team owner Paul Tracy at Forsythe Championship Racing.

Allmendinger’s move has sent Mexican favourite Mario Dominguez off in search of a new seat and hopeful of still lining up in Portland.

Australian interest will centre on the development of Toowoomba rookie Will Power and the return of Canadian Alex Tagliani after an accident forced him out of the last round in Milwaukee.

Power suffered some bad luck of his own at Milwaukee as a late-race mechanical failure ended a top-five run, and shaved all but one point off of his lead in the rookie point standings.

The 25-year-old set a new career high by qualifying fifth at Milwaukee and is still holding on to a top-10 position in the season standings.

“I’m looking forward to Portland and getting back on a road course,” said Power. “Team Australia really keeps improving and the Aussie Vineyards car gets better and better each time we get it out on the track.

“Going into the weekend, I’m feeling really confident and have been working really hard training to prepare for the race.”

Despite seeing his streak of 107 consecutive race starts snapped in Milwaukee, Tagliani is confident about racing in Portland.

“I’m really excited for Portland and to be able to race this weekend,” said Tagliani. “It’s always very competitive and challenging, and I really enjoy that.

“Team Australia has worked really hard in the last two weeks to get me a good car that would be ready for Portland.

“Performance wise we have been doing very well - we have just had a few disappointments.

“Tomorrow I’m getting my stitches taken out, so I look at that as a good sign for the weekend.”

Round five of the Champ Car World Series in Portland will start with practice and qualifying sessions tomorrow and Saturday, and then the 105-lap race on Sunday.

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.