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| Big Day For Australia In Las Vegas |
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| Monday, 09 April 2007 | |
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Team Australia’s Will Power become the first Australian to win a round of the Champ Car World Series in what was a significant day for Australian motorsport at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Nevada today. Power, born and bred in Toowoomba, Queensland, drove a car co-owned by Queensland businessman Craig Gore. Ironically, the second driver across the line today was Dutch driver Robert Doornbas, in a Minardi Team USA car co-owned by Australian entrepreneur Paul Stoddart. Both Gore and Stoddart were on hand at the official ticket launch of the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast last month where both indicated they would like to be in the championship fight when their “home” race rolls around this year from October 18-21. Doornbas became the first rookie to finish on the podium on debut since Nigel Mansell on the streets of Queensland’s Gold Coast in 1993. Power led 38 of the day’s 68 laps, and benefited from a fuel problem that befell early-race leader Paul Tracy to roll to his first win. He ended up beating rookie Doornbos to the line, while Tracy rounded out the podium with a third-place finish. Tracy took the lead in the first turn of green-flag racing, rolling around the outside of polesitter Power heading into the first turn and leading through the back half of the course. Tracy would stay in front through a pair of caution periods but Power fought back and reclaimed the point on Lap 11 while Alex Tagliani held third. The first part of the race saw four caution flags in the first 14 laps, but Dan Clarke’s contact with the tyres on Lap 14 would end up being the last misstep of the day as the remainder of the event turned into a straight-up street fight. Sebastien Bourdais was the first heavyweight to get knocked out, as his charge from his 16th-place qualifying spot was blunted after wall contact on Lap 24. Bourdais had come all the way to third in 23 laps, but a flat tyre led to a pit stop that led to his retirement six laps later. Power and Tracy made their first stops on Lap 27, handing the lead to Tagliani, but the stops were more important for what didn’t happen on them – rather than what did. Tracy’s Forsythe Championship Racing crew struggled with the fueling mechanism and got just a few laps’ worth of methanol in the car, forcing Tracy to pit again on Lap 33, leaving his hopes for a win riding on a caution flag that never came. Doornbos capitalized and put himself in the second spot before starting the final cycle of stops on Lap 43, while Power made his final trip down Pit Lane just two laps later. The lead cycled to Tagliani and Bruno Junqueira before Tracy took the point on Lap 49. But his die had been cast with his extra stop, meaning that he had to refuel with 14 minutes to run in the timed event, giving Power the advantage that he would carry to the finish. Doornbos had a comfortable margin ahead of Tracy as his second-place finish gave the new Minardi Team USA a podium in its Champ Car debut, while Tracy outdistanced Tagliani for the final spot on the podium. Tagliani took fourth while former Macau GP winner Tristan Gommendy rounded out the top five in his debut. Katherine Legge came home in sixth, matching her career-best finish and setting a new Champ Car record for the best finish by a female on a road or street course. Her DCR teammate Junqueira finished seventh while Pacific Coast Motorsports rookie Alex Figge not only finished eighth, but the American-born driver also scored the championship point for making up the most positions in the event. Mario Dominguez was the last car running and finished ninth while rookie contender Neel Jani rounded out the top 10. Bourdais started his pursuit on a record-breaking fourth consecutive title with a 13th-place finish, while last year’s series runner-up Justin Wilson ended up 14th after a driveshaft problem. Rookie Graham Rahal ended up 17th after contact on the second lap. The series will pack up and roll to Southern California for next week’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will be the second of three races in three weeks. WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY….. Will Power - #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 “It feels really good,” said Power. “The only issue I had was a really long brake pedal at the end of the race. But we had an 18-second lead, so we just brought it home and brought Derrick Walker his first win since '99. It's his birthday. So a pole and a win, I think that's a pretty good present for him. “We also brought Craig Gore his first Champ Car win as a team owner and that is something pretty special. “Craig is a passionate Australian and he has worked so hard for three years to get us into the position we are in today. I am proud to be the first Australian to win one of these races and there have been a few guys try over the years. “It is also a great result for Aussie Vineyards and the rest of our sponsors who have become a part of the Team Australia program. “This is the first of a long marathon because we really want to win this championship. “I lost the start to Paul. I was a bit worried about it because we were on the dusty side of the track. “I was sort of expecting to get wheel spin, and he got me there. Then he made a bit of a mistake in the chicane. I got a good run on him with 'push to pass' and passed him. “He pretty much pressured me all the way to the pit stop, especially at the end when my tires went off. I struggled with the rear tires. I expected him to come out behind me. But I think he had a bit of a problem in the pits. “After that I was pretty much alone. I caught Katherine Legge for a while, she held me up. But after that, it was a pretty cruisy race really. “We had a good car. It handled well all day.” Robert Doornbas - Minardi Team USA “I really enjoyed it,” said Doornbas. “ A great start to the weekend. “Already yesterday to have qualified in the top three, we couldn't have dreamed of a better start really. “Was a bit worried this morning because it's a different routine that you have than in European racing with these rolling starts. I'm so pleased for everybody, especially for my sponsors here, they come all the way from Holland. “It's been a long winter. Really a good decision to go racing in Champ Car.” Paul Tracy - Forsythe Racing “It went really well,” said Tracy. “Obviously, to lead the beginning of the race, I made a good start, was able to get by Will on the start. “We spent a lot of the first part of the race under yellow. We came in and did our first pit stop. The car didn't take any fuel for us. “We spent 15 seconds and ended up getting like four laps of fuel. We came back out and chased, then had to come straight back in and take fuel again. That really took the fight out of the race I think for Will. “I think we could have put a lot of pressure on him. It was a good day for the Forsythe team and Monster Energy. “ Craig Gore - Co-owner Team Australia “What an amazing day,” said Gore. “It was one thing to win the race, but to hear the Australian national anthem being played on the other side of the world as a result of the win, meant more to me. “I am proud that Team Australia has been able to take a young Australian driver in Will Power and give him the chance to become the first person from this country to win a Champ Car race. “I am proud that Team Australia has been able to promote Australia, Australian businesses and the Gold Coast Champ Car race in the way that it has. “To win the opening race of the series in Las Vegas in the week that we launched the Aussie Vineyards wine into Nevada region is something pretty special. “Will (Power) is a remarkable young man who is focused on getting the job done for himself, his team, his sponsors and his country. He is a talented sportsman all of Australia can be proud of. “My partner in this project, Derrick Walker, has continued to do amazing things and part of the reward for him and his fantastically talented and loyal team came today. “This is a tough business. Derrick is not only a survivor, but has again shown he is more than capable to moulding a team that can win races. “We have said from the start that our goal this season is to be in a position to win the championship. We certainly have a long way to go, but I don’t think we could have asked for a much better start.” Paul Stoddart - Co-owner Team Minardi USA "To be honest, I couldn't be happier today,” said Stoddart. “The result speaks for itself -- a fantastic drive by Robert, a fantastic strategy from the team, and a totally professional job by the entire Minardi Team USA crew, both here and back at the factory. “Well done to everybody. As for Dan, he was indeed speedy when he made a flying start and gained four places on the first lap. Sadly, though, it wasn't to be his day today, but I have absolutely doubt that will come." RESULTS: Vegas Grand Prix Round 1 of the 2007 Champ Car World Series 1. Will Power 68 laps 2. Robert Doornbas 3. Paul Tracy 4. Alex Tagliani 5. Tristan Gommendy 6. Katherine Legge 7. Bruno Junqueira 67 laps 8. Alex Figge 63 laps 9. Mario Dominguez 57 laps 10. Neel Jani 56 laps 11. Ryan Dalziel 52 laps 12. Simon Pagenaud 47 laps 13. Sebastien Bourdais 30 laps 14. Justin Wilson 20 laps 15. Dan Clarke 13 laps 16. Matt Halliday 3 laps 17. Graham Rahal 1 lap CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS 1.Will Power 34 2. Robert Doornbos (R) 27 3. Paul Tracy 27 4. Alex Tagliani 24 5. Tristan Gommendy (R) 21 6. Katherine Legge 20 7. Bruno Junqueira 18 8. Alex Figge (R) 15 9. Mario Dominguez 13 10. Neel Jani (R) 11 11 Ryan Dalziel (R) 10 12 Simon ! Pagenaud (R) 9 13 Sebastien Bourdais 8 14 Justin Wilson 7 15 Dan Clarke 6 16 Matt Halliday (R) 5 17 Graham Rahal (R) 4 NATIONS CUP – TOP FIVE 1. Australia 33 2. Netherlands 27 3. Canada 25 4. France 21 5. England 19 |
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