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Aussies on Fire In Champ car World Series |
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
Australian Champ Car World Series team owner Paul Stoddart has recorded an historic first victory in the International open wheel series, following Dutchman Robert Doornbos’ scintillating chequered flag finish in the sixth round of the series at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Canada.
Stoddart, who oversees the operation of Team Minardi USA, becomes just the second Australian team owner to claim outright honours in the Champ Car World Series.
Team Australia co-owner Craig Gore of the Gold Coast achieved the feat
earlier this year when Queensland driver Will Power charged to victory
during the opening round of the series in Las Vegas.
With team owners and drivers from Down Under already making their mark,
Australia versus the rest of the World will provide an intense motor
racing environment come October 18-21, when the Gold Coast welcomes all
Champ Car drivers for the 17th running of the Lexmark Indy 300 on the
streets of Surfers Paradise.
During the weekend it was anything but a Canada Day parade on Le
Circuit Mont-Tremblant as Doornbos (#14 Minardi Team USA) battled the
weather as well as open wheel’s best drivers to claim his first career
Champ Car victory.
The 25-year-old Dutchman was involved in wheel-to-wheel fights
throughout the day and emerged victorious on the 2.65-mile (4.26km)
mountainous circuit in the heart of the Laurentians.
The start of the race was far from spectacular for the front row as
Tristan Gommendy (#22 Pay By Touch-Megaspiera) failed to roll off the
grid with an electrical problem and Team Australia’s Will Power (#5
Aussie Vineyards) stalled when the lights extinguished.
The Australian slowly started to work his way through the field making
an impressive pass of Paul Tracy (#3 Indeck) on lap 14 for the tenth
position.
As drizzling rain fell over the track many of the heavyweights
succumbed to the conditions with three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais
and Power spinning off before the entire field opted for Bridgestone
Potenza rain tyres trying to gain as much traction as they could.
Doornbos inherited the lead on lap 53 and was beginning to pull away
before the final full course yellow brought Bourdais right back to his
tail.
The caution set-up a five lap duel between Doornbos and Bourdais with
the experienced rookie able to hold off the champion with Will Power
claiming his third podium finish.
Power and Simon Pagenaud not only overcame difficulities at the start
to earn third and fourth place finishes respectively but put Team
Australia in the drivers seat after the first leg of the Canadian
Triple Crown.
With the win Doornbos moves into a tie with Bourdais for the series
championship lead at 145 points. Will Power is third just 14 points in
arrears with RSPORTS teammates Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani fourth
and fifth.
There is no rest for teams and drivers as they move to their third race
in as many weeks with the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto. Round 7 on
the Champ Car World Series calendar will take place on the temporary
circuit built at Exhibition Place.
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