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Bourdais Dominates in Belgium |
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Monday, 27 August 2007 |
Sebastien Bourdais (#1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing) has again proved why
he is the driver to beat in the Champ Car World Series, earning nearly
every point at the Belgian Grand Prix by grabbing the pole position on
Saturday, setting the fastest race lap and winning by more than 13
seconds.
Sebastien Bourdais (#1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing) has again proved why
he is the driver to beat in the Champ Car World Series, earning nearly
every point at the Belgian Grand Prix by grabbing the pole position on
Saturday, setting the fastest race lap and winning by more than 13
seconds.
Victory has assured Bourdais an extension of his overall points
lead in the Championship to 53 over Dutch driver Robert Doornbos (#14
Minardi Team USA), who campaigns the fortunes of Australian team owner
Paul Stoddart.
Finishing second over the weekend was Dale Coyne Racing driver
Bruno Junqueira, who scored the best ever finish in Dale Coyne’s 24
years as a team owner. Though the Brazilian started fourth, it wasn’t
an average Sunday drive.
Junqueira lost one position at the start when the entire field came
to pit road on lap 17, a fueling problem saw him exit pit lane in 15th
place.
Mired in the back of the field, Junqueira and the Coyne Racing crew
came back onto pit lane under the next yellow just ten laps later. The
alternate strategy saw Bruno move up to second in the order as the
other drivers had to dive onto pit lane for service under green flag
conditions.
Junqueira made his final stop on lap 48 also under green flag
conditions and dropped back to tenth. When a full-course caution slowed
the race again, the majority of the field used the opportunity to come
to pit road for a final splash of fuel to reach the end of the race.
While they came to pit lane, Junqueira stayed out and moved back up
to the fourth position, sitting behind Simon Pagenaud (#15 Team
Australia), Belgian Jan Heylen (#34 Conquest Racing) and Tristan
Gommendy (#22 PKV Racing).
The three drivers in front all had to pit for fuel while Bruno worked hard to conserve fuel and make it to the chequered flag.
In the end, the three-time championship runner-up battled valiantly
with Bourdais and his Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing teammate Graham Rahal,
letting the French champion slip by but holding off the American
rookie.
Much like Bruno, Rahal was embroiled in a tight battle throughout
the race, mostly with Australian Will Power (#5 Team Australia) and
English driver Justin Wilson (#9 RuSPORT).
Power finished fourth, subsequently losing more ground in the race
for the Vanderbilt Cup, with Wilson right behind in fifth. Forsythe
Championship Racing driver Oriol Servia finished sixth, his ninth
top-10 finish in 10 races.
With the double podium, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing took the early
lead in the Phanos Champ Car European Team Cup competition earning 70
points over the course of the weekend.
Team Australia, winners of the Champ Car Canadian Triple Crown, are
second with 60.5 points and the Rocketsports/RuSPORT duo is third.
Next up is the back-end of the European double header as the Champ
Car World Series heads to Assen, Holland for the Bavaria Beer Champ Car
Grand Prix of Holland presented by Audi, Hertz, Gant, Pioneer and
Jumbo.
The event in Holland runs from August 31 – September 2 as the final
preliminary to this year’s Lexmark Indy 300 to be held on the Gold
Coast October 18-21.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 27 August 2007 )
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