How Sweet It Is!

Champ Car World Series had a winning weekend in Houston and I'll attest to the fan fest that accompanied it.

Thursday began the speed weekend here with American LeMans Series taking to the new circuit first. O'Connell, Fellows, Long, McNish and others explored the varying setups around the newborn 1.7 mile temporary street course in shadows of the venerable Astrodome and the monolithic Reliant Stadium. Atlantics, Star Mazda and Champ Car practiced then ALMS qualified for their Friday night race. It was a struggle for most teams, but the favorites found their way ahead of the competition, and Audi, Porsche and Team Corvette were among the winners.
Saturday night was left to Champ Cars after exiting races by support series', Star Mazda, and Champ Car developmental series Formula Atlantic. Several Champ Car drivers are past Atlantics champions, and it is a competitive series and the last challenge before a driver moves up to the elites. Andreas Wirth perservered to take victory after Graham Rahal was penalized for bumping Rafael Matos into a spin in the Turn 2 chicane late in the race.
Champ Car World Series back to back champion, Sebastien Bourdais is as fast as ever and the Frenchman has taken an early lead in the points battle, winning the first race in Long Beach and winning here in Houston by a modest margin over Paul Tracy and Mario Dominguez. Bourdais took the lead late in the race when leader Dominguez made a rare error and overshot turn 5 and had to spin the car about to return to the race in third place.
Cristiano DeMatta is making the best of his chance with Dale Coyne Racing this year. Dale had seen the birth of many of CCWS's best drivers, but his spare budget precludes the competitive edge to get his cars to the front. Consequently, podium finishes for his entrants are few and far between. Cristiano was unable to secure a sponsor this year, and without it, several teams passed on his proven talent for a driver bringing sponsorship with him. He was able to sign on with Coyne without sponsorship. So goes it in American open wheel racing: talent gets you there, sponsorship($$) gets you in the seat.
Champ Car goes to Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico this weekend, we'll be watching!

Indy cars enter the fabled Thirty Days of May looking for a break in the weather. It didn't happen.
Cars had limited practice on Wednesday the 11th, where Hornish was fastest lapping at 39.68 @ 226.7 mph followed by Wheldon, Castroneves, Dixon and Franchitti. It rained until Sunday when in shortened practice Wheldon put up the fastest lap at 39.35 @ 228.6 mph followed closely by Hornish, Castroneves, Dixon and Franchitti.
Practice will resume on the track on Wednesday morning, with final Pole day qualifying on Saturday, then a last chance Bump Day qualifying on Sunday. There more than enough entrants to fill the 33 car field.

The 90th Indianapolis 500 will be on Sunday, May 28, coverage on ABC begins 1 pm Eastern, Noon Central.

I ran into Bobby Rahal again at the Houston races, this time he signed my Indy 500 hat from 2003. Bobby drank the milk in 1986.

Nice guy.

-Katykarter