AJ leads the way in Toronto

First Forsythe 1-2 since 2003

By Kate Shaw
Photo courtesy Champ Car World Series

TORONTO, Canada (July 9, 2006) — It was a good day to drive for Forsythe Championship Racing in Toronto today, as new boy A.J. Allmendinger took his third win since joining the team, followed home by teammate and local boy Paul Tracy. Current Championship points leader Sebastien Bourdais (No. 1 MacDonalds Newman-Haas) took the final podium place. Rounding out the top five were Justin Wilson (No. 9 CDW RuSport) and his teammate Cristiano da Matta in the No. 10, moving up from a start in P8. This is Cristiano’s third race with the RuSport team and an encouraging sign for the team. The finish today was the first Forsythe 1-2 in Toronto since 2002, when Tracy and Franchitti did the deed and the first 1-2 overall since 2003 when Carpentier led Tracy home and then did that lap of honour clad in a chequered flag. This year, however, the dignity of the team was upheld and racing suits were worn.

Attrition played its usual part in the running order of the race today, although there were only three full course yellows during the two-hour time-certain race, two of them involving Speedy Dan Clarke (No. 14 CTE-HVM). In Lap 8 Katherine Legge (No. 20 Bell Micro PKV) made contact with Jan Heylen (No. 11 The Muerman’s Car Dale Coyne Racing) causing Clarke and Tonis Kasamets (No. 18 FlexOVit Rocketsports Racing) to stop on track to avoid the carnage. Six laps later Zwolsman (No. 34 Mi-Jack Conquest Racing) made a dive bomb move into a space that wasn’t there between Heylen and Clarke, this time ending Clarke’s day. The final yellow came on Lap 77 when Nelson Philippe, who had led many laps due to his alternate pit stop strategy and expertise in fuel saving, ran into the back of Oriol Servia (No. 6 Gulfstream PKV) and the two cars turned sideways and slid halfway down the backstretch and into the tires at Turn 3. Both cars were retired.

“Oriol made a comment in the drivers meeting to stay left when passing after the straight," said Philippe, "which is exactly the opposite of what he did during the last ten laps today. He broke inside as I went to make the pass which sent me airborne and into the wall. It’s disappointing as I know we could have had a chance at a podium finish as we were really quick in the second stint. It felt like I was qualifying every lap. I am proud of the CTE-HVM team as our strategy was to be in fifth position by the first lap and we achieved it. It felt good to lead again—it’s definitely a feeling I can get used to.”

The most unusual event of the race was the sudden overtaking by the race leader of a party of pigeons who were having a Sunday picnic in the middle of the back straight, causing Allmendinger to swerve before they grudgingly took flight. After the race, Tracy joked, “I thought Red Bull [Allmendinger’s sponsor] gives you wings! Why didn’t you fly over them? Sitting in the middle of the back straightaway trying to take you out. Needed some Red Bull. You should have stopped and gave them some. ” Allmendinger suggested that if the birds had caused him to lose his front wing, the rest of the race would have been broadcast without any commentary from him because it would not have been family rated fare.

After the race the top three drivers commented that fuel saving played a big part in today’s race. Said Sebastien Bourdais, “It was an up and down day for me, that involved a lot of saving fuel. And in Turn 3, I don't know what Justin did, I guess he screwed up, too, went all the way to the end of turn three, he was kind of facing me like that at the very end of the corner when I was running a little wide. You know, I couldn't anticipate him to be at that place. We had a small contact. I'm just happy that I didn't puncture his tire. That was a good thing 'cause that would not have been fair, but in the meantime he made quite a big mistake. I don't exactly know what happened, but he was definitely not where he was supposed to be. “

“I am happy for Forsythe,” said Tracy, “and for me. It’s been a rough year so far but to come away P2 in my home town is a good thing. You always know you can do it, in your gut, but you know, we came in here last year leading in the points and ran into a lot of bad luck – mistakes, problems, mechanical difficulties – but I’ve never given up. Because this is what I love to do; these are the kind of cars I love to drive. That’s why I have signed to stay with Forsythe til 2011.”

About his third win in a row, Allmendinger said, “You get used to winning and you want to do more and more of it! Right, Sebastien?” The Frenchman had no reply but a speaking look.

And when asked what went through his mind on the restart after the Philippe-Servia kafuffle, Allmendinger didn’t hesitate. “Edmonton last year!” he said honestly, recalling that he was then leading the race when he made a self-described ‘bonehead move’ on a restart and crashed out of the race. But his teammate was quick to point out that Allmendinger had matured considerably since then.
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“Russo fired him to get a guy that could challenge Sebastien,” said Tracy. “Now he needs to get somebody to challenge the guy he fired! I get a laugh out of things like that.” So did his listeners, with the probable exception of Carl Russo.

So at the end of the day Bourdais’ hold on the Championship lead is whittled down as Allmendinger assumes second place, pushing erstwhile teammate Wilson down to third – and today’s results put Tracy all the way from 11th to 6th. The series moves now to Edmonton and into the second half of the season. Meet us back here on the 21st to get all the news you need as the Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered By Ford powers its way across Canada.

See you up north in 2 weeks.
 

Justin Wilson comes out of nowhere to take pole in Toronto
Bourdais and Tracy to start on row 2
By Kate Shaw
Photos by Jamie Longmuir
TORONTO, Canada (July 8, 2006) — The afternoon qualifying session was touted as a battle to the chequered flag between Sebastien Bourdais (No. 1 MacDonalds Newman-Haas Racing) and A.J. Allmendinger (No. 7 Indeck Forsythe Championship Racing) who took turns topping the leaderboard throughout the session. But with just a few minutes to go, Justin Wilson (No. 9 CDW RuSport) found two laps of clear track and leapfrogged them both to take his first pole position of the year with a time of 58.182. Allmendinger, who took yesterday’s provisional pole, maintained his position on the outside of the front row and defending Champion Sebastien Bourdais completed today’s top 3. Local boy Paul Tracy (No. 3 Indeck Championship Racing) finished up in P4 and Oriol Servia (No. 6 Gulfstream PKV Racing) rounded out the top 5.

The session was hampered by only one flag, and that was of the red variety brought out by Dan Clarke (No. 14 CTE-HVM Racing) who drove straight into the tire wall at Turn 3 and damaged his car too badly to continue. He was docked his fast time and finished P16 in the combined sessions. After 5 minutes required to tidy Clarke’s car away, the session resumed unimpeded to the end.

Justin Wilson was last year’s winner of the Toronto race, and he was very pleased to be starting on the pole this year. “I have moved up two positions each year that I have raced here,” he pointed out. “I started fifth two years ago, third last year, and it’s good to start from pole this year! It seemed during my first stint that everywhere I went on the track Oriol [Servia] was in front of me. When he finally pulled in, I got clear track and I could make it count!”

Second place Allmendinger opined that Toronto in his new ride was “the most difficult track I have driven so far. But I am very pleased with my starting position tomorrow. As Carl [Russo] would have said, it’s another RuSport 1-2.”

Sebastien Bourdais was fairly philosophical about his third place start, in which he will line up next to Paul Tracy. “You have your share of luck and timing,” he said. “We aren’t getting the success we had for the first four races of the season, but the MacDonalds car is still a good car and the track got better as we worked through the traffic. I would have finished higher, but Jan Heylen was trying to get out of the way of the quick cars, unfortunately he crossed the line in turn five just in front of me. I lost the rear of the car, then I had to take it easy on turn six. Still did an 8.37 or something like that. It's always disappointing when you feel you have the car to get the job done.”

Tonis Kasemets, who recently joined Rocketsports Racing in the No. 18 FlexOVit Abrasives car, admitted that he needs to continue to work on his driving out there on the 1.755-mile course, but for a first run on a tight racing course he held his own. Street course racing is not as easy as it appears, as the walls are closer than they appear and maneuvering one of these 750-hp Champ Cars on such narrow terrain takes talent, patience, and practice. Kasemets has all three of those requirements met, but just needs a little more time to get more acquainted with the demands of a challenging street course.

Kasemets ran his quickest lap of the day this afternoon posting a 1:01.530 (102.682 mph). More is definitely to come from this driver and the Rocketsports team as today clearly proved. “This is the most comfortable car that I have driven so far for Rocketsports Racing, in terms of balance,” said Kasemets about the #18 Flexovit Abrasives/Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone. I have to continue to work on my driving here in Toronto by going deeper into the corners and carrying more speed. I think we are in good shape. The Rocketsports team has done a good job on the #18 Flexovit Abrasive/Rocketsports car making improvements from Cleveland for this weekend, which has resulted in such a good car for me to drive. I think that we are headed in the right direction and more is to come from me and the team this weekend.”

Top rookie of the session was Will Power (No. 5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia), who currently stands fourth in the run for the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year, eight points behind leader Dan Clarke whose red-flag finish put him well down the order. The six rookies finished from P12 to P17.

Tomorrow’s race launches at 12:45 p.m. and can be seen in Canada on Global Channel 3, on Speed Channel, or on Race Director. And if you’re away watching the World Cup Final, meet us back here afterward to see how it all turned out!
 

Two-Time Winner Allmendinger "Comes Home" to Toronto
By Martha Meacham
Photo courtesy Champ Car World Series
TORONTO, Canada (July 5, 2006)  — This weekend will mark the "homecoming" of sorts for Toronto native and former Miss Molson Indy, Lynne Kushnirenko and her new fiancé. However, race fans might know the "fiancé" better as the current talk of the Champ Car World Series, American A.J. Allmendinger of Forsythe Racing (#7 Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone).The 24-year old has grabbed media headlines and the attention of race pundits since his abrupt dismissal last month from long-time employer, RuSport Racing, and subsequent triumph for new employer, Forsythe Racing, in consecutive races last month....at Portland and, two weeks ago, at Cleveland. Allmendinger survived the first lap carnage and confusion at Cleveland which involved his Forsythe teammate (and another "Toronto homecomer") Paul Tracy (#3 Indeck) and current points leader, Sebastien Bourdais (#1 (McDonald's, Newman-Haas Racing) and made him the first American in almost 10 years to win back-to-back Champ Car races. Bourdais, who was the only victor of the initial four races of this season, saw his streak of wins end with a third place finish at Portland and also saw his first DNF of the year at Cleveland. Still, the 2004/2005 champ comes into Toronto with a 26-point lead over 2nd place and defending Molson Indy winner, Justin Wilson (#9 CDW, RuSport Racing) and 31 points over third-place Allmendinger. Bourdais was just as dominant in second-quarter voting for the Driver of the Year Award, leading Indianapolis 500 winner, Sam Hornish by almost 50 points. The Frenchman hopes to return to the top of the podium as well as forget his pit-lane mishap with Toronto favorite son, Paul Tracy, during last year's race.

However, the future Mr. and Mrs. Allmendinger hope that their Toronto "homecoming" will mark the continuation of the good fortune which has blessed the happy couple since the series of events (starting with Allmendinger’s dismissal by Carl Russo and hiring by Forsythe just four weeks ago) which has dramatically changed their lives. "I can't believe how it unfolded," Allmendinger joyfully recounted to reporters. "I went to Toronto with plans to ask her to marry me, and being let go didn't affect them at all. She just said that things were going to get better, and two days later I got the job (at Forsythe). It's really come down to the atmosphere of the team and having (sponsor) Red Bull behind me," continued Allmendinger, who hasn't set a wedding date. "I'm able to relax in the car and, when you're able to do that and everybody's able to do their jobs, it easier to do your job." A win at "home" would cement a month filled with just about every emotion, ranging from dejection to the jubilation of their recently announced betrothal. A Champ Car championship would only help to make this topsy-turvy season a perfect one for the young couple.

Others to watch this weekend:

Bruno Junqueira (#2 Hole In The Wall Camps ,Newman-Haas). Junqueira, recovering from season-ending injuries in last year's Indianapolis 500, was a spectator at last year's Molson Indy. Overcoming injuries as well as bad-luck in the beginning of this season, he overcame accidents and uncertain fuel/pit-strategies of his competitors to finally gain a spot on the podium with a 2nd place finish at Cleveland. The Brazilian broke into the top 10 in points (8th) and hopes his momentum will carry him to the top of the podium this season.

Oriol Servia (#6 Bell Micro/Gulfstream Ford-Cosworth / Lola / Bridgestone). The jovial Spaniard went from being just Junqueira's replacement at Newman-Haas to the championship runner-up last season. This year, Servia is with a new team and after experiencing the same amount of "bad luck" as Junqueira this season, also found his way to the podium at Cleveland with a third-place finish. He sits in ninth place in the points.

Dan Clarke (#14 CTE Racing HVM) As the current Roshfrans Rookie of the Year leader, the young Englishman hopes to prove that he is still the top rookie by running up front as he has in the past two races, which culminated in three top-ten finishes in a row. The Englishman ran second for several laps at Portland before a tire puncture brought him into the pits, costing him a few positions. Clarke made another strong run at Cleveland running third until the final lap of the race when he attempted a rather brazen move on then-second place Mario Dominguez (#19 Sonny's Barbeque, Dale Coyne Racing) for second position in turn one. The two made contact, costing both potential podium finishes behind race winner, Allmendinger. Dominguez was credited with a 6th place finish with Clarke one spot behind him.

Also coming off top-10 finishes at Cleveland were rookies Jan Heylen (#11 Dale Coyne Racing ) who finished 5th; the first female to lead a Champ Car race, Katherine Legge (#20 Gulfstream , PKV Racing) in 8th and Will Power(#5 Aussie Vineyards ) in 9th. Veterans Alex Tagliani (#15 Aussie Vineyards Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) and Nelson Philippe ( #4 CTE Racing-HVM Ford-Cosworth / Lola /Bridgestone ) who lead several laps before suffering a fuel mishap near the closing stages of the race, finished 4th and 10th respectively.

The tightly-bunched top-10 in points going into this weekend are: Bourdais (166 points), Wilson (140), Allmendinger (135), Andrew Ranger (#27 Mi-Jack Conquest Racing, 99 points), Dominguez (95), Tagliani (90), Philippe (89), Junqueira (87), Servia 85, and Cristiano da Matta (#10 RuSport Racing, 83 points). Given the number of surprises which have awaited most of the top runners in each event, especially in the beginning laps of the race, the complexion of the standings could be yet again altered after this Sunday's race. Stayed tuned for what could promise to be another wild start into the narrow turn one, leading toward the Prince's Gate Monument!

The 2006 Molson Grand Prix of Toronto is a week-long festival marking a new ownership, a new name and a new core team makes this a landmark year for the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto. It's been a staple of the Toronto summer social scene as well as one of the premier events on the Champ car calendar .for 20 years and features live music, interactive games, beach volleyball, beer gardens, the Champ Car Paddock presented by Mobil 1, and the Miss Molson Indy Contest. But the most poignant moment of the weekend will come before the race as the most famous words in racing, "Drivers Start Your Engines", will be commanded by Canadian Forces (CF) troops stationed in Afghanistan.

For more information on the many events surrounding the Molson Grand Prix, visit www.grandprixtoronto.com  For further information as well as audio and video coverage of on-track action, go to www.champcarworldseries.com  RaceFamily will bring you reports, articles, and interviews by our own Kate Shaw. Provisional Qualifying will be Friday, July 7, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT. Final Qualifying, Saturday, July 8, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT The race on the 1.755 mile temporary street-course on the grounds of Exhibition Place will be shown live at 12:30 p.m., EDT on CBS.


 

'Dinger rings the bell for provisional pole at Toronto
Nelson Philippe qualifies 3rd, first top 3 of career
By Kate Shaw
Photo courtesy Champ Car World Series
TORONTO, Canada (July 7, 2006) — A.J. Allmendinger, who yesterday signed an extension of the two-race deal with his new team, continued his streak of successes with a vault of his No. 7 Indeck-Forsythe Championship Racing wagon to the provisional pole on a time of 58.621 over former teammate Justin Wilson (No. 9 CDW RuSport Racing) by .209.

But the story of qualifying today was Nelson Philippe, who roared down the straight in the dying seconds of the session to put his No. 4 Wellbox CTE Racing HVM Lola over hometown boy Paul Tracy into P3 by a mere .039 seconds. his best ever qualifying in his three-season career.