tamermotorsports.com - CART

The inexperienced pilot of the equipment Herdez Competition, Mario Domínguez, obtained east Sunday his first victory in Championship CART Fedex in Honda disputed Indy 300 in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia. Rain began to fall during the tests with full tanks, in the morning, and continued while the cars were taken to the exit grill to give beginning to the race.
A strong accident that involved nine competitors, including a Domínguez, happened during the first return forcing to CART to remove a red flag. The accident at issue was brought about by Jimmy Vasser, that came behind the Mexican Adrián Fernandez. Due to the little visibility (in the rain) that fell on the circuit of 3,600 km, several cars were surprised to each other piling up against the lateral walls of the street guide moments after falling the green flag. The accident involved to Adrián pilots Fernandez, Michael Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, Jimmy Vasser, Patrick Carpentier, Alex Tagliani, Michel Jourdain Jr, Mario Domínguez and Tora Takagi.
The Fernandez and the Takagis slightly were hurt in the accident and were the unique ones who could not reinitiate the event. According to the last reports of the Dr. Steve Olvey (Director of Medical Subjects of CART), both pilots are well and were transferred to the local hospital of Gold Coast to realize X-ray studies to them like precaution measurement.
“He is unfortunate that once again I was in the place and incorrect moment. The visibility was null and all were having much well-taken care of. I was struck in the back part and the car of Tora (Takagi) “practically landed” in my head. That could kill to me. He is unfortunate the one of Fontana, I hope to feel better and to be able to run in Mexico. That decision will depend on the doctors and we will not know it until the incoming week”, commented Fernandez.
As a result of this impressive accident, the CART authorities decided to only suspend to the race by an hour and a half, shortening the total distance to 40 returns of race.
During the halting of the competition the equipment Herdez Competition, led by mánager of escudería, Vince Kremer and the group leader, Daryl Fox - native of New Zealand they repaired to the nose and the front suspension of the car number 55, finishing just in time to form in new departure grilla to the resumption of the race.
Rain did not stop falling - at some moments he was very strong, during the race, allowing that only six returns were in excess under green flag. A right strategy of pits of the member veteran of the Joe equipment Ward took, them to realize four haltings in pits, the last one of them in turn 22. With an obligatory window of shutdowns in pits of 20 returns and the trimmed race to 41 turns, the strategy put to Domínguez to the front of the competition in the four final returns when other pilots had to make their shutdown in boxes.
“What must happen, happens! We have been very bad east luck year old. The equipment had a beautiful strategy. They did a great work when arming the car after the accident in the first return. I feel like the man with more luck of the world, at this moment. It continued thinking that it could win if this or that one strategy works. But our bad luck turned around and we won. He is almost incredible! Really fodder that will be first of many victories for this equipment”, said a exultante Mario Domínguez.
Meanwhile Canadian Patrick Carpentier lead his Reynard Ford Cosworth to the second position, whereas another Canadian, Paul Tracy, occupied the last step of podio with its Lola Honda.
On the other hand the recent one crowned Champion of CART 2002, Christian one gives Matta, arrival 8º to little more than 12 seconds of the Mexican Domínguez.

To see result of the race