tamermotorsports.com - CART - The 500 Presented by Toyota

The American Jimmy Vasser with a Lola Ford Cosworth of the Team Rahal advanced to his compatriot Michael Andretti in the last turns of “the 500 miles presented/displayed by Toyota” in California Speedway, and this Sunday crossed triumphal the goal.
This was race 18 of season CART Fedex and it became a special competition, to the being the 500 faster miles of history, with a speed average of 197,995 miles per hour. The previous record was established by A Unser Jr in 1990 in Michigan 500 at a speed average of 189,727 miles per hour.
To only five returns of the end (turn 245), the car of Dario Franchitti set fire and the race was stopped with red flag. All the cars returned to the line of pits and once the competition was reinitiated, Jimmy Vasser advanced to Andretti and it became aircraft commander in winning twice in the oval of Fontana. His first victory was in 1998. Vasser did not raise at the most high of podio from the Great Prize of Houston in the 2000. Of in case, this has been a loose season of the ex--champion who has not imitated absolutely season 2001 made specific by the Swedish Kenny Brack, with this same equipment and car.
After Vasser and Andretti, in the third place, Patrick Carpentier passed in front of the flag to pictures the Canadian pilot who moves in the table of general score approaching Dark brown Junqueira in the fight by the subchampionship that will be defined in the last race of the season in the City of Mexico, next the 17 of November.
Mexican pilot Michel Jourdain Jr marched third party when its car underwent a mechanical problem and had to leave the race in return 218. This is the first time during the season that Jourdain Jr does not finish a race and it does not add points.
“Today it was very sad for the Giant equipment. I believe that we had everything to win. Today it was not for me, but I feel happy by Jimmy. Today he was fastest there outside. The Rahal equipment needed much a victory and I am in favor happy of all in the equipment. I feel that we had the best cars and we could finish the race. It wanted to be with the leaders in the end. Everything was in its site for us. But today it was not”, said Jourdain Jr.
Mario Domínguez did not have luck either. In fact it was worse to him than to Michel, because it only rolled 107 returns before leaving returning the activities that the Herdez equipment has to us customary.
Christian Does not give Matta, just crowned champion of the series, either finished the race due to a mechanical fault in his car. He gives Matta looks for a tie in the category of more victories in one season and now, to obtain it, he will have to hope until the Mexican race in which he will have his last opportunity to obtain it in the 2002.
On the other hand, Serbian the Oriol Spanish made specific an excellent action ending fifth a Reynard Toyota of Patrick Racing.
“By all means I am happy for having finished fifth. If we had finished in podio or gained the race, more it would be satisfied. The Visteon equipment/Patrick Racing even had a good beginning and good “resumptions”. I have a good feeling and a good rate here. But he is always simple to improve positions in the beginning when you classify last. When you start second or first there are no many to those who to advance. The next time that is here I hope not to have to pass many cars because I am beginning from pole. In each shutdown of pits the car was improving. The improvement really noticed at the end of the race when we made the return fastest of the day”, said the Catalan.

To see result of the race