After a flawless standing start, Sebastien Bourdais took the lead into Turn 1, but made a mistake in Turn 2 allowing pole sitter Justin Wilson to get by and reassume the point. While that was going in the front, a log jam in the tight hairpin forced those at the back to slow dramatically. Unfortunately, Doornbos was unable to slow enough and the Dutchman deposited his front wing on the back of Jan Heylen's machine forcing both of the European drivers to pit lane and bringing out a full course yellow. As the field prepared to for the green flag, Dan Clarke ran into the back of Wilson forcing them both to pit lane. Wilson would lose 20 laps repairing the suspension and drivetrain damage while Clarke would return to the track, only to make contact with Katherine Legge and retire from the race. Just a few laps later, Legge would bring out the yellow flag after making contact with the Turn 2 wall, giving Doornbos a chance to alter his race strategy and pit out of sequence.

Back at the front, Oriol Servia assumed the lead with PKV Racing driver Neel Jani in the second spot. The two would battle for the rest of the day with Jani passing for the lead in Turn 1 on lap 34. After a round of green flag pitstops, Servia chased Jani, and on two consecutive laps made a move in Turn 1, nosing ahead but Jani held his ground and repassed Servia on the exit of the hairpin. On their next trip through the corner, Servia made the same move, but made it stick to grab the lead once again. With everyone watching the battle up front, Doornbos used his light fuel load to run fast laps and gain ground. When he had to duck into pit lane under green, the Dutchman was able to rejoin the field in third. He was now set to finish the race on one more pit stop, and a timely yellow on lap 76 got him back in sequence when everyone came to pit lane for the final time.

Doornbos' Minardi Team USA crew got him out first followed by Jani and Servia. On the restart, Jani used his Cosworth Power-to-Pass to go by Doornbos in the first corner. Unfortunately for Jani, his PKV Racing team decided to use the red Bridgestone Alternate tires. Though the softer compound tires meant some quicker lap times, their longevity was unable to sustain the final 25-lap run. Just halfway into the run, Doornbos used his final two seconds of Power-to-Pass to get back by Jani in Turn 1. Doornbos then drove away building a six-second lead over Jani. With the win, the leading rookie closed his gap in the Series standings to just 10 points behind Bourdais. The Swiss rookie, Jani, spent the final laps holding off Servia with the two drivers claiming the second and third positions.

Team Australia's Will Power finished fourth, gaining two championship points on Series leader Bourdais, who battled his car all race but drove to a fifth place finish. Coming home sixth was 18-year-old Graham Rahal who overcame a stall in pit lane on his first stop. Dale Coyne Racing's Bruno Junqueira finished seventh with Tristan Gommendy eighth. Heylen earned his best finish of the season with his ninth place result for Conquest Racing and Simon Pagenaud finished tenth.
For full results... (Speed News Now)

Champ Cars

Wilson On San Jose Pole
At the San Jose Grand Prix at Redback Raceway, it was Justin Wilson claiming the pole position for Sunday’s race with a lap at 49.039 seconds (105.932 mph). Wilson was the only driver to sit at the top of the time charts twice during the qualifying session that was only slowed once by a red flag. Graham Rahal led both practice sessions today and was the first to set the pace in qualifying. Unfortunately, the 18-year-old rookie could not better his early time and wound up with the sixth starting position. Sebastien Bourdais will start on the outside pole with Dan Clarke in third and Oriol Servia will roll off the grid in the fourth spot. Rounding out the top ten are Neel Jani, Rahal, Alex Tagliani, Tristan Gommendy, Simon Pagenaud and Bruno Junqueira.
For Starting Lineup... (Speed News Now)