2008 Champ Car Mont-Tremblant Race

Champ Car put on a HOT race at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant. It was cold and wet, but the race was clean, very aggressive and fast, seeing zero yellows, and only 2 cars failed to finish.
Sadly one of those cars that retired was the car piloted by the points leader Franck Montagny, whose Forsythe entry had a turbo charge failure only 9 laps into the race.

That failure by Montagny gave way to the other Forsythe Petitt Racing car of Paul Tracy, to play with the rest of the field. Leading from the start, Tracy was challenged by Montagny, until he retired. From then on, Tracy was unchallenged, even managing a green flag pit stop without losing his lead.

During the first stop on lap 19, Tracy did lose the lead to Robert Doornbos (the second place finisher), who lead for only 3 laps before pitting himself.

Behind Tracy though, where many on track stories. Franck Perera, who emerged here last season in Atlantics as a title contender, scored his first career podium. Taking the second step on the podium was Alex Tagliani, who also set the races fastest lap .

The race proved to be a challenge for Newman Haas Lanigan drivers Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal. Rahal was the only other driver to retire after getting his car off course and hitting a tire barrier. Justin Wilson also struggled. After stalling on the pits, he spun 3 laps later on lap 24. But Wilson did fight his way into the top 5 to finish 5th.

Official Results:
1.Paul Tracy -- (69 laps) (67 led)
2.Alex Tagliani -- (-13.56s)
3.Franck Perera -- (-17.32s)
4.Robert Doornbos -- (-21.89s) (2 led)
5.Nelson Philippe -- (-23.02s)
6.Will Power -- (-31.67s)
7.Dan Clarke -- (-37.12s)
8.Bruno Junquiera -- (-39.04s)
9.Oriol Servia -- (-42.12s)
10.Justin Wilson -- (-46.04s)
11.Simon Pagenaud -- (-49.23s)
12.David Martinez -- (-58.32s)
13.Tomas Scheckter -- (-1 lap)
14.Raphael Matos -- (-1 Lap)
15.Enrique Bernoldi -- (-1 Lap)
16.Giorgio Pantano -- (-1 Lap)
17.Mario Dominguez -- (-2 laps)
18,EJ Viso -- (-7 laps)
19.Graham Rahal -- (Ret. Accident Lap 39)
20.Franck Montagny -- (Ret. Mechanical Lap 9)

Fast Lap: Alex Tagliani -- (1:15.89)
Hard Charger: Dan Clarke -- (4 positions, tied with Matos, but higher finishing position)


CCWS Points Standing
1. Robert Doornbos -- Team Minardi USA -- 157 pts.
2. Franck Montagny ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing -- 156 pts.
3. Alex Tagliani -- Team Australia Walker Racing -- 153 pts.
4. Nelson Philippe -- Team Minardi USA -- 149 pts.
5. Paul Tracy -- Forsythe Petitt Racing -- 146 pts.
6. Justin Wilson -- Newman Haas Lanigan Racing -- 144 pts.
7. Will Power -- Team Australia USA -- 133 pts.
8. Graham Rahal -- Newman Haas Lanigan Racing -- 107 pts.
9. Oriol Servia -- PKV Racing -- 103 pts.
10. Bruno Junquiera -- Dale Coyne Racing -- 96 pts.
11. Franck Perera ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing -- 71 pts.
12. Simon Pagenaud -- Conquest Racing -- 69 pts.
13. Raphael Matos ® -- PKV Racing -- 68 pts.
14. David Martinez ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing -- 57 pts.
15. Enrique Bernoldi ® -- Conquest Racing -- 43 pts.
16. Mario Dominguez -- Pacific Coast Motorsports -- 41 pts.
17. EJ Viso ® -- Rocketsport -- 35 pts.
18. Antonio Pizzonia ® -- 33 pts.
19. Tomas Scheckter ® -- Dale Coyne Racing -- 29 pts.
20. Dan Clarke -- Pacific Coast Motorsports -- 25 pts..
21. Alex Figge -- 18 pts
22. Jos Verstappen ® -- 9 pts.
23. Giorgio Pantano -- Carlin Motorsports -- 5 pts.
24. Mario Moraes ® -- 2 pts.


Rocketsport announced this morning they will be looking for a driver for the number 88 and hope to have a driver ready by Friday. No names were mentioned, but the name of Atlantics front runner, Jonathon Bomarito was mentioned by Paul Gentoliozzi, Saturday night while at the bar.

Renault F1 also announced Wednesday that they no longer require the services of Will Power. The Australian driver didn’t seem to worry though.

“I love Champ Car and am fine racing here. F1 is always seemed like a cold place for me. Here in Champ Car, we can walk right into another team’s tent and talk. In F1 that would be unheard of. I have a great team in Walker Racing, and a great crew.”

2008 Champ Car Mont-Tremblant Qualifying

The first qualifying session was filled with action. Rain fell late in the session, but by that time, most of the cars has set their times and were back in the paddock. Four drivers held the top spot in the first 5 minutes, but after the rooster tails settled, Robert Doornbos scored the point for the provisional pole. Closely behind was the Forsythe car of Paul Tracy. Running third in the session was the Team Australia car and hometown favorite Alex Tagliani.
The session was a down session for rookie points leader Franck Montagny, finishing out of the top 5 in qualifying for only the second time all season.
The session also saw Paul Gentilozzi withdraw his number 88 entry for Antonio Pizzonia after being sent to the pits by Champ Car officials for not keeping a safe line and speed. No word of penalties to the team or driver yet.
EJ Viso showed well in Q1 after his disqualification last week in Cleveland, posting a time that placed him 14th on the charts.

Q1 Session Times:
Robert Doornbos -- 1:15.57
Paul Tracy -- 1:15.64
Alex Tagliani -- 1:15.73
Will Power -- 1:15.88
Nelson Philippe -- 1:15.89
Franck Perera -- 1:15.94
Franck Montagny -- 1:15.97
Bruno Junquiera -- 1:16.12
Justin Wilson -- 1:16.22
Graham Rahal -- 1:16.29
Tomas Scheckter -- 1:16.47
Oriol Servia -- 1:16.56
Dan Clarke -- 1:16.78
Giorgio Pantano -- 1:17.02
EJ Viso -- 1:17.23
David Martinez -- 1:17.32
Mario Dominguez -- 1:17.39
Raphael Matos -- 1:17.56
Simon Pagenaud -- 1:17.65
Enrique Bernoldi -- 1:17.8

Qualifying Session Two was Paul Tracy’s to lose. Right out of the box, Tracy but his number 3 Forsythe entry on the pole, with little challenge from the competition. Even Provisional Pole winner Robert Doornbos was unable to contend for the pole, as he only managed to put his Minardi car in third. That is Tracy’s third straight pole of the season, and his last week from the pole, he scored a win.
Q2 was also the first session that was not run during wet conditions. But the track was still wet enough that teams went out on the intermediate tires.
The session saw a yellow in the final corner after the car of EJ Viso spun. He will not be penalized for the incident according to the Tony Codman, Race Director.
Q2 Session Time:
Paul Tracy -- 1:15.54
Franck Montagny -- 1:15.67
Robert Doornbos -- 1:15.73
Alex Tagliani -- 1:15.76
Nelson Philippe -- 1:15.79
Will Power -- 1:15.87
Franck Perera -- 1:15.91
Justin Wilson -- 1:15.97
Bruno Junquiera -- 1:16.02
Tomas Scheckter -- 1:16.15
Dan Clarke -- 1:16.21
Oriol Servia -- !:16.29
Giorgio Pantano -- 1:16.44
Graham Rahal -- 1:16.59
David Martinez -- 1:16.78
Simon Pagenaud -- 1:16.92
Mario Dominguez - 1:17.16
Raphael Matos -- 1:17.43
Enrique Bernoldi --1:17.54
EJ Viso -- 1:17.98

Champ Car Mont-Tremblant 2008 Friday Practice

Practice went very well among all the teams Friday for round 7 of the Champ Car World Series. While rain hit the track lightly for the first session, Practice 2 was dry and fast. The track bonded well for the Forsythe Petitt Racing team, with 3 of their 4 drivers in the top 10. Of those 3 cars, none were the leader though, with Dutchman Robert Doornbos putting his Minardi car on top of the time charts with a 1:15.63 lap. The second fastest car during the sessions was the first Forsythe car with rookie Franck Montagny posting a lap of 1:15.89. In third is the Dale Coyne Racing machine of Bruno Junquiera.

Friday was a struggle for Rocketsport driver Antonio Pizzonia. Given an opportunity to rejoin the team after being replaced by Jos Verstappen, Pizzonia managed only 9 laps in P1,and on his out lap in P2, he put the car off course and broke the gearbox, ending the session. Paul Gentilozzi commented on the situation with the Brazilian drivers.

“Antonio has impressed me, but he has just been unable to drive this car we give him. He is not adapting to his situation and is not working well with the engineers. We will have to go back home Monday and talk with him about his future with the team.”

Pizzonia will continue with the weekend and is still schedule to compete in Toronto.
The surprise of Friday was the speed of the Carlin Motorsport car. Receiving their car only three weeks ago and having a practice at Silverstone, Giorgio Pantano was only 17th in P1, but in P2 he managed to move his car up to 12th.

Also very fast during Practice were the Team Australia Walker Racing cars of Will Power and provincial favorite Alex Tagliani who put both of their cars in the top 5.

Friday was not the session for which young sophomore star, Graham Rahal’s had hoped for. Never getting a grip on the car, he could only manage a 18th place time.

P1 and P2 Combined Times:
Robert Doornbos -- 1:15.63
Franck Montagny -- 1:15.89
Bruno Junquiera -- 1:15.91
Will Power -- 1:15.96
Alex Tagliani -- 1:15.99
Paul Tracy -- 1:16.09
Franck Perera -- 1:16.23
Justin Wilson -- 1:16.26
Nelson Philippe -- 1:16.32
Oriol Servia -- 1:16.39
Dan Clarke -- 1:16.54
Giorgio Pantano -- 1:16.59
Tomas Scheckter -- 1:16.67
Simon Pagenaud -- 1:16.78
Mario Dominguez -- 1:16.79
David Martinez -- 1:16.86
Raphael Matos -- 1:16.99
Graham Rahal -- 1:17.21
EJ Viso -- 1:17.23
Enrique Bernoldi -- 1:17.42
Antonio Pizzonia -- 1:17.98

Champ Car Grand Prix Mont-Tremblant 2008

Welcome to the picturesque Circuit Mont-Tremblant for round 7 of the 2008 Champ Car World Series. Defending winner Robert Doornbos is back to take another win.

“This was the race that we really knew we had a fast car at Minardi. Hopefully a year later, we can continue and on the podium and get the win for the first time this season.”

Paul Tracy will also be trying to score his third straight pole and second straight win at a course that saw him struggle last season.

“I like this course, but it doesn’t fit my style. We worked on learning the setups and I think we got a grip on the car."

The race will be the first for the Carlin Motorsport team. Piloted by Italian Giorgio Pantano, the team is not expected much from their Champ Car debut.

“If we even finish the race, I think we will be happy,” said Carlin Motorsport Principle Trevor Carlin. “We decided to bump up our entry to the series to avoid running a rookie driver on a street circuit.”

Returning to the Rocketsport car after missing Cleveland is Antonio Pizzonia, who lost his seat after Q1 last week to Jos Verstappen, who crashed and ended up costing the team it’s winnings after missing the post race press conference.

Champ Car Mont-Tremblant Entry List:
Frank Montagny ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing
Paul Tracy -- Forsythe Petitt Racing
Franck Perera ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing
David Martinez ® -- Forsythe Petitt Racing
Justin Wilson -- Newman Haas Lanigan Racing
Graham Rahal -- Newman Haas Lanigan Racing
Alex Tagliani -- Team Australia Walker Racing
Will Power -- Team Australia Walker Racing
Robert Doornbos -- Team Minardi USA
Nelson Philippe -- Team Minardi USA
Simon Pagenaud -- Conquest Racing
Enrique Bernoldi ® -- Conquest Racing
Raphael Matos ® -- PKV Racing
Oriol Servia -- PKV Racing
Mario Dominguez -- Pacific Coast Motorsports
Dan Clarke -- Pacific Coast Motorsports
EJ Viso ® -- Rocketsport
Antonio Pizzonia -- Rocketsport
Bruno Junquiera -- Dale Coyne Racing
Tomas Scheckter ® -- Dale Coyne Racing
Giorgio Pantano ® -- Carlin Motorsport

Rain will be an issue all weekend with scattered showers. The temps should remain in the high teens (Celsius).