Sun Shines on Sunday race in Plymouth
A.J. Allmendiger takes the checkered flag at Road America for the Champ Car World Series
August Kelm
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: Sports
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Round 12 of the 2006 Champ Car World Series ended on Sunday, Sept. 24 with A.J. Allmendinger, who started in fifth, winning the 51 lap race. Allmendinger became the first American born driver to win at Road America in the Champ Car Series since Michael Andretti took the checkered flag in 1996.
"I couldn't believe it. You know, I mean, the last two laps were probably the toughest that I've ever had in a Champ Car. Just to hold on against guys that I knew, A) were a lot quicker than me, B) had plenty of push-to-pass left to pass me. I tried to hit my marks. Fortunately we came away with it," said Allmendinger on his victory.
Bruno Junqueria finished second, while Sebastien Bourdais came in third.
"I'm quite happy with the results, especially after turn one. But after leading, at one moment I thought I was going to win again at Road America, but it didn't happen," said Junqueria.
Bourdais said, "Just about the most frustrating day for the McDonald's team. When you have that dominant a car, it just seems unreal that you can actually lose it."
Dan Clarke, who started the race in pole position, finished sixth. "It was a tough, long race and another new experience for me, leading the parade lap and making sure I got the start right, which thankfully I did for the first one," said Clarke. "We had a good car today and were able to run comfortably up the front….We deserved a podium, but didn't make it. But we did get more points than our rookie-of-the-year rival, so we've narrowed the gap in that (points) chase."
Some racers were not so lucky as to even finish the race like, Katherine Legge. Legge was running in sixth when her car launched off the track at turn ten, impacting a wall and cart wheeling through the air. The car was destroyed but Legge emerged from the wreckage unscathed.
"I am a bit shaken, but I'm okay. All my bits are intact, so that just goes to show how strong Champ cars are….All of a sudden the car just sped up and hit the wall. Then I see the ground and dirt is coming into the cockpit…and I see the fence…honestly, you are thinking what is going to happen next…the thing I was thinking about the most was the car was going to catch fire," Legge said.
The points stand with Bourdais holding first place with 338 championship points, while Allmendinger is closing in with 280 points, and Justin Wilson comes in at third with 269 points. The race for the championship is still close as the Champ Car Series moves on Oct. 20 to Australia's Gold Coast, where Bourdais had a win last year. There are only two more races left in this year's series, and with a close points race, anyone could walk away with the cup.
"I couldn't believe it. You know, I mean, the last two laps were probably the toughest that I've ever had in a Champ Car. Just to hold on against guys that I knew, A) were a lot quicker than me, B) had plenty of push-to-pass left to pass me. I tried to hit my marks. Fortunately we came away with it," said Allmendinger on his victory.
Bruno Junqueria finished second, while Sebastien Bourdais came in third.
"I'm quite happy with the results, especially after turn one. But after leading, at one moment I thought I was going to win again at Road America, but it didn't happen," said Junqueria.
Bourdais said, "Just about the most frustrating day for the McDonald's team. When you have that dominant a car, it just seems unreal that you can actually lose it."
Dan Clarke, who started the race in pole position, finished sixth. "It was a tough, long race and another new experience for me, leading the parade lap and making sure I got the start right, which thankfully I did for the first one," said Clarke. "We had a good car today and were able to run comfortably up the front….We deserved a podium, but didn't make it. But we did get more points than our rookie-of-the-year rival, so we've narrowed the gap in that (points) chase."
Some racers were not so lucky as to even finish the race like, Katherine Legge. Legge was running in sixth when her car launched off the track at turn ten, impacting a wall and cart wheeling through the air. The car was destroyed but Legge emerged from the wreckage unscathed.
"I am a bit shaken, but I'm okay. All my bits are intact, so that just goes to show how strong Champ cars are….All of a sudden the car just sped up and hit the wall. Then I see the ground and dirt is coming into the cockpit…and I see the fence…honestly, you are thinking what is going to happen next…the thing I was thinking about the most was the car was going to catch fire," Legge said.
The points stand with Bourdais holding first place with 338 championship points, while Allmendinger is closing in with 280 points, and Justin Wilson comes in at third with 269 points. The race for the championship is still close as the Champ Car Series moves on Oct. 20 to Australia's Gold Coast, where Bourdais had a win last year. There are only two more races left in this year's series, and with a close points race, anyone could walk away with the cup.
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