Doornbos Takes Podium for Minardi-Cosworth

[cosworth151]

Paul Stodard's Minardi USA team did very well in its Champ Car debut at Las Vegas. Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos took second behind Will Power. The other Minardi driver, Dan Clarke, had is race cut short after a third lap shunt.

Another former Minardi and Jaguar F1 pilot, Justin Wilson, went out on the 20th lap with a gearbox failure.

This was the first Champ Car race of the season, the first race for the new Panoz cars and the first race for the Las Vegas street circuit. The cars are of a more F1-like design then the Lolas they replace. They have higher noses and paddle shifters. Most of the teams had ongoing problems with the fuel rigs. The circuit, while interesting, is definitely not up to F1 standards.

[Dare]

Graham Rahal,son of Indy champ Bobby Rahal
didn't even complete 1 lap in his Champ Car debut