Bourdais sets record, then lowers it yet again
After setting a track record in the opening qualifying round, Sebastien Bourdais set his sights on another mark for the second: the 1-minute mark. Mission accomplished.
Bourdais broke the track record three more times on Saturday, securing the pole for today’s Grand Prix of Denver with a time of 59.942 seconds (99.516 mph) on the 1.65-mile course.
“We had talked about it yesterday, breaking the minute barrier, and I am happy I was the first one to do it,” Bourdais said. “The car went great today. My crew did a fantastic job.”
Track officials altered the course from the first two years, widening many of the turns and straightaways to create more passing opportunities and excitement for fans. The drivers took advantage on Friday with seven track records, the final coming on Bourdais’s last lap of 1 minute, 0.413 seconds.
He was even better the second time around.
Bourdais quickly got things rolling after Gaston Mazzacane’s crash into a wall caused a delay, breaking the record with a 1:00.35 lap on his sixth go-round. He didn’t take long to lower it, dropping 0.049 his next lap.
Just to make sure he’d get his fifth pole of the season, Bourdais eclipsed the record again two laps later, becoming the first driver in the three-year history of the Denver race to finish with a sub-minute lap. But that was just a bonus for Bourdais — his time Friday was 0.111 seconds better than two-time defending champion Bruno Junqueira in second.
Paul Tracy continued to have trouble with the bumpy first turn — his wheels locked at the end of the session — but still finished third at 1:00.588 to earn a spot on the second row. He will start next to Forsyth teammate Patrick Carpentier, who briefly had the day’s best time at 1:00.721.
Hamilton wins truck race
Bobby Hamilton used a high pass to get around David Starr with eight laps remaining and claimed his fourth Craftsman Truck Series race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway in Gladesville, Tenn.
Hamilton, the series point leader, won the Toyota Tundra 200 by 0.795 seconds, about three truck lengths. He ran a conservative pace in his Dodge through much of the 150-lap, 200-mile event and averaged 124.068 mph.
Hamilton’s winning pass was the ninth lead change of a race slowed by five cautions for 20 laps. Five drivers took turns heading the field.
Ted Musgrave, polesitter Bobby Hamilton Jr., the winner’s son, and Steve Park completed the top five, all driving Dodge trucks. Hamilton Jr. led the most laps, 89.
Rice captures IRL pole
Buddy Rice won his fifth Indy Racing League pole of the season at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., moving within one of the series record.
Rice’s qualifying speed of 216.016 mph left the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion one short of Billy Boat’s record six poles, set in 1998. Two other drivers, Greg Ray (2000) and Scott Dixon (2003), have recorded five poles in a season, but Rice still has five races left to tie or break the record.
“We came off the trailer a little aggressive, and it worked out,” Rice said.
Rice is tied for the IRL lead in victories at three with Tony Kanaan, who joins Rice on the front row for today’s Belterra Casino Indy 300. The 28-year-old Rice, who had no poles and no wins in 18 IRL starts during the past two years, entered the weekend second in the point standings, 57 points behind Kanaan.
Johnson, Gordon head field
Polesitter Jimmie Johnson’s first hope is that he and teammate Jeff Gordon make it cleanly through the first turn today at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
It didn’t work out that way last year in the Sirius at The Glen, when Gordon was spun out by Greg Biffle at the start of the race.
“We may joke with each other about it,” Johnson said, referring to Gordon. “With the respect we have for one another and our desire to finish the race, I don’t think there will be an issue.”
They start on the front row as a result of the cancellation of qualifying for the race because of rain. The field was set on the basis of car-owner points.
Johnson holds a 97-point lead over Gordon in the Nextel Cup standings, so both have something to protect in the second of NASCAR’s two annual road-course races. Johnson is seeking his first career victory on a serpentine layout while Gordon will try to extend to five his record for wins on this 2.45-mile track and his overall mark of nine on road courses.