LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Champ Car World Series bid goodbye to racing Sunday with a dominating victory by Will Power, one of the drivers making the transition to the newly unified IRL IndyCar Series.
Billed by promoters of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as “Champ Car’s Last Stand,” the race put a positive, finishing flourish to the often bitter 12-year rivalry with the IRL that nearly brought down both of America’s open-wheel series.
“I love Champ Car racing,” Power said. “I love the cars. I love the engine. It’s great to win here in Long Beach in the last Champ Car race. It really is pretty special.”
But, like just about everyone else at Long Beach, including Danica Patrick, who flew 12 hours to be here after becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race less than 24 hours earlier in Japan, Power was looking to the future.
“We’re going to be in Kansas next week for an IndyCar race and I’m fifth in the points, so, yeah, I’m looking forward to what’s coming,” the Australian said.
Patrick, looking fresh and happy after her long flight, congratulated Power and said: “The momentum of the (IndyCar) series is clear. A lot of great things have happened over the winter and it’s a bright future. It’s just the start of everything, but it will snowball from here.”
Footnotes.
FIA president Max Mosley said he intends to step down in 2009 even if given a vote of confidence by a special general assembly following his alleged involvement with prostitutes. His future as the leader of world motor racing’s governing body will be decided in Paris on June 3.
• Australia’s Mat Mladin claimed his 66th AMA superbike championship race victory, completing a weekend sweep at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala., on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki.
The Associated Press
