TRACK: Has this track suddenly become cursed? We were joking when we mentioned the need to let your VCR run for six hours for this race.

RACE: In short, just a bunch of piss-poor driving all around.

TRACY: You knew it couldn't come easy for Paul. But, it did come. Finally!

HUNTER-REAY: Not a Dominguez-like win, but still a Surfers-like win. Nonetheless, a great breakthrough for Ryan.

AMERICAN SPIRIT: An All-American driving team, owned by a Swede, whose most famous crew member is a Canadian, achieves their greatest accomplishment in Australia. There's some sort of irony in there somewhere.

MANNING: Can you imagine how much fun Darren would be if he actually won a race?

REYNARD: 1-2-3? Only in Surfers.

VASSER: Jimmy had to be the happiest third place finisher.

JOURDAIN: Michel had to be the unhappiest fourth place finisher.

CARPENTIER: Patrick was actually in this race? We never noticed.

COYNE: Only in Surfers could you have both Dale Coyne cars finish in the top ten.

JUNQUEIRA: This is what you call throwing it away in a spectacular fashion. Now, Bruno may not even finish second.

BOURDAIS: You could have been less obvious in your role as a hitman. And, what was that lunacy of lighting up the tires after you destroyed your car (don't tell us anything about a stuck throttle, because the car came to a complete stop), nearly creating a multi car pileup? Then, you blame everything on Tracy! Whatever.

TAGLIANI: Speaking of idiots lighting up their tires ruining other drivers races, Alex is notorious for this dangerous antic. When is CART going to hand out some serious penalties before someone gets hurt badly?

FERNANDEZ: That's one way to get a new nose job.

MORENO: A bit out of control this time around.

SPEED: This time we knew they would be doing a remote broadcast. Even so, there are still ways to make the race exciting. However, the whole crew seemed off kilter, resulting in turning some of the most exciting moments into watching paint dry. Show some enthusiasm guys!

RENNA: God Speed, Tony.

OVER/UNDER: 24 -- Number of times Geoff Boss will be lapped at Fontana.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Chicane.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 13 -- number of different winners in the number of years this race has taken place. Also, the position Tracy finished while still winning the championship and the years he has competed in CART.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: John Andretti won his one and only CART race in Surfers' first year, 1991.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Ryan Hunter-Reay stating the obvious about the storm, "I sat there in the pits for a second. Then, I saw a golf ball size piece of hail land in my lap. I was like, 'uh-oh.'"

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Jimmy Vasser not willing to give Darren Manning much credit for his second place pass, "I made a mistake coming on the back straight. Got too close to the wall where all the water was still. Even my grandmother could have passed me."

SCHEDULE: First hail, now fire.

Copyright © 2003 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.

Agree with Deep Throttle? Disagree? Let others know what your Australia thoughts are by visiting the Forums.