Balaclava Image Deep Throttle Logo
Auto Racing History Image
HOME THOUGHTS ESSAYS RANKINGS HISTORY
About Us
Russell's Ramblings
IMSA Thoughts
Photos
F1 Schedule
Master Schedule
Debunking Myths
News Links
Shopping
Ed Donath Archive
Guestbook
In Association with Amazon.com

2005 Las Vegas Thoughts

RACE: Smooth and professional, except for the Bourdais/Tracy crash and a couple of miscues in the pits, but not edge of your seat exciting.

TRACK: Almost an exact duplicate of last year's thoughts -- The aero package didn't work. Just like in the IRL, when you can hug the inside line and nobody can pass you, it's not racing.

EVENT: The more things change, the more they remain the same. Both 2004 and 2005 featured spectacular fireworks. Last year, there was a controversial officiating call. Last year’s call was embarrassing; this year there's disagreement. Last year, the truck racing was obnoxious. This year, they were more impolite and annoying than ever. If they run again with the trucks, Champ Car should go first. The NCTS always runs over the scheduled time and does not share well.

TRACY: Let's state our sure to be controversial thought right now. There is a rule on how to enter the pits. Paul did not follow that rule. There is a reason for that rule. Paul showed the world what that reason is. If you don't follow the rules, you cannot complain about the consequences.

BOURDAIS: The record books will show him as the winner of the race. However, many won't feel that way.

SERVIA: We wish Oriol could have given Sebastien a little more competition. He would have made a more satisfactory race winner, too.

NEWMAN/HAAS: They continue to at the top of their game and will remain so unless the other teams can step up to their level.

VASSER: Jimmy looked mighty racy out there all weekend. If it turns out that this was his last race in front of an American crowd, it’s not a bad way to go out. As for the three-wide incident, this is one time where Paul Page's patented Whoa. Whoa! WHOA!! would have been appropriate.

DOMINGUEZ: His wheel to wheel racing with Tagliani was as good as we have seen all year. Good job, Mario.

LAVIN: Rudolfo made lemonade out of lemons – he was unable to qualify due to mechanical problems, then hit the wall during Friday night practice – and ended up with a very respectable finish. A great run.

WIRDHEIM: A real presence all weekend, and definitely a factor in the race. Probably the first time this year we could really see why he was a F3000 champion. Ironically, this may have been his last Champ Car race.

TAGLIANI: His mid pack racing was more exciting at times than a lot of the competition at the front of the field.

GLOCK: A decent performance, and one that indicates why he should win Rookie of the Year.

MARSHALL: We have been hard on Marcus all year, but he finally was able to put together a solid top ten finish. Well done, and just in time for Surfers.

HUNTER-REAY: We like Ryan. But, we’re sorry, he just doesn’t work at Rocketsports. He was as painful to watch at Las Vegas this year, as Mario Haberfeld last year.

WILSON: Not a great weekend for Justin, but a respectable finish that should help guarantee him a top five in the championship.

DA MATTA: We don’t know what happened to Cris’ car, but he qualified well and then was never a factor in the race.

ALLMENDINGER: So, who on the RuSport team was responsible for AJ running out of gas? It was a real shame as Dinger, who started mid pack, moved his way up to the top five, only to have the aforementioned fuel problem eliminate any chance for a good finish.

RANGER: Did Andrew move up to Champ Car too quickly?

SPERAFICO: We thought Ricardo was the talented Sperafico...

PHILIPPE: His back of the pack performance ended when he crashed into the pit wall after a pit stop. You had to have been there.

BREMER: A promising start goes by the wayside due to yet another pit incident.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Focus.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 1 -- Considering how many times Bourdais has made contact with Paul Tracy, it is amazing that so far he has finished every lap this season except one.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: A Newman/Haas car has never finished lower than second in Las Vegas. In 1983, they won at Caeser's Palace with Mario Andretti. The following year, Andretti finished second to Tom Sneva. Last year and this year, the team finished 1-2.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Take your pick. Any of the lines flying between the drivers, team managers, and owners after the Bourdais-Tracy incident would qualify.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: A.J. Allmendinger with a strong sarcastic tone in his voice after his team told him not to pit and he subsequently ran out of fuel, "Nice job!"

SCHEDULE: This is the real mystery. Will Ansan really happen? There’s been a lot in the media about whether or not this race is on or not. Deep Throttle has learned that the band scheduled to play at the end of the race weekend has cancelled its appearance due to non payment by the promoter – Racing Korea. Doesn’t look good.

Copyright © 2005 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.


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



Photo by

RACE RESULTS
  Driver Laps
1. Bourdais 166
2. Servia 166
3. Vasser 166
4. Dominguez 166
5. Lavin 166
6. Wirdheim(R) 166
7. Tagliani 166
8. Glock(R) 165
9. Marshall(R) 165
10. Hunter-Reay 165
11. Wilson 164
12. da Matta 164
13. Allmendinger 163
14. Ranger(R) 162
15. Sperafico(R) 161
16. Philippe 127
17. Tracy 123
18. Bremer(R) 41

Time of Race
1:26:22.636

Winner's Speed
172.962 mph

Margin of Victory
0.312 sec.

Caution Flags
1 for 16 laps

Lead Changes
11 among 3 drivers

Lap Leaders
Paul Tracy, Sebastien Bourdais, Oriol Servia

Fastest Race Lap
Sebastien Bourdais

Most Positions Improved
Timo Glock

Friday Pole
Sebastien Bourdais

CURRENT STANDINGS
  Driver Pts.
1. Bourdais 310
2. Servia 243
3. Tracy 216
4. Wilson 214
5. Dominguez 186
6. Vasser 173
7. Allmendinger 172
8. Tagliani 169
9. Glock(R) 162
10. da Matta 130
11. Bremer(R) 122
12. Ranger(R) 115
  Wirdheim(R) 115
14. Hunter-Reay 110
15. Marshall(R) 94
16. Philippe 93
17. R. Sperafico(R) 75
18. Junqueira 59
19. Lavin 57
20. A. Sperafico 24
21. Dalziel(R) 13
22. Marques 10
  Valiante(R) 10
24. del Monte(R) 5
25. Goeters(R) 3
 
 
2008 Thoughts
Long Beach

2007 Thoughts
Preseason Las Vegas Long Beach Houston
Portland Cleveland Mont Tremblant Toronto
Edmonton San Jose Road America Belgium
Holland Surfers Paradise Mexico City Postseason

2006 Thoughts
Preseason Long Beach Houston Monterrey
Milwaukee Portland Cleveland Toronto
Edmonton San Jose Denver Montreal
Road America Surfer's Paradise Mexico City Postseason

2005 Thoughts
Preseason Long Beach Monterrey Milwaukee
Portland Cleveland Toronto Edmonton
San Jose Denver Montreal Las Vegas
Surfer's Paradise Mexico City Postseason

2004 Thoughts
Preseason Long Beach Monterrey Milwaukee
Portland Cleveland Toronto Vancouver
Road America Denver Montreal Laguna Seca
Las Vegas Surfer's Paradise Mexico City Postseason

2003 Thoughts
Preseason St. Petersburg Monterrey Long Beach
Brands Hatch Germany Milwaukee Laguna Seca
Portland Cleveland Toronto Vancouver
Road America Mid-Ohio Montreal Denver
Miami Mexico City Surfer's Paradise Postseason

2002 Thoughts
Preseason Monterrey Long Beach Japan
Milwaukee Laguna Seca Portland Chicago
Toronto Cleveland Vancouver Mid-Ohio
Road America Montreal Denver
England Miami Surfer's Paradise
Fontana Mexico City Postseason

2001 Thoughts
Preseason Mexico Long Beach Nazareth
Japan Milwaukee Detroit Portland
Cleveland Toronto Michigan Chicago
Mid-Ohio Road America Vancouver German
England Houston Laguna Seca
Surfer's Paradise Fontana Postseason

2000 Thoughts
Preseason Miami Long Beach Brazil
Japan Nazareth Milwaukee Detroit
Portland Cleveland Toronto Michigan
Chicago Mid-Ohio Road America Vancouver
Laguna Seca Gateway USGP Houston
Surfer's Paradise Fontana Postseason

1999 Thoughts
Preseason Miami Japan Long Beach
Nazareth Brazil Gateway Milwaukee
Portland Cleveland Road America Toronto
U.S. 500 Detroit Mid-Ohio Chicago
Vancouver Laguna Seca Houston
Surfer's Paradise Fontana Postseason

1998 Thoughts
Preseason Miami Japan Long Beach
Nazareth Brazil Gateway Milwaukee
Detroit Portland Cleveland Toronto
U.S. 500 Mid-Ohio Road America Vancouver
Laguna Seca Houston Surfer's Paradise Fontana

1997 Thoughts
Miami Surfer's Paradise Long Beach Nazareth
Brazil Gateway Milwaukee Detroit
Portland Cleveland Toronto
U.S. 500 Mid-Ohio Road America
Vancouver Laguna Seca Fontana
Site Index | Search | Contacts | Ad Rates |


Copyright © 1999-2024 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.
The names, logos, and taglines identifying Deep Throttle are proprietary marks of Deep Throttle. All other trademarks and service marks are property of their respective owners. Deep Throttle is an independent electronic publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any series, team, driver, or sponsor. Privacy Policy.