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.

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