RACE: With some rare (and memorable) exceptions, Portland is not known for exciting races. However, we understand there's a very strong future for urban street races, but at the end of the day, road racing is where it's at. We hope a successful event such as this one will help bring back some of our favorites, such as Road America, Laguna Seca, and Mid-Ohio.

TRACK: The Festival Curves remake did its job.

DA MATTA: Da man is back! Cristiano stands tall again.

PKV RACING: Kalkhoven received a much deserved first race win along with co-owners Vasser and Pettit.

BOURDAIS: A strong second gives Sebastien a firmer lead in the points race.

TRACY: For a guy whose car was never quite right all weekend, he didn't look so bad standing up there with other series champions.

ALLMENDINGER: He showed maturity in going for the points and a fifth place when nearly every racer wants to go for the win and be damned.

VASSER: We've said it before. We love to watch Jimmy race, but his best days may be behind him. Sixth is decent, but he was never really a factor in the race.

RANGER: He continues to outperform many of the highly touted European rookies by just being consistently good. So there.

BREMER: Today's race clearly favored the veterans, but Ronnie kept his nose clean and didn't block anyone.

GLOCK: Ditto, Timo.

VALIENTE: Good to see Michael get his shot. Now, hopefully the Coyne team won't ruin that shot.

PHILIPPE: We still wonder what Nelson is doing in Champ Car.

MARSHALL: He's really new, but we really wonder about him, too.

SPERAFICO: We thought Ricardo was the talented Sperafico... He did actually get the eighth fastest lap of the race, but he blocks.

RUSPORT: If you want a case study on how to build up a new team, RuSport is it. Now, they need to execute next time they are so close to winning.

ROCKETSPORTS: The complete opposite -- a case study on how not to build up a new team. By far one of the biggest disappointments in recent Champ Car history. This team could end up...

HUNTER-REAY: ...destroying Ryan's career. If Rocketsports can't deliver him a decent ride, for goodness sakes, let him move on. This is painful to watch.

TAGLIANI: It's obvious Tags is doing better overall with Derrick Walker than he did with Paul Gentilozzi. However, we would never go to the craps table with Alex.

WILSON: Dominate the whole weekend, a Justin victory looked like the surest bet of the weekend. We would never go anywhere near a casino with Justin. This guy can't buy a race. Yet, he handled his disappointment with class and no tantrums.

SERVIA: Not much of a factor this time around.

USGP: The mass withdrawal by the Michelin teams was a true blow to open wheel racing in the U.S., and a textbook case for how rampant egos can create such utter disaster. It also makes the case about why neither Tony George nor Bernie Ecclestone should have any leadership role in our sport, no matter the series.

FIA: Now stands for F------ International Auto racing for 100 years.

GEORGE: Only the FIA, Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, Michelin, and all the other Euroweenies can actually make Deep Throttle side with Tony George.

MONTEIRO: Tiago, do realize how much of a dork you were up on the podium? While the Ferrari drivers rightfully left the podium with no reaction, you made a complete ass of yourself. Do you actually believe you accomplished something?!

COULTHARD: David is a real fans' driver, and thus one of our favorites anywhere in the world. This guy understands what the sport is really supposed to be about. He is someone we would love to have a beer with, unlike Michael Schumacher.

KRISTENSEN: Sadly (or typically), the F1 farce overshadowed the real international racing story of the weekend -- Mr. Le Mans and his astounding seventh victory (and even more remarkable sixth straight) at Le Sarthe.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Sunny.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 6 vs. 18 -- as in the number of cars that started the USGP versus the Portland Champ Car race.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: Way back in 1909, Portland emulated this year's USGP by starting six cars in the stock class, costing $1600 or under. Howard Covey won the three-lap race around the 43.8-mile road course. Only the second place driver also completed all three laps. The other four cars never made it one time around.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Sebastien Bourdais on the popular victory by Cristiano da Matta, "He went through a lot of political crap in Formula One, so it's good to see him back on top of a real racing series."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Kevin Kalkhoven on his definition of a perfect weekend, "What more can I ask for? Attendance was up, the sun was out, and we won."

SCHEDULE: All you USGP ticket holders, take Champ Car up on its offer at Cleveland, and watch how a real open wheel race is put on.

Copyright © 2005 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.

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