EVENT: Disturbingly, there were a whole lot of empty seats visible on race day. Edmonton's debut was a crown jewel in the series. Has that jewel lost its shine?

TRACK: The toughest, meanest track on the circuit. It beats up drivers and spits them out.

RACE: We've been spoiled by two rain races in a row. For a dry race, it had its moments.

START: Next time Will, listen to what Sebastien was going to do if he won the pole -- take the outside starting spot.

BOURDAIS: It's an annual pattern -- the points chase gets (momentarily) close, so Sebastien pulls off a commanding weekend (maximum points minus two) while his contenders run into problems.

WILSON: Justin is making the podium a regular destination. Now, about that top step...

RAHAL: Best weekend of his young career. Graham was fast right out of the trailer and got a well deserved podium.

NEWMAN HAAS LANIGAN: A solid weekend for them.

PAGENAUD: When in Canada, finish fourth.

TEAM AUSTRALIA: Well, they can take the Inuit designed trophy home for winning the Canadian Triple Crown for whatever that's worth.

TRACY: Yeah. Paul salvaged a fifth place. But speed was not part of the equation. For any part of the weekend.

SERVIA: Ditto.

FORSYTHE: The way this team is falling back, they are going to end up in the Atlantic field.

JUNQUEIRA: Another impressive outing for Bruno on Dale Coyne's low budget outfit. We're sensing a victory coming up soon.

CLARKE: He did go off once during the race. He did crash (hard) during practice. Yep, another typical race weekend for Speedy/Stupid/Crashing Dan.

JANI: Nothing noteworthy this weekend.

HEYLEN: Ditto. Which for Jan is an improvement after Cleveland and Toronto.

DOORNBOS: Amazing how the racing gods always seem to even things out.

DALZIEL: Toronto's performance appeared to kick start Ryan's effort, but a missed opportunity when he spun.

FIGGE: Note, Alex did not get the slowest race lap. And he finished.

TAGLIANI: Alex, you're one lap down. One lap down! Think before you dive bomb someone.

POWER: As Will said, "It was a kick in the guts."

LEGGE: Once again, fast in the Sunday morning warm up. Once again, the only time of the weekend she was fast. Once again, her car conspired against her.

DOMINGUEZ: A short lived return.

GOMMENDY: A very disturbing trend is beginning to develop. Two low speed nose-first crashes. Two damaged backs. It's the IRL nightmare afflicting Champ Car. This absolutely, positively, must be nipped in the bud immediately.

MATOS: Start putting Rafa's name on that $2 million check.

EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX: One for the ages.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Tough.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 20 -- The points lead that Sebastien Bourdais has once again opened up.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: It took three years before someone won Edmonton twice. It took the same number of years in the other western Canada venue for someone to win it twice. Michael Andretti won Vancouver in 1991 and 1992 after Al Unser, Jr. won the inaugural race.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Sebastien Bourdais about the track after his win, "It's a place that beats you up, drags you down to your knees, but when you can pull it off, it feels really good."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Alex Figge put it in less words, "It's a ballsy joint."

SCHEDULE: Time to leave Canada and head to Silicon Valley and the tight confines of San Jose.

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