TRACK: Over 250,000 fans during the four day event. These Aussies sure do like this stuff.

RACE: Considering all the dicing and fighting going on, this was a remarkably clean race for a street circuit despite the few incidents.

FRANCHITTI: His prayers were answered, and then he hammered the point home.

MONTOYA: Can you say, choke?

PAPIS: The expectations when Mad Max first went to Team Rahal are finally starting to be realized.

FERNANDEZ: Not bad for someone with a sore wrist.

HERTA: Certainly making a statement for a ride next year.

GANASSI: One wonders how Chip can sleep at night for failing to warn Montoya of the wall in the way.

TRACY: A rule is a rule is a rule. Even if it is a lousy one. However, that is not what ruined Paul's race. His boost problem did him in.

YELLOW: Speaking of penalties, Herta got away easy, especially in comparison to Tracy, for his misdeed. And Montoya did clearly make his pass after the incident, so that ruling was correct.

PRUETT: A great weekend by the adopted son of Australian CART fans. Shame he is going to those tin tops.

TOYOTA: Yes, this was a great showing by the Japanese engine manufacturer. However, last year they also were gaining on the other powerplants at the end of the year. The problem is, preliminary testing has shown that Honda and especially Ford are working successfully on new even lighter, smaller engines that are producing impressive horsepower figures. Toyota has never shown the ability to make these sort of technological leaps fast enough.

CASTRO-NEVES: Haven't heard much from Helio in quite some time.

DE FERRAN: For someone whose reputation is built on finishing races, Gil sure has been crashing out of races a lot this year.

EPSON: You don't pay your bills, you don't get your decals on the car.

ESPN: It's like being pounded into submission. After a while, you just give in to the shoddy treatment.

(NON) QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: For what Juan Montoya did not say after his crash since he had nobody to blame it on this time. Or, perhaps Ganassi said it best: "He appeared to just drive off the track."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: To Dario Franchitti upon his reaction to the most famous crash of the year, "When I heard Montoya was out, I thought this was a perfect weekend."

SCHEDULE: 500 miles to decide the championship. However, don't be surprised if someone unexpected sneaks through all the hoopla surrounding the two title contenders and wins the Fontana race.

Deep Throttle

Copyright © 1999 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.