"It's going to be a bittersweet weekend in Vancouver for us. This is Greg Moore's home track. We think about him all the time. And I know he'll be looking out for us, making sure we have a good time here, as usual. They are going to retire his number (99) before the race on Sunday. That's very special. We will never forget him."
The Team Kool Green qualified one-two for the run through the streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, and that's the way they were running at the end of the first lap -- and the end of the race.
There was a false start, but the second time the green flag waved - Paul Tracy putting a heavy hold on his Honda - Team Penske followed the two Team Green cars to make it an all-Honda front four.
Teamwork broke down early, though, when Players Team Forsythe decided to reduce their entry by fifty percent - at least, that was the result when Alex Tagliani tried to force his way past teammate Patrick Carpentier. Patrick ended up in a tire barrier and Mark Blundell put the coup d'grace on Carpentier's day by ramming him in the rear.
A full course yellow followed, and then there was a cold tire crash fest.
Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Adrian Fernandez were among those earning DNFs.
Tony Kanaan was involved as well in the Jourdain incident, but he was able to return to the fray following after losing several laps while his car's rear suspension was repaired.
"That really takes the wind out of your sails when you lose laps early in the race like that, especially when it's not your fault. I was on the outside of Memo (Gidley) going into Turn 1 and I saw all kinds of stuff happening behind me. I think Jourdain thought he could brake deeper than he could because he slammed into me really hard. He pushed me forward 200 feet and I almost didn't make the turn. But I got past the tire barrier and was hoping the car was alright. It was for a few laps. But then I felt the rear end give way. I was hoping it was only a flat tire. But it was much more than that."
While those to the rear were banging into one another, Franchitti was putting some distance between himself and Tracy. Team Penske's entry could keep up, but not gain ground. Dario clearly had the car to beat.
