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A Busy Day For Vancouver's Traffic Cops

© Gary Presley

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"A Busy Day For Vancouver's Traffic Cops"

Is there such an animal as a good street race? I don't like 'em. Plain and simple. Champ cars are too big, too powerful and too complete with blind spots for the drivers to make competing on a narrow street course anything more than an exercise in destruction.

I got a suspicion I could retire and live comfortably in Key West on an amount equal to the cost of equipment destroyed last weekend.

Hey, I don't like the negative waves. Let's say a few positive things about the Molson Indy Vancouver.

• Great weather, eh?
• A super crowd. And probably all polite too.
• An all-Canadian front row driving for a Canadian team
• Max Papis walking away from a horrendous crash.
• The three leaders pitting when they knew the pits were closed and then complaining about being caught.
• The crafty smile on Pat Patrick's smile throughout the afternoon
• Roberto Moreno's tears.

1. Roberto Moreno, driving a Toyota Reynard, from all accouts one of the more popular drivers in the series and one who'll win more friends with his emotional dedication of the victory to the late Greg Moore. Moreno drove a smart race, and he made the pass for the win when the opportunity presented itself. And he can leave town knowing that pass came on the track rather than in the pits.
2. Gil de Ferran, driving a Honda Reynard, made clear pressure from Moreno caused the bobble and lost of momentum that allowed Moreno to pass. Gil was sneaky fast all day, and the podium finish put him at the top of the points list.
3. Michael Andretti, in a Honda Reynard, another veteran who just hung tough all day long, which means he's still in the hunt for the championship.
4. Tony Kanaan, piloting a Honda Reynard, scrabbling hard for a decent finish, which moves him into the points top ten.
5. Oriol Servia, in a Ford Lola, moved from 22nd to 5th and didn't bump or get bumped during the climb.
6. Michel Jourdain Jr., driving a Ford Lola, moved up 15 points through decent strategy and good driving.
7. Tora Takagi, in a Toyota Reynard, the second time in the top ten in his first year piloting champ cars.
8. Kenny Brack, in a Ford Lola, from the first lap confrontation with Castroneves to punting Patrick Carpentier the swift Swede spent the afternoon entertaining fans with his best Paul Tracy imitation.
9. Dario Franchitti, in a Honda Reynard, one of three caught up in the great pits-closed debacle, paying for it was a so-so finish.

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