I apologize for not being able to write about the race right after it happened, but I was fortunate enough to join some wonderful people for a nice dinner on Sunday night as well as attend the ‘Champ Car Girls’ party or the driver party, or whatever you want to call it. Needless to say, I didn’t have time Sunday night and Monday was spent in the airports!
Champ Car is on a very good streak of highly entertaining races. I don’t know that I recall a string this good in the past. I suppose Portland may have been the ‘quietest’ race this season, but it was drama-filled anyway. Champ Car seems to be hitting their marks in terms of rules and options to make the races more exciting. Whether it’s the Bridgestone Reds, or the Power to Pass, or the open pit stops, they just seem to have found the properly formula.

A lot of people came down hard on AJ, no one more than himself, after he brushed the wall and saw his first victory slip away. Two races in a row where a mental lapse causes him the win or a podium. Part of becoming a great driver is developing the mental as well as the physical and sometimes the best way to do that is to suffer a few lapses. I have a feeling these last two races will probably end up making him a better driver in the big picture. It’ll also make that first victory all the sweeter!

Katherine Legg is my hero! She is absolutely amazing. I must admit that I had been cheering her on privately, mainly because she’s such a nice person, sparkling personality and just a joy to be around with. But after Long beach, though she did have a podium in Portland, she needed this win so badly to completely establish her credibility as a female driver. When constantly compared to Danica, who has never won anything, it becomes hard to legitimize women in the sport as more than just novelty. She has proven that she belongs and that there’s an avenue and option for young girls who want to get in the sport. I know I’m talking like she’s the first ever to do it and she’s obviously not. But the fact that she’s winning is what separates her from the other female drivers in open-wheel racing.

Best quote of the weekend with regards to the Edmonton event

“This place has a lot of mojo”
-Tonis Kasamets

Champ Car baby! Champ Car for life!