Sunday

What a day! It was without a doubt one of the best days at the track in a long time. I don’t think I need to tell you that A.J won and that Jimmy Hinch won the Atlantic race. This is a statement that Forsythe desperately needed to make, not just to the other teams but to themselves. Their confidence is back to where it belongs as a team and as a unit. Of course, it was great to see AJ on the podium. It was great to see the tears in his eyes when he stepped out of the car and it was great to see Carl Russo being the first person to congratulating him. You know, it must have broken Carl’s heart that he couldn’t really celebrate A.J.’s first win with him. You could tell in his eyes. Carl is a BRILLIANT man and I really feel that him letting AJ go, was as much for AJ’s sake as it was for RuSport. Kind of like a parent letting go of their child at the adult age, or a father giving away his daughter to another man at her wedding. Russo is proud of AJ and knew that he might succeed better elsewhere. Today, he definitely did.

I have to say from what I have read on the Forums and from what Bourdais said during MY podium celebration, I am not impressed with that team. Both drivers complaining to television when asked a specific question is one thing, but Bourdais coming on to MY podium, clearly a place of celebration, clearly a place of great atmosphere and to bring the house down with his complaints was a little disturbing. There’s a reason I ask softball questions when on the podium, because it’s a CELEBRATION time. Don’t come to my house and bring my show down! On the other hand, I could have interviewed AJ all day on the podium. In fact, I think he still may be there!

The entire day was great. The pre-race festivities were a lot of fun with all sorts of things going on, the crowd was up considerably from the last two years. The Atlantics race: good god they put on a great show! I feel really bad for Ryan Lewis, but at the same time I can’t help but feel extremely proud of Hinch. I have to say, its always fun listening to “O Canada” on the speaker. Way to go Hinch!

Special thanks to all the folks at the Inner Circle Fan Club dinner from Saturday night. Erik Mauk and I were speakers and we both had a great time.

Someone called me the Spirit of ChampCar today, that was kind of fun. I’m a very happy ChampCar cheerleader! I am off to relax for the evening before my long, long flight back to Toronto tomorrow!