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Junqueira taps wall but wins anyway

Associated Press
Published September 1, 2003

DENVER - Winning the CART Grand Prix of Denver a second time wasn't as easy for Bruno Junqueira.

The Brazilian, who led start to finish in last year's inaugural race, fell out of the lead for 30 laps on Sunday. Then he brushed the wall with 17 laps to go, but still held off Newman-Haas teammate Sebastien Bourdais by 0.335 seconds on the 1.65-mile street course.

Junqueira overtook Oriol Servia in the pits midway through the race and led the final 44 laps for his fifth career CART victory. Servia was third, followed by series leader Paul Tracy, who holds a 204-186 edge in points over Junqueira with four races left.

"To finish 1-2 for the third time this year was a good result for us," Junqueira said. "Most important, after two bad results, I came up again, winning back to back in Denver. I've closed the gap in the championship."

U.S. NATIONALS: Rain postponed the remaining classes of the NHRA event in Clermont, Ind., and they were rescheduled for Friday-Sunday. ... Reggie Showers, a double amputee, won the K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash late Saturday. Showers, injured in a childhood accident, was amputated below both knees and wears prosthetic legs. The event was for the top eight riders in Pro Stock Bike qualifying in the past year.

RACE IN BAHRAIN: The Arabian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain will host a Formula One race next year, race officials said. Track general manager Hans Geist said the Bahrain Grand Prix will be April 4.

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