Motorsports

Tracy gets hot again, but in a good way

Tracy gets hot again, but in a good way

CLEVELAND - Paul Tracy's face was even redder than last year. There wasn't smoke coming out his ears, though.

Tracy, whose race in 2004 ended when he got hit from behind on Turn 1, avoided trouble Sunday to win the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland for the first time since 1993.

"We came back and showed what we could do," an exhausted Tracy said. "This was very tough. The pace was relentless. The speed was relentless."

A year ago, a furious Tracy stormed off the course after he was hit from behind at the treacherous Turn 1, knocking the pole-sitter out just seconds after the start.

But starting from pole again, this time the 36-year-old Canadian made it safely through Burke Lakefront Airport's tricky first hairpin right turn. After that he navigated all 900 other bends, twists and swerves over the 2.106-mile temporary road course for one hour, 45 minutes to earn a satisfying victory.

Tracy finished 3.113 seconds ahead of A.J. Allmendinger, who was immobilized and carried from the track on a stretcher Saturday after a nasty wreck in qualifying.

Oriol Servia finished third, Alex Tagliani fourth and two-time defending Cleveland champion Sebastien Bourdais was fifth - 13.262 seconds back of Tracy.

"It seems like this year things aren't going our way as much," said Bourdais, the 2004 series champion and Tampa resident. "We've been fighting very hard and it's going to turn around."

Tracy led the first 29 laps - and 46 total - before going into the pits for the first time. He retook the lead on Lap 86 and led the final five laps of the race, which was shortened to 91 laps from 94 to accommodate TV coverage.

Tracy earned 31 points and took the series lead with 128, one more than Bourdais.

BUSCH: Despite a black flag halfway through the race, Johnny Sauter had little trouble dominating the rain-shortened SBC 250 at the Milwaukee Mile late Saturday.

The race was shortened from 250 to 200 miles after a storm dumped heavy rain on the track. Sauter, from Necedah, Wis., led 162 of the 200 laps.

On Lap 112, Sauter was the only driver on the lead lap, but tapped and spun Tony Raines, bringing out a caution. Officials gave Sauter a black flag for rough driving, making him move to the back of the line, but he only dropped to second and passed Randy LaJoie back for the lead two laps after the restart.

NHRA: Brandon Bernstein ended a 26-race winless streak in Top Fuel competition, turning a 4.553-second quarter-mile pass at 324.59 mph to beat Morgan Lucas at the Sears Craftsman Nationals in Madison, Ill. Other winners included Ron Capps in Funny Car, Kurt Johnson in Pro Stock and Angelle Sampey in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

[Last modified June 27, 2005, 01:05:15]