| | Associated Press
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Liisa Tracy calls her husband a big kid.
Looking at Paul Tracy, with his bleached blond hair and a penchant for baggy shorts, motorbikes and jet skis, it's hard to argue with her.
But the 31-year-old driving star from Canada is definitely growing up on the race track, where he has overcome some bad breaks and a fiery temper. Now, he appears ready to challenge for his first CART championship.
|  | | A run of bad luck didn't bring out the worst in Paul Tracy. |
Team owner Barry Green, who two years ago took a chance on the series' bad boy despite his reputation for crashing race cars and loudly voicing his opinions, is one of Tracy's biggest fans.
"I don't know anybody who works harder and I think you could ask just about any driver in the pit lane, and they're concerned about Paul Tracy, no matter where he starts," Green said. "He's always a factor."
Going into the Sunday's Michigan 500 -- the beginning of the second half of the 20-race season -- Tracy is fourth in the standings, trailing leader Roberto Moreno by just 17 points.
After being the only driver to score -- finish in the top 12 -- in each of the first five races, Tracy was leading the points. But qualifying and mechanical problems, and being caught up in the mistakes of others, kept him from scoring in four straight races. He fell into a tie for fifth place, 31 points back.
In the past, such things would have infuriated Tracy. No more.
He came back strong Sunday in Toronto, finishing third despite
starting 12th.
"In the past, I didn't think I had any weakness," Tracy said quietly. "Now I understand what my weaknesses are, and I'm able to not fall into the trap of doing something over my head.
"I know what my strengths are, and I play off those. I think it's just more race time and understanding the car better and knowing when to pull the trigger and when not to."
Give some credit to Green and Tony Cicale, Tracy's race engineer
since the beginning of last season.
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TRACY'S TRAVELS
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| Tracy |
Here's a look at Paul Tracy's seasonS since joining CART full-time in 1993. Tracy has posted 16 career wins and 12 poles while driving for some of the series' biggest teams:
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Year
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Team
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Wins
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Pts.
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1993
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Team Penske
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5
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3rd
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1994
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Team Penske
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3
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3rd
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1995
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Newman-Haas
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2
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6th
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1996
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Team Penske
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0
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13th
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1997
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Team Penske
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3
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5th
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1998
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Team KOOL Green
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0
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13th
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1999
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Team KOOL Green
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2
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3rd
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2000
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Team KOOL Green
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1
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4th
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"Maybe he's matured a little bit," Green said. "But I don't think it's so much that. I think it's that Team Green and, particularly Tony Cicale, have got him looking at the bigger picture instead of just at the lap in front of him.
"That means if there is a mistake or an accident that he's involved in, it's sometimes not even his fault. It certainly doesn't upset him as much as it used to. I would say that's the big difference."
Tracy reflects fondly on a CART career that began 1991 and includes 16 victories. He feels lucky because he's been with three strong teams. Two stints with Penske sandwiched a run with Newman-Haas before Tracy came to Green.
But don't get the impression Tracy is too mellow. The fire still burns. Now it's under control.
"I'm in a position now where I make really, really good money and life is good," he said. "But the competition level is still what drives me. I still get as mad as ever."
Tracy's verbal battles with Wally Dallenbach, CART's now-retired chief steward, were almost a constant skirmish the past few seasons. Tracy is the only driver in 22 years to be forced to sit out a race because of rough driving.
But, even with Dallenbach no longer calling the shots on the track, Tracy isn't pleased with the officiating.
"I still get mad about how CART is running things," he said. "I don't want to say too much, but some of the stuff that is going on right now is getting out of control."
Warmed up, he sounded more like the Tracy of old.
"The reason I've been vocal in the past is not because I want to be a jerk. I want it to be right for everybody," he said. "I want it to be better."
Tracy, whose best points finish is third -- three times, including last year -- wants to win a championship.
"Individual achievements are great," he said. "I've won a lot of races and I've got a lot of things in the press book that are nice and flattering, but the championship is what everybody is here to win."
Even here, Tracy shows his newfound maturity.
"I'm not treating it like I have to win it this year," he said. "Trying to force something to happen is the wrong approach."
He gains inspiration from the work ethic of 41-year-old Moreno, who emerged this year from his longtime status as supersub.
"He's put in a lot of time and he was written off for 10 years as a guy who's not good enough," Tracy said. "Now look where he is." | |
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