Check out a short list of favorites for Sunday's Molson Indy at Toronto.
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| | Andretti |
Michael Andretti
This is the course where he has been most
successful in his career; his resume includes a remarkable seven
victories, including the past two years, and finishes of fifth
or better in 12 of 15 starts; won in 1989 and four consecutive
times between 1991-95; did not compete in the 1993 race; led all
103 laps in the 1991 and 1992 races and is the all-time lap
leader in Toronto with 473; a rather mediocre season by his
standards, with limited points earned; career victory 42 came at
the Grand Prix of Long Beach; next best finishes were a pair of
sevenths, including the Indianapolis 500; has 34 points, good
for 10th in the standings.
Kenny Brack
Failed to finish the past two races; at Chicago
he forced a manuever on the opening lap and took himself and
Jimmy Vasser out; it was his fourth DNF this year; top finish
was third at the Grand Prix of Monterey; a mechanical problem
forced him out of last year's Molson Indy after 61 laps.
Patrick Carpentier
This is a home race of sorts for the
Canadian driver, although he did not complete the 95-lap event
last year due to contact after 52 laps; a mechanical problem
this past Sunday also forced him out at the Grand Prix of
Chicago; but prior to that he finished third in races at
Monterey, California and Portland, Oregon; those results
accumulated 38 points and up to seventh in the CART standings.
Cristiano da Matta
The Brazilian driver, sporting the same
hairdo worn by World Cup hero Ronaldo, became the first driver
to win three straight CART races since Colombia's Juan Montoya
in 1999 by taking the checkered flag at the Grand Prix of
Chicago; led 82 of 116 laps; has four wins this season and a
25-point lead over countryman Bruno Junqueira in the series
standings with 13 races remaining; Da Matta will try to tie a
CART record with a fourth straight victory in Toronto -- Al
Unser Jr. and Alex Zanardi are the only CART drivers to win four
consecutive races; Ronaldo scored two goals in Brazil's 2-0
victory over Germany in the soccer World Cup Final on Sunday.
Adrian Fernandez
Recorded his first career CART victory at
Exhibition Place in 1996; has performed well in Toronto since;
was third last year, second in 2000 and sixth in 1999 after
starting 23rd; posted finishes of ninth or better in six of
eight starts at Toronto.
Christian Fittipaldi
After two good results at the Miller
Lite 250 (4th) and Grand Prix of Monterey (2nd), he failed to
finish the past two events; remained fifth in the standings
despite the results with 43 points; scored points in Toronto in
five of seven starts, including 12th place last year; best
finish was third in 1999.
Dario Franchitti
Started from the pole in Chicago and led the
first 67 laps, but could not get back in front after pit
cycles; he was content with his second straight third-place;
this is one of his favorite tracks on the circuit where he
enjoys the layout; won two poles, including the first of his
career in his 1997 rookie season; won the race in 1999 after
starting second -- led 95 laps; posted three third-place
finishes this year and a runner-up in seven races which gives
him 64 points and third place.
Michel Jourdain Jr.
The only driver to finish all seven races
this year in the top-10; was 10th at Chicago in the last race;
however, he fell from the top position to fourth place in the
past two events; has 57 points; is the first driver to open with
top-10 results in seven straight races since Christian
Fittipaldi in 1999.
Bruno Junqueira
Another Brazilian having a good season in the
first seven races; has scored a total of 70 points - 30 on
road-street courses and 40 on oval tracks; suffered heat
exhaustion after the second-place finish in Chicago and was
unable to attend the press conference; won the Bridgestone
Potenza 500 in Japan in April.
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| | Tracy |
Paul Tracy
Toronto native will be racing in front of family
and friends; a winner in his home city in 1993 and has eight
top-10 finishes in 10 career starts including sixth in 2001;
also was runner-up to teammate Dario Franchitti for a 1-2 Team
KOOL Green finish in 1999 and third last year; won at Milwaukee
this year which is his 19th career CART victory; failed to
finish three races, while he posted top-10 in three others and a
controversial second place in the IRL-sanctioned Indianapolis
500.