Tracy

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Paul Tracy has driven well at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for years. The only thing he hasn't done is win a race there.

Tracy has finished second in four of his 10 CART races at the track. Now he hopes to reach the winner's platform at Sunday's Champ Car Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Qualifying takes place Friday and Saturday at the 2.26-mile, 13-turn road course in the hills of north central Ohio.

"There's no doubt that winning here is something I've targeted this season," Tracy said. "I've been looking forward to coming back because we had the fastest car during one of the two testing days here earlier this year and I've always done so well at Mid-Ohio."

The Canadian has led the driver point standings most of the season but fell to second, three points behind leader Bruno Junqueira, after crashing early last Sunday at Road America.

"We made one mistake too many last weekend, and it cost us some precious points," he said.

Tracy, driving for Player's-Forsythe Racing, has won five races and has 161 points, equaling his best season totals in both categories, so he's almost certain to have his best year.

But it hasn't been an easy year. His aggressive driving has been the subject of frequent complaints and he lost the provisional pole at Vancouver for blocking, though he won the pole in final qualifying.

He's been critical of CART officials and some drivers, but intends to lower the volume for the season's remaining seven races.

"I spoke out in the heat of the moment and said what I had to say at the time," he said. "I realize that I'm under intense scrutiny from CART and could be punished if I say anything more, so I'm going to settle down and hope my racing does the talking for me."

Junqueira earned the maximum 23 points at Road America by winning the race, leading the most laps and being the top qualifier both days.

"I had a really good feeling about last week because we tested well at Road America and I really like the track, and I feel the same way about Mid-Ohio," the Newman-Haas Racing driver said.

Tracy (164 points) and Junqueira (161) have made the driver standings a two-man race, with Team Rahal's Michel Jourdain Jr. third at 125 and Junqueira's teammate, rookie Sebastien Bourdais, fourth at 116.

Jourdain will have the support of much of the crowd. Team Rahal is headquartered in suburban Columbus, about an hour's drive from Mid-Ohio, and it's the only CART team based in Ohio.

"I know the crew members are anxious to do well here because this is the team's home track and for many of them, it's the only time their friends and families get to see them race," he said.

"I don't feel so much pressure here for myself, though, because I'm Mexican. For me, the big excitement comes when we go to Monterrey and Mexico City."