CART: Two Toyotas on podium at Portland; Moreno, Fittipaldi 2-3

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 25, 2001

- Roberto Moreno was second and Christian Fittipaldi third to lead Toyota at today's Freightliner/G.I. Joe's 200 at Portland International Raceway. Fittipaldi put on a show late in the race passing five cars in the late laps to earn his third, while Moreno ran the entire race in the top five on his way to his straight PIR second-place.

- A Toyota has finished third or better in every road or street course event this season and with today's double-podium closes to within two points of Honda in the Manufacturer's Championship - 116-114.

- Roberto Moreno's 2nd-place finish was his best of the season and his second consecutive podium finish after finishing third at Detroit last weekend.

- Christian Fittipaldi's third-place finish is his fourth top-five showing in the last five races - his only non-top five came at Milwaukee where he was running fourth late in the race before being involved in an incident while trying to pass lapped traffic.

- Scott Dixon's seventh-place finish is his fourth top-10 finish in the last five races (he has just seven career Champ Car starts). Scott Dixon stretched his lead in the CART Rookie of the Year standings to 21 points over Target rookie Bruno Junqueira.

- Cristiano da Matta's 10th-place is his fifth top-10 in seven races this season. He's been in the top 10 at each of the four road course events run this season.

- Three Toyota drivers - Bruno Junqueira, Mauricio Gugelmin and Memo Gidley - were taken out of the race after other drivers miscues. Tony Kanaan went off the track early and then pulled out immediately in Gidley's path - creating an incident that knocked both out of the race. Junqueira ran in the top 10 through the first half of the race, but was taken out when Paul Tracy pulled out of the pits and straight into Junqueira, knocking the Target driver into the wall and ending his race with suspension damage. Tracy later spun on the backstraight and collected Gugelmin as Tracy spun sideways across the track. Gugelmin was running fifth at the time in his best run of the season.

- With the third-place finish, Christian Fittipaldi moves into fifth in the CART points standings - joining teammate da Matta (fourth) in the top-five overall. Scott Dixon moved up to seventh, while Jimmy Vasser dropped to 10th.

Quotes:

Roberto Moreno, Visteon Toyota: "Once I learned the new Toyota engine package, we've done well the past few races. Toyota did a very smooth job of mapping for us today. I'm happy to be a Reynard between the two Lolas today."

Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports: "We're really pleased to have two cars finish on the podium today and very happy for both Roberto and Christian as each ran a great race today. We've closed the gap in the manufacturer's championship down to two points. Now, we need to get ready for Cleveland - a place where Roberto won his first race a year ago. We've run very well on the road courses this year and we're looking forward to racing at Cleveland, always one of the most exciting races on the CART schedule."

NEXT RACE: Marconi Grand Prix, July 1, ESPN, 1:00 p.m. EDT

Text provided by John Prodica

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.