Team Lexus Takes Mont-Tremblant Grand-Am Cup Victory

MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec, May 26, 2004 -- The Team Lexus duo of Chuck Goldsborough and Ian James drove their Lexus IS 300 to their first Grand-Am Cup Sport Touring win of the season at the Mont-Tremblant 250 on the scenic 3.56-mile Quebec road course.

After starting sixth, Goldsborough quickly moved up to second and held the position for much of the early going. He continued to run upfront until pitting just after the one-hour, 30-minute mark. James continued the team's onslaught on the top spot and traded the lead twice before finally taking the lead for good on Lap 80 of the 91-lap event. His Lexus IS 300 finished just ahead of entries from BMW and Acura for the victory. The win marks the third consecutive top-four finish for the team, with Lexus climbing into third-place (among nine) in the tight Grand-Am Cup Manufacturer Championship.

"It's the first win for Lexus this year," James said. "It's a great achievement. We have won at least one a year since we started this program. It's nice to have a win early in the year. Chuck, my teammate, did great in the early stint. It was nice to fight it out in the end for the first win."

Unfortunately, the day didn't go as well for the other two Team Lexus entries. The #0 IS 300 placed 17th in class, while the remaining team car, the #3 Lexus IS 300, finished 19th after leading early in the race.

The Mont-Tremblant 250 will be telecast on SPEED Channel on Sunday, May 30, at Noon ET. The Grand-Am Cup Series continues June 19, with the Watkins Glen 250 in conjunction with the Rolex Series Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Hi-resolution photos can be downloaded at www.pressroom.lexus.com