---

CART: Reynard takes third successive victory in 2000 Champ Car series

2 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Reynard Champ Car driver, Adrian Fernandez, drove his Patrick Racing Reynard Ford to victory at this weekend's FedEx Championship Series event at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting from 16th place on the grid and using a combination of fine driving and good pit strategy to bring him to the front with nine laps of the race remaining.

Alexander Tagliani, young rookie driver for Player's team Forsythe, with a Ford powered Reynard 2Ki looked to have stolen the show this weekend, with an excellent lap in qualifying putting him on the front row for the race. In the race Tagliani kept out in front for the majority of the 108 lap event, but spun on a restart only nine laps from the end to put him out of contention for victory.

Paul Tracy, Team KOOL Green Honda Reynard, drove a superb race to third place just behind Ganassi Racing Toyota Lola driver, Jimmy Vasser. Tracy retains his lead in this year's championship with his podium finish keeping him ahead of closest rival, Vasser.

Fernandez's victory this weekend takes Reynard Champ Car victories past 70 wins since their arrival in the Series in 1994. Reynard leads the constructors championship for this year and continues to dominate.

ADRIAN FERNANDEZ (Tecate/Quaker State/Patrick Racing Ford Reynard): "It was a different kind of day for me. I started way back in the pack, we didn't really get the set-up right the first two days here. I also had a problem with the accident at the beginning of the race. I guess I was just confused, I thought we were supposed to stay behind the front row so I was trying not to pass anybody (under the caution flag). I fell to 20th or 21st position and I was getting frustrated. I had to work my way through and I made a few passes and had some good pit stops. We stayed a long time with the same tires. We ran about 80 laps with the same tires. That was a big key for us today."

PAUL TRACY (KOOL Honda Reynard): "For me, I started the race with more downforce than we needed on the track. I thought the field would be closer than it was but Juan and Alex just took off and I was slower down the straight. But the car was good by the end of the race. I was able to get by traffic and caught up to Jimmy and Adrian and I was really happy with the job the team did. (On the accident) Jimmy and I went through the smoke and I actually hit Alex's car. I clipped the wing but the car was okay and I was able to make it through."

Text provided By Alison Hill

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