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CART: PacWest Racing overlooked by Canada's racing gods

4 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Vancouver, Canada)--PacWest Racing drivers Mauricio Gugelmin and Mark Blundell where early casualties in todays Molson Indy of Vancouver after involvement in accidents of "other drivers".

Mark Blundell, driver of the #18 Motorola PacWest Mercedes-Benz, was caught up in the accident of "someone else" when he came around turn 10 and was left with nowhere else to go except into the side of the stationary car of Canadian Patrick Carpentier.

The accident damaged the right front suspension and Blundells day was done after just three laps.

Only 11 laps later, Brazilian Tarso Marques received a puncture to his right rear tire, lost control of his car and drove into the side of Gugelmin, driver of the #17 Nextel PacWest Mercedes-Benz.

Paul Tracy became the first Canadian to win the Molson Indy of Vancouver when he beat Team KOOL Green teammate Dario Francitti to the checkered flag from Patrick Racings Adrian Fernandez.

Michael Andretti has maintained his lead in the CART FedEx Championship Series with 126 points after finishing 12th today he now leads Tracy (120), Fernandez (117), Gil de Ferran (116), Roberto Moreno (115), Kenny Brack (106).

MAURICIO GUGELMIN - # 17 NEXTEL PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 21st

"(Tarso) Marques was way behind me and when we went around turn four he punctured is right-rear tire and locked up his brakes," said Gugelmin, who won in Vancouver in 1997.

"The rear of Marques car dropped and he slid right into me. It was not his fault, but I just had nowhere to go.

"Vancouver has not been good for me this year, but we will definitely be back."

MARK BLUNDELL - # 18 MOTOROLA PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 25th

"We have had a monkey on our back all year, but I think it has now turned into a gorilla," said Blundell

"I had committed myself to the corner and had gone a little wide because I had no grip.

"I got around the corner and Patricks (Carpentier) car was just sitting there and I had nowhere to go. My Motorola crew has worked tirelessly all season and it has to turn around for us. Unfortunately we are running out of races."

TOP 12: 1: Paul Tracy; 2: Dario Francitti; 3: Adrian Fernandez; 4: Christian Fittipaldi; 5: Gil de Ferran; 6: Jimmy Vasser; 7: Cristiano da Matta; 8: Max Papis; 9: Kenny Brack; 10: Roberto Moreno; 11: Oriol Servia; 12: Michael Andretti.

Text Provided By Brett Murray

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