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CART: Reynard wraps up CART Constructors Championship

12 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Helio Castroneves, driving the Penske Honda Reynard champ car, took victory at this weekend's round of the 2000 FedEx Championship Series in Laguna Seca, California and with this win, ensured that Reynard have an unassailable lead in the 2000 CART Constructors Championship battle. With four races remaining in the Series, Reynard has notched up 323 points with Lola standing on 235 and Swift on 5. With a maximum of 88 points on offer through to the end of the Championship, Lola and Swift will be unable to overtake Reynard before the season finale at Fontana in October. This title marks the sixth consecutive Constructors Championship win for Reynard.

The leading chassis constructor entered into Champ Cars in 1994 and has dominated since this time, taking the Constructors title each year since 1995. Mark Smithson, Managing Director, Reynard Motorsport, comments on taking the title, "It's been a highly competitive season for the three constructors and all the races have been closely fought contests, so we are delighted to wrap up this title with four races still to go. The teams running Reynard chassis and all the staff at Reynard in North America and the UK have been essential to our success and we thank them for this. We aim to continue winning this title for many years ahead."

Marlboro Team Penske celebrated a 1-2 victory in the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca Raceway this weekend with Helio Castroneves, Honda Reynard, taking victory from pole, 0.954 seconds ahead of teammate Gil de Ferran. With his second place finish, de Ferran moved into the Drivers Championship points lead for the first time in his six-year career. Dario Franchitti, Team KOOL Green Honda Reynard, finished in third place to give an all-Reynard podium sweep.

Text provided by Alison Hill

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