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CART: PacWest Team out of luck in Houston

2 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Houston, Texas)-- The ordinary luck which plagued PacWest Racings Mauricio Gugelmin and Mark Blundell in the lead-up to the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston continued in the race today.

Mark Blundell, driver of the #18 Motorola PacWest Mercedes-Benz, made it through to lap 50 when leaking clutch oil made it impossible to keep his feet on the pedals and he was forced to withdraw.

Blundell made an unscheduled pit stop to try and soak-up all the fluid, but lasted only one more lap after rejoining the race.

Gugelmin, driver of the #17 Nextel PacWest Mercedes-Benz, was hit by Tony Kanaan at turn three on lap 44 and damaged the front right suspension enough to put him out of the race.

Target Chip Ganassi Racings Jimmy Vasser and Juan Montoya finished 1-2 ahead of Gil de Ferran and Paul Tracy. De Ferran now leads the title chase with 153 points ahead of Tracy (134), Roberto Moreno (131) and Michael Andretti (127) who finished out of the points today, two laps down.

MARK BLUNDELL - # 18 MOTOROLA PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 20th

"My car was really loose all day," said Blundell.

"Clutch fluid leaked everywhere around my feet so I came in and my crew made an attempt to dry it up. I was able to go out and run one more lap, but I could not keep my feet on the pedals. I cant drive like that, no one can."

MAURICIO GUGELMIN - # 17 NEXTEL PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 23rd

"We had brake problems early, but they got better the more we ran," said Gugelmin.

"We decided to quit trying to preserve fuel and went for it.

"Tony (Kanaan) came out of the pits on cold tires, just as I was going to the inside at turn three and he closed the door on me and we touched.

"We did some damage to the suspension which we simply could not repair and that was my day."

TOP 12: 1: Jimmy Vasser; 2: Juan Montoya; 3: Gil de Ferran; 4: Paul Tracy; 5: Helio Castroneves; 6: Christian Fittipaldi; 7: Adrian Fernandez; 8: Shinji Nakano; 9: Oriol Servia; 10: Tony Kanaan; 11: Roberto Moreno; 12: Alex Barron.

Championship points: 1: Gil de Ferran 153; 2: Paul Tracy 134; 3: Roberto Moreno 131; 4: Michael Andretti 127; 5: Adrian Fernandez 127; 6: Juan Montoya 122; 7: Kenny Brack 118; 8: Helio Castroneves 117; 9: Jimmy Vasser 117; 10: Cristiano da Matta 100.

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.