Race Report.(Competition)(auto racing)

No, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is not the oldest motor racing facility in the world. That honor belongs to the Milwaukee Mile. Built as a horse track in 1876, the one-mile oval at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds saw its first auto race in 1903, and its first champ car event in 1933. (And for a time, the Green Bay Packers played several games a year on its infield.) The Mile took its traditional week-after-Indy date in 1947; it was paved in 1954. This year the historic fairgrounds track celebrated its 100th anniversary with a $20 million renovation, including all-new grandstands, and with temporary lighting provided by CART, its first-ever night race. Michel Jourdain Jr. celebrated a first of his own, scoring his first Champ Car win in 126 starts.

With Friday night qualifying rained out, Alex Tagliani took the pole with the fastest practice time-20.882 seconds (177.914 mph). CART has replaced the Handford Device with a new, higher-downforce package to encourage better racing. While the cars weren't as quick as in the pre-Handford days (Patrick Carpentier's 1998 track record of 20.028 seconds, 185.5 mph stands), they were stuck far better to Milwaukee's flat corners than last year, when the pole speed was 167 mph. Jourdain, starting second, used his Lola's ability to run high or low to blow past Tagliani and lead 233 of the 250 laps, pulling out a 12-second margin at one point.

A Wisconsin cold snap brought race-night temperatures down into ...