Race Report.(Motorsports)

This one was no gift. Mario Dominguez earned his win in Miami, even if the race had the feel of a slot-car procession punctuated by spinoffs. The bumpy 1.15-mile Bayfront circuit is better suited to go-karts than Champ cars. In oppressive humidity, with the ambient temperature pegged at 93, there were six caution periods spread over 36 of 135 laps. All the championship contenders faltered, and there were only 10 cars running at the finish.

It started in fine style, when Bruno Junqueira beat pole-winner Adrian Fernandez to the first corner. A lap later Fernandez brazenly forced his way back into the lead, and the others settled into the narrow groove behind him.

The first scuffle with impact on the championship came on lap 69. Sebastien Bourdais had just passed points-leader Paul Tracy for third, and blame for what happened next isn't easy to assign. Perhaps Bourdais turned in toward Tracy before he should have; it seems Tracy might have avoided contact had he lifted just a hair. As it was, Tracy hit Bourdais in the left rear. Neither driver finished another lap, and Tracy tossed a potential podium finish. His biggest break of the race came only after he was out.

Junqueira, second in the standings, ran into the back of Fernandez's car 24 laps later, as the two lapped Tiago Monteiro. The accident dropped Fernandez a lap down, and Junqueira four down.

Until then, Miami belonged to Fernandez. He drove his best race since winning at Portland in June, leading ...