A RALLY-GOOD SHOW; Sebastien Loeb takes the winners' race.(Motorsports)

Byline: CURT CAVIN

The annual Race of Champions event in Paris has become a winter wonderland for those who matter most in motorsports.

At dinner on the eve of the race at France's national soccer stadium, Indy Racing League founder Tony George and his wife Laura were seated at a table of dignitaries. Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven joined them. Fancy that.

"It was a good time,'' said Kalkhoven, who admittedly doesn't know George that well. "We just talked socially, though.''

It's unfortunate that an olive branch was not extended across the crudites because the Paris weekend proved racing is at its best when everyone gets along. In the event's 20-driver field were champion-caliber drivers from all walks of the sport, competing both for themselves and in pairs for their countries.

Formula One race winners-and those who aspire to be-mingled with the invited champions of George's IRL, Kalkhoven's Champ Car, the World Rally Championship, the DTM series and one of the best drivers NASCAR has ever seen. Even Travis Pastrana, five-time X Games motorcycle champion, was on hand to race in the invitation-only affair.

Jeff Gordon chatted up Jean Alesi as smoothly as he did Sebastien Bourdais. Clad in his new Ferrari duds, Felipe Massa talked strategy and fun with Dan Wheldon, who was wearing something other than his familiar Jim Beam uniform (Wheldon is now the property of Ganassi Racing, you might remember). David Coulthard spent considerable time relaxing backstage with countryman Colin McRae, and everyone seemed to want a minute of time with Sebastien Loeb, who would go on to be the event's individual winner.