A NEW LIFE; A.J. Allmendinger emerges at Forsythe Racing.(Motorsports)

Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH

Four races into the Champ Car World Series season RuSport team owner Carl Russo fired driver A.J. Allmendinger and hired former champion Cristiano da Matta. Russo figured da Matta would be a more effective counter to Newman-Haas driver Sebastien Bourdais, who had won the first four races. Forsythe Racing hired the fired Allmendinger almost immediately.

Three races after RuSport's ill-fated move, Allmendinger's average finish is, well, first, since he has won all three Champ Car races. Da Matta's average finish is eighth, with a fifth at Toronto and Portland, and a 14th in Cleveland. Allmendinger was "let go from Carl's team because they felt they needed to find a guy who can challenge Sebastien,'' said Paul Tracy, Allmendinger's Forsythe teammate. "Now he is going to need to find a guy to challenge the guy he fired.''

It is, Tracy observed, "poetic justice.''

Allmendinger, the only American driver in the series, dominated the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto, leading 38 of the 86 laps and finishing about two seconds ahead of Tracy-the first 1-2 finish for Forsythe since Tracy and Patrick Carpentier at Mid-Ohio in 2003-with Bourdais in third. Bourdais, who qualified third after pole- sitter Justin Wilson and Allmendinger, never seriously challenged for the win.

"It was one of those days where you just have to think championship. We took some risks, we were aggressive, but didn't get desperate and try something stupid,'' Bourdais said. He remains atop the points with 191, but Allmendinger is closing, with 168.

The 17-car field was one short, as Rocketsports driver Nicky Pastorelli withdrew because, according to Rocketsports owner Paul Gentilozzi, one of Pastorelli's sponsors defaulted. If the sponsor makes good before the next race-Edmonton on July 23-Pastorelli could be back in the car, and if not, "We'll have somebody else in it.'' A possibility: Timo Glock, who drove for Rocketsports in 2005.