Race Report.(News)

The Champ Car season opener for 2003 also marked the series' inaugural appearance in St. Petersburg, Florida, on a 1.806-mile, 14-turn course along the downtown waterfront and an adjoining airport. Sharing attributes of two of CART's best temporary circuits, Long Beach and Cleveland, this street course drew compliments from drivers. Most especially liked the quick right-left kink that sets up for Turn 14, which empties onto the pit straight. ``It's really, really nice... I'm sure you're going to see a lot of overtaking,'' said Oriol Servia on the first day.

The north-end complex, a set of 90-degree corners that seem typical of downtown courses, drew fainter praise. Bruno Junqueira labeled it ``Mickey Mouse.'' The new course provided good action for the spectators while the Florida venue offered plenty of sunshine, both of which CART sorely needs in what series officials call a rebuilding year. The 19-car field included drivers whose names were less familiar to U.S. fans than in the past, but the solid show featured on-track passing and pit strategy that each figured in the outcome of the race.

Sebastien Bourdais, the 2002 Formula 3000 champion, ruled qualifying. He took poleposition with a lap of 1:00.928 (106.710 mph). Paul Tracy in second was more than half a second behind, while Adrian Fernandez qualified third. But a troublesome pit stop call and an eventual brush with the wall undid the race for Bourdais. Tracy seized the opportunity. He blew past Portuguese driver Tiago ...