PORTLAND, Oregon, 22 June 2003 — Mexico’s Michel Jourdain padded his Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) points lead here on Friday, winning the provisional pole for today’s G.I. Joe’s 200.
Jourdain, whose lone triumph this season came earlier this month at Milwaukee, set the pace with a lap in 59.397 seconds around the 1.96-mile street course, reaching 119.339 mph.
Jourdain has 90 points in the season drivers’ standings after claiming the point for leading the time trials session.
Brazil’s Bruno Junqueira, seeking his first victory over the season, is next at 83 with Canada’s Paul Tracy at 81 entering the eighth of 19 CART races.
Brazil’s Cristiano da Matta is not back to defend his title but Junquiera will have the same Newman-Haas team backing his bid while 2001 Portland winner Max Papis of Italy makes a return to the series for this race. Mexican veteran Jourdain, driving for Team Rahal, rose from 13th to fourth last week at Laguna Seca. He set a fast lap early in Friday’s qualifying session, then watched rain and a wreck foil his rivals.
Halfway into the scheduled session, Canadian Alex Tagliani slowed unexpectedly and was rear-ended by compatriot Tracy. Both cars were damaged but returned to the pits as rain began to fall and the session was halted five minutes later.
