Motorsport News: Russ Bond's Weekly Report

I firmly believe Champcar will have to address the situation over the winter or face declining fields in 2006. Help is supposedly on the

Even with Champcar's problems, Bourdais was still happy to collect his second straight championship. (Photo: Champcar World Series)

way in 2007 with a new chassis and engine package, but that help may be a little late in coming.

It also seems in both series, most of the overtaking takes place in the pits, with pit strategy taking precedence over passing on the track.  When you're providing entertainment, watching one car pass another that's sitting still is not entertainment - no matter what the television announcers tell you.

Even with Champcar's problems, Bourdais was still happy to collect his second straight championship.

"It was a nice win, very straight forward once everything sorted out in the pit

Obviously you're going to say I won the back-to-back championship, but without the organization around me, I would be nothing", said Bourdais. (Photo: Champcar World Series)

strategy.  I was just very happy to see how quick we were again.  You know, such a great reward for this team that's working so hard.  Obviously you're going to say I won the back-to-back championship, but without the organization around me, I would be nothing.  I can't be grateful enough for all this hard work.  It's just unbelievable.  One and two for the second time in a row in the championship.  I guess Newman/Haas Racing is going to have a tough time to top it up again next year.  It's tough to keep up with that."

Canadian Andrew Ranger had a solid run staying out all of trouble to finish 10th, after starting 18th.