Justin Wilson (#9 CDW Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) continued his dominance at Portland International Raceway, pacing the field during Friday's first round of qualifying for the Mazda Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland Presented by Joe's Sports and Outdoor. source: champcarworldseries.com Under blue skies with the mercury in the thermometer rising to 70 degrees, Wilson negotiated the slippery 1.964-mile road course in 58.000 seconds (121.903 mph) to earn a championship point and a front row starting spot for Sunday's race. Rookie sensation and Roshfrans Rookie of the Year leader Robert Doornbos (#14 Minardi Team USA Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) made his best qualifying effort of the year, earning the second fastest time during the session with a lap of 58.214 seconds (121.455 mph). Doornbos has raised many eyebrows in the Champ Car paddock, earning two podium finishes in his first three career starts. Three-time defending Champ Car titlist Sebastien Bourdais (#1 McDonald's Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) was third fastest in the qualifying session as the changing track conditions kept the McDonald's driver off the front row. Bourdais turned a best lap of 58.308 seconds (121.260 mph) just edging RSPORTS driver Alex Tagliani (#8 LXN2 Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone). The veteran Canadian set the early pace and was able to adapt to the slippery circuit with a lap of 58.363 seconds (121.145 mph). A pair of rookies were fifth and sixth on the speed charts as Frenchman Tristan Gommendy (#22 Pay By Touch-Megaspiera Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) and Simon Pagenaud (#15 Aussie Vineyards Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) qualified within one-half of a second of Wilson. Pagenaud's Team Australia stablemate Will Power (#5 Aussie Vineyards Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) was seventh. Graham Rahal (#2 Medi|Zone Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) set the eighth fastest time of the day with Minardi Team USA's Dan Clarke (#4 Minardi Team USA Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) ninth and PKV Racing's Neel Jani (#21 RedBull Gulfstream Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) 10th. Paul Tracy (#3 Indeck Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) the 2003 Series Champion, struggled in his return after missing the last two races due to injury. The Canadian failed to complete a lap in the morning session after making contact with the wall. The Forsythe Championship Racing crew was forced to go to its backup car for qualifying and Tracy was only able to muster the 13th best time.
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