With five races remaining in the 2005 ChampCar World Series season, Andrew Ranger, the 18-year-old Canadian race-car driving sensation from Roxton Pond, Quebec, is solidly in contention for the top-rookie title, a year after winning such honours in the Atlantic series. source: Torchia Communications Ranger, adjusting well to the big leap into ChampCar, has 98 points in the rookie standings, third-best among the eight rookies, and only 19 behind leader Timo Glock. Ranger, who is trying to become the third Quebec driver to win top-rookie honours - after Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier - roared into the ChampCar World Series, making it to the podium in only his second career start, finishing second on the road circuit of Monterrey, Mexico, on May 22. He is the youngest ChampCar driver to garner a podium finish. While he has opened a lot of eyes in his debut season in ChampCar, Ranger isn't taking things lightly. "It was great to be on the podium in only my second race," said Ranger. "But this whole season has been a learning process. There are ups and downs, and you have to deal with them as they come. Being the top rookie would be fantastic, but the important thing is that the Mi-Jack/Tide team continues to develop and is competitive in every race." Ranger, who made it to the podium six times in 12 Atlantic series starts, admits that he has had to deal with some major changes competing in ChampCar, the upper echelon of motor racing in North America. "The difference between ChampCar and the Atlantic series is the length of the races," said Ranger. "In Atlantic, I was used to races that lasted maybe 45 minutes, whereas in ChampCar, it's easily an hour and a half, often more. That requires a lot of focus and concentration. You have to be very patient and try to take advantage of your opportunities when they come." Ranger, the 2003 Fran-Am Series champion, winning five races in 13 starts, says the last two years have prepared him well to make the climb to the top of the racing ladder.
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