If you looked at the final stats from 2005, it would appear that Sebastien Bourdais again had his way with the Champ Car contingent. He won almost half the races (6 of 13), captured five pole positions and had his second straight title all but clinched with two races remaining.

The talented 27-year-old Frenchman also completed 1,300 out of 1,310 laps as his Newman/Haas crew provided its usual flawless preparation on the way to a sixth championship.

But, had a couple of his adversaries not thrown away major points with unforced errors or DNFs, the point race could have been a thriller instead of a yawner.

Paul Tracy, who led 512 laps compared to Bourdais' 358, looked like the man to beat after his victory at Cleveland in late June. But running out of fuel at Toronto, then abandoning his car, and crashing all by himself with a big lead at Denver pretty much did in the 2003 champion.

Justin Wilson earned the first wins of his Champ Car career at Toronto and Mexico City for RuSport but his DNF at Portland while leading and spinning under caution while running second at Edmonton cost him dearly in the big picture.

Teammate Oriol Servia turned out to be Seabass' toughest challenger because, like the champ, he just didn't make many mistakes.

BEST RACE: How good was Edmonton? Longtime engineer/owner Morris Nunn said it was the best race he's seen in years and he watched every lap on television. From start to finish, this wide, fast track invited superb racing and that's we got as A.J. Allmendinger, Wilson and Tracy traded the lead with spectacular passes and there was great racing all through the field -- all afternoon. More airport courses, please!

WORST RACE: Would be San Jose, which also was the worst track. Too rough, too narrow and too tight for Champ Cars. But, because it was such a success, the mayor is going to allow a revamp so it's got to be better in '06.

BEST PASS: Wilson under Tracy for the lead at Edmonton on the racy right-hander. That's what it's all about.

NICEST SURPRISE: Not only was Derrick Walker's team able to answer the bell at the 11th hour, its partnership with Team Australia blossomed into a first-class effort that also includes an Atlantic team for 2006.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: A.J. Allmendinger not winning at Edmonton. Owned a 21-second lead before the final yellow and then he threw it into the tires. He's fast and glib and Champ Car's best shot at getting Americans revved up again about this form of motorsports. His day will come but that was a tough one to swallow.

BEST NEWS: That Long Beach and Toronto didn't go to the Indy Racing League. Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe protected two of their treasures with some smart maneuvering and those deep pockets.

WORST NEWS: Bruno Junqueira being badly injured at Indy and KO'd for the year while leading the point standings. Hopefully, Junky makes it all the way back in 2006.