AUGUST 31, 2002

F3000: Pantano wins, Bourdais takes points lead

Giorgio Pantano kept the F3000 championship battle wide open by winning the Belgian round of the series. The Italian battled all race with Sebastien Bourdais, who finished second and reclaimed the points lead from Thomas Enge going into the final raound of the series.

Giorgio Pantano kept the F3000 championship battle wide open by winning the Belgian round of the series. The Italian battled all race with Sebastien Bourdais, who finished second and reclaimed the points lead from Thomas Enge going into the final raound of the series.

Bourdais started from pole, alongside championship rival Thomas Enge. Enge managed a better start than the Super Nova driver, and Bourdais rear-ended the Czech driver in turn one, bending the endplate of Enge's rear wing.

Pantano, who started fourth, made it by Bourdais by the end of the first lap, and both passed Enge on lap two. Ricardo Sperafico also eventually made his way around the Czech's damaged Arden International car, and the positions held for the remainder of the race.

Bourdais now holds a one point lead over Enge going into the final round in Monza, and Pantano, who still has an outside shot at the championship, stands seven points behind the leader.