APRIL 19, 2004

People to watch

Although Formula 1 had a weekend off, there was plenty of racing going on around the world, with the opening round of the Champ Car series at Long Beach and in Europe the first round of the Formula 3 Euroseries.

Although Formula 1 had a weekend off, there was plenty of racing going on around the world, with the opening round of the Champ Car series at Long Beach and in Europe the first round of the Formula 3 Euroseries.

In California Paul Tracy led from flag to flag in his Indeck Lola, passing poleman Bruno Junqueira on the first lap and staying ahead for the rest of the race. Junqueira spent the rest of the afternoon chasing the Canadian but was never in a position to challenge. There was a battle for third between Alex Tagliani, Sebastien Bourdais and Mario Dominguez with Bourdais emerging ahead after Tagliani lost time with a loose wheel nut. Formula 1 refugee Justin Wilson finished sixth on his Champ Car debut while Ryan Hunter-Reay was right behind him at the finish.

Scotsman Ryan Dalziel (22) was the dominant force in the Toyota Atlantic race at Long Beach, leading from flag-to-flag with his 17-year-old team mate Andrew Ranger finishing two seconds behind him. Ranger benefited from the retirement of second placed man Jon Fogarty with a mechanical failure. Bryan Sellers of Lynx Racing finished third. British F3 refugee Ronnie Bremer was fourth ahead of Danica Patrick.

At Hockenheim the DTM saw Gary Paffett winning his first victory in the series for Mercedes-Benz while the Formula 3 Eurocup resulted in two wins for Nico Rosberg in his Team Rosberg Dallara-Opel. The Finn led Frenchman Alexandre Premat (ASM Dallara-Mercedes) in the first event while Toyota protege Frank Perera (Prema Powerteam Dallara-Opel) was third. In the second race Rosberg held off a concerted challenge from British driver Jamie Green (ASM Dallara-Mercedes. Premat was third. McLaren protege Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the second event.

The British F3 series was at Silverstone where bad weather meant that the second of the two events had to be called off. The first however was won by James Rossiter in his Fortec Dallara-Opel. Australia's Will Power was second for Alan Docking while title favourite Nelson Piquet Jr. finished third.