Monterey, June 23: Mexican Adrian Fernandez took advantage of a late error by series leader Paul Tracy of Canada to clinch his eighth career CART victory in the Portland Grand Prix Sunday. Fernandez, who ended a run of 47 races without a win since his triumph in Australia in October 2000, secured his first success as an owner driver in his Lola/Ford Cosworth. Tracy, who claimed his third CART victory in a row at Long Beach in April, finished second 2.273 seconds behind the winner. Fernandez snatched the lead from Tracy on lap 86 when the Canadian gave him an opening by moving wide. "Paul made a little mistake and I took advantage of it," said the Mexican. "I thought it was now or never." Tracy could only rue his mistake: "I went a little wide and got on the marbles."


On a cloudy day, Michel Jourdain took the early lead from polesitter Tracy after two aborted starts when Fernandez, who qualified third, tried to move to the front.


In the second set of pit stops, Tracy took on less fuel than Jourdain, then jumped his car in front of Jourdain who was forced to brake.


Then on lap 46 Tracy locked wheels with Jourdain and was handed a five-second penalty. Tracy leads overall with 99 points to Brazilian Bruno Junqueira's 95 and Jourdain's 91.


Bureau Report