Our build-up to the Grand Prix of Long Beach continues as Andy Young looks back at the final Champ Car race in 2008, prior to the official amalgamation with the Indy Racing League [IRL].
Following financial issues during the 2007 season, Champ Car finally filed for bankruptcy in early 2008, prior to officially amalgamating with the IRL. This meant many teams transitioned from Champ Car to IRL, including large names such as Newman/Haas Racing.
With the Grand Prix of Long Beach scheduled to coincide with the Indy Japan 300 at Motegi, the teams which competed in the 2007 Champ Car season managed to form a 20-car grid for the final ever Champ Car race.
British racer Justin Wilson started on pole, alongside Walker Racing’s Alex Tagliani.
Further back former champions Paul Tracy and Jimmy Vasser started fifth and 13th respectively, with the latter coming out of retirement.
Off the start Will Power catapulted into the lead from fourth on the grid, leading the opening lap ahead of pole sitter Wilson.
Meanwhile, there was a brief full course caution after Oriol Servia stalled on the grid, bunching up the field.
A second caution period ensued several laps later when rookie Mario Moraes slammed heavily into the tyre barriers at Turn 1.
Several laps later Wilson was forced into retirement with technical gremlins plaguing his Cosworth-powered Panoz DP01 machine, leaving Power relatively unhindered in the lead ahead of Tagliani.
Whilst series rookie Franck Montagny managed to rise up into an impressive second position during the final stages of the race, ahead of Mexico’s Mario Dominguez, Power dominated proceedings to secure a historic victory in the final chapter of Champ Car’s colourful existence.
The Australian, who immediately joined IRL and would later storm to championship success in 2014 with Team Penske, led 81 of the 83 laps at Long Beach.
Power was followed home by Montagny and Dominguez, with former F1 racer Enrique Bernoldi finishing a strong fourth ahead of Servia, rookie Franck Perera and Tagliani.
Veteran Vasser rounded out the top ten, ahead of fellow CART champion Tracy.
A chapter of American motorsport had finally come to a conclusion, with teams and drivers alike joining IRL for the rest of the season and beyond, whilst others such as the legendary Forsythe team failed to continue and ultimately ceased operations.
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