Brack out to break road course duck

Brack took an easy win last time out at Chicago 10 days ago and extended his championship lead to 22 points over closest rival Helio Castroneves, who won at Mid-Ohio last year. But the Swede does not expect to have it quite so easy at the Lexington circuit on Sunday.

"Last year we got to test several times at Mid-Ohio," said Brack, whose Team Rahal squad is based just 60 miles from the circuit. "This year [with no testing] there is no edge for any team. It should be wide open this weekend."

After three race wins so far this year, Brack has yet to cross the line first on a road course. Despite setting pole at the opening round in Mexico, the 35-year-old could only manage fifth place at the flag, the same as his Mid-Ohio result last year.

It is not just his road course duck that Brack will have to overcome either, as the nature of the 2.258-mile track will make the Miller Lite 200 a very demanding race.

"The Mid-Ohio course is the most physical on the CART circuit," said Brack. "It has off-camber turns that pull you around in the cockpit. A driver is pretty much used up after going 200 miles here. It's tough on the body, as well as the mind."

British ace Dario Franchitti lies third in the championship race just one point behind Castroneves. The Scot finished a disappointing 15th in Chicago after a software glitch affected his pit lane speed limiter.