The race to catch Montoya

At the start of the season, most predictions suggested that Jimmy Vasser, Greg Moore and Dario Franchitti would fight it out for the title.

As yet, they have won just one race between them and all need to get going if they are to prevent the incredible rookie Juan Montoya from running away with the championship.

Montoya currently has a two-point lead over Franchitti and has already taken three victories. Most of the rest of the races are on traditional road courses, like those on which Montoya has raced in Europe for the past four years, so expect him to get even quicker from now on.

Add in his reputation as a street circuit master and the speed with which he has adapted to oval racing, and you could be looking at record-breaking dominance from this highly-rated rookie.

As well as the Montoya, Vasser, Moore, Franchitti quartet, look out for Adrian Fernandez, Michael Andretti and Paul Tracy, all of whom have won races this year.

Consistent performances from Christian Fittipaldi and Gil de Ferran mean they are also in contention for the title, and a victory at Portland would be just the boost they need at this crucial time of the season.

The racing in CART is the most competitive and hard-fought in the world, and any of 20 drivers could be challenging for victory this weekend, rising Brazilian stars Tony Kanaan and Helio Castro Neves, are both overdue their first victories.

Castro Neves took his first pole in the last race and is spearheading the Lola revival, while the McDonald's-backed Kanaan was very fast here last year.

F1 convert Alex Zanardi won this race in 1998, but Bryan Herta took pole and Patrick Carpentier set the fastest lap, so they could be up there too.

The winner this weekend is anyone's guess, but if it's Juan Pablo Montoya who takes the flag, his rivals might as well kiss the championship goodbye.