Tracy can win the title in Surfers

Paul Tracy can clinch his first CART Champ Car World Series title at the next round at Surfers Paradise if he can finish second in the Australian street race scheduled to take place on October 26 after winning in Mexico City today

Oct 12, 2003, 11:12 PM

Alternatively, the Canadian can also clinch the crown by finishing third and taking at least two of the three bonus points on offer during the Surfers weekend.

With a 29-point cushion and 45 points to play for, Tracy can leave Australia as the 2003 champion if he maintains a 22-point gap, the number of points on offer for the season finale at California Speedway on November 2. Champ Car races pay 20 points for first, 16 for second and 14 for third, with two pole position bonus points on offer at road and street courses and a single point for an oval pole. A single point is also offered at each race for the driver who leads the most laps.

In the event that Tracy and Junqueira or Michel Jourdain tie in the final standings, Tracy will win because he has scored more race victories than either of his rivals. The 1999 CART championship was awarded to Juan Pablo Montoya after he and Dario Franchitti tied on 212 points each. Montoya won seven races that season to Franchitti's three.