Champ Car Corner: Reflections on Edmonton

Impressive. Challenging. Fun. A bit daunting. An unbelievable event.

It's hard to convey the vibe at last weekend's inaugural Edmonton Champ Car race without resorting to a torrent of superlatives, simply because that was what you heard when you asked anyone connected with the series what they thought of the event. The promotion, the organisation, the circuit layout, the spectator experience, the atmosphere - all were showered with accolades, and rightly so.

Indeed, so many aspects of this first-time event were exemplary that it seemed almost churlish to draw attention to a few well-founded concerns about safety - the only minor blemishes on an otherwise flawless canvas. Even these were partially allayed by refinements to the tyre barriers and pit exit over the course of the weekend, and there's every sign that the organisers will iron out the few remaining wrinkles before next year's race.