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An in-depth analysis of the pivotal 2006 Grand Prix of Portland Champ Car race, from pole position to checkered flag, highlighting key performances and strategic maneuvers.

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Race Overview

Event Context

The 2006 Grand Prix of Portland, officially known as the 'Grand Prix of Portland Presented by G.I. Joe's', marked the fifth round of the 2006 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season. This significant event took place on June 18, 2006, in Portland, Oregon, United States.

The Circuit

The race unfolded on the challenging Permanent Road Course at Portland International Raceway. Spanning 1.964 miles (3.161 km), the event comprised 105 intense laps, covering a total distance of 206.220 miles (331.905 km).

Race Day Conditions

Competitors faced moderate conditions on race day, with temperatures reaching up to 71.1 °F (21.7 °C). Wind speeds, a factor in aerodynamic performance, were recorded up to 11.1 miles per hour (17.9 km/h).

Qualifying Prowess

Pole Position Mastery

The coveted pole position for the 2006 Grand Prix of Portland was secured by Bruno Junqueira of Newman/Haas Racing, who posted a blistering best qualifying time of 57.631 seconds. This achievement marked a significant milestone in Junqueira's career, being his ninth and ultimately final pole position.

Grid Formation

The qualifying sessions were fiercely contested, with drivers pushing their machines to the limit to gain a strategic starting advantage. The close times among the top contenders underscored the competitive nature of the Champ Car series at this stage of the season.

Qualifying Results Table

Pos Nat Name Team Qual 1 Qual 2 Best
1 Brazil Bruno Junqueira Newman/Haas Racing 59.576 57.631 57.631
2 United States A. J. Allmendinger Forsythe Racing 58.378 57.639 57.639
3 France Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 58.464 57.646 57.646
4 United Kingdom Justin Wilson RuSPORT 59.283 57.818 57.818
5 Brazil Cristiano da Matta RuSPORT 59.575 58.018 58.018
6 United Kingdom Dan Clarke CTE Racing-HVM 59.416 58.214 58.214
7 Australia Will Power Team Australia 59.160 58.244 58.244
8 France Nelson Philippe CTE Racing-HVM 59.354 58.297 58.297
9 Canada Alex Tagliani Team Australia 59.275 58.328 58.328
10 Canada Paul Tracy Forsythe Racing 59.121 58.376 58.376
11 Netherlands Nicky Pastorelli Rocketsports Racing 1:00.333 58.826 58.826
12 Spain Oriol Servià PKV Racing 59.485 58.830 58.830
13 Canada Andrew Ranger Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 59.633 58.885 58.885
14 Mexico Mario Domínguez Dale Coyne Racing 1:00.035 59.233 59.233
15 United Kingdom Katherine Legge PKV Racing 59.903 59.297 59.297
16 Netherlands Charles Zwolsman Jr. Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 1:00.612 59.315 59.315
17 Belgium Jan Heylen Dale Coyne Racing 59.861 59.589 59.589
18 Estonia Tõnis Kasemets Rocketsports Racing 1:01.089 1:00.607 1:00.607

Race Day Drama

The Victor's Ascent

A. J. Allmendinger claimed his inaugural Champ Car victory at the 2006 Grand Prix of Portland. This triumph was particularly notable as it occurred in his very first race competing for Forsythe Championship Racing, following his departure from RuSPORT, the team that initially brought him into the Champ Car series.

Podium Contenders

Joining Allmendinger on the podium were Justin Wilson of RuSPORT, who secured a strong second-place finish, and Sébastien Bourdais from Newman/Haas Racing, who completed the top three. Their performances highlighted the intense competition at the front of the field.

Race Results Table

Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 7 A. J. Allmendinger Forsythe Racing 105 1:48:32.853 2 33
2 9 Justin Wilson RuSPORT 105 +5.420 secs 4 27
3 1 Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 105 +6.006 secs 3 26
4 2 Bruno Junqueira Newman/Haas Racing 105 +36.368 secs 1 24
5 10 Cristiano da Matta RuSPORT 105 +39.552 secs 5 21
6 14 Dan Clarke CTE Racing-HVM 105 +50.287 secs 6 19
7 3 Paul Tracy Forsythe Racing 105 +52.296 secs 10 17
8 4 Nelson Philippe CTE Racing-HVM 105 +52.677 secs 8 15
9 27 Andrew Ranger Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 104 + 1 Lap 13 14
10 6 Oriol Servià PKV Racing 104 + 1 Lap 12 11
11 15 Alex Tagliani Team Australia 104 + 1 Lap 9 10
12 34 Charles Zwolsman Jr. Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 103 + 2 Laps 16 9
13 20 Katherine Legge PKV Racing 103 + 2 Laps 15 8
14 19 Mario Domínguez Dale Coyne Racing 103 + 2 Laps 14 7
15 11 Jan Heylen Dale Coyne Racing 103 + 2 Laps 17 6
16 18 Tõnis Kasemets Rocketsports Racing 102 + 3 Laps 18 5
17 8 Nicky Pastorelli Rocketsports Racing 101 + 4 Laps 11 4
18 5 Will Power Team Australia 92 + 13 Laps 7 4

Race Dynamics

The race commenced under a yellow flag, indicating a cautious start. Throughout the 105 laps, A. J. Allmendinger dominated, leading for an impressive 100 laps. Sébastien Bourdais briefly took the lead for a total of 5 laps across three different stints, showcasing strategic pit cycles or on-track maneuvers.

Caution Flags

Laps Cause
1 Yellow start

Lap Leaders

Laps Leader
1-31 A. J. Allmendinger
32 Sébastien Bourdais
33-62 A. J. Allmendinger
63-65 Sébastien Bourdais
66-84 A. J. Allmendinger
85 Sébastien Bourdais
86-105 A. J. Allmendinger

Laps Led by Driver

Driver Laps led
A. J. Allmendinger 100
Sébastien Bourdais 5

Record Breaking

Setting New Benchmarks

The 2006 Grand Prix of Portland saw new records established, underscoring the high-performance nature of the event. Will Power, representing Team Australia, set a new race lap record with a time of 59.259 seconds, achieved on lap 70. Furthermore, A. J. Allmendinger's winning time of 1:48:32.853 also established a new overall race record, reflecting an impressive average speed of 113.989 mph across the entire distance.

Championship Impact

Shifting Landscape

The results of the Portland Grand Prix significantly influenced the 2006 Champ Car season standings. While Sébastien Bourdais maintained his lead in the Drivers' Championship, A. J. Allmendinger's victory propelled him up the ranks, intensifying the championship battle as the season progressed and highlighting the critical points gained in each race.

Drivers' Championship Standings After the Race (Top 5)

Pos Driver Points
➡️ 1 Sébastien Bourdais 162
➡️ 2 Justin Wilson 132
⬆️ 2 3 A. J. Allmendinger 102
⬇️ 1 4 Andrew Ranger 89
⬆️ 2 5 Paul Tracy 76

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 2006 Grand Prix of Portland Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional racing advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional motorsport analysis, strategic planning, or official race documentation. Always refer to official Champ Car archives, historical records, and expert analyses for definitive data and professional insights.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.