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News and Features
August 1-7, 2007

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Robert Doornbos, Neel Jani and Oriol Servia

Photograph by Felipe Buitrago
People of Earth, we come in peace: This year's Grand Prix champion Robert Doornbos, flanked by 2nd place Neel Jani (left) and Oriol Servia (right).

Twists and Turns

By Felipe Buitrago


THIS IS the third year the Grand Prix has been around, and even though there weren't any big changes in the event the drivers had a few surprises up their sleeves. In the past two years of the race, Sebastian Bourdais has ruled the highest spot on the podium. But this year Newman Haas Lanigan Racing Team was nowhere to be found. Obviously Bourdais launched the race with the No. 1 pole position, but he made a costly mistake in turn 2, letting Justin Wilson take the lead. Meanwhile at the hairpin turn Dutch racer Robert Doornbos didn't hit the breaks in time and love-tapped his front wing into Belgian driver Jan Heylen's car, which put the field under the yellow flag. Back on track, the next few laps looked more like a bumper car race. Dan Clarke hit Justin Wilson, and then went on to take on Katherine Legge, who a few laps later didn't make turn 2.Up in front Jani and Servia were battling it out for first place using turn 1 as their battle ground. But overall it was Doornbos' light fuel load strategy and use of pit stops that put him back in the race. Closing in to the finish, PKV racing switched up Jani's tires for faster lap times, and managed to stay in first. Too bad the softer compound didn't go the distance and Doornbos took the advantage in turn 1. The Mindardi Team USA driver took a six-second lead over Jani to take the checkered flag, and Spaniard Oriol Servia took third.


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