Race: Junqueira's Ganassi good news

The race, which was scheduled to run for 55 laps, came down to tactics as soon as it became obvious that the two-hour time limit would come into play. Things got off to a slow start as the contest was started under yellow due to wet track conditions from a hard rain that stopped about 30 minutes before the scheduled start.

When the green flag finally flew, Junqueira dropped to near the tail of the field after he bumped wheels with Christian Fittipaldi at Turn 5.

While most of the track began to dry rapidly, there was a stream of running water crossing the track after Turn 11. That contributed to an accident that saw Max Wilson's Lola-Ford fly across the top of Bryan Herta's Reynard-Ford, taking out Paul Tracy in the process.

When Mauricio Gugelmin and Tora Takagi, two of the first drivers to change to slicks, aquaplaned and clouted the wall at the same spot, CART Chief Steward Chris Kneifel called for the red flag after 14 laps, only a couple of which had been run under the green flag.

After some 47 minutes while the back-course river was dammed, the race resumed under controversial circumstances with Helio Castroneves leading Patrick Carpentier, Michel Jourdain Jr and Kenny Brack.

Brack and the rest of the field had already pitted for fuel and slicks when the red flag flew, while Castroneves managed to take on that service under the red flag and start fresh like everyone else. Team Rahal has reportedly filed a protest and details will be updated as they become available.

From the lap 15 restart, Castroneves held the lead handily until the yellow flew again on lap 21 for Memo Gidley's accident. The American's Target/Ganassi car was launched upside down after colliding with a bridge abutment, but he was essentially okay.

At the same time, Scott Dixon, who had faded through the field after qualifying third, pulled into the pits without a rear wing and Jimmy Vasser pulled off to the side of the track. For the next dozen laps as the mess from Gidley's crash was cleaned up, Dixon stopped every lap to have work done on his PacWest Reynard-Toyota, then resumed before the leaders came around so he wouldn't lose a lap.

Also taking advantage of the extended yellow was Adrian Fernandez, who stopped several times to top off his Reynard-Honda, the last time coming on lap 28.

The race went green again with Castroneves still heading Carpentier. But Patrick lost the position to Castroneves' team mate Gil de Ferran when he ran wide at Turn 12. Carpentier fell to fifth behind the Penskes, Cristiano da Matta and Roberto Moreno.

On lap 35, both Penskes made their final pit stops, and de Ferran emerged from the pits first. At the same time, everyone who had not pitted since the red flag now had to pit, and that elevated Junqueira into the lead. He had been running behind Christian Fittipaldi and Michael Andretti when the American made a lunge inside his former team mate at Turn 5 that resulted in contact. Fittipaldi was out on the spot, while Andretti was delayed enough to drop behind Junqueira ­ which would prove to be crucial.

Now the teams were watching the clock, and time was running out. Andretti finally pitted on Lap 39, and Junqueira came in a lap later. The question was whether they could hold their lead over Fernandez, who had made his stop under yellow on Lap 28.

Junqueira actually held the lead easily, and Andretti was also able to stay ahead of the Mexican. Junqueira duly crossed the line 2.687 seconds ahead of Andretti to earn his first triumph in America and help his cause as he fights with team mate Gidley for the second Ganassi seat in 2002.

Fernandez was third, followed by Dixon ­ an amazing result considering he made seven pit stops while his rear wing was replaced.

De Ferran was fifth ahead of team mate Castroneves, followed by the Forsythe team mates Tagliani and Carpentier.

Castroneves took the lead of the championship thanks to a 14th place finish by pole man Kenny Brack as the Rahal team played the strategy wrong. Dario franchitti dropped to sixth, 29 points off the lead, after an engine failure put him out.

"I was really happy that I could push today," said Junqueira. "I think I drove a very good race. With my lack of experience it's a great result.

"At the start of the race the track was really greasy," he added. "When Michael ran into Christian, I got by and that was the difference."

Andretti agreed, saying: "I had a good run on Christian and I guess he must not have seen me because he just turned in. That allowed Bruno to go by and that was it."

Autosport.com will bring additional news items as they break.

For full race results, click here.