Last weekend I was on call at Portland International Raceway for the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland as part of the medical staff, so I had access to pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. Since the race was incident-free, I had time to take some pics.

It's not exactly Formula 1, but these machines are still pretty impressive. Champ Cars run methanol-powered, turbocharged 2.65 liter V-8 engines capable of around 750hp. Top speed is around 240mph, although on the road course at PIR they only reach about 180mph.

Justin Wilson, Bruno Junquiera, and Paul Tracy navigate the Festival Curves for the first time under green. There's often contact here, but not this year.




Paul Tracy enters the chicane




Dan Clarke up close -- it's blurry because this was a really difficult shot to time properly as the drivers brake from 170mph down to 40mph or so to enter the chicane.




Nelson Philippe




Justin Wilson




Dan Clarke and Nicky Pastorelli on turn 6




Race winner A.J. Allmendinger




The Champ Car Medical Center -- they travel with two physicians as well as nurses and support staff. That truck is impressive, and is equipped with the same equipment as the Emergency Department of a Level 1 trauma center. That's not so important here in Portland where the nearest trauma center is less than 5 miles away, but that's not the case at every location.

 

nice pics........looked like fun

 

Great pics, thanks for posting em up

 

wow those are some awesome pics

 

I wanted to make it out there but went golfing instead. I've seen other races there and it was cool. That's also where I took my high speed driving class so I know those turns, especially the chicane. Too much fun. Thanks for the pics.