• Welcome back to California Speedway in Fontana as race fans await the 12:30 p.m. PT start of The 500 Presented by Toyota – Round 18 of the 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series. At 12:20 p.m., the temperature is 77° F under partly sunny California skies.

• With a time of 31.483 seconds (232.011 mph), #10 KANAAN of Mo Nunn Racing paced qualifying and will start on pole this afternoon. #4 JUNQUEIRA of Target Chip Ganassi Racing will flank #10 KANAAN on the outside of row one for the start. #10 KANAAN also paced this morning's warm-up session with an orbit of 32.180 seconds (226.986 mph).

• The California Speedway oval measures 2.029-miles in length, and is the fifth oval event of the 2002 season. The 500 Presented by Toyota will consist of 250 laps (507.25 miles).

• Fuel allotment--The fuel allotment for this race is 250.00 US gallons based on maximum pit fuel storage tank capacity. Additionally, teams may start the race with any amount of fuel up to 35 gallons in the race car. There will be three parade laps and one pace lap.

• Pit Stops--The maximum lap interval for pit stops will be 33 laps.

• At 12:30 p.m., The command “Gentleman Start Your Engines” is given to the field.

• At 12:31 p.m., All Champ Cars successfully roll off the grid.

• At 12:38 p.m., The pace car dives off in Turn 4 and gives way to the field as CART FedEx Championship Series Starter Jim Swintal displays the GREEN FLAG over the field as the Champ Cars roar to life in Fontana. Polesitter #10 KANAAN gets outdone immediately by #39 ANDRETTI who rockets to the front from the fourth starting spot. #39 ANDRETTI leads Lap 1, followed by #10 KANAAN and #26 TRACY.

• On Lap 2, #39 ANDRETTI leads #26 TRACY by 1.085 seconds, followed by #10 KANAAN, #4 JUNQUEIRA and #8 VASSER.

• On Lap 4, #39 ANDRETTI remains in front. 2.000 seconds separates first through fifth position.

• On Lap 6, #39 ANDRETTI leads #10 KANAAN by 0.337 seconds.

• On Lap 8, #10 KANAAN passes #39 ANDRETTI for the point. #26 TRACY remains third, followed by #4 JUNQUEIRA and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 12, #8 VASSER passes #26 TRACY for third in Turn 1. #39 ANDRETTI passes #10 KANAAN for the lead.

• On Lap 13, #39 ANDRETTI leads, followed by #10 KANAAN, #8 VASSER, #26 TRACY and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 14, #39 ANDRETTI leads #10 KANAAN by 0.609 seconds.

• On Lap 15, #39 ANDRETTI leads #10 KANAAN, #26 TRACY, #32 CARPENTIER and #8 VASSER. The whole field is within 13.154-seconds.

• On Lap 17, #26 TRACY takes #39 ANDRETTI for the lead into Turn 1.

• On Lap 18, #26 TRACY leads #39 ANDRETTI by 0.756 seconds, followed by #32 CARPENTIER, #10 KANAAN and #8 VASSER.

• On Lap 19, #39 ANDRETTI takes the lead from #26 TRACY.

• On Lap 20, #26 TRACY retakes the lead from #39 ANDRETTI with an outside pass in Turn 3.

• On Lap 21, #26 TRACY leads, followed by #8 VASSER, #39 ANDRETTI, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 23, #8 VASSER passes #26 TRACY for the lead in Turn 3.

• On Lap 24, #8 VASSER leads #39 ANDRETTI by 0.871 seconds, followed by #26 TRACY, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 26, #26 TRACY in a side-to-side duel with #39 ANDRETTI for second.

• On Lap 27, #26 TRACY stills manages to hold off #39 ANDRETTI for second position. #8 VASSER leads #26 TRACY by 1.532 seconds.

• On Lap 30, #26 TRACY and #39 ANDRETTI remain side-by-side for second, #26 TRACY being scored in second.

• On Lap 31, #39 ANDRETTI noses #26 TRACY for second that time by.

• On Lap 33, #8 VASSER leads #26 TRACY by 1.641 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER as every car now makes its way down pit lane for the first round of stops.

• YELLOW FLAG on Lap 34 for #4 JUNQUEIRA who spun and lost the left-rear tire at Pit Out. #8 VASSER is off pit lane first, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #26 TRACY, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew retrieved the machine of #4 JUNQUEIRA and bolted on another Bridgestone Potenza. #4 JUNQUEIRA back on track, but continues a lap down to the leaders.

• On Lap 38, #27 FRANCHITTI pits again.

• GREEN FLAG on Lap 39. #39 ANDRETTI passes #8 VASSER for the lead.

• On Lap 40, #39 ANDRETTI leads #26 TRACY who passed #8 VASSER in Turn 1, followed by #10 KANAAN and #9 JOURDAIN.

• On Lap 42, #39 ANDRETTI leads #26 TRACY by 0.319 seconds, followed by #8 VASSER, #10 KANAAN and #9 JOURDAIN.

• On Lap 44, #51 PAPIS challenges #32 CARPENTIER for seventh. #26 TRACY passes #39 ANDRETTI on the outside of Turn 4.

• On Lap 45, #39 ANDRETTI retakes the lead from #8 VASSER in Turn 3 on the inside. #10 KANAAN around #8 VASSER for third.

• On Lap 46, #26 TRACY and #39 ANDRETTI go side-to-side for the lead, but #26 TRACY gets credit for leading the lap.

• On Lap 48, #39 ANDRETTI leads now over #26 TRACY, followed by #10 KANAAN, #8 VASSER and #51 PAPIS.

• On Lap 49, #9 JOURDAIN passes #51 PAPIS for fifth.

• On Lap 50, #26 TRACY takes the lead from #39 ANDRETTI, one-fifth of the way through the race.

• On Lap 52, #39 ANDRETTI takes the lead back from #26 TRACY, followed by #10 KANAAN, #8 VASSER and #9 JOURDAIN.

• On Lap 52, #5 TAKAGI in the pits.

• On Lap 55, #39 ANDRETTI leads #26 TRACY by 0.220 seconds, followed by #10 KANAAN, #8 VASSER and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 58, #26 TRACY moves on #39 ANDRETTI in Turn 4 for the lead, but is unable to complete the pass. #32 CARPENTIER passes #10 KANAAN for third.

• On Lap 60, #26 TRACY passes #39 ANDRETTI for the lead on the outside of Turn 3, followed by #10 KANAAN, #32 CARPENTIER and #8 VASSER.

• On Lap 61, #39 ANDRETTI passes #26 TRACY coming out of Turn 2.

• On Lap 62, #26 TRACY passes #39 ANDRETTI on the outside in Turn 3 for the lead.

• On Lap 64, #10 KANAAN gets #39 ANDRETTI for second in Turn 1.

• On Lap 65, #10 KANAAN challenges #26 TRACY for the lead and completes the pass.

• On Lap 66, #10 KANAAN leads the field in for their second stop, as #27 FRANCHITTI stays out and assumes the lead. #5 TAKAGI stayed out as well.

• On Lap 68, #27 FRANCHITTI leads, followed by #10 KANAAN, #8 VASSER, #39 ANDRETTI and #11 FITTIPALDI.

• On Lap 70, #27 FRANCHITTI pits for the third time and #10 KANAAN will assume the lead.

• On Lap 71, #10 KANAAN leads by 0.545 seconds over #8 VASSER, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #9 JOURDAIN and #1 DA MATTA. #4 JUNQUEIRA is down two laps; #5 TAKAGI down five laps.

• On Lap 76, #8 VASSER passes #10 KANAAN for the lead, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #9 JOURDAIN, #1 DA MATTA.

• On Lap 79, #8 VASSER leads #10 KANAAN by 0.628 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #9 JOURDAIN and #1 DA MATTA.

• On Lap 80, #11 FITTIPALDI passes #1 DA MATTA for fifth.

• On Lap 82, #26 TRACY is one lap down to the leaders.

• On Lap 84, #1 DA MATTA passes #11 FITTIPALDI for fifth.

• On Lap 85, #26 TRACY on pit lane as the Team KOOL Green crew removes the engine cover.

• On Lap 88, #8 VASSER leads #10 KANAAN by 0.795 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #9 JOURDAIN and #1 DA MATTA.

• On Lap 89, #26 TRACY back on course.

• On Lap 91, #5 TAKAGI locked up the brakes slowing down on pit lane, spun around and made contact with the pit wall with the right front wing and the nose. He then continued backwards along the pit wall through his pit stall where he had contact with the tires that were set out for him. The Walker Racing team retrieves the car and moves in back to the pit stall. #5 TAKAGI is out of the car.

• On Lap 97, #8 VASSER leads #10 KANAAN by 0.932 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #9 JOURDAIN and #1 DA MATTA.

• On Lap 99, #8 VASSER leads the field down Pit Lane for the third scheduled stop.

• YELLOW FLAG on Lap 100 for #9 JOURDAIN who spun through the grass driver's left exiting Pit Out on cold tires and continued. #32 CARPENTIER spun into the grass as well, nearly made contact with the inside wall and will be restarted on the bump by the Simple Green CART Safety Team. #8 VASSER comes out and retains the lead, followed by #1 DA MATTA, #10 KANAAN, #39 ANDRETTI and #9 JOURDAIN.

• NOTEWORTHY: #26 TRACY has retired (mechanical).

• GREEN FLAG on Lap 106. #39 ANDRETTI passes #10 KANAAN for third.

• On Lap 108, #55 DOMINGUEZ slow in the warm up lane by Pit Out on the front straight. #55 DOMINGUEZ comes to a stop with apparent mechanical problems and has retired. #39 ANDRETTI passes #1 DA MATTA for second.

• On Lap 109, #1 DA MATTA retakes second from #39 ANDRETTI at the line. #8 VASSER remains at the point.

• On Lap 110, #39 ANDRETTI edges #1 DA MATTA for second at the line.

• On Lap 112, #8 VASSER leads #39 ANDRETTI by 0.826 seconds, followed by #1 DA MATTA, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 118, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA, who got by #39 ANDRETTI, followed by #32 CARPENTIER who is charging, #39 ANDRETTI and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 121, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.727 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI who got back around #32 CARPENTIER, and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 124, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.598 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #32 CARPENTIER and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 125, Halfway point has been reached.

• On Lap 126, #10 KANAAN passes #32 CARPENTIER for fourth position.

• On Lap 129, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.468 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 130, #8 VASSER sees his lead over #1 DA MATTA shrink to 0.393 seconds.

• On Lap 132, #8 VASSER leads the field down pit lane for the fourth scheduled stop. #9 JOURDAIN assumes the lead after staying out, off sequence. #1 DA MATTA beats #8 VASSER off pit lane.

• On Lap 134, #9 JOURDAIN pits and #27 FRANCHITTI assumes the lead out of sequence.

• On Lap 137, #27 FRANCHITTI in the pits for his sixth stop. #8 VASSER retakes the lead after passing #1 DA MATTA on course for position.

• On Lap 139, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.477 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #32 CARPENTIER and #10 KANAAN who turns the fastest lap of the race at 32.024 seconds (228.091 mph).

• On Lap 141, #8 VASSER, on his fastest lap of the race, laps #52 NAKANO who is in 13th. The top 12 cars on the lead lap.

• On Lap 144, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.653 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #32 CARPENTIER and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 147, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.869 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 154, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 1.223 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #10 KANAAN and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 158, #8 VASSER passes #52 NAKANO, putting him three laps down. #8 VASSER had to use the bottom of the track and the white line to complete the pass.

• On Lap 161, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 2.239 seconds as the fifth pit window nears.

• On Lap 165, #8 VASSER in for his fifth scheduled stop. #9 JOURDAIN assumes the lead once again out of pit sequence.

• On Lap 168, #9 JOURDAIN pits and #27 FRANCHITTI assumes the lead, also out of pit sequence.

• On Lap 170, #27 FRANCHITTI pits, giving #8 VASSER the lead as the pit cycle concludes.

• On Lap 172, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.998 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI, #32 CARPENTIER and #9 JOURDAIN.

• On Lap 175, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 1.259 seconds.

• On Lap 179, #8 VASSER now just 0.431 seconds ahead of #1 DA MATTA after going side-to-side with #27 FRANCHITTI who is shown in 11th and one lap down.

• On Lap 183, #32 CARPENTIER passes #39 ANDRETTI for third.

• On Lap 188, #8 VASSER sets a race record with his 115th lap led.

• On Lap 189, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 1.036 seconds, followed by #39 ANDRETTI who just got around #32 CARPENTIER for third, and #9 JOURDAIN.

• On Lap 194, #8 VASSER by #0.774 seconds over #39 ANDRETTI, who just passes #1 DA MATTA for second.

• On Lap 196, #8 VASSER racing side-to-side again with #27 FRANCHITTI who is in 10th.

• On Lap 198, #8 VASSER leads the frontrunners down pit lane for his sixth scheduled stop. #1 DA MATTA beats #8 VASSER out of the pits. #9 JOURDAIN assumes the lead out of sequence.

• On Lap 201, #9 JOURDAIN pits and once again hands the lead over to #27 FRANCHITTI.

• On Lap 203, #27 FRANCHITTI pits and gives #1 DA MATTA the lead as the pit stop cycle is completed.

• On Lap 205, #1 DA MATTA leads #8 VASSER by 1.1045 seconds, followed by #9 JOURDAIN, #39 ANDRETTI and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 208, #1 DA MATTA leads #8 VASSER by 0.934 seconds.

• On Lap 212, #1 DA MATTA leads #8 VASSER by just 0.552 seconds, followed by #9 JOURDAIN, #39 ANDRETTI and #32 CARPENTIER.

• On Lap 214, #8 VASSER passes #1 DA MATTA for the lead.

• On Lap 218, #32 CARPENTIER and #39 ANDRETTI duel side-to-side for fourth position.

• On Lap 219, #9 JOURDAIN starts smoking heavily, running in third position.

• On Lap 220, #9 JOURDAIN pulls off course safely and has retired (mechanical).

• On Lap 221, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.089 seconds, followed by #32 CARPENTIER, #39 ANDRETTI and #10 KANAAN.

• On Lap 222, #1 DA MATTA looks to the outside of #8 VASSER, but cannot complete the pass.

• On Lap 223, #1 DA MATTA passes #8 VASSER on the high side in Turn 3.

• On Lap 224, #8 VASSER passes #1 DA MATTA for the lead exiting Turn 3.

• On Lap 225, #8 VASSER leads #1 DA MATTA by 0.140 seconds.

• On Lap 230, #1 DA MATTA attempts to get #8 VASSER on the outside in Turn 1, then completes the pass at the start/finish line for the lead.

• On Lap 231, #1 DA MATTA leads the frontrunners down pit lane. #27 FRANCHITTI assumes the lead as the pit cycle continues. #1 DA MATTA beats #8 VASSER and #32 CARPENTIER off pit lane after their seventh scheduled stops.

• On Lap 234, #20 SERVIA sets the fastest lap of the race at 31.469 seconds (232.114 mph).

• On Lap 236, #1 DA MATTA smoking heavily and pulls off course. #1 DA MATTA is out of the car and has retired (mechanical). #27 FRANCHITTI pits and #8 VASSER assumes the lead.

• YELLOW FLAG on Lap 239 to remove #1 DA MATTA who stopped his machine in an unsafe position.

• On Lap 240, #8 VASSER leads #39 ANDRETTI under yellow, followed by #32 CARPENTIER and #10 KANAAN.

• GREEN FLAG on Lap 243. #39 ANDRETTI gets the jump and passes #8 VASSER for the lead in Turn 1.

• On Lap 244, #39 ANDRETTI leads #8 VASSER by 0.303 seconds, followed by #32 CARPENTIER and #10 KANAAN.

• YELLOW FLAG on Lap 246 for #27 FRANCHITTI who is stopped on the apron of the track in Turn 4 and smoking heavily. RED FLAG now has been issued from CART Race Control. #27 FRANCHITTI is out of his car as the Simple Green CART Safety Team puts out the blaze emitting from the rear of his machine. All cars report to pit lane and stop engines.

• NOTEWORTHY: For the second time this season, CART Race Control has red flagged a race to improve the chances of a green-flag finish. The other race was Vancouver.

• At 3:15 p.m., The command “Gentleman Start your Engines” is given to the field to restart the race.

• On Lap 247, The one-to-go signal is given to the field.

• GREEN FLAG on Lap 248, #8 VASSER takes the lead, going around #39 ANDRETTI.

• WHITE FLAG for #8 VASSER, just 0.414 seconds ahead of #39 ANDRETTI.

• CHECKERED FLAG for #8 VASSER of Team Rahal who crosses the stripe just 0.400 seconds ahead of #39 ANDRETTI of Team Motorola and 2.502 seconds ahead of #32 CARPENTIER of Player's/Forsythe Racing.

• NOTEWORTHY: This is the second time this season that American drivers have finished one, two. In Long Beach #39 ANDRETTI led #8 VASSER to the line for a victory in Round 2.

CHAMP CAR TOP-THREE QUOTES

JIMMY VASSER (#8 Shell Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone): “First of all, it's a great win for me and the Shell team. You don't want to go the entire season without a win. All the credit goes to the guys on the team. They busted their butts to get the car put back together after Australia. They won the pit stop competition on Friday and had great stops today. The red flag was the right call to make. It's all about the fans, giving them a green flag finish. Had it not been for Dario [Franchitti] causing the red flag, it would have been difficult to catch Michael [Andretti] under race conditions. Michael drove a great race. He expertly knew how to take away my air and just drove a great race. At the end, he was in a tough position. The guy leading in that situation is like a sitting duck out there. I think Cristiano [da Matta] had a little left in his hip pocket because he really started playing with me at the end. He was going to be tough to beat.”

MICHAEL ANDRETTI (#39 Motorola Honda/Lola/Bridgestone): “After the yellow (for da Matta's engine), I thought I had the race won. Then Dario's car lost a motor and I became a sitting duck. What's fair is fair. The yellow came out and cost Jimmy and the red flag came out and cost me. The red flag is in the rule book so it was the right decision. I'm sure Jimmy loved the red flag. Jimmy probably had the best car and deserved to win. I tried to catch him in turns three and four at the end but came up a little short. I radioed to the crew, ‘I'm done.' First, the car was pretty good all day. Team Motorola did a good job in the pits and the Honda engine was strong. In traffic, the car was not as good. We made an adjustment and started coming on strong.”

PATRICK CARPENTIER (#32 Player's/Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Reynard/Bridgestone): “It was wide open all day. It was fun racing. I enjoyed it. The car started out with a push and we improved it on every stop. On the last stop, though, I don't know what happened but the car got really loose and I couldn't challenge Jimmy and Michael. Jimmy was strong and Michael was strong. But I got third place and I'm quite happy.”

• This concludes the CART FedEx Championship Series pit notes for Round 18 of the 2002 season. Next up for the series is the CART FedEx Championship Series Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante Presented by Banamex/Visa in Mexico City, Mexico, for the season finale on the 2.75-mile road course on November 17. Congratulations once again to American Jimmy Vasser for winning The 500 Presented by Toyota at California Speedway. On behalf of Championship Auto Racing Teams, have a safe weekend and thank you once again for your interest and continued support of the CART FedEx Championship Series. Good Night!