Ex-Champ Car teams take 6 of top 9 in St. Pete

UPDATE A reader writes, Dear Autoracing1.com, I agree completely with your article about the divided fan base being good for the sport. I am Brazilian and found myself rooting for Rahal who is American but an ex-Champ Car driver instead of Helio who is Brazilian and has been in Indy Cars for years! Rod Orlando, FL.

04/06/08 What is shaping up to be quite a battle all season long, six of the top nine finishers in the St. Pete Indy Car race Sunday were ex-Champ Car teams. Despite being unfamiliar with the Indy Car equipment they showed the way on Sunday with young Graham Rahal giving IndyCar veteran Helio Castroneves a driving lesson.

This bodes well for the Indy Car series because, as we have said for years, once there is a merger, fan interest will swell when fans from both sides start pulling for "their guys." Rivalries and divided fan interest are what drive the success of any sport.