Portland Problems Persist For Lee in Atlantic Action Sunday

PORTLAND, Ore., June 10 - The weather was better during Sunday's Champ Car Atlantic race at Portland International Speedway but Matt Lee's problems with the Conquest Racing/Integrated Structures No. 44 persisted. He finished 15th in the second half of the weekend doubleheader after qualifying 18th.

It was a better result than the 19th he recorded here Saturday in the first half of the doubleheader, which was held in a pouring rain. Sunday's race began with sprinkles, but the track was drying at the end.

Lee got off to a great start and then used restarts to his advantage as much as possible. He vaulted into 15th on lap one, moved into 14th on lap eight, and then soared to 11th on lap 14. He stayed in 11th for five laps, looking for a way around Carl Skerlong while holding off David Garza. Garza got by him on lap 18 and then Lee missed a turn and used a run-off area, losing three positions. He dropped to 16th on lap 23, and after some seesawing back and forth for position with Simona De Silvestro, he took the checkered flag in 15th place.

"I blew a chicane, and went backwards," a disappointed Lee said afterwards. "I couldn't do anything with the car we had here this weekend."

The Portland Atlantic doubleheader will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET on June 18.

The circuit now travels to the Burke Lakefront Airport course in Cleveland, Ohio for a race on June 24, which will be another new track for Lee. He hopes to add valuable points there, as he's definitely not satisfied with the 16th place he now holds in the unofficial point standings after Portland.

Kevin Lacroix won Sunday's race over James Hinchcliffe and Franck Perera.

For more information see champcaratlantic.com.

Source: Linda Mansfield, restartcommunications.com