Franchitti (KOOL Honda Reynard) stands second to rookie sensation Juan Montoya (Target Honda Reynard) in the championship as the series heads to Vancouver for Round 16 (4 p.m. ET Sunday, live, ABC-TV). Montoya’s recent run of back-to-back victories at Mid-Ohio and Chicago has reinstalled him on top of the championship standings with 172 points, four ahead of Franchitti, who held the points lead following Rounds 13 and 14, at Detroit and Mid-Ohio, respectively.

A victory at Vancouver could allow Franchitti to reclaim the championship lead, and would allow him to join Al Unser Jr. (Marlboro Mercedes Lola) and Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco Havoline Ford Swift) as multiple winners at Vancouver. Unser Jr. won the inaugural Molson Indy Vancouver in 1990 and followed with consecutive victories from 1993-95 while Andretti recorded back-to-back triumphs in 1991 and ’92 and added a third in ’96.

Franchitti’s victory at Vancouver last year was a memorable one. Not only did he collect the $100,000 purse which goes to the winner of each FedEx Championship Series event, he also reaped $340,000 in bonus money for becoming the first driver to win from the pole in 22 events.

Montoya, meanwhile, comes to Vancouver off a record-setting performance at Chicago, where he earned his sixth victory of the season, breaking the CART rookie record set by Nigel Mansell in 1993. Two of those victories have come on temporary street circuits at Long Beach and Cleveland, although his most recent appearances on street circuits have produced finishes of 22nd at Toronto and 17th at Detroit.

Montoya and Franchitti have put some distance between themselves and their pursuers in the chase for the championship. Andretti stands third with 124 points and will be looking to past successes at Vancouver to help him close the gap. Paul Tracy (KOOL Honda Reynard), Franchitti’s Team KOOL Green teammate, stands fourth with 122 points and owns podium finishes in four of his past five starts, including runner-up efforts on temporary street circuits at Toronto and Detroit.

The Molson Indy Vancouver entry list also includes Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood PacWest Mercedes), who earned his first, and to date only, FedEx Championship Series victory at the venue in 1997. He has finished sixth or better in four of his five career starts at Vancouver.

Following the Molson Indy Vancouver, the FedEx Championship Series continues with its second consecutive event and eighth in 10 weeks, the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Shell 300, Sept. 12 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif.

WHO’S HOT

Rookie Juan Montoya (Target Honda Reynard) has won the past two FedEx Championship Series events to move back into the lead in the championship points race. With consecutive victories at Mid-Ohio and Chicago, Montoya moved back ahead of Dario Franchitti (KOOL Honda Reynard), who had interrupted Montoya’s nine-week stay atop the point standings following his victory at Detroit and maintained a slim, one-point advantage following Mid-Ohio. Montoya travels to Vancouver with 172 points, four more than Franchitti (168). Montoya also owns five podium finishes in his last eight starts, with victories at Cleveland, Mid-Ohio and Chicago and runner-up efforts at Portland and Michigan.

Franchitti leads the FedEx Championship Series with nine podium finishes, including four in the past five events. The run includes victories at Toronto and Detroit, third at Mid-Ohio and a runner-up effort at Chicago. He has been on the podium in six of his last seven starts on temporary street circuits, dating to his victory at Vancouver last year.

Paul Tracy (KOOL Honda Reynard) owns podium finishes in four of his past five starts in the FedEx Championship Series, with runner-up performances at Toronto, Detroit and Mid-Ohio and a third-place finish at Michigan. He has scored PPG Cup points in eight of his past nine series starts, dating to his victory at Milwaukee. The streak ended with a 23rd-place finish at Chicago. Tracy stands fourth in the championship with 122 points.

Max Papis (Miller Lite Ford Reynard) has scored PPG Cup points in six of his past eight starts, dating to an eighth-place finish at Portland. He comes to Vancouver off a fourth-place finish at Chicago, which matched a career best established at Rio de Janeiro earlier this season. Papis, who also earned his first career FedEx Championship Series pole position at Chicago, has finished fifth or better in seven of 15 starts this season, including six of the past 12, and stands ninth in the championship with 91 points.

Helio Castro-Neves (Hogan Motor Leasing, Inc. Mercedes Lola) has finished seventh or better in his past three FedEx Championship Series starts. The streak includes back-to-back sevenths at Detroit and Mid-Ohio, his career-best finishes on road or street circuits, and fourth at Chicago.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Al Unser Jr. (Marlboro Mercedes Lola) owns four career victories at Vancouver (1990, ’93, ’94 and ’95) and has never finished lower than fifth in nine career appearances at the venue. In addition to his four victories, he also owns podium finishes of third in 1991 and second in ’92. He has qualified 22nd and finished fifth in each of the past two FedEx Championship Series events at Vancouver, accounting for the largest improvement from start to finish in the field on each occasion.

Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Ford Swift) owns three of his FedEx Championship Series- leading 38 career victories in eight starts at Vancouver (1991, ’92, ’96). He is the only driver in the history of the event to have won from the pole, in 1991 and ’92, and he also recorded podium finishes of second last year and third in ’94. Andretti has led at least one lap in six of eight starts at Vancouver and is CART’s career laps-led leader at the venue with 321, topped by 97 in 1992.

Gil de Ferran (Valvoline/Cummins Special Honda Reynard) owns top-four finishes in three of four career starts at Vancouver, including podium performances of second in 1995 and third in ’97. He also finished fourth in 1996.

Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood PacWest Mercedes) has finished sixth or better in three of six career starts at Vancouver, site of his only career FedEx Championship Series victory in 1997. The run also includes finishes of fifth in 1994 and sixth in last year.

Scott Pruett (Pioneer/MCI WorldCom Toyota Reynard) has recorded four top-six finishes in six career starts at Vancouver, topped by a podium result of third last year. The run also includes finishes of fifth in 1991, fourth in ’92 and sixth in ’95.

MANUFACTURING SUCCESS

Juan Montoya’s victory at Chicago clinched Reynard’s fifth consecutive FedEx Championship Series Constructor’s Championship. Montoya’s triumph, Reynard’s 13th in 15 events this season, gave Reynard an insurmountable 314-187 lead over second-place Swift, with a maximum of 110 points available in the season’s final five events. Reynard, which entered the FedEx Championship Series in 1994, has received victorious performances from seven different drivers this season, including Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Paul Tracy, Gil de Ferran, Greg Moore (Player’s Forsythe Racing Team Ltd. Mercedes Reynard), Adrian Fernandez (Tecate/Quaker State/Patrick Racing Ford Reynard) and Tony Kanaan (McDonald’s Championship Racing Team Honda Reynard). Reynard has swept the podium in seven of 15 FedEx Championship Series events this season, including each of the past four.

Honda brings a two-year run of dominance on FedEx Championship Series street circuits into this weekend’s Molson Indy Vancouver. Honda-powered drivers have won the past 11 FedEx Championship Series events contested on road or street courses, dating to the start of the 1998 season. The streak includes victories last year by Alex Zanardi at Long Beach, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto and Australia; Franchitti at Vancouver and Houston; and this year by Montoya at Long Beach and Cleveland and Franchitti at Toronto and Detroit. The last non-Honda-powered driver to win a FedEx Championship Series street race was Mauricio Gugelmin, who piloted a Mercedes to victory at Vancouver in 1997.

Firestone has won 14 of 15 FedEx Championship Series events contested this season and 32 of 33 overall, dating to Fernandez’ victory at Japan last year.

NOTEWORTHY

Andrea Montermini returns to the FedEx Championship Series this weekend for the first time since 1994 as driver of the #36 AAR Denso/Castrol Toyota Eagle for All American Racers. Montermini made a combined 11 FedEx Championship Series starts during the 1993 and ’94 seasons, with a top finish of fourth at Detroit in 1993. In his most recent start, he finished ninth in the 1994 season finale at Laguna Seca.

During his absence from the series, Montermini has competed in the Formula One and World Sports Car ranks, and has served as the lead driver of the Nissan which has finished sixth in each of the past two Le Mans 24-hour races. Earlier this year, Montermini conducted a two-day test session of the Lola T-99 chassis for Bettenhausen Motorsports.

PRE-RACE QUOTES

JUAN MONTOYA (Target Honda Reynard), on the stunning success of his FedEx Championship Series rookie season: "This season has been much more than I, or anyone on the team, could have expected. But we now realize we have a chance to make history, so the team is committed to earning as many points as we can in each race to see if we can make that dream a reality. Vancouver is a challenge because it's another of the courses I've never seen before. I think because the track has been reconfigured since last year, the other rookies and I will have an advantage since we're not used to the old layout. I'm looking forward to flying through the streets of Vancouver and hopefully increasing our lead in the points."

DARIO FRANCHITTI (KOOL Honda Reynard), on winning $440,000 for his victory from the pole at last year's Molson Indy Vancouver: "What a pay day! Vancouver was a magical race last year, both for myself and for the guys at Team KOOL Green. To win a race from the pole position is always rewarding, but when nobody had done it in so long, the feat took on extra significance. And I'm not simply talking about the money [Franchitti collected a $340,000 bonus pole award and another $100,000 for the victory becoming the first driver to win from pole since Alex Zanardi in Cleveland July 13, 1997]. That victory proved that winning the previous race at Road America - my first one ever in CART - was no fluke. Above all else, I think it signaled to everyone in CART that Team KOOL Green had arrived. We became the team to beat as the season ended. The difference this year is Paul [Tracy, Franchitti's Team KOOL Green teammate] and I are always in contention to win a race and now we're in a championship fight all the way to Fontana."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI (Kmart/Texaco Havoline Ford Swift), on last year's experience at Vancouver: "The 1998 Vancouver race was an interesting one for us. We almost stole one. We didn't have a good car but we had good pit strategy and it gave us good track position. We almost won the race. Had I known it would be a timed race I wouldn't have been conserving fuel and driving as slowly as I did and Franchitti wouldn't have passed us for the win. As it turned out I didn't have to conserve fuel and that was frustrating. I didn't realize that until it was too late. I think the track will be quite different this year. Last year, it was a tough course because it was a bit dangerous. The promoters have worked very hard to improve the layout and make more places for passing in order to make a better race for the drivers and the fans. The Vancouver race, and every one after it for that matter, is very important for the championship We have given enough races and points away. We just have to hope that Juan [Montoya] and Dario [Franchitti] don't finish some races. Based on the season so far, it doesn't look like that is a strong possibility. We'll just have to work hard and score as many points as possible to finish in the top-three. The finish in Chicago was particularly frustrating because we had worked so hard to go from the back and had a great car. The car was definitely capable of winning."

PAUL TRACY (KOOL Honda Reynard), on rebounding from a non-scoring finish in Chicago, his first in nine events: "I'm a little frustrated to come away from Chicago with no points, but we've picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and we'll be ready to go strong at Vancouver. I may have been born and raised in Toronto, but the fans in Vancouver always make me feel right at home. I'm confident that we have a good shot at a podium finish and I'll get the chance to wave the Canadian flag like in Toronto. Team KOOL Green has been dominant on the street circuits for the past two seasons, so I know Dario and I can expect to be up front. Plus, don't forget that we've finished 1-2 at the last two street races in Toronto and Detroit. This time, I'd like to reverse roles with Dario and get the victory for myself. I definitely need to win some races to get back into the championship race with Juan [Montoya] and Dario. We'll need to qualify well to be in contention on Sunday because there aren't many opportunities to pass in Vancouver."

GREG MOORE (Player's Forsythe Racing Team Ltd. Honda Reynard), on racing before his home fans: "It's always a good feeling to come home and race in an area that you grew up in. You obviously want to do well, both for yourself and for the team, and you'd like to be able to deliver a strong performance for the people who have supported you over the years. We only have two races in Canada and I think competing in Vancouver is exciting for the entire Player's team. Last year I had my best-ever Molson Indy Vancouver qualifying performance when I finished fourth, but I didn't have much luck in the race. I'm aiming to get in the top 4 again in qualifying. It's important to be at or near the front of the grid because passing on this track is real difficult."

AL UNSER JR. (Marlboro Mercedes Lola), on his pleasant memories of Vancouver: "Vancouver definitely brings back a lot of great memories. Every race there has been exciting to watch and even more exciting to drive. The fans up there have always been great to me and their enthusiasm is contagious. I look forward to returning there every year. Certain tracks can be nicer to you than others. We've always come up with a little more luck in the Vancouver race, and we're hoping to tap into some of that luck this weekend. Our goal is to bring the Marlboro Mercedes Lola home in first and give Roger [Penske, team owner] his 100th win."

JIMMY VASSER (Target Honda Reynard), on the FedEx Championship Series stretch run: "This is an exciting time of year. Our team knows what it's like to be in this position, with so much riding on each race. I've learned over these first 15 races that Juan [Montoya, Vasser's Target/Chip Ganassi Racing teammate] is as tough mentally as he is physically. He's in a good position and he knows I'm here if he's looking for advice. The whole team has a great attitude going into Vancouver. We were excited to be back on the podium in Chicago and we plan on returning a few times again before the end of the year. Juan and I have had a nice string of races and we want to keep it up at the Molson Indy."

HELIO CASTRO-NEVES (Hogan Motor Leasing, Inc. Mercedes Lola), on the key to his recent run of three consecutive top-seven finishes: "Being patient. That's what really helped me get the first three! I know that we'll have a good set-up on the car. Every weekend we learn something new in the Lola and we now have this great momentum going that I feel very confident that things will continue to progress well. The Hogan team has done a top-notch job, even through our dry spell in the middle of the season. Now we're finishing races and looking to a solid end of the season. [Vancouver] is a very tough track because the corners are very tiny and tight. It's also very bumpy in many places, like any street circuit, so we'll really need to pay attention in getting the car to work well over the bumps. Those bumps can also be very tough on the driver physically. They've added more run-off area this year, so that's good to see CART and the Molson people working together to make it safer for us and in turn a better show for the fans. The Canadian fans have always been very good to me and I look forward to heading North every season."

CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI (Big Kmart Ford Swift), on continuing his recovery from a subdural hematoma sustained in an Aug. 2 testing accident at Gateway International Raceway: "I am constantly talking to the team and keeping up on the progress of the car so that I can hopefully race at Houston or the next race. I felt much better at the Chicago race than I did at the Mid-Ohio race. The headaches went away after the Mid-Ohio race and I started feeling like myself again. I started my fitness program again but have to start slow. I can't just pick up where I left off and run the same distance. It's just like anyone who hasn't worked out in a while. It takes time to get back to the same level. I will of course miss racing in Vancouver. It is one of my favorite places that we race and I think we would have been competitive on the street course."

ROBERTO MORENO (Big Kmart Ford Swift), on his role as the "Super Sub" of the FedEx Championship Series: "The nickname 'Super Sub' is just something that happened. It came from being available to drive for teams in a pinch while I was working on getting a full-time ride. Unfortunately something happened to a couple of drivers and I was available to fill in for them. It's good that both drivers [Mark Blundell and Christian Fittipaldi] were able to come back to racing.

"At the start, I didn't really like the name 'Super Sub.' Now I am okay with it. I am making the most of the situation and doing to best job I can for the teams I am driving for. As 'Super Sub,' I am making points in the championship and keeping up with the series. The Newman/Haas team has welcomed me back with open arms. It is a pleasure to work with such a professional team. I went back in the team and worked with basically the same people. I work well with Todd Bowland the engineer and all of the guys. That's very important. I love street races. The Vancouver track will be a new track for me this year because I didn't race in the event last year. For not having any testing and being familiar with the Big Kmart Ford-Swift, we have been able to qualify reasonably well and score some points. I'm looking to continue that in Vancouver."

PATRICK CARPENTIER (Player's Forsythe Racing Team, Ltd. Mercedes Reynard), on maintaining his confidence heading to Vancouver: "I'm really pleased that I'm heading into the Vancouver race on a positive note, both from a driving as well as a health standpoint. With the help of my Player's crew, I was able to match my best performance with the Player's team by finishing sixth in Chicago, and I came out of the race with no effects from the sore back and chest that caused me to miss the previous race. My best finish on a road course this year is seventh, so the immediate goal is to improve on that result. I know that they have made a few changes to the track in Vancouver and it has led in places to a longer straight, making it a bit easier to pass. I'm optimistic that we can deliver a strong performance for our home crowd."

TONY KANAAN (McDonald's Championship Racing Team Honda Reynard), on his enjoyment of racing at Vancouver: "We had strong runs at Vancouver the last three years in both Champ Cars and Indy Lights, and I think we were on our way to a podium finish last year. I love the street courses and Vancouver is a fantastic city, so I am really looking forward to this weekend."

ROBBY GORDON (Johns Manville/Panasonic/Menards Toyota Eagle), on the challenges of racing at Vancouver: "Vancouver, much like Detroit, is a special place for me. I had the pole in Vancouver in 1994. It¹s a different track this year than it was back then, but it's still a street course and it's still demanding. They've added a high-speed section on the back of the course that makes the track a lot different from the other street courses. Toronto and Houston, for instance, are a series of short straights with one medium-length straight. Vancouver is similar to Long Beach. When you accelerate out of turn four, the track bends, but you run it flat out until it becomes a straight. At the end is turn six, a right-hander and a good passing area. It makes for a tough setup because you want the car to work well in the high-speed sections, but also be nimble enough for the other sections which are all short bursts and tight corners. We struggled with our Long Beach setup, but we have all the data to draw on, so I'm looking for this race to be much more competitive. We'll run the Eagle chassis as well, which handles closer to the Reynard we ran at Long Beach. Plus, Alex Barron and the Eagle led laps at Vancouver last year. I¹d like to do the same, only I¹d really like to lead the last one!"