Quelle surprise! Three-time Champ Car champion, SEBASTIAN BOURDAIS was the fastest on Friday morning in the first practice at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix on the downtown streets of Las Vegas.
His time was 1m 24.384s, turned near the end of the hour-long session. The weather was hot, starting out in the mid seventies. It heated up quickly, reaching 91 degrees F by noon.
PAUL TRACY led at the half-way mark but finished second, followed by JUSTIN WILSON. Top rookie SIMON PAGENAUD was fourth, and led early on. Rookie NEEL JANI was fifth. Rookie GRAHAM RAHAL was seventh, behind ALEX TAGLIANI. Rookie MATT HALLIDAY also took a turn at leading before slotting back to ninth place, behind WILL POWER.
BRUNO JUNQUEIRA broke a clutch in the last five minutes, causing him to hit the turn nine tyre wall. He is alright but the team was beavering away in hopes of making Friday afternoon qualifying. If not, said the team spokesman, 'there's another qualifying Saturday'.
Rookie ALEX FIGGE caused a red flag three-quarters through the session. He hit the turn three wall. He was all right, but his transgression will cost him an eight minute penalty in qualifying for disrupting the session.
RAFAEL MATOS started off his second year in the highly competitive series known as Cooper Tyres presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda. Say that fast five times. Rafa's time was 1m 35.009s. Rookie FRANCK PERERA was second fastest. Again, owner CARLOS BOBEDA showed he has a good eye for talent. Hinch, aka JAMES HINCHCLIFFE, was third.
Rookie SIMONA DE SILVESTRO, the sole female, was tenth, after running third near the end of the session. She chose the Atlantic series as her next step up from Formula
BMW as it is so competitive. Silvestro is aiming for Champ Car.
![Sebastien Bourdais - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Panoz-Cosworth DP01 [pic courtesy Champ Car World Series]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/307017.jpg)
