SEBASTIAN BOURDAIS was fastest Friday morning at Portland International Raceway for the first Champ Car practice, with a lap of 58.494secs.

He turned his first fastest lap with less than 25 minutes to go in the 75-minute session, taking the top spot from his team-mate, GRAHAM RAHAL. Young rookie Rahal, a recent high school graduate, kept the second spot. He was followed by JUSTIN WILSON and rookies ROBERT DOORNBOS and NEEL JANI.

The weather was overcast and mild, with a slight breeze.

All 17 drivers participated in the session, with varying rates of success. PAUL TRACY crashed into the back stretch wall on his first hot lap and recorded no time. Tracy is unhurt and the car sustained minimal damage to the right front corner. Tracy and the car will be ready for the afternoon qualifying session. This weekend is Tracy's first race since his hard crash at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, when he broke a vertebrae.

Tracy's assessed eight-minute penalty for causing a red flag was academic as he didn't go out any further in the session. The mandatory time penalty is assessed and served within the occurring session, not held over to the next time on track.

Tracy's new team-mate, who replaced him at the Houston street race, ORIOL SERVIA, was eleventh fastest.

The only other dramas were a couple of stalls in the session.