In only his third Champ Car start, David Martinez was deprived of a top five finish on home soil when mechanical gremlins intervened two-thirds of the way through the 2007 CCWS finale in Mexico City last weekend.

Competing in front of his partisan supporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Forsythe Racing ace began from tenth on the grid but within 21 laps had already made up five places.

Continuing to lap at a strong pace, Martinez was looking good for a top five result when a gearbox failure on lap 45 cost him six laps and left him down in an unrepresentative 14th place at the chequered flag. The second-fastest lap of the race may have subsequently shown what might have been, but it was scant consolation nonetheless.

“I'm actually really happy,” insisted the 25-year-old, who stepped in to replace Oriol Servia at the team. “We didn't achieve the result that we wanted, but I think we showed we can fight up front and that if I have the chance to race all year I will be able to contest for victories.

“Obviously what happened was very disappointing, but there's no point in worrying about what's outside your control. I gave everything I had and I think people noticed that.

“The Forsythe team gave me a great car; especially when we put on the Red Bridgestone Potenzas I was a lot faster than the cars around me. It's a shame because I think I would have been able to put on a good show for the Mexican fans that came here to support me. I have to thank Axtel and Tecate for believing in me and for being with me all weekend – I'm very proud to carry their brands.”