The Briton's recent success, and his past performances in Mexico City - which number a win, a second and two poles - place him as favourite to claim the title of runner-up, but to do so he will have to see off 'the Flying Dutchman'. Doornbos started the season with podiums in six of nine races, including wins at Mont-Tremblant and San Jose, but a couple of difficult races in Europe put him out of contention for the championship title. However, a strong run at Surfers Paradise has since put him back in the fight for 'second-best', and the run from 14th to fourth helped him clinch the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year Award, as well as increasing his lead in the BBS Hard Charger standings - given to the driver who gains the most positions from his qualifying position at each race - to eleven points.
“It’s a shame that the Champ Car season is coming to an end, but time flies when you’re having fun!" Doornbos admitted, "I think it’s great that Mexico is hosting the final race and, even though the championship has already been decided in favour of Sebastian, I would like to announce a very hard battle in who will become the vice-champion. I know that I’m one of only a few drivers who has never seen the circuit, but that has been the case almost every weekend this season. I trust my team and engineers’ experience and, with my motivation being as high as at the start of the season, I’m sure we can do a good job - and hopefully finish where we started.”
Wilson and Doornbos won't have things all their own way, however, as the entire field will hope to go out on a high. While Will Power can still take third place in the standings from Doornbos, the Australian is caught up in a fierce fight for fourth with five drivers still able to reach him. Fortunately for Power, he has received clearance from Champ Car medical officials to race in Mexico City after sustaining two hairline fractures to his left wrist in Australia and, armed with a special carbon-fibre brace and extra track time to adjust to it prior to Friday morning practice, the Team Australia driver look first to defend his championship position.
