Sebastien Bourdais crowned his historic 2006 Champ Car World Series season with one of his best victories yet, passing Justin Wilson on the 66th and final lap of Sunday's Gran Premio Telmex at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
In a race that started dry but turned wet just shy of the half way mark, Bourdais caught and passed Wilson over a thrilling final five laps before finally making his decisive move with half a lap remaining of the 2.774-mile Mexico City road course.
The win was Bourdais' 23rd career triumph and while Wilson was bitterly disappointed with second, he could console himself with the knowledge that he hauled himself above AJ Allmendinger for second in the points standings.
Team Australia rookie Will Power clinched the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year title with a career best third place finish, albeit nearly three quarters of a minute behind the top two, the young Aussies RotY cause aided greately bt Dan Clarke's early race retirement.
Bruno Junqueira finished fourth with Alex Tagliani fifth, Oriol Servia sixth and Surfers Paradise winner Nelson Philippe seventh. Philippe's seventh place finish was enough to secure fourth in the overall standings from Junqueira, Power, the absent Paul Tracy and Tagliani.
Andrew Ranger and Forsythe newboys David Martinez and Buddy Rice rounded out the top ten while British rookie Katherine Legge survived an opening lap skirmish with Mario Dominguez to take 16th in a race slowed by just one caution period and blighted by just one retirement.
