Long Beach, CA (My Sportsbook) - Paul Tracy took advantage of a late-race mechanical problem by Michel Jourdain Jr. to win his third consecutive CART victory of the season. Tracy took the checkered flag 4.544 seconds in front of Adrian Fernandez.

The win was the 22nd of Tracy's Champ Car career. Tracy became the first driver since CART was formed to win the first three races of a season. Al Unser Sr. was the last American-based open-wheel driver to open the season with three wins (USAC - 1971).

Jourdain Jr. had been the dominant car all afternoon, but a drivetrain problem on his final pit stop with seven laps remaining, prevented the Mexico City native from grabbing his first career CART victory.

"Its terrible when you have the best car, the best crew, everything," said Jourdain Jr. "Everything was going so easy. I don't know what to say. I put it in first gear and it just wouldn't go."

Jourdain Jr. had built up a 42-second edge before entering pit lane for the final time.

"I was doing everything I could do to keep up with him (Jourdain Jr.)," said Tracy. "I pulled out all the stops on that second-to-last stint just to try and stay with him and it wasn't enough. He definitely had the measure of me today."

Bruno Junqueira, Jimmy Vasser and Mario Dominguez completed the top-five.

Tracy's third straight victory helped him expand his championship lead to 26 points over Junqueira (64-38). Despite finishing out of the points, Jourdain Jr. (34) is third, followed by Fernandez (28) and Jimmy Vasser (20).

The next race in the CART championship will be from Brands Hatch, England on Monday, May 5th.