Monterrey, Mexico (My Sportsbook) - Bruno Junqueira captured Sunday's Tecate/Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix Champ Car race. The No.2 Newman Haas driver crossed the finish line 1.375 seconds ahead of runner-up Andrew Ranger.

The victory was Junqueira's first of the season and eighth of his Champ Car career.

As the race got under way temperatures were in the low 100s and the track near 145 degrees. But Sebastian Bourdais, the pole-winner, wasn't feeling the effects of the heat leading the first 17 laps with Paul Tracy and Justin Wilson following closely.

On lap 18 Bourdais gave up his lead as he and the rest of the leaders took their first pit stops. Frenchman Nelson Philippe stayed out to take the lead with Bjorn Wirdheim in second.

Tracy was able to beat Bourdais coming out of the pits for third and fourth, respectively.

On lap 29 Philippe finally made his first pit stop. This allowed the leaders to move up a position. Tracy and Bourdais continued to battle it out behind the new leader - Wirdheim. Then on a restart on lap 37, Tracy was able to pass Wirdheim and take the lead.

After 38 laps, the mid-point of the race, the top five read: Tracy, Wirdheim, Bourdais, Junqueira, and Wilson.

Two laps later Wirdheim made his scheduled stop giving up second place to Bourdais. After the leaders all took their pit stops on lap 47 Tracy continued to stay ahead of Bourdais.

Philippe, Wirdheim, Timo Glock, and Oriol Servia drove in the first four spots because they were still on different pit schedules.

On lap 49 Bourdais tried to make the winning move of the race, but instead found himself crashing into Tracy. Tracy had to go to the garage with damage to the left-front of his car ending his day. He finished in 15th place.

After exiting his car a very angry Tracy said, "Were out of the race and we probably would have finished first or second. It was a stupid move on his part."

Bourdais had to pit after the crash dropping out of contention for the win. Bourdais' team was also very angry as they thought Tracy violated pit rules twice. Still, the defending series champion was able to rebound and finish fifth.

After 55 laps the top-five read: Philippe, Wirdheim, Servia, Junqueira, and Tagliani. Philippe's normal pit stop on lap 59 allowed the leaders to move up a position.

On the lap 62 restart, rookie Canadian driver Andrew Ranger, was able to move from sixth to third taking advantage of a Servia spin.

With 10 laps to go the top-three were Wirdheim, Junqueira and Ranger.

On lap 68 of 76, Wirdheim under pressure from Junqueira, hit the curb and fell to third. This set up a showdown between the veteran Brazilian, Junqueira and the rookie.

The Brazilian, despite pressure from the young Canadian, was able to hold off the rookie for the victory. Tagliani, Wilson, and Bourdais completed the top- five.

The next race in the Champ Car series is set for June 4th at the Milwaukee Mile.