McDonald's driver Sebastien Bourdais drove to his 11th career victory in today's 81-lap Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in what he called one of the best races of his career and brought Newman/Haas Racing its first win here in 18 years. Seven different drivers led the event on the 1.9-mile street course under clear blue skies. This year Bridgestone had the softer red sidewall tires for the drivers. Each car was allowed two sets for the race. With just about every car having three tire changes, strategy would be a key factor in winning at this event.

Bourdais stared the race on the reds then on his first pit stop, the team used the second set. That ment that by the end of the race, he would be running on the standard tire. This made for a lot of talk in the grandstands as to how he would do at the end of the race.

Paul Tracy led most of the first part of the race with Bruno Junqueira in second. However Bourdais was able to stay out a couple of laps longer and after the second pit stop, he was in the lead. He was able to put several seconds between he and Paul Tracy but then would soon see that lead dimished by a couple full course yellows.

After the final pit stop, Bourdais was on the Bridgestone standards and right behind him was Tracy on the "reds". With only 10 laps to go and only about 5 seconds between them, it would seem that Tracy would have the advantage of Bourdais. Well that was not the case. Bourdais was able to hold off Tracy and took the checkered about four seconds ahead of Tracy!

Bourdais led a total of 37 of the 81 laps. This was Newman/Hass' first win at Long Beach since 1987 when mario Andretti took the team to their third victory.