VINTAGE LONG BEACH; Exactly what Champ Car needed to kick off its new era.(Competitions.)

Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO The 2004 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was Paul Tracy as he emerged in his championship run last season: ballsy and controlled at once, nearly flawless. Perhaps more importantly, this year's race was the same old Long Beach. The top three had a familiar look, at least to those who stuck with Champ Car through a tumultuous 2003 season: Tracy over Bruno Junqueira over Sebastien Bourdais.

It is a good bet the podium in Long Beach previewed the 2004 championship battle. Perhaps more importantly for Champ Car, the race had the bearing, and the trappings, that ...

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