Look who beat Sebastien Bourdais to the checkered at the Grand Prix of Houston. **

(** as in, I got there before he arrived in Houston! I had a bit of fun putting this photo together.)

Another fun pic at the carousel turn around the Astrodome...

(This one is unretouched, but still misleading. Notice how the lamp posts have the same "bank angle" as the track.)

This photo was taken after my "victory lap":

Stopping to ask for directions...

"When you get to the Astrodome, turn left."

There actually was a blue RX-8 out at the track today that looked somewhat official, decked out with a rack of pace car lights:

Your the wiener!!

I guess I should post an unchopt version of that first pic for those who aren't as into race driver fantasies as I am at times like these.

'

Look who beat Sebastien Bourdais to the checkered at the Grand Prix of Houston. **

(** as in, I got there before he arrived in Houston! I had a bit of fun putting this photo together.)

OMG! That car has no driver! :hahano:

I just noticed there is a guy named Will Power in one of the pictures! :cwm27: :hahano: :mdrmed:

Look who beat Sebastien Bourdais to the checkered at the Grand Prix of Houston. **

(** as in, I got there before he arrived in Houston! I had a bit of fun putting this photo together.)
This seems to be the only way anyone can beat Sebastian Bourdais lately! hahaha

I've gotta give you props for sneaking in early to take pics!

nice finish line pic ;)

Hey... who's the real Will Power?? hahaha

Hey... who's the real Will Power?? hahaha

hahaha....Im the real "Will Pwr"....but he is the real "Will Power" ;)

Will PWR is just a Chinese Knock Off...hahaha

Will PWR is just a Chinese Knock Off...hahaha

Ok...Mr Rota Wheels....dont make me start the rumor that your wheels are really Rotas! hahahahahha

shut up man!!!! don't say anything, I've got the whole forum fooled! Heck your the one that put on the volk stickers..hahaha

What a weekend! I'd have to say that it was the biggest weekend of my life. I got to go for a spin for some hot laps in the pace car. Got to hang out with Paul Newman, Karl Haas, Sebastien Bourdais and his wife (as of ~1 week ago) Claire. Sitting in the pits next to Paul Newman with him telling me war stories. Hanging out with Paul Tracy, Katherine Legge and the rest. Whoa. A dream come true.

...and did I mention hanging out with the Grid Chicks? Pinch me.

Ok, here's a photo of that RX-8 pace car after they decaled it:

My 8 posing next to it...

(Astrodome backdrop)

...and posing next to the Ford GT pace car:

Here I'm going for an artistic shot with the Star Mazda rotaries...

I've posted some other Grand Prix of Houston pics over on these threads:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1367951&posted=1
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1367963

You should have brought the bbs's off that pace car home with you.

...or just "trade cars" straight up!

Sounds like you had a great time HIX8! I look forward the Long Beach Grand Prix every year! :)

That was one hell of a Champ Car race!!! Even though I was pulling for Paul Tracy, Sebastien Bourdais racing through the field to win had to be one of his best drives I've seen. That guy is awesome! :ylsuper: Hopefully, next year the track will be a little less bumpy...

Hopefully, next year the track will be a little less bumpy...Not all of the bumps around the track are undesirable. For instance...

'

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Now this one needs a bit of explaining. My cellphone has a dreadfully long shutter lag in autofocus. I had this picture perfectly framed, but later when I looked to see how it came out I found this...

Ok, after having thoroughly objectified the female form, here is one more photo from that glorious weekend to transition back to the topic of cars (http:///#)...