Oakville Beaver, 13 Jul 2007, p. 40

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40 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2007 Angels hosting annual fastpitch tourney GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER THE OPEN ROAD: Oakville racer James Hinchcliffe rounds a turn during qualifying for last weekend's Champ Car Atlantic series race in Toronto. The 20-year-old was knocked out of Sunday's race during a caution lap, when he was bumped from behind by fellow Canadian Kevin Lacroix. Hinchcliffe still eyeing first Atlantic series win By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While James Hinchcliffe's Champ Car Atlantic championship aspirations may have been washed away in Sunday's rain, the Oakville racer will be putting his foot to the floor as he chases his first win of the season. Hinchcliffe's homecoming came to an abrupt end at the Grand Prix of Toronto race when he was hit from behind by fellow Canadian Kevin Lacroix on the 10th lap of the 28-lap race. Hinchcliffe managed to get back to the pits and his crew spent the remainder of the race trying to repair the damage but were unable to get the car back on the track. "It was one of those accidents that was totally unnecessary," Hinchcliffe said. "If it happens under racing conditions, I can understand it -- you break a little too late and slide -- but this was under caution." Half of the race was spent with the yellow flags waving, as drivers struggled with the slick surfaces after the skies opened up just as the race began. Three cars were knocked out on the opening lap and, when the caution came out on Lap 9, Lacroix drove into the back of Hinchcliffe's car as he slowed behind the pace car. "It was more than a little disappointing," Hinchcliffe said after failing to complete a race for the first time since last year's season finale. "We had a pretty good car and in the wet conditions, if you can keep the mistakes to a minimum, you've got a chance." Even more disappointing was the fact James Hinchcliffe that the early exit dropped Hinchcliffe from second to fourth in the series point race, as race winner Franck Perera passed him and he dropped 40 points back of series leader and teammate Raphael Matos. "With the DNF (did not finish), I think my focus will go from points to outright race wins," said Hinchcliffe, who has seven podium finishes in 20 career starts but just one victory -- last year in Portland. "We've been in contention and it is certainly not through a lack of trying. It's just all these small things keeping us off the top step." Last month, Hinchcliffe won back-to-back poles in Portland. He led the first 23 laps of the opening race, but was passed by Robert Wickens seven laps from the end of the race. In the second race, Hinchcliffe was running second when he passed Lacroix, but race control ruled the caution flag had come out before he completed his pass. Lacroix went on to win while Hinchcliffe finished second. Hinchcliffe has been putting himself in better position to win this year in qualifying. In addition to the two poles in Portland, he has started on the front row in five of the eight races this season since joining the Sierra Sierra Enterprises team. The 20-year-old raced for Forsyth in his rookie season. Forsyth ran a three-car Atlantic team but decided late in the year to cut back to two. With two drivers already under contract, Hinchcliffe was temporarily left without a ride. But it didn't take long to find a new one. See Matos page 42 Three Oakville Angels girls' fastpitch teams will begin their quests for a hometown tournament championship this afternoon. The novice I, novice II and squirt II Angels will all play their first games of the annual Oakville Angels Summer Classic Fastpitch Tournament at 4 p.m. The novice I and squirt II Angels will play at Trafalgar Park, with Oakville's novice II squad taking the field at West Oak Trails. The double-knockout tournament will continue tomorrow and conclude Sunday, with championship games slated for 2:15 p.m. (squirt II) and 4 p.m. (both novice levels). All tournament finals will be played at Trafalgar Park. Among the participating teams will be squads from Halton Hills, Brampton, Barrie, Newmarket, Brampton, Peterborough, Stratford, Guelph, Napanee and Enniskillen. All three Angels squads have hopes of competing in provincial and even national championship tournaments this season. The novice I Angels, in fact, have already qualified for the provincial championships, slated for July 2729 in Guelph. The novice II and squirt II Angels will compete in provincial qualifiers in the next few weeks, with the top four teams at each event advancing to the Ontario championships. 2007 Pre-Election Report on Ontario's Finances For more information about the Pre-Election Report on Ontario's Finances please call 1-800-263-7965 or visit www.ontario.ca/pre-electionreport Paid for by the Government of Ontario

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