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Unus Alladin

United States pair make the most of their visit to Asia as they put a large chunk of daylight between themselves and their rivals

Scott Speed made it a weekend to remember as he played 'catch me if you can' with his rivals to win the GT Tires Asian Formula Renault Challenge with ridiculous ease.

A star was born at the Shanghai International Circuit as the 21-year-old Californian steered his car to an impressive 7.807-second victory over Colin Fleming, who made it an American one-two finish - and completed an unusual episode for single-seater racing in Asia.

Denmark's Jesper Laursen was a well-beaten third - a massive 24.998 seconds behind the winner, who took the race by the scruff of the neck and refused to let go.

American drivers have hardly made an impact in Asia in single-seater racing, but Speed and Fleming, who were driving in one-off races here, changed all of that as the pair left their rivals in their wake.

Speed wanted to impress in front of the fans and also the Formula 1 teams, competing in one of the support races for the Grand Prix showpiece. And impress he did as he turned in a solid drive around the 5.451 kilometres to signal his arrival in the sport on the mainland.

With the American anthem blaring in the background on the winners' podium following the win, Speed threw his arms in the air and waved his trophy to the delight of his Shangsai FRD GT Tires team. Speed had been quickest in last Friday's practice and Saturday's qualifying session.

Speed stepped on the gas at the start as he quickly jumped into a lead with Fleming hard on his heels. With a huge lead established, Speed eased off towards the end to complete a great weekend's racing.

'When you're that far ahead, there's no need for you to push so hard. I mean, the only laps in which I pushed hard were the first two so that I could get a comfortable lead. After that, I was just trying to drive conservatively and maintain the lead,' said Speed, who hopes to be in Formula 1 in 2006.

'The season is almost over for me. I have another race to compete in the German [F2-2000) Championship and then I will race in Asia again at the Macau Grand Prix in November,' said the American, whose best lap was an ultra-slick two minutes, 6.838 seconds.

Asked what his next move was for next season, Speed said: 'The [inaugural] GP2 series is obviously a very promising option for me next year. But we must wait and see with the Super Renault Series and the GP2 series for how they develop. Two championships will be new this year. GP2 series will replace Formula 3000 and the Super Renault will replace Renault V-6. I am not sure which one I will compete in.

'I'm very happy to have won the race. I really enjoyed coming to Asia for the first time. I like the people and I am glad I was able to win here,' he went on. 'We have a pretty good relationship with Jaguar right now. It's really nice to be able to go there and hang out with the guys and see them again.'

Fleming, 20, said Speed was too good for him, but he was still pleased he was able to finish second to complete America's domination of the race.

'Unfortunately I got passed at the start [by Speed] and it was a battle for second place because he was gone. We didn't have the pace to catch him, but it happens. I am sure he eased off in the end because there was no point trying to push hard,' said Fleming, who is just three points behind points leader Speed in the German Championship.

'We have one more race in the German Championship [in northern Germany near Berlin] and the championship is over. Scott and myself are involved in the championship title race and it's awfully close.  So it will be fun. Then we will go to Macau. But for us, it will be a lot of testing to do. It's up to [their sponsors] Red Bull to see what they want us to do.'

Danish third-place getter Laursen said he was never in the race once the Americans shot to the lead. 'They are very good. They have been driving a lot this year. I have been driving only in the German Championship so I haven't driven as much as them. They have a bit more experience than me,' said the 20-year-old Laursen, who is in 10th place in the German Championship.

'The start was actually OK for me for the first two laps. But then my front tyres were getting too hot and I was lucky to finish the race. The front tyres were completely gone in the end. It was too hot,' said the Dane.



Speed leads American one-two