Auto Racing: Hinchcliffe takes 2nd twice in Portland

Minden-based Sierra Sierra Enterprises took over the top two spots in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Series season standings last weekend after a month-long hiatus.

The team's No. 2 driver, James Hinchcliffe, took second twice in a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader in Portland while top-driver Rafael Matos recovered from an early slip to take fourth on day one and took sixth on day two.

Thanks to his three-race sweep to open the season, Matos retained series lead with 140 overall points and Hinchcliffe moved up to No. 2 overall at 123 points.

Hinchcliffe was the top qualifier Friday and held a sizeable lead through the first 24 laps Saturday before eventual winner Robert Wickens passed him up.

The second-place finish was Hinchcliffe's best since joining up with Sierra Sierra this year.

Matos spun on turn five during the opening lap, falling all the way back to 11th after qualifying second.

"It was interesting," Hinchcliffe told champcaratlantic.com. "It was kind of tough for us because the first laps we were running in the rain and were under a green flag in a race.

"Everybody had to play a little cautious. Rafa (Matos) decided not to do that as much as the rest of us, which is kind of to our benefit, because he was pretty quick. I didn't have the greatest start. I fell back a few places but managed to pick them off. I led at the restart and we had a really good car.

"The Sierra Sierra guys - I mean, wet, dry, hot, cold, street circuit, road circuit -they just give me fantastic equipment."

He managed to put together a strong charge and finish fourth.

Hinchcliffe also claimed the pole position for race two and led the first five laps before settling for second place. It was his third podium finish in as many races.

Sierra Sierra gets the week off before heading to Cleveland for a race June 24.