Mears, Johnson out early in Paris race
Heikki Kovalainen of Finland beat world rally champion Sebastien Loeb of France to win the Race of Champions on Saturday.
Kovalainen downed Loeb 2-0 in a best-of-three legs final at Stade de France after overcoming seven-time Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher in an elimination heat.
"I never thought I would be the champion here. It really is a great race and the fans created a super atmosphere," said Kovalainen, the 2004 World Series by Nissan champion.
The Race of Champions, a yearly event since 1988, featured 16 pilots from various motor racing disciplines, including NASCAR, Champ Car and Indy 500 specialists.
NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears, who replaced an ailing Jeff Gordon, were eliminated in the first round.
The Stade de France, home of the French soccer and rugby teams, was covered by a .6-mile asphalt figure-eight track with a crossover bridge.
Heikki Kovalainen of Finland beat world rally champion Sebastien Loeb of France to win the Race of Champions on Saturday.
Kovalainen downed Loeb 2-0 in a best-of-three legs final at Stade de France after overcoming seven-time Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher in an elimination heat.
"I never thought I would be the champion here. It really is a great race and the fans created a super atmosphere," said Kovalainen, the 2004 World Series by Nissan champion.
The Race of Champions, a yearly event since 1988, featured 16 pilots from various motor racing disciplines, including NASCAR, Champ Car and Indy 500 specialists.
NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears, who replaced an ailing Jeff Gordon, were eliminated in the first round.
The Stade de France, home of the French soccer and rugby teams, was covered by a .6-mile asphalt figure-eight track with a crossover bridge.