RYAN Lewis finished Sunday s Toronto Champ Car Atlantic race in third place after a fantastic fight-back from 14th place on the grid. The Royston-based driver was racing on a street course for the first time and in the dying minutes of the morning warm-

RYAN Lewis finished Sunday's Toronto Champ Car Atlantic race in third place after a fantastic fight-back from 14th place on the grid.

The Royston-based driver was racing on a street course for the first time and in the dying minutes of the morning warm-up session he learned what happens when you go off on such a track.

His car suffered suspension damage but the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing team did an amazing job of putting it all back together with about a minute to go before the start of the race.

The Toronto race has a standing start which is something that Lewis is used to and he gained five places by the first corner.

Incidents for other drivers and some determined overtaking by Lewis saw him come through in an incredible second place at the end of lap one.

He was unable to hold off the challenge from Jonathan Bomarito for second at half-distance as he was wrestling with an unhappy car but Lewis cruised home to a podium finish, his second in just four US races.

"The standing start helped me because of the experience I've had in Europe," said Lewis.

"I think I jumped about four or five people at the start then, when a lot of people got together at the first corner, I managed to see a gap on the inside and sneak through.

"The same thing happened at turn three - it gave me an opportunity. It was a bit of a nightmare, in one respect, after I stuffed the car into the wall this morning. The guys at Mi-Jack Conquest did a great job putting it back together, but it definitely wasn't right.

"There was no rear roll bar on the car, so it had a lot of push. Jonathan Bomarito was really quick and it was hard to keep pace with him.

"This was my first time on a street course and it wasn't as intimidating as I though it would be. It's taught me that I make lots of little mistakes and there's a very small margin for error here. I've learned a lot.