As Will Power was decisively winning the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Danica Patrick -- who made history hours earlier with her own victory in Japan -- arrived in Long Beach to see the closing laps Sunday.
And when the race ended, the two drivers embodied how the long-sought reunification of U.S. open-wheel auto racing had finally taken full effect.
The Long Beach race was the last event sanctioned by the Champ Car World Series, which was recently absorbed into the Indy Racing League after a 12-year civil war between the circuits.
But the series temporarily split one last time -- with races in Long Beach and Japan -- because of prior scheduling commitments.
Patrick, 26, won the Indy Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi track to become the first woman to win a major U.S.-sanctioned open-wheel race.
She won in her 50th start with a fuel strategy that enabled her Andretti Green Racing car to stay on the track at the finish while other leaders had to pit for fuel.
Then, in Long Beach, Power dominated the 20-car field and the 27-year-old Australian closed Champ Car's books with his third series win.
Rookie Franck Montagny was second, five seconds behind Power, and Mario Dominguez was third in the timed race of 1 hour 45 minutes. Power led 81 of the 83 laps.
"It just all fell together; it was just a relaxing race," Power said.
"We had a really good car, good pit strategy and we were very quick," he said. "I feel really happy . . . to win the last Champ Car race."
Power and several other former Champ Car drivers have joined the IRL's IndyCar Series to race against Patrick, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and others, and the Long Beach race will be on the IndyCar calendar starting next year.
"I'm really happy to be coming back to Long Beach; it's such a great event," Patrick said at a news conference after Sunday's race.
Patrick shot to stardom three years ago by nearly winning the Indianapolis 500 in her rookie year. But as her winless streak grew longer, she was constantly dogged about when she would finally reach Victory Lane.
"I'm really glad I don't have to answer that" anymore, she said. "I wish it could have happened a long time ago, but I'm not going to argue with the program.
"Dreams really do come true. You just have to be persistent enough. I'm definitely a persistent one."
