LEXINGTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- The CART series may have a championship race after all.

Patrick Carpentier of Canada took the checkered flag Sunday at the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio for his second victory in the last three races and closed within 27 points of series leader Cristiano da Matta, who finished in 13th after spinning out into the gravel on lap 69.

Just three races ago in Cleveland where Carpentier won, da Matta had a 50-point lead on the rest of the drivers in the field. After failing to finish in his third successive race, the Brazilian remained first in the standings but the title chase may have just opened up with eight races left.

Christian Fittipaldi of Brazil finished second, followed by Michael Andretti, Brazilian Bruno Junqueira and Scott Dixon of New Zealand.

Carpentier had reason to celebrate as he swept the maximum points for winning the pole and leading most laps to score his third career victory in his 100th CART race.

Da Matta won five races this year and has led a series-high 467 laps. But he has never finished better than ninth in four starts at Mid-Ohio.

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