Jimmy Vasser proved he can still win,...

Jimmy Vasser proved he can still win, outdistancing the field in the Houston Grand Prix. But Gil de Ferran gained a measure of control in the still-tight CART championship battle with a third-place finish.

Vasser, the 1996 series champion, pulled away from teammate Juan Montoya at the end and picked up the ninth victory of his career and first since a season-ending win in 1998 at Fontana.

“Finally,” said Vasser, who is looking for a ride for 2001 after being told earlier this season he will not be back with Chip Ganassi’s team. “It’s been a long time. I feel great.

“We’ve been in position to win some races since that last one, but it’s pretty tough when you’ve got Montoya as your teammate.”

Vasser became the 10th different winner in 18 races this season.

The hot day began with 13 drivers mathematically in the running for the championship and the top six only 19 points apart.

De Ferran, who led more than half the 100 laps on the tight 1.527-mile temporary downtown street circuit, lost the lead when he made a late pit stop for a splash of fuel. But the 31-year-old Brazilian still came away with a third-place finish after most of the contenders ran into problems.

He now has a 19-point margin over new runner-up Paul Tracy with races remaining in Australia on Oct. 15 and Fontana on Oct. 29.

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Gary Scelzi of Fresno set an NHRA record with his seventh top fuel victory of the season. Scelzi had a time of 4.672 seconds at 303.64 mph to edge Doug Kalitta, who ran a 4.676 at 303.16, in the final of the $1.9-million Auto Parts Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. Scelzi increased his Winston points lead to 49 over Tony Schumacher.

Yorba Linda’s John Force got his 90th funny car victory, and seventh at Heartland Park, with a 4.933-second run at 291.82 mph.