'Bittersweet' Cleveland for Clarke.

Dan Clarke endured a bittersweet weekend as the Champ Car World Series after an incident on the penultimate lap prevented the CTE Racing driver from claiming a maiden podium finish.

With confidence high following a sixth place finish a week earlier in Portland - when he battled past former champion Paul Tracy late on - the Briton was looking to increase his lead in the 'Rookie of the Year' standings but headed into the race weekend having only completed limited running at the Burke Lakefront Airport circuit following an engine change early in practice.

Despite his lack of track time, Clarke was second fastest of the rookie runners in qualifying to line up eleventh on the grid for the race - overcoming a number of incidents ahead at the start of the race to jump to fourth place by the end of lap one.

The former F3 racer held the place until the first round of pit-stops, when the field opted for varying strategies. Sitting comfortably in ninth spot in the mid stages of the race, the CTE HVM team worked hard to optimise race strategy, capitalising on safety car periods and stretching fuel economy until Clarke was forced to pit from second in the closing stages of the race for a 'splash and dash' stop.

It left him fifth with 20 laps remaining but when two cars ahead pitted under the final yellow flag, the CTE-HVM man was promoted into a podium place - but right on the tail of second placed Mario Dominguez.

On the penultimate lap, Clarke tried to make a move on the Mexican going into the final corner, but then lost the rear of the car - spinning into Dominguez and putting both drivers out.

It left Clarke classified in seventh place, a result that still saw him extend his rookie lead over Katherine Legge to three points.

"I fought hard throughout the race and had got myself into a podium position, but then the car just got away from me after I'd passed Mario," Clarke said. "I'm sorry that I caught Mario and ended his race as well - it's been a bittersweet experience this weekend, but we take away many positives.

"We know we have strong race pace and are a match for any our rivals and we'll come back to the next race just as strong and in the hunt for another top ten, if not top five, finish. I'm at the top of the 'Rookie of the Year' standings and that's where I aim to stay."