FAST NEWS Compiled by Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
Sprint Carts
F2000: Miller Wins Race One At Mosport
Chris Miller got around Remy Audette on the start and never looked back, winning the fifth race of the 2009 F2000 season and his second of the year. As the race developed, Matthew Inge moved into second and cut Miller's lead to virtually nothing in a matter of laps, but Miller was able to hang on by just a couple tenths at the end to take the first race at Mosport.
“I passed Audette on the start going into one,” said Miller, who moves into second in the points, tied with Inge. “I knew the car would be good early and we had to get a gap. I knew Inge was coming at the end but our lead was so big he wasn't a problem. Thanks to JDC and Miller Milling for all their support.”
Matthew Inge managed to get around Audette halfway through the race going into turn eight, and then clocked fastest lap of the race as he cut Miller's lead by two seconds in just three laps and finished just tenths behind his fellow American.
“I got around Audette going into turn eight,” explained Inge, who drives for St. Clair Motorsports. “We were side by side and I had the line so there was nothing he could do. From then I just put my head down and tried to catch Chris (Miler). If we had a couple more laps we would have had him. I think everyone is going to have the radar gun on us tomorrow.”
Fabio Orsolon recorded his best ever F2000 finish, coming home in third. The rookie started sixth and managed to get by a few cars and then get around Audette.
Orsolon said : “I was at 100% the entire race. The leaders were flying and I was able to get by some cars, it was a good run. I have to thank my team, Alegra Motorsports, for giving me a good car.”
Audette held on for fourth with Benjamin Searcy fifth. Mikhail Goikberg followed in sixth place in his first ever F2000 race, driving for Brian Graham Racing.
Victor Carbone, Fabio Orsolon's teammate, started tenth and finished seventh. Carbone commented, “It was a tough race with lots of battling on track. I had some understeer developing in the car near the end but I was able to hang on.”
Alegra Motorsports F2000 crew chief Tony Ditto was impressed with both his drivers. “I'm extremely happy,” said Ditto. “Both guys stepped up their game. We knew they were better compared with how they qualified but they proved it. It's the first time on the podium for me as a crew chief and with Fabio third and Victor seventh, we are very happy today."
Seven time SCCA National Champion Dave Weitzenhof wheeled his Citation chassis home in tenth, moving up four spots from his starting position, to win the Masters division.
The championship battle is heating up. Audette's points lead is down to 11 points over Inge, who gets two points for fast lap, and Miller, who both have 195 points compared to Audette's 206. Searcy sits another 31 points back in fourth. Fabio Orsolon and Tom Fatur are tied for sixth another 68 points back. Caitlin Johnston sits eighth, another 14 points back with Group A teammates, Jonathan Scarallo and Colin Alexander rounding out the top ten.
Caitlin Johnston did not make the start as damage from her hard crash in turn five during morning qualifying could not be repaired in time. The Z-Sports team is hoping to have the car ready for tomorrow's 9am qualifying session.
F2000
F2000: Matthew Inge Wins At Mosport
Matthew Inge passed Chris Miller on the outside going into turn eight with two laps to go at Mosport and held on to take his first F2000 win. Inge, driving for St. Clair Motorsports, narrowly missed out on a win at VIR and finished second in yesterday's race and has been a front-runner all season.
“I passed Chris (Miller) with two laps to go,” said the American, who had never seen Mosport until Friday morning and moves into the points lead. "From there I just put m head down and told myself there was no way Chris was getting by. I was waiting for him to make a mistake the entire race but he never did."
Miller, driving for JDC MotorSports, takes home three extra points for starting on pole and won yesterday's race. “I knew he was just waiting to make his move,” commented Miller.”I'll take second, it was a good weekend for us and the team and a very good race today, Inge made a very good move on the outside going into eight.”
Brazilian rookie Fabio Orsolon logged his second straight third place finish for Alegra Motorsports with Audette pressuring him almost the entire race. “Remy (Audette) was all over me,” said Orsolon. “It's good to be on the podium again and I have to take Alegra for the good car they gave me.”
Opening lap contact between Dave Weitzenhof and Colin Alexander saw both competitors eliminated, meanwhile Jonathan Scarallo spun due to contact with Caitlin Johnston and stalled coming onto the pit-straight, bringing out a full course caution.
Coming to the restart green Fabio Orsolon checked up, causing Remy Audette to drive straight into Orsolon's gearbox. Both cars were fine but Audette was forced to hold off a very hard charging Victor Carbone for the rest of the race. Audette finished fourth with Carbone bettering his best ever F2000 finish to round out the top five in race two at Mosport.
Benjamin Searcy, Bobby Caldwell, Tom Fatur, Keith McCrone and Robert Wright followed in positions six-ten.
As the race developed, Miller and Inge left Orsolon and the rest of the field behind, with Inge eventually getting past Miller for the win and setting fast lap of the race on the way.
Tom Fatur wins the Masters class, coming home in eighth position. “I saw Weitzenhof go off” said Fatur. “After that I knew I had to go for it.”
Mikhail Goikberg, in just his second ever F2000 start, finished an impressive 12th after starting 23th.
Local favorite Caitlin Johnston, who didn't race yesterday due to a large shunt during qualifying, was forced to retire from today's race with front wing damage while running in eighth.
With the season half complete, the championship points battling is turning into a three-horse race. Matthew Inge leads the points coming off his first win by just seven markers over Chris Miller and Remy Audette, who are tied for second.
The series next heads to Watkins Glen with the Indy Cars on July 4th weekend.
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