August 25, 2001

Raceday Notes And Quotes From Mid-ohio

Johnny got hung up in traffic today and was able to manage a 6th place finish in the Mid-Ohio Trans-Am 100. He commented, “The car wasn’t bad, it was just that there was no place I could make a pass stick today. Our lap times were quicker than all the other cars that finished ahead of us except for Paul. I just couldn’t get past Leighton (Reese). At one point, Leighton brake-checked me and I tagged him. I’d get beside him in the brake zone but then he would turn in. I probably raced too clean today. It seemed like I was blocked everywhere on the track. We still have the championship point standings to think about. We did pick up six points on Brian (Simo) today after he had a 12th place finish. In some ways, that is as important as a podium finish. “

Paul Gentilozzi won the race in run-away fashion. He lead from start to finish and was never really challenged. Justin Bell took 2nd, followed by Boris Said, Leighton Reese, Mike Lewis, then Johnny.

The unofficial points race is as follows…Paul 252, Johnny 219, Brian Simo 199, Tommy Archer 176, Michael Lewis 168. Paul can wrap up the driver’s championship at the next race by finishing ahead of Johnny. The team won the manufacturers Championship for Jaguar this weekend. The Rocketsports #64 team leads in the Owner’s Championship followed by the Rocketsports #3 team.

Next up is Laguna Seca in two weeks for a live Speedvision race including a fueling pit stop.