Miller Wins Race One At Mosport
Bowmanville, ONT – 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.
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 then how they qualified and 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.
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.
Pos No. Name Class Laps Total Tm Diff Gap Avg. Speed Best Tm 1 85 Chris Miller F2 18 24:50.291 - - 106.921 1:22.165 2 02 Matthew Inge F2 18 24:50.952 +0.661 +0.661 106.873 1:21.647 3 26 Fabio Orsolon F2 18 24:55.713 +5.422 +4.761 106.533 1:22.269 4 21 Remy Audette F2 18 24:59.126 +8.835 +3.413 106.291 1:22.321 5 10 Benjamin Searcy F2 18 25:04.414 +14.123 +5.288 105.917 1:22.054 6 1 Mikhail Goikberg F2 18 25:15.954 +25.663 +11.540 105.111 1:22.929 7 23 Victor Carbone F2 18 25:16.220 +25.929 +0.266 105.092 1:23.057 8 80 Bobby Caldwell F2 18 25:16.952 +26.661 +0.732 105.042 1:23.074 9 12 Colin Alexander F2 18 25:17.182 +26.891 +0.230 105.026 1:23.102 10 67 Dave Weitzenhof/M F2 18 25:22.506 +32.215 +5.324 104.659 1:23.612 11 22 Jonathan Scarallo F2 18 25:23.594 +33.303 +1.088 104.584 1:23.434 12 70 Tom Fatur/M F2 18 25:23.888 +33.597 +0.294 104.564 1:23.535 13 5 Keith McCrone F2 18 25:24.590 +34.299 +0.702 104.515 1:23.145 14 30 Jerry Szykulski/M F2 18 25:25.358 +35.067 +0.768 104.463 1:23.138 15 7 Brent Gilkes/M F2 18 25:37.743 +47.452 +12.385 103.621 1:23.282 16 90 Robert Wright/M F2 18 25:38.056 +47.765 +0.313 103.600 1:23.391 17 27 Craig Clawson/M F2 18 25:49.321 +59.030 +11.265 102.847 1:24.423 18 51 Dan Denison/M F2 18 26:00.046 +1:09.755 +10.725 102.140 1:25.203 19 96 Alejandro Munoz F2 17 25:05.277 1 Lap 1 Lap 99.975 1:25.621 20 94 Blake Teeter F2 17 25:12.635 +7.358 +7.358 99.489 1:26.136 21 4 Chris Camadella/M F2 15 21:34.981 3 Laps 2 Laps 102.539 1:24.350 DNF 69 Paul Farmer/M F2 7 10:16.481 11 Laps 8 Laps 100.517 1:25.656 DNS 20 Caitlin Johnston F2 0 -.--- - - - -.---