Minor to P1 in Pittsburgh
Wampum, PA – The inaugural visit for the F2000 Championship Series at Pittsburgh International Race Complex saw Tim Minor at the top of the time sheets over three Friday sessions. Minor led the way with a lap of 56.33 around the 1.6-mile road course in the final practice session of the day, pacing close rivals Sam Beasley and Thomas McGregor.
The Championship points leader said he broke up the day’s three practice sessions, segmenting the track into three parts and concentrating on one part at a time over each 25-minute free practice. And by the end of the day, that plan worked with the No. 88 Ski Motorsports entry on the top of the time sheets on the bumpy course.
Polestar’s Beasley checked in for fastest in session two, and second quick on the day with a lap of 56.471 in the No. 44 Van Diemen, while McGregor turned in a 56.718 for third quick in the No. 93 Spectrum, just a few ticks ahead of Skylar Robinson’s No. 6, at 56.779, in fourth.
"We've got a good car for qualifying," said Beasley. "There are a couple big straights for passing. There won't be any worries if we start the race in the first two rows but I want to be on the pole."
Local driver Trent Walko, in only his second-ever pro weekend in F2000, was fifth fastest on the day with a lap of 56.791 in the No. 91 RFR.
David Grant was quickest of all in the Spectrum in the morning’s opening session, but that time was quickly moved down the sheets as the track rubbered in, making him sixth fastest on Friday.
Driving the No. 1 Momentum Motorsports Van Diemen, Quinlan Lall was seventh, ahead of Kevin Kopp, Jim Libecco and Steve Bamford. Libecco was experimenting, however, changing out wing assemblies on his No. 98 Van Diemen between sessions for different aero packages.
In his Series debut, youngster Jonathan Teixeira continually improved through the day in the Momentum RFR, setting his fastest time in session three, 16th on the time sheets and right on the gearbox of Series veteran Bob Wright.
Many drivers were talking about the start of this weekend’s twin races, with a wide straight funneling into an extremely narrow and quick turn one, before the track opens up again with noted passing zones into turn five and at the end of the long back stretch.
All drivers will be on fresh new Hoosier rubber for Saturday morning's 10:30am qualifying session followed by a 3:30pm race. Sunday features a 10:35am qualifying session and 2:50 race as the weekend completes rounds nine and 10 of the 2014 season, comprised of 14 races and seven double-header race weekends.
Full results are available on www.f2000series.com under the results tab.