Robinson on Top in Friday Practice for Championship Weekend

October 11, 2014
Skylar Robinson was out front in practice at Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen, NY – With the Championship in his sights, 18-year-old Georgia native Skylar Robinson ran under the existing F2000 Championship Series track record (set in 2011) in free practice ahead of the Championship-deciding rounds 13 and 14 this weekend at Watkins Glen International, with a slim margin over his rival Tim Minor. In other big news, Minor received a penalty during practice that will impact his qualifying position for race one on Saturday.

The majority of the F2000 field also competed here in May for rounds three and four of the season, where Minor swept the weekend with a pair of victories. This time it's another doubleheader to close the 14-race 2014 season.

Robinson's morning time checked in at 1:51.782, ahead of Championship points leader Minor, and then it was Tim Paul, Sam Beasley, Sergio Pasian in a trio of Van Diemens.

Added Robinson: “It was a good start to the weekend, coming here for a second time is pretty beneficial, I have more confidence in myself. I know the track better and the car better.”

Positions six through ten were comprised of David Grant, John McCusker, Thomas McGregor, Quinlan Lall and Tom Fatur.

In the afternoon Minor fired back on a much hotter race track, running the fastest time at 1:51.812 in the No. 88 Ski Motorsports machine. Minor bested Beasley in that session, with Robinson, Pasian and Paul following. Completing the top ten were McGregor, McCusker, David Grant, Kevin Kopp and Austin McCusker – with the latter McCusker making his Series debut in the Dotworks Racing RFR. F2000 newcomer Zacharie Robichon was 11th.

The afternoon practice session saw stoppage time for Quinlan Lall, who found himself in the tire barrier in turn one early in the 30-minute practice. For bringing the session to a stop, the Momentum Motorsports driver will lose his fastest two laps in Saturday qualifying as a penalty.

That incident played a huge role though as three drivers will suffer penalties for blowing the black flag signaling the stoppage of the session, including Championship points leader Tim Minor – who will lose two grid positions for Saturday’s race.

Minor, however, can still earn pole and three bonus points, but would have to start third per the penalty. The other two drivers that will receive the same treatment are Jim Libecco and Dave Weitzenhof.

Despite being on the initial event entry list John LaRue and his Citation that has seen significant aero development are not at Watkins Glen this weekend.

Full results are available on www.F2000Series.com under the Results tab.

The season moves toward the final round with both Saturday and Sunday offering a 11:00am qualifying session and 3:30pm race, rounds 13 and 14 of the 2014 season to end this year’s Championship.

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