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Hattori Wins PPG-Dayton-Indy Lights Opener

15 March 1998

By Terry Callahan
The Auto Channel

HOMESTEAD, FL: Shigeaki Hattori, of Japan, won the opening round of the PPG Dayton Indy Lights series at Homestead, FL. Hattori led laps 4 through 67 of the event. He crossed the finish line 0.46 seconds ahead of Cristiano da Matta, of Brazil. Hattori started from the second position. He gained 20 points for his winning effort. Driving on Dayton tires, Hattori had an average race speed of 114.825 mph.

Complete finishing order follows with finishing position, (starting position), driver, home country, laps completed, reason out (if any).

1. (2) Shigeaki Hattori, Japan, 67, 114.825 mph.
2. (4) Cristiano da Matta, Brazil, 67.
3. (7) Guy Smith, England, 67.
4. (6) Oriol Servia, Spain, 67.
5. (9) Chris Simmons, E. Granby, Conn., 67.
6. (19) Paul Morris, Australia, 67.
7. (16) Derek Higgins, Ireland, 67.
8. (23) Rodolfo Lavin, Mexico, 67.
9. (18) Geoff Boss, Narragansett, R.I., 67.
10. (13) Casey Mears, Bakersfield, Calif., 67.
11. (15) Philipp Peter, Monaco, 66.
12. (5) Brian Cunningham, Lexington, Ky., 66.
13. (20) Andy Boss, Narragansett, R.I., 66.
14. (12) Didier Andre, France, 63, fuel.
15. (21) Mattias Andersson, Sweden, 54, transmission.
16. (17) Jorge Goeters, Mexico, 34, contact.
17. (14) Airton Dare, Brazil, 34, contact.
18. (10) Naoki Hattori, Japan, 34, contact.
19. (11) Felipe Giaffone, Brazil, 34, contact.
20. (8) Mike Borkowski, Dublin, Ohio, 34, contact.
21. (1) Sergio Paese, Brazil, 28, contact.
22. (22) Luiz Garcia Jr, Brazil, 28, wheel bearing.
23. (3) Clint Mears, Bakersfield, Calif., dns, contact.
24. (24) Tony Renna, Deland, Fla., dns, contact.