TRANS AM: Lou Gigliotti Picks Up Second Career Victory

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 9, 2001

Long Beach, Calif. -- Lou Gigliotti (#28 LG Motorsports G2 Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) picked up his second career Trans-Am Series victory this afternoon in the Johnson Controls 100 presented by Simple Green. Gigliotti’s last Trans-Am Series victory was in 1998 at Lime Rock Park. Johnny Miller (#64 Automationdirect Cutler Hammer EATON Jaguar XKR) finished second and Michael Lewis (#12 AmeriSuites Jaguar XKR) finished third to complete the podium.

Gigliotti moved into first place midway through lap 30 when Brian Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) briefly spun off course. Simo never regained his momentum and was not a factor. From that point, Gigliotti held off each and every challenge that Miller posted to pick up the victory.

“I have got a good team,” said Gigliotti. “We’re not a rich team, but I have my son to help me. My team works very hard, we start early in the morning and finish very late at night.”

“I felt like I was back in the Speedvision World Challenge again this afternoon,” continued Gigliotti. “We won 19 races in World Challenge and you get used to running up front. I have been humiliated in Trans-Am for three years. This is our fourth year and we are very excited about the way that we ran at Sebring. We’re used to winning, but coming into Trans-Am, these guys are tough. You have to fight for every inch. Johnny challenged me, but I managed to hold him off. It was a very clean race.”

“Lou had been hounding me,” said Miller. I rolled around the hairpin and missed a shift. Lou was able to pass me good and clean. I Just couldn’t get him back. I tried to slow and cool my tires and I was able to get close. But getting close and passing are two different things. Second still feels pretty good.”

Polesitter Paul Gentilozzi (#3 Johnson Controls HomeLink Jaguar XKR) suffered a broken front end and crashed into the tire wall midway through lap eight. He later returned to the race, but finished a disappointing 23rd.

Unofficial points following the second round: Miller, 54; Gigliotti, 52; Kenny Wilden and Tommy Archer, 44; Simo, 43; Boris Said, 41; Lewis, 39; Justin Bell, 38; Gentilozzi, 33; Bob Ruman, 32.

Round three of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup will be held on May 20 at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Long Beach, California -- The provisional qualifying positions for Sunday's -lap, 0 mile Trans Am Series for the BF Goodrich Cup Round Number Round Two, at Long Beach, with starting position, driver, hometown and fast lap with speed.

1. Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 1:22.871, 85.579.
2. Boris Said III, Carlsbad, Calif., 1:23.031, 85.414.
3. Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 1:23.350, 85.087.
4. Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., 1:23.517, 84.917.
5. Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 1:23.946, 84.483.
6. Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., 1:24.059, 84.369.
7. Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Tex., 1:24.225, 84.203.
8. Kenny Wilden, Oakville, Ont.Canada, 1:24.230, 84.198.
9. Justin Bell, London, Eng, 1:24.543, 83.886.
10. Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 1:24.660, 83.770.
11. Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., 1:24.902, 83.532.
12. Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 1:25.112, 83.326.
13. Don Sak, W. Bloomfield , Mich., 1:25.214, 83.226.
14. Paul D. Fix, Buffalo, N.Y., 1:25.225, 83.215.
15. Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1:25.426, 83.019.
16. Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., 1:25.784, 82.673.
17. Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Oh., 1:25.874, 82.586.
18. Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 1:25.888, 82.573.
19. Claudio Burtin, Cartersville, Ga., 1:26.313, 82.166.
20. Tom Coleman, Asheville, N.C., 1:26.381, 82.101.
21. Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 1:26.481, 82.006.
22. Peter Shea, Newport Beach, Calif., 1:26.496, 81.992.
23. Tom Miller, Sherwood, Ore., 1:26.582, 81.911.
24. Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., 1:27.159, 81.369.
25. G.J. Mennen, Austin, Tx., 1:27.731, 80.838.
26. Kevin Allen, Bowling Green, Ky., 1:27.735, 80.834.
27. Frank Cioppettini, Far Hills, N.J., 1:30.647, 78.238.
29. Gary Longo, Chicago, Ill., 1:26.973, 81.543.

Text provided by David Lang

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery
.