TRANS AM: Gentilozzi Dominates Motor City 100 Presented By Johnson Controls

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 17, 2001

Scores Third Career Win In Detroit

Detroit -- Paul Gentilozzi (#3 Johnson Controls HomeLink XKR) dominated the field this afternoon to score his second consecutive win this season in the Motor City 100 presented by Johnson Controls. For Gentilozzi, the win is his third in the past four years on the Belle Isle Raceway. Gentilozzi, who started from the pole, led the race from flag-to-flag. In addition to the victory, he was the winner of the BFGoodrich Tires Take Control Award and the Simple Green Clean-Up Award. The Clean-Up Award is given to the Trans-Am Series competitor who wins the pole, wins the race, leads the most laps and posts the fastest race lap.

Brian Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) finished second and Gentilozzi ’s teammate Johnny Miller (#64 Automationdirect EATON Cutler Hammer Jaguar XKR) finished third to complete the podium.

The victory comes on the back of Gentilozzi’s win in round three of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup on May 20 at Mosport International Raceway. Gentilozzi is now tied for third on the All-Time Trans-Am Series list with Bob Tullius with 21 victories. He is now the Series’ All-Time leader in top-10 finishes with 108.

“I love it here. I come here with a lot of enthusiasm and many years I’ve left here with a lot of heartbreak,” said Gentilozzi. “Today was absolutely the hardest race I’ve ever run here. Brian was glued to me and it was very difficult trying to distance him. We both ran as hard as we could every single lap and that almost never happens. This is exactly what Trans-Am racing is all about - guns blazing, no slack and a great show.”

Simo, the defending BFGoodrich Tires Cup champion, closed on Gentilozzi late in the race. He managed to get alongside of the Jaguar XKR, but was unable to complete the pass. “We were good on the restarts and Paul was better on the longer runs and we had a lot of longer runs,” said Simo. “I tried to take advantage on the restarts and he wasn’t going to have any part of it. Then the car went real loose and I had to get out it just a wee bit. We didn’t have a challenge there at the end.”

Miller, the points leader in the race for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, was well back of the first two finishers. Miller held off a spirited challenge from Tomy Drissi (#15 TDM Motorsports Jaguar XKR) and Michael Lewis (#12 AmeriSuites Jaguar XKR) throughout the afternoon.

Miller continues to lead the points chase for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup with 103 points. Gentilozzi ranks second with 101 and is followed by Lou Gigliotti, 95; Simo, 91; Tommy Archer, 82; Lewis, 71; Justin Bell, 69; Boris Said, 63; Bob Ruman, 54 and Drissi, 48. Bell leads the AmeriSuites Rookie of the Year standings. He was also the winner of the MSD Ignitions Hard Charger Award for the most improvement from qualifying to race finish by coming from 20th to finish seventh.

Today’s race will be televised on a taped-delay basis by CBS Sports tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 p.m. (EDT). The broadcast will be the Trans-Am Series first appearance on network television and is one of three races to be broadcast by CBS. In two weeks, the Trans-Am Series 100 presented by Simple Green will be aired by CBS on a taped-delay basis. The Wine Country 100 (Sears Point Raceway) will be broadcast live on July 21.

1. (1), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 42, Running.
2. (3), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 42, Running.
3. (9), Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 42, Running.
4. (4), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 42, Running.
5. (7), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., 42, Running.
6. (10), G.J. Mennen, Austin, Tx., 42, Running.
7. (17), Justin Bell, London, Eng, 42, Running.
8. (11), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Tex., 42, Running.
9. (6), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Mn., 42, Running.
10. (13), Paul D. Fix, Buffalo, N.Y., 42, Running.
11. (9), Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 42, Running.
12. (15), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 42, Running.
13. (18), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 42, Running.
14. (22), John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., 42, Running.
15. (28), Kevin Allen, Orlando, Fla., 42, Running.
16. (19), Craig Shafer, Somerset, Pa., 42, Running.
17. (23), Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., 41, Running.
18. (14), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., 39, Running.
19. (36), Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., 37, Running.
20. (12), Don Sak, Bloomfield, Mich., 36, Running.
21. (20), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Oh., 31, Mechanical.
22. (5), Boris Said III, Carlsbad, Calif., 30, Mechanical.
23. (16), Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C., 27, Mechanical.
24. (26), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., 24, Mechanical.
25. (25), Joe Freda, Auburb, Al., 16, Mechanical.
26. (21), Claudio Burtin, Atlanta, Ga., 6, Mechanical.
27. (27), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., 5, Mechanical.
28. (24), Richard La Barbera, Hillsborough, N.J., 3, Mechanical.

Text provided by David Lang

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