CART: PacWest Racing Teams has problems in England

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 25, 2001

Race recap: It was a bad day for the PacWest team as both drivers suffered problems in the pits. Scott Dixon pitted for the first time on lap 53 under yellow flag conditions after a spin by Jourdain Jr. During the stop, the fueler had difficulty plugging into the car and Scott lost seven spots on the grid as a result of his extra-long stop. Dixon was later hit from behind under yellow flag conditions on lap 103 and sustained a bent tailpipe, which messed up the cars alignment. He came into the pits for repair, but to no avail. His race was over. Mauricio struggled with a loose car early, but his crew fixed the problem during his first pit stop. As the race wore on, Mauricio lost laps to the leader and then got caught with a pit speed violation around lap 104. He was given a black flag drive through penalty for the infraction. On his in-lap, he was caught again driving through pit lane too fast and was penalized a second time. He eventually went five-laps down and ! finished the race P20.

MAURICIO GUGELMIN - # 17 NEXTEL PACWEST TOYOTA

Starting position: 24th Finishing position: 20th Laps: 135

"My car was really loose early on so we lowered the tire pressures during my first stop and that seemed to fix the problem," said Gugelmin. "Starting at the back of the grid is pretty tough and you find yourself fighting like crazy to avoid going a lap down. When that happens, your race is pretty much over. We did get the lap back eventually when we stayed out during a late yellow, but we didn't get any more yellow's to keep us on the lead lap. The two pit speed violations were my fault. CART moved the speed limit sign and I was looking in the wrong place for my speed and came in too fast. I got busted and paid the price."

SCOTT DIXON - # 18 NEXTEL POWERWARE PANASONIC PACWEST TOYOTA

Starting position: 5th Finishing position: 22nd Laps: 106

"I easily had a top four or five car today," said Dixon. "We struggled with the fuel on my first stop and it really hurt us. Even though we fell back seven spots, I still think we could have fought our way back up until I was hit from behind under yellow conditions on lap 103. I don't know what happened, but Servia hit me for some reason and ended my day. Immediately, my cars alignment was screwed up and my tailpipe was bent. That was it. A terrible end to a tough two-weeks in Europe."

Text provided by Tom Hollett

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