POTEKHEN CAPTURES FIRST WIN AT SEBRING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POTEKHEN CAPTURES FIRST WIN AT SEBRING

	SEBRING, FLA. (September 29, 2001)–Mike Potekhen, of Phoenix, Ariz., won
Round Twelve of the U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by
Speedvision at Sebring International Raceway. Jason LaPoint, of Woodburn,
Ore. and Piero Rodarte, of Mexico City, Mexico, completed the top-three.
Ricardo Imery, of Caracas, Venezuela, won the ACC class.
	Under threatening clouds and humid conditions race one of the season-finale
doubleheader got underway. At the start of the race the field went four cars
wide into turn one of the 1.85-mile road course. By turn seven, polesitter
Rodarte had established a eight-car length advantage on second place. As
Rodarte braked for turn nine, at the end of the long back straight, his rear
brakes locked up and he spun off course. The spin gave No. 6 Tonis Kasemets
the lead. Kasemets maintained the lead until a full-course caution, on lap
two for No. 81 Carl Russo and No. 85 Travis Irving off course in turn two.
On the ensuing restart, Potekhen, who had moved up to second after starting
fourth, and Kasemets went side-by-side down the front straight. Potekhen,
driving the No. 87 P.D.R./Twinseasons.com Van Diemen Ford, took the lead
entering turn one. Once past Kasemets, Potekhen began to pull away. On lap
12, Potekhen lost the three-second he had built up when a full-course
caution was displayed for Kasermets and No. 69 Billy Asaro making contact
while trying to avoid No. 33 Tom Dyer who spun at the end of the back
straight. On the lap 17 restart, Potekhen got a great jump and was never
challenged for the lead. At the checkered flag, Potekhen had won his first
career race by a margin of 5.667 seconds.
	“This feels great,” said Potekhen, who lead 12 of the 20 laps. “Right from
the green flag I knew I had a good car. As the race progressed things came
my way. Once I got the lead I just put my head down and drove hard. I’m
starting a little better tomorrow and hopefully I can make it two for two
here at Sebring.”
	With the National Championship at stake, LaPoint wanted to drive a strong
race, but drive smart. At the start, LaPoint in the No. 87 Infinity
Motorsports/Regency Aviation/TrackMagic Van Diemen Ford, got caught out and
fell back to fifth. Having had no time on a dry track LaPoint worked on the
car’s handling in the early stages of the race, maintaining his position. On
lap 11, the three cars directly in front of him were all involved in an
incident. Avoiding becoming involved, LaPoint moved into second place. On
the ensuing reatrt following the full-course caution, LaPoint was unable to
challenge for the lead, finishing second. This is the fifth consecutive
podium finish for LaPoint, and combined with Asaro’s accident gives LaPoint
a 18 point lead in the championship (214-196) going into the season-finale
race on Sunday.
	“I think I got lucky today,” said LaPoint, who won the last Round at
Mid-Ohio. “This was my first session in the dry and my car wasn’t as quick
as some of the other cars out there today. I was driving hard and when I saw
Billy [Asaro] I knew I had to try and win to score maximum points. I just
didn’t have anything for Mike [Potekhen].”
	At the start of the race Rodarte looked to have the field covered. He got a
great start and had a sizeable lead on the back straight. As he braked for
turn nine he spun and went off course. Rodarte, driving the No. 55
Telmex/Sico Van Diemen Ford, rejoined in 20th place. Using the car that had
captured the pole, Rodarte immediately began working his way back to the
front. By the halfway mark of the 20-lap race, Rodarte was in 11th place.
During the final three laps of the race he moved up from fifth to third with
some spectacular passes. For his great drive Rodarte was awarded the Pi
Research Hard Charger award.
	“That was a wild race,” said Rodarte. “When I got to back straight braking
zone on the first lap I lost my reference point and went off. I knew I had a
good car so I pushed for the rest of the race, and try to make the best of
things. That was probably my best race ever.”
	Entering his first U.S. F2000 race, Imery had modest expectations art the
start of the weekend. Following a heavy crash in qualifying for race two
late in the day, he was unsure he’d be even racing. With a car that the crew
had just finished fixing prior to the green flag, Imery fell back three
spots at the start. Driving the No. 9 Cavenas/Venezlolana de Ascensores Van
Diemen Ford, Imery quickly recovered moving into 14th place by lap 10. The
remainder of the race Imery battled numerous cars for position, finishing
12th at the checkered, to win the ACC class in his first-ever race.
	“This is a good way to start my U.S. F2000 career,” said Imery. “To be
honest after the crash in qualifying I didn’t think I’d be racing or
challenging for the class lead if I did run. The first few laps I was just
wanted to make the sure car was right and then I started pushing. Hopefully
tomorrow I can run a little higher and get another win.”
	Completing the top-five was Doug Bell, of St. Alban’s, England and Memo
Rojas, of Mexico City, Mexico. Alexander Figge, of Aspen, Colo., was awarded
the Truechoice Drive of The Day award for his strong drive to 11th place.
Scott Rubenzer, of Brookfield, Wis., was awarded the Taylor Engineering
“Shark” award, after he moved up six positions in the race.

SEBRING, FLA. – Race results for the 20 lap, 37.00-mile Round Twelve race at
Sebring International Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in
parenthesis, driver, hometown, class, car, laps completed and reason out if
any.

1. (4), Mike Potekhen(R), Phoenix, Ariz., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20.
2. (2), Jason LaPoint(R), Woodburn, Ore., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -5.667.
3. (1), Piero Rodarte, Mexico City, Mexico, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -6.152.
4. (9), Doug Bell(R), St. Albans, England, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -6.535.
5. (8), Memo Rojas, Mexico City, Mexico, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -6.579.
6. (11), Alexander Figge(R), Aspen, Colo., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -7.387.
7. (14), Bryan Sellers, Chardon, Ohio, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -7.826.
8. (7), Arie Luyendyk Jr., Den Bosch, Holland, F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -10.289.
9. (12), Matt Green(R), Jacksonville, Fla., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -10.569.
10. (13), Ross Fonferko, Wheaton, Ill., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -11.207.
11. (19), Peter Gray(R), Aberdeen, Scotland, F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -11.679.
12. (17), Ricardo Imery, Caracas, Venezuela, ACCVan Diemen Ford,
20, -12.404.
13. (10), Arnold Brinkmann, Quito, Ecuador, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -12.462.
14. (15), Sean McIntosh(R), Coquitlan, B.C., F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -13.308.
15. (21), Scott Rubenzer, Brookfield, Wis., ACCCarbir     Ford, 20, -14.093.
16. (24), Anthony Massari, Miami, Fla., ACCVan Diemen Ford, 20, -16.458.
17. (20), Robbie Mott, Venice, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -25.823.
18. (23), Billy Hagar(R), Tuttle, Okla., ACCVan Diemen Ford, 20, -26.862.
19. (22), Ken Dromm, Seminole, Fla., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 19, -1 laps.
20. (5), Tom Dyer(R), San Rafael, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 18, -2 laps.
21. (6), Billy Asaro, Markham, Ont., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 10, -10 laps.
22. (3), Tonis Kasemets(R), Mundelein, Ill., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 10, -10
laps.
23. (25), JW Urlin, London, Ont., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 4, Mech.
24. (16), Carl Russo, Ft. Collins, Colo., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 3, Contact.
25. (18), Travis Irving(R), Chino Hills, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 3,
Contact.

Time of race: 37 minutes, 18.070 seconds.
Average speed: 59.515 mph
Margin of victory: 5.6669 seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-8, #6 Tonis Kasemets(R)
                     laps 9-20, #87 Mike Potekhen(R)
Fastest race lap: #87 Mike Potekhen(R), 1:09.721 (95.523 mph)

Allan Craighead
Director of Public Relations
U.S. F2000 National Championship
P.O Box 11024
87 Fairfield Rd.
Fairfield, NJ  07004
(973) 575-2626
(303) 883-8521 Cell
www.usf2000.com