ROOKIE BELL WINS TRANS-AM HOUSTON RACE; GENTILOZZI WINS 2001 CHAMPIONSHIP

For Immediate Release – October 6, 2001
Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup
Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston Race Story


ROOKIE JUSTIN BELL WINS HIS SECOND STRAIGHT TRANS-AM RACE AT TEXACO/HAVOLINE
GRAND PRIX OF HOUSTON

Paul Gentilozzi Wins Third BFGoodrich Tires Cup Drivers Championship

HOUSTON (October 6, 2001) –  Justin Bell (#40 Justin Bell GT Motorsports
Experience Chevy Corvette), the AmeriSuites Rookie of the Year, won his
second straight race and the second race of his Trans-Am career today at the
Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston Trans-Am.  Bell started the race in
sixth place and quickly worked his way up to fourth, then eventually third.
At lap 56 of 60, Bell passed third place Johnny Miller and take over second.
On the second-to-last lap of the race, Bell got by race leader Brian Simo,
who had led laps 14 through 58, and went on to take the checkered flag.  Bad
weather forced the cancellation of qualifying, so the starting order was
based on the current points standings.

“I was behind Brian (Simo) thinking, ‘he’s led almost every lap, and that it
would be rude of me to go by him now on the last lap,’” said the 32-year-old
London, England, resident.  “But then I came around and he got sideways and
that was just enough for me to get by. I made a safe pass and Brian backed
off.  He was commanding the whole race.  On every re-start, he just
disappeared in front of us.”

The 60-lap, 91.62-mile race on the streets of downtown Houston was the 11th
and final round of the 2001 Trans-Am Series for BFGoodrich Tires Cup season.
Paul Gentilozzi (#3 Johnson Controls/HomeLink-Jaguar XKR) was crowned the
Drivers Champion for the third time. Gentilozzi won that honor in 1998 and
1999.

“It’s what every competitor dreams about,” said Gentilozzi on his 2001
title.  “I’ve been blessed with three championships.  The events of the past
few weeks really make you appreciate everything and everyone you’ve got.
Our thoughts are and will always be with all of those that weren’t as
fortunate.”

Gentilozzi started the race in first, but mechanical problems (a failing
differential) dropped him back.  He led the first through 13 laps, but
finished in sixth place.

Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) started the race in third place and
took over the lead on the 14th lap.  He led the race until Bell’s dramatic
pass.  “I ran a little harder in the beginning,” said Simo, “and I didn’t
see anyone else most of the rest of the day.  I kind of got lonely.  The
track was pretty good today and my tires were phenomenal.”

Michael Lewis (#12 AmeriSuites Jaguar XKR) originally finished third, but
was penalized for aggressive driving on the last turn of the last lap when
he bumped Lou Gigliotti (#28 LG Motorsports/G2 Performance Parts-Chevy
Corvette) and he and Tommy Archer (#36 Control Concepts Dodge Viper) slipped
by.  Upon official review following the race, Lewis received his penalty and
dropped to fifth place, allowing Archer to finish third and Gigliotti
fourth.

Johnny Miller (#64 AutomationDirect/Cutler-Hammer-Jaguar XKR) ran up in
front throughout the race but with two laps to go, he slipped from third to
sixth, eventually ran out of gas and finished 10th.  “I ran the last two
laps with the fuel pressure on zero,” he said. “The last lap I think was
sheer willpower.”

Rounding out the top 10 were:  Gentilozzi sixth, Randy Ruhlman seventh,
Leighton Reese eighth, Dan Miller ninth and Johnny Miller 10th.

Houston, Texas – The results from Saturday’s 60-lap, 91.62-mile Trans-Am
Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup race number 11, at Houston, Texas,
temporary street circuit with finishing position, starting position in
parentheses, driver, hometown, laps and reason out.

1. (6), Justin Bell, London, Eng., 60, Running.
2. (3), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 60, Running.
3. (4), Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., 60, Running.
4. (5), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Texas, 60, Running.
5. (7), Mike Lewis, San Diego, Calif., 60, Running.*
6. (1), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 60, Running.
7. (15), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., 60, Running.
8. (9), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., 60, Running.
9. (14), Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., 60, Running.
10. (2), Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 60, Running.
11. (10), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 59, Running.
12. (8), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, 59, Running.
13. (18), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., 59, Running.
14. (20), Claudio Burtin, Atlanta, Ga., 58, Running.
15. (13), Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 58, Running.
16. (17), Paul Fix II, Buffalo, N.Y., 58, Running.
17. (19), John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., 58, Running.
18. (12), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 57, Running.
19. (21), Jerry Simmons, Ancaster Ontario, Can., 51, Running.
20. (24), Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C., 40, Incident.
21. (23), Andre Toennis, Houston, Texas, 38, Not Running.
22. (16), Don Sak, W. Bloomfield , Mich., 34, Not Running.
23. (11), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 11, Mechanical.
24. (22), Tony Ave, Hurley, Wis., 6, Not Running.

*Per Chief Steward #12 Michael Lewis penalized .600 time penalty due to body
contact.