ANDERSEN AND KIMBALL CAPTURE WINS AT SCCA JUNE SPRINTS

	ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (June 24, 2002) – This past weekend Mike Andersen, of
Green Pond, N.J. and Charlie Kimball, of Camarillo, Calif., won the Formula
Continental and Formula Ford races respectively at the 47th running of the
prestigious SCCA Kohler/Chicago Region June Sprints.
	In the Formula Continental Challenge race, sponsored by Avon Tyres, Carl
Haas Automobile Imports, Elan Motorsports Technologies, Primus Racing and
Van Diemen International, fans were treated to one of the most entertaining
races in recent memory. At the start of the 13-lap race, 40 cars took the
green flag, going three-abreast down the front straightaway. In a pre-cursor
to the remainder of the race, a great battle for the lead developed between
Andersen, Andrew Prendeville, Steve Thomsen and Doug Prendeville.
Unfortunately, the battle was short lived, as the race was brief stopped
following an accident. On the restart, some twenty minutes later, the battle
for position and the lead quickly resumed. While dealing with slower cars,
Andersen and Andrew Prendeville built a small gap on the rest of the field.
Racing side-by-side around the 4.048-mile Road America road course, the duo
swapped the lead positions various times. In the closing stages of the race,
both Thomsen and Doug Prendeville closed on the lead duo, while continuing
to battle for the final podium position. At the checkered flag, Andersen,
driving the No. 9 Valvoline/Goodyear Kish/Andersen Racing Van Diemen Ford,
had captured his first June Sprints win, 0.425 seconds ahead of Andrew
Prendeville, of Morristown, N.J. and Doug Prendeville, of Morristown, N.J.
All three drivers on the podium race in the SCCA Northeast Division and live
in Morris County, N.J. For finishing on the podium and running a Van Diemen
with Avon Tyres, Andrew Prendeville received $1000 in product certificates,
while Doug Prendeville received $500 in product certificates.
	“This was probably the most fun I’ve had in a race in years,” said Mike
Andersen, who captured the National Championship last year, winning the SCCA
Valvoline Runoffs.  “It was a great battle with Andrew [Prendeville], with
everyone racing clean.”
	The Formula Ford race, also sponsored by Avon Tyres, Carl Haas Automobile
Imports, Elan Motorsports Technologies, Primus Racing and Van Diemen
International, featured some stellar driving. Like the Formula Continental
race, the start of the Formula Ford race had the field going three-abreast
down the front straightaway into turn. In turn one, the polesitter Kimball
tried to maintain the inside position, but spun midway through the corner
and went off course. Rejoining in 13th place, Kimball was well behind John
LaRue, who had the lead ahead of Jason Byers and Mike Sauce. As the race
progressed, LaRue, of Muncie, Ind., steadily built a gap on Byers and Sauce,
while Kimball worked his way back up through the field. By lap 6, Kimball,
driving for Fresno, California-based PR1 Motorsports, was up to third place,
though still eight seconds behind the leader LaRue. The following lap, a
full-course caution was displayed, bunching the field back together. On the
ensuing restart Kimball passed Byers, of Livonia, Mich., to move into second
place and began battling LaRue for the lead. With two laps remaining,
Kimball passed LaRue for the lead. For the remainder of the race, Kimball in
the No. 19 Kimball Race Engineering PR1 Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, held of
numerous challenges from LaRue to win his first-ever June Sprints.
	Avon Tyres, Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Elan Motorsports Technologies,
Primus Racing, Van Diemen International and the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec
Championship continue its support of SCCA Club Racing, with a contingency
program at the world-renowned Valvoline Runoffs in September. The Formula
Continental class race winner will receive a check for $3000, while second
place will receive $1000 in product certificates and third place will
receive $500 in product certificates. In the Formula Ford class, the winner
will receive a check for $1000 cash, while second and third will get product
certificates of $500 and $300 respectively. In order to qualify for these
contingency awards, he or she must be driving a Van Diemen chassis with Avon
tires. If the race winner is using Dynamic Suspensions dampers, a further
$1000 will be awarded.
 	In addition to the contingency prizes, Avon Tyres, Carl Haas Automobile
Imports, Elan Motorsports Technologies, Primus Racing, Van Diemen
International and the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship will once again
host a party prior to the Valvoline Runoffs the party on Thursday, September
19, along the Mid-Ohio Boulevard. All Formula Ford, Formula Mazda, Formula
Atlantic, Formula Continental, Spec Racer Ford, Sports 2000, C Sports Racer
and D Sports Racer drivers and crew are cordially invited to attend.