PReview of Dorricott Racing at Chicago
TOYOTA ATLANTIC LEADER JON FOGARTY PREPS FOR CHICAGO
ALEX GURNEY CHASING FIRST ATLANTIC RACE WIN
CAN DIAZ WIN TWO IN A ROW?
CHICAGO, Ill. (June 29, 2002) - The 2002 Toyota Atlantic
Championship has reached its midway point and no single driver has a clear
advantage. However, the same can't be said among its teams unless one
wishes to discount that three of the top-six points leaders headed for
Chicago Motor Speedway's Atlantic race this Sunday, June 30, happen to
drive for Dorricott Racing.
The 70-lap/72.03-mile Atlantic race around Chicago Motor Speedway's
1.029-mile oval will be round six of the 12-race series and is scheduled to
begin at 12:00 p.m. CT. This will be the third Toyota Atlantic appearance
at Chicago since 1999, and it is the featured support event for the CART
Grand Prix of Chicago later that day.
The points breakdown is simple but what it means at this stage of
the season is anyone's guess. Because of finishing third place at Portland
in round five, Jon Fogarty, of Portola Valley, Calif., holds the series
lead by two points over Michael Valiante, 61-59. In the only other oval
race of the this Atlantic season, Fogarty and Dorricott Racing struggled
most of the weekend in Milwaukee, but salvaged a fifth place finish.
"I'm looking forward to our second oval of the season," said
Fogarty. "Although the two tracks are quite different, I think the
information we gained from the last one at Milwaukee will allow us to be
closer to the front. Still I am certain it will be a challenge as I have
never driven Chicago Motor Speedway, nor has the team been there with the
Toyota Atlantic car. It becomes more uncertain due to limited track time,
but I know Dorricott racing will prepare a very good car, making my job of
learning the track much easier."
Seven drivers are within range of Fogarty and can leave Chicago
with the Championship lead. The top-ten are separated by a mere 23 points.
Among those on Fogarty's tail are teammates Luis Diaz, of Mexico, and Alex
Gurney, of Newport Beach, Calif., who lurk in fifth and sixth place with 50
and 49 points, respectively. Diaz's big break came through his victory at
Portland.
"Now that things are going better for me I feel very confident
about the Chicago race," said Diaz. "The main thing we have to do is
carefully think about our set-up changes because we have only two days to
get the job done. Chicago Motor Speedway is a very difficult track to drive
because the corners are tight and the steep banking doesn't help much."
Gurney turned in Dorricott Racing's best performance on the
Milwaukee oval with a fourth place finish.
"The championship battle is wide-open so it will be important for
us to continue to score good points," said Gurney. "We had a very good car
at the last oval in Milwaukee so I expect more of the same in Chicago.
Dorricott Racing has good momentum and we plan to keep the pressure up!"
pee Channel will provide a same day delayed telecast of the
Toyota Atlantic Championship from Chicago Motor Speedway at 9:00 p.m. ET
(6:00 p.m. PT), Sunday, June 30. Check http://www.toyotaatlantic.com for
updated information.
Dorricott Racing is a year-round professional motorsports
organization with its race shop located in Bakersfield, Calif. Detailed
race results, team, and sponsor information are available on Dorricott
Racing's official web site, http://www.dorricottracing.com.