ASCHENBACH CAPTURES WIN AT LIME ROCK IN THE RAIN
LAKEVILLE, CONN. (May 26, 2003) –Lawson Aschenbach, of Gaithersburg, Md., won Round Four of the 2003 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship at Lime Rock Park. Completing the top-three was Westley Barber, of Saffron Walden, England and Jonathan Bomarito, of Monterey, Calif. Douglas Kniffin, of Syosset, N.Y., won the American Continental Championship class. Following the standard day off at Lime Rock, the Zetec Championship returned to the track Monday, to complete the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader. Having captured the pole position earlier in the day on a very wet track, Aschenbach led the field to the green in heavy rain. At the start, the field went three-wide into turn one, with Aschenbach holding the lead. With clear visibility, Aschenbach, driving the No. 2 King Automotive/M&M Welding Cape Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, quickly set about building his lead over Barber and Craig Baltzer. Following three laps of green flag racing, a full-course was displayed for Doug Prendeville spinning on course. On the lap 7 restart, Aschenbach got a great jump maintaining his lead, while the rest of the drivers dealt with extremely reduced visibility. Driving in the difficult condition, the leaders remained unchanged until the halfway point of the race, when Baltzer hit the tire wall, bringing out the second full-course caution of the race. On the restart, two cars went off-course, forcing another full-course caution. On the final restart of the race, Barber, racing the No. 3 Cape Motorsport Van Diemen Ford, pressured Aschenbach, but was unable to make the pass for the lead. Behind the lead duo, Bomarito began to close on third place Andrew Prendeville. On the final lap, A. Prendeville got loose in turn one, allowing Bomarito, in the No. 23 Valley Financial PR1 Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, to make the pass. Running unchallenged at the checkered flag, Aschenbach captured his third career win, first in 2003, by 9.258 seconds. "I'm really happy to win my first race of the season," said Aschenbach, who has won all his races from the pole position. "Being out front certainly helped, especially on the starts. The guys gave me great car and I'm looking forward to the next race." "The only chance I had to pass was on the starts," said Barber, who maintains the championship lead following the doubleheader. "With the visibility being so poor, I just focused on keeping the car on track and scoring points." "It was a crazy race," said Bomarito, who moves into second in the championship following the doubleheader. "Given the conditions, I'm extremely pleased about finishing second and leaving Lime Rock second in the championship." "It was just anarchy at the start," said Kniffin. "I spun going down the hill, but managed to keep it off the guard rail." Completing the top-five was A. Prendeville, of Morristown, N.J., driving the No. 25 TCW/Valvoline Andersen Walko Racing Van Diemen Ford and Matthew McDonough, of West Newbury, Mass., in the No. 6 TASC Technical Services GTP Engineering Van Diemen Ford, who started 14th. - 30 - LAKEVILLE, CONN. - Race results from Monday's 29-lap, 44.37-mile race at Lime Rock Park, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out. 1. (1), Lawson Aschenbach, Gaithersburg, Md., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 2. (2), Westley Barber(R), Saffron Walden/Eng, F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 3. (5), Jonathan Bomarito(R), Monterey, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 4. (4), Andrew Prendeville(R), Morristown, N.J., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 5. (14), Matt McDonough, West Newbury, Mass., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 6. (15), Andy Brumbaugh, Blythewood, S.C., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 7. (9), Adam Pecorari(R), Aston, Pa., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 8. (11), James Gue, Alpheretta, Ga., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 29. 9. (26), Dustin Hodges, St Charles, Mo., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 28. 10. (16), Douglas Kniffin(R), Syosset, N.Y., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 28. 11. (20), Andy Chu, Beltsville, Md., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 28. 12. (19), Chris Dona(R), Sandown, N.H., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 28. 13. (17), Doug Smith, Plantation, Fla., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 28. 14. (18), Erick Hansen(R), Grayslake, Ill., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 28. 15. (8), Tonis Kasemets, Mundelein, Ill., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 26, OFF. 16. (12), Chris Festa(R), Atlanta, Ga., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 19, CONTACT. 17. (7), Steve Welk(R), Franklin, Wis., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 18, CONTACT. 18. (13), Ira Fierberg, Manhattan Beach, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 15, SUSPENSION. 19. (3), Craig Baltzer(R), Bettendorf, Iowa, F2A Van Diemen Ford, 13, CONTACT. 20. (6), Doug Prendeville(R), Morristown, N.J., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 1, OFF. 21. (23), John Levy(R), Newton, Mass., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. 22. (22), Bob Wright, Old Chatham, N.Y., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. 23. (10), Charlie Kimball(R), Camarillo, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 0, ELECTRICAL. 24. (25), Alan D. Guibord(R), Bedford, N.H., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. 25. (21), Mark Cruz, Landing, N.J., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. 26. (24), Alan R. Guibord(R), Southport, Conn., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. Time of race: 41 minutes, 25.881 seconds. Average speed: 64.255 mph Margin of victory: 9.2580 seconds Lap leaders: Laps 1-29, #2 Lawson Aschenbach Fastest race lap: #2 Lawson Aschenbach, 1:05.634 (83.919 mph) Fastest qualifier: #2 Lawson Aschenbach, 1:07.092 (82.096 mph)