KIMBALL COMPLETES SWEEP AT ROAD AMERICA
KIMBALL COMPLETES SWEEP AT ROAD AMERICA ELKHART LAKE, WIS. (August 3, 2003) –Charlie Kimball, of Camarillo, Calif., won Round Eight of the 2003 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship at Road America. Completing the top-three was Lawson Aschenbach, of Gaithersburg, Md. and Westley Barber, of Saffron Walden, England. Mike Rodney, of Lafayette, Colo., won the American Continental Championship class. Under partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures, Barber led the field to the green flag. Going side-by-side down the front straight, Barber maintained the lead ahead of Kimball and Jonathan Bomarito. As the leaders completed the lap, several incidents occurred throughout the course, eliminating four cars from the race. With the safety crews working under localized yellow flags, the top-five ran nose-to-tail in the opening laps. On lap three, Kimball and Bomarito got a good draft on the straight and were able to pass Barber. Working together, the PR1 Motorsports teammates began to build a gap, as a great battle developed for third between Barber, Andrew Prendeville and Aschenbach. Following four consistent fast laps, Bomarito made a small error, which allowed both Barber and Aschenbach to get past. Once past Bomarito, Aschenbach, driving the No. 2 King Automotive/M&M Welding Cape Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, immediately began to pressure Barber. Using the draft on the long Road America straights, Aschenbach passed Barber, in the No. 32 Jacuzzi Cape Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, on lap nine and began to close on Kimball. Despite steadily closing the gap, Aschenbach was never able to challenge for the lead, as Kimball captured his fourth career Zetec Championship win by 4.767 seconds. By winning both rounds of the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America doubleheader, Kimball, driving the No. 91 Rentvillas.com PR1 Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, takes home $10,000 in prize money. “We’re going to celebrate tonight,” said Kimball, who is now third in the championship. “At the start I just tried to settle into a rhythm. Once I got into the lead I ran the most consistent laps I’ve run all weekend and built a gap. After two wins here, I’m really looking forward to Mid-Ohio next weekend.” “I had to pass a lot of people,” said Aschenbach, who is fourth in the championship. “After yesterday’s race and starting eighth, I’ll take a second place finish.” “I’m happy with third,” said Barber, who continues to lead the Zetec Championship. “Battling for position on every lap made for a long race.” “What a terrific weekend,” said Rodney, who won both ACC races at Road America. “I went over a second a lap quicker today, but still had a great battle for the lead all race long with Kyle [Burts].” Completing the top-five was Bomarito, of Monterey, Calif., in the No. 23 Valley Financial PR1 Motorsports Van Diemen Ford and Prendeville, of Morristown, N.J., driving the No. 25 TCW/Valvoline Andersen Walko Racing Van Diemen Ford. ELKHART LAKE, WIS. - Race results from Sunday's Round Eight 12-lap, 48.00-mile race at Road America, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out. 1. (2), Charlie Kimball(R), Camarillo, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 2. (8), Lawson Aschenbach, Gaithersburg, Md., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 3. (1), Westley Barber(R), Saffron Walden/Eng, F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 4. (3), Jonathan Bomarito(R), Monterey, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 5. (5), Andrew Prendeville(R), Morristown, N.J., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 6. (9), Doug Prendeville(R), Morristown, N.J., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 7. (10), James Gue, Alpheretta, Ga., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 8. (18), Jason Byers(R), Livonia, Mich., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 9. (12), Ian Baas(R), Indianapolis, Ind., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 10. (16), Scott Rubenzer, Brookfield, Wis., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 11. (13), Steve Welk(R), Franklin, Wis., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 12. (19), Gerald Kraut(R), North Oaks, Minn., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 13. (17), Steve Thomson, Minnetonka, Minn., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 14. (20), Jerry Szykulski(R), Anoka, Minn., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 15. (22), Mike Rodney(R), Lafayette, Colo., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 12. 16. (23), Kyle Burts, Tomball, Texas, ACC Van Diemen Ford, 12. 17. (24), Dan Bruggeman(R), Minneapolis, Minn., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 12. 18. (25), Al Salvo(R), Arcadia, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 19. (28), Ken Reinders, Brookfield, Wis., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 12. 20. (14), Geoff Fickling(R), San Clemente, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 11. 21. (6), Craig Baltzer(R), Bettendorf, Iowa, F2A Van Diemen Ford, 8, GEARBX. 22. (11), Tonis Kasemets, Mundelein, Ill., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 8, OFF. 23. (27), John Gluckin(R), Commerce City, Colo., ACC Tatuus Ford, 3, MECH. 24. (21), Ira Fierberg, Manhattan Beach, Calif., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 2, THROTL. 25. (4), Chris Festa(R), Atlanta, Ga., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 0, CONTACT. 26. (7), Andy Brumbaugh, Blythewood, S.C., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 0, CONTACT. 27. (26), Chris Carlson(R), Eden Prairie, Minn., ACC Van Diemen Ford, 0, OUT. 28. (15), Adam Pecorari(R), Aston, Pa., F2A Van Diemen Ford, 0, OFF. Time of race: 26 minutes, 52.413 seconds. Average speed: 107.168 mph Margin of victory: 4.7670 seconds Lap leaders: Laps 1-2, #32 Westley Barber(R); laps 3-12, #91 Charlie Kimball(R) Fastest race lap: #9 Tonis Kasemets, 2:12.597 (108.599 mph) Fastest qualifier: #32 Westley Barber(R), 2:12.974 (108.291 mph)