Hearn Podiums With Jaskol, Puts Three in Top-15 at Sebring

 

SEBRING, Fla., March 18, 2005 - Hearn Motorsports brought three entries
to the Star Mazda Series North American Championship season-opening
round at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway today. It was the largest
stable of the open wheel, formula cars that IndyCar standout Richie
Hearn (Las Vegas, Nev.) has entered since starting his team one season
ago. The effort paid off with Star Mazda rookie Matt Jaskol (Las Vegas)
earning his firs Series' podium, a second-place, and the team's third
podium in the series. Overall, Hearn's signature yellow and blue helmet
logo was carried on three cars in the top-13 of the 42 car field. The
event also marked the first time that Hearn Motorsports had swept a row
in qualifying as Jaskol earned the third starting spot and CR Crews III
(Dallas, Tex.) joined him on the outside of the second row in fourth.
This was the first visit to Sebring for the Hearn Motorsports
organization having started the 2004 season at the Series' second event.


 

Richie Hearn: "This definitely feels good. It is always nice to get the
first race out of the way. All three guys did a great job out there
today and I hope this bodes well for the future. We came here with a lot
to show and I think we proved that, just like last year, we can put
competitive and fast cars on the track. All three of our cars finished
on the lead lap and all three finished in the top part of the field.
Matt set the fastest lap of the race which was almost a second faster
than we practiced. Brian went out and earned ten spots and CR had a
rear-suspension problem that kept him from getting as high of a finish
as he could have. Overall, I think it was a great weekend for Hearn
Motorsports and I am really proud of our crew."

 

No. 70, Matt Jaskol - Jaskol Motorsports/ Hearn Motorsports Mazda,
qualified: 3rd, finished: 2nd - Matt Jaskol made a strong debut in the
Star Mazda Series for Hearn. The 20 year-old karting and formula car ace
was regularly quick in practice. He earned the third starting spot for
the 20 lap race courtesy of a practice lap of two minutes, 1.021 seconds
after qualifying was rained-out. He was blocked early in the event and,
once clear of the blocking car, began to close on the leader who had
used that time to gain a substantial lead. While the gap was too great
to overcome, Jaskol showed the No. 70 was up to the challenge by setting
the fastest race lap, 2:00.786, six laps from the finish. 

 

Richie Hearn: "Matt did a great job. We had a pretty easy going week; he
didn't have any problems. I wished we could have qualified because I
think we could have qualified on the front row. I think that would have
made a difference in the race because we got blocked a little at the
beginning and by the time Matt got around the car, Rafa (Matos) had
gapped him. But that's just racing and we survived it and got some
second-place points. If we can continue with Matt, I think he can give
Rafa a run for the championship. Maybe, with my experience I can help
give him a little edge."

 

Matt Jaskol: "The start was a little hairy. I think we were five-wide at
one point in turn-one. We fell back to about fourth but went right away
back into third. I was getting blocked pretty good and at this place it
is so easy to get a gap. Matos got a pretty good lead and when I got
around the second-place car, it was just Matos and I. We started
inching-up on him and we even got the fastest lap but there just wasn't
enough time left by then. It looks good for the future to get on the
podium but a win would have looked better. Now maybe we can get a
sponsor on the side of the car and chase Matos for the championship. I
want to thank Hearn Motorsports for putting this together at the last
minute and giving me the opportunity to race. It was a lot of fun."

 

No. 10, CR Crews III -  qualified: 4th, finished: 11th - The second-year
Star Mazda driver joined Hearn Motorsports less than two-weeks ago.
However, the 16 year-old, who missed this race in 2004 because he was
too young to compete in the Series at age 15, quickly acclimated himself
to the tight-knit team. Running quick-times in practice, Crews set the
fourth fastest time of the week, to that point, in the No. 10. With the
cancellation of qualifying, Crews started along side Hearn Motorsports
teammate Matt Jaskol. The two never battled as was expected as a rear
suspension problem slowed the Dallas, Tex. native. However, Crews
adapted to the handling issue and began to fight his way back through
the field after dropping several positions. He would finish 11th on the
lead lap. 

 

Richie Hearn: "CR started fourth but fell back early. That was a little
disappointing because I know he could have run better if the suspension
hadn't broken. But, he did a terrific job of overcoming that and working
his way back up through the field. He is a serious talent for someone so
young and he fit in very well with the team. I think he is a great
addition to Hearn Motorsports."

 

CR Crews III - "We had an incredible practice, qualifying fourth but we
broke something in the rear suspension. That put us backwards in the
race. It was pretty disappointing because I think we had a pretty good
chance at winning. But, that is just racing and that stuff happens. I
hope we get to do it again with the Hearn guys. They did a great job."

 

No. 77, Brian Thienes - Thienes Engineering Mazda, qualified: 23rd,
finished: 13th - Brian Thienes, the only driver on the team with prior
experience working with Hearn Motorsports, had difficulty in practice
finding speed in his No. 77 Thienes Engineering entry. However, he saved
his best for last. Thienes showed well on race day earning an impressive
ten spots in an event with little attrition within the top-20 cars. His
13th place finish, on the lead lap, gave Hearn Motorsports three cars in
the top-15 of the race. 

 

Richie Hearn: "Brian had some problems in practice and that qualified
him pretty far back. He had a great race starting 23rd and finishing
13th. No one was crashing-out so he was making those passes. I think he
is pretty happy and I'm really pleased with that performance."

 

Brian Thienes: "I actually tried to help engineer the car and I made a
lot of bad decisions that put us back in 23rd. I told Richie 'you do
whatever you want to the car and I'll drive it' and he gave me an
awesome race car. It was so perfect I couldn't believe it. I was able to
just drive around people. I had a perfect setup and perfect car. Richie
is a class act and I can't believe what a great car he gave me. I think
this proves I can run closer to the front. I need to qualify a little
better but moving up from 23rd to 13th proved why I am here."

 

For more on Hearn Motorsports and its 2005 Pro Formula Mazda Series'
effort please visit  <http://www.hearnmotorsports.com/>
www.richiehearn.com. For more on Matt Jaskol please visit
<http://www.mattjaskol.com/> www.mattjaskol.com. More on Brian Thienes
can be found at  <http://www.thienesengineering.com/>
www.thienesengineering.com .