Rocketsports Racing Montreal Race Report

ROCKETSPORTS RACING MISS OUT ON A VICTORY WITH GLOCK; HUNTER-REAY FINISHES 12TH IN MONTREALMONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (August 28, 2005) – After starting 11th on the grid in this afternoon’s Molson Indy Montreal, rookie Timo Glock drives the #8 DHL Global Mail Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone home to a second place finish, handing the team its first podium finish of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season and sixth overall in the team three year existence in the Champ Car World Series.By Lap three, Glock had maneuvered his way into the top ten, running ninth, making two great passes.  After the first 12 laps of the race, the #8 team decided they would use a different pit strategy than the leaders.  That strategy was a bit of a gamble and by Lap 20 they were not sure how things were going to pan out as they were hoping for a yellow flag.  Since a yellow flag did not come out, the leaders had been able to run quick laps on hot tires and low fuel, allowing them to make their pit stops and come back out in front.  That is where Glock’s early pit strategy should have gone into play, placing him higher than he was currently sitting at P11.The German came in for a second pit stop on Lap 36 and was sitting in the tenth spot by Lap 41.  Then came the moment the #8 team was waiting for – a yellow flag.  Everyone had to come in for their last pit stops of the afternoon, except for Glock, and it a big relief as the #8 machine was having trouble with fuel economy.  This put the rookie in the lead and spared him the fuel he needed to save to make it to the end.For a rookie leading his first laps in the Champ Car World Series he made two great restarts, pacing the 18-car field for 19 laps.  With nine laps to go, Glock held a .441 second lead over second place Oriol Servia, but Servia had 6 push-to-pass seconds left and Glock had none left.  Servia tried to make an attempt to get around Glock, but Glock held his ground and maintained the lead.  A second attempt was made by Servia six laps later and Glock cut the turn short trying to hold the lead and not loose his momentum.  Then a penalty was assessed from Champ Car Race Control to Glock for driving through the chicane after he obtained a warning for the first incident on Lap 70.  The rookie was told to let Servia by with one lap to go.  "Car No. 2 had tried passing car No. 8 six laps prior to the incident in turn 15.  Car No. 8 shortcut the course to maintain the lead and his team was warned.  On the second incident, car No. 2 was alongside if not in front when car No. 8 shortcut the course to maintain the lead again.  As the team had been warned, positions were reversed.  It was a quick judgment that was made concerning the two drivers who were looking for their first wins.  It was a difficult decision, but it was the correct decision,” an official statement from Tony Cotman, Champ Car Race Director on the incident and ensuing the penalty on Lap 76 to Glock.Glock drove hard that final lap, but there was not enough time to regain the lead and he finished the day in the number two spot.  Glock recorded his best Champ Car finish, and earned a point for leading laps during the race and being the most improved car.  He is only the second rookie to stand on the podium this season and the only rookie to finish in the top ten here in Montreal.  He now leads the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year battle by 27 points with four races left in the season before the title can be determined.  Ryan Hunter-Reay did not have as good of a day after starting 13th on the grid, but did finish today’s race on the lead lap, in one piece, and brought home the #31 Red Paw Systems Inc./Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone in 12th.  Not a tremendous day for the third-year Champ Car driver, but he deserves credit for running a smart, clean race and getting through one of the more difficult weekends this season for the #31 team.Next up for Rocketsports Racing is Round 11 in Las Vegas on September 23-24.  They will have a few weeks off to prepare for the 1.5-mile oval, the second of two oval venues on the 2005 Champ Car World Series schedule.   Quotes
Timo Glock #8 DHL Global Mail/Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“It was a really tough race for me, especially because I had to start from 11th.  I used a lot of 'push to pass' at the beginning to get Nelson Philippe and Jimmy Vasser.  At the end I had two shots left.  When I was leading the race, I saw Oriol behind me.  I know he will try to get me because he was second and third so many times and he wants to win.  That was clear for me. I mean, it's disappointing.  In one way it's disappointing, and on the other way it's a great weekend for us, to be on the podium after all the races without luck.”  Ryan Hunter-Reay #31 Red Paw Systems, Inc./ Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“Things just did not go right for us today.  Congrats to Timo.”Paul Gentilozzi, Rocketsports Team Owner
“We were struggling with fuel economy and were betting on a yellow.  That came out just when we needed it, putting Timo on top.  It was going to be close, but we were going to be able to make it to the end.  There was some great racing out there.  Timo really held his own, and did a great job with restarts.  Oriol was quick, and we knew he was coming, especially with push-to-pass time left and that it was going to be close.  The team really deserves this; they have been working real hard all season.  I knew this kid could drive, and he deserves this – he deserved the win, but Champ Car made a good call and we will take the second place finish.  Today was a day that we took a gamble, and the odds were with us.”