Rocketsports Racing Australia Report - Sunday

GLOCK WRAPS UP ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR HONORS IN AUSTRALIA; MCDOWELL FINISHES FIRST CHAMP CAR EVENT IN THE 12TH SPOT

SURFERS PARADISE, Australia (October 23, 2005) – With two events left on the 2005 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford schedule, rookie Timo Glock had the chance to wrap up the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year this afternoon, and did so with a six place finish as his new teammate, Michael McDowell, made his Champ Car debut finishing successfully in the twelfth spot.

The green flag dropped this afternoon for the start of the Lexmark Indy 300, and an early incident moved Glock up to the seventh spot after starting tenth on the grid and McDowell up to 13th after starting 16th.  When the track went green again, McDowell found himself out of luck, as the car ahead of him kicked out the tires in the chicanes causing him to hit them and lose his front wing.  He had to make his first pit on lap five, causing him to be off sequence with the rest of the 19-car field.

The second yellow of the day caused a problem for Glock in the #8 DHL Global Mail Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone.  On the restart the German was sitting P5 when he had some troubles heading into Turn Four and lost three positions, moving him back down to eighth with 24 laps to go.  His consistency on track allowed him to move up two positions by the drop of the checkered flag to finish the day in the sixth spot.  

Earning 19 championship points, Glock was able to clinch the 2005 Rookie-of-the-Year title, despite one race left in the season.  The total amount of points that one driver could possibly earn during a race weekend is 35, so Glock had to be 35 points ahead of Ronnie Bremer in order to clinch the title.  He leaves Australia 43 points ahead of Bremer, and will go down in Champ Car history as the 2005 Rookie-of-the-Year.

McDowell’s first Champ Car race may not have produced the results he was hoping for, but was a success none-the-less.  He managed his way around the challenging 2.795-temporary street circuit of Surfers Paradise rather smoothly considering this marked the first time the 20-year-old competed on a temporary street course surface.  He showed he has what it takes to run with the competitive drivers that run in the Champ Car World Series and did so in a very tasteful manner, bring home the #31 Commercial Defeasance Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone 12th , earning nine championship points in his debut.

The Champ Car season finale will take place in two weeks, down in Mexico City, November 4-6.  Glock will be awarded his trophy during the last event for his top-notch accomplishments during his rookie season in Champ Car with Rocketsports Racing.

Quotes
Timo Glock #8 DHL Global Mail/Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“The DHL Global Mail car was good today during the race.  We were still struggling with wheel spin, like we had been all weekend, but other than that it was a top-five car.  I made a mistake after the restart as I headed into Turn Four, locking my brakes up and going wide into the turn, which allowed three cars to get around me and I lost my top-five position.  The Rocketsports team did a great job today, we had two great pit stops and I thank them for that.  That mistake during the restart cost us a top-five finish today, but we will take 6th.  Most importantly, today I earned enough points to wrap up the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year award and that is a great accomplishment, considering there was some tough rookies out there this season to compete against.  I am happy that I can bring this award to the team, and hope to finish the season up on the podium in Mexico City.”

Michael McDowell #31Commercial Defeasance/ Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“Well it was a tough start and a bad break.  (Ronnie) Bremer hit the tires in the chicanes and they were in my way.  There was nothing I could do in time and I hit them, causing my whole front wing to fall off.  We had to pit to get a new front wing, so that threw us off sequence for the race.  The Commercial Defeasance car was not bad this afternoon, but we were experiencing brake malfunctions.  I was catching (Marcus) Marshall towards the end, so we had the speed in the car, but that is when I lost the brakes all together.  Overall, it was a great debut and I am so happy we finished.  Now I look forward to improving our results in Mexico City.”

Paul Gentilozzi, Rocketsports Racing Team Owner
“I am very pleased with our overall results here this weekend in Australia.  Timo and the #8 crew did an outstanding job today, bringing home a sixth place finish and officially earning the Rookie-of-the-Year honors.  Timo definitely deserved that, he is a great driver and I am happy that our team could provide him with a car that could demonstrate what he is capable of.  We are so happy to have him on board with us, it has been a terrific year – we just need to get him the win that he deserves in Mexico to wrap up the season on the highest note!

Michael was just wonderful this weekend.  He went out there, making his first Champ Car start this afternoon, and did a great job.  This whole weekend he demonstrated the speed and ability that he has to be a potential star in this series.  I knew he would do a good job, but I continue to get impressed by him every time he steps in to the car.  It is great to have him on board, and I look forward to seeing what he can do in Mexico City.”