Guy Cosmo Weekend Wrap-Up
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: johnt@c2group.com Guy Cosmo Completes His Double Header Weekend With A Sixth Place Finish At Phoenix Phoenix, Ariz. - Guy Cosmo wrapped up his successful two-race weekend Saturday night with a 6th place finish driving the #19 Playboy Uniden Daytona Prototype car in the GAINSCO Grand Prix at Phoenix International Raceway. He began his weekend with a 2nd place finish at the Houston Lone Star Grand Prix driving the #8 B-K Motorsport, Road & Track, Kumho Mazda. Sharing the driving duties in Phoenix with Michael McDowell, Guy started the race in sixth based on Friday night's qualifying race. "I had a decent start but was a bit trapped on the outside row through turn 1 and 2, and lost a spot or two as we headed into turn three," said Cosmo. "I muscled my way back into line and settled into a race pace looking to regain my positions. The racing was just flat- out intense. Once everyone got sorted it was an all-out dog fight for position. We were all running nose-to-tail just ripping through the GT traffic, taking any advantage to get by using the traffic to your benefit." "All was going well," Cosmo continued, "when suddenly, heading into turn 5, the motor shut off. I flipped the ignition switch a few times and checked the pit speed limiter button, but got no response - all the while I nearly came to a stop at the exit of turn 6. Finally, I was able to cycle the master switch and got it fired up again." When the full course caution came out on lap 34, the #19 Playboy Uniden car was in 12th. The team again relied on an early pit stop strategy getting the driver change out of the way and picking up track position for Cosmo's co-driver, Michael McDowell. McDowell also had the motor shut off but Guy's earlier experience had prepared him. Flipping the master switch had him underway at once and he lost very little time. "Everything went great for us from that point on," added Cosmo. "Mike was running a strong 3rd after the other teams had cycled through their pit stops. Unfortunately, while racing through traffic and trying to catch the #12 car for 2nd, Mike got a little nudge from a GT Porsche in a turn causing contact with the #12 and spinning both cars. The nose of our car got damaged but Mike kept going, as did the #12. The incident dropped us back to 6th and that's where we finished." "As for the weekend as a whole," reflected Cosmo, "it was a great logistic and physical challenge to compete in two major races. And again, I have to thank both B-K Motorsports and Playboy Racing for being so accommodating and helping me fulfill my role in both programs. It was a very successful weekend on all accounts including my physical condition. It's amazing how much adrenaline can overcome the lack of sleep! I'm very fortunate to be participating in two great programs. To participate with both on the same weekend was really something special." The #19 Playboy Uniden car will run next in the Grand American Series 'Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen', at the historic Watkins Glen International Circuit, New York, 2nd-3rd June. Cosmo and the B-K Motorsports team will compete in the next round of the American Le Mans Series is the American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio, set for noon EDT on May 21 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It will be broadcast on CBS Sports at 1 p.m. EDT May 21, the second of five straight races on the network. Qualifying is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EDT on May 20. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA Live Timing & Scoring will be available at www.americanlemans.com. Guy Cosmo's extensive background with open-wheel formula cars and sports prototypes has earned him a reputation as one of the most successful and versatile young racing drivers in North America. The 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year ranks among the top- level road racers in the world. He has earned overall racing titles and major successes in many disciplines including karting, Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Star Mazda, Toyota Atlantic, Grand American and American Le Mans. You can learn more about Guy Cosmo at www.guycosmo.com. Photos available here: http://gallery.johnthawley.com/albums/albup70/ aac.jpg or http://gallery.johnthawley.com/albums/albup70/aai.jpg Please credit John Thawley ________________________________________________________ John Thawley ~ Creative Communications Group ~ 248.356.5699
