Rocketsports Racing Montreal Report - Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Heather Haupt ▪ cell: (517) 927-8472 ▪ e-mail: heatherh@rocketsportsracing.com

RAIN DELAYS ROCKETSPORTS FROM COMPLETING RACE THIS AFTERNOON; RACE POSTPONED UNTIL MONDAY MORNING

MONTREAL, Canada (August 27, 2006) – The Grand Prix of Montreal saw the green flag this afternoon, but only seven laps were run before the weather became too much of an obstacle for the 750-hp Champ Cars as the race is postponed until tomorrow morning.

Despite a slightly wet track, Rocketsports Racing drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Nicky Pastorelli were off to a good start this morning during the 30-minute Warm Up session.  Pizzonia completed nine laps during the session and finished on the timing and scoring chart as the seventh quickest driver.  Pastorelli was able to run 12 laps and finish 14th.

As the pre-race festivities began for this afternoon’s race, there were several threatening clouds in the sky and the winds were roaring.  It started to sprinkle just as the drivers climbed into their cars, but the race went on as scheduled with the green flag dropping on time at 1:47 p.m. local time.  

The 18-car field maneuvered their way through the first turns without any incidents and the race was on its way.  On Lap Three a yellow flag waved indicating an incident involving Katherine Legge.  The race went back to green on Lap Six, but was immediately followed by another yellow flag brought out due to the weather.  On Lap Seven Champ Car Officials decided to display the red flag stopping the race completely as the rain was pouring down and the track collecting an overall bearing amount of water.  The unsafe conditions brought the field into the pit lane, where Pizzonia and Pastorelli parked their cars and climbed out seeking cover.

When both drivers were drying off they both talked about how hard it was to see out there with all the spray and the incoming rain.  They said it was hard to get their tire pressures up and it was quite slippery.  Pizzonia and Pastorelli were relieved to see things came to a halt despite their excitement to race today because it was just too dangerous.

The rain continued to come down steadily over the next three hours and it was finally announced that the race would have to be postponed until tomorrow morning due to the unpredictable and unstoppable rain showers.

The revised schedule for Round 11 of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford includes a 10-minute Warm Up Session tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. EST.  The cars will grid at 9:50 a.m. and the race will begin at 10:00 a.m.  The race will be restarted with six laps completed and 14 minutes, 15 seconds of elapsed time.  Race length remains as 72 laps or two hours, which ever comes first, including the laps and time that was run today.  As soon as the field rolls from the pit lane the seventh lap will be completed as each racecar crosses the timing line.
 

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