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F2000: Wheldon, Justus Claim Initial F2000 Wins at Charlotte

4 May 1999

Englishman Dan Wheldon and American Aaron Justus claimed victories in spectacular USAC/SCCA Formula 2000 Championship races Friday and Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

Wheldon won the pole for Friday's 30-lap race on the 1.6-mile "modified" oval course but lost the lead to Ian Lacy and Andy Lally during mid-race. He passed Lally on the 18th lap to regain the lead which he never relinquished. Lacy finished second ahead of Lally, Bobby Oergel and T.J. Bell.

Wheldon also led the opening lap of Saturday's race from his outside-front-row starting spot but had to settle for second in his Primus Racing Van Diemen Ford and he leads the series standings going into May 22 and 23 rounds at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Justus emerged from a tremendous duel for the lead in Saturday's race to lead the final eight laps in his Cape/Torco Racing Lubricants/MIR Van Diemen. Following Wheldon in third was Bell. Pole winner Bobby Oergel was fourth and Jonathan Bottoms took fifth. There were 11 "official" starting-line lead changes during the hotly-contested race.

USAC/SCCA FORMULA 2000 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Dan Wheldon 83 6. Mark Dismore, Jr. 41
2. Marc Antoine-Camirand 60 7. T.J. Bell 40
3. Steve Rikert 48 8. Tom Wood 36
4. Aaron Justus 45 9. Ian Lacy 36
5. Bobby Oergel 45 10. Jonathan Bottoms 29

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