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Trans-Am: Gentilozzi Takes Mid-Ohio Trans-Am

7 June 1999

LEXINGTON, Ohio - Paul Gentilozzi, of Lansing, Mich., scored his 12th career victory with a 1.099-second margin over Brian Simo, of Carlsbad, Calif., in the 45-lap, 101.25-mile BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Gentilozzi, driving the No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Ford Mustang Cobra, started on the pole and led every lap en route to his second straight win on the 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit. Chris Neville, in the No. 84 The Coffee Critic Mustang Cobra, was third, followed by rookie G.J. Mennen, in the No. 4 i.d.m. Research Mustang Cobra, and Dorsey Schroeder, in the No. 47 The Coffee Critic Mustang Cobra.

"I was on a three race hiatus from being fast until today, and I'm glad to be back," said Gentilozzi. "I drove a very hard race, but the yellows helped. Brian tried to run my legs off so I really had to go hard, but after qualifying I knew we had the car to win."

From the start of the 1:16:18.717 race Gentilozzi had control of the 30-car field, twice holding off charges by Simo, in the No. 2 Valvoline Mustang Cobra, as the field was bunched for by two separate incidents that resulted in no injuries.

"I really had no opportunity for a pass - I just couldn't get a run on Paul," said Simo. "He had a very strong car today - I tried to keep the pressure on him, but he simply didn't make any mistakes. Paul was better than me in a few places and I think that I was better than him in a few. But I couldn't quite get up to him."

Behind Gentilozzi and Simo, Mennen made a daring pass for third with three laps remaining, getting by Neville as the duo worked through traffic at turn six. On the final lap Neville regained his podium position with a turn one pass, holding Mennen off to the checkered flag.

"Mennen was getting on the straightaways better than I was, and late in the race he got a better run on me and got by as we worked traffic," said Neville. "I waited until the last lap and got a good run on him and passed going into turn one. My crew has worked too hard on my car all week to finish fourth - I had to get back on the podium and I did everything I could to get back by Mennen."

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