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ATLANTICS: Wheldon celebrates victorious debut weekend

27 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Dan Wheldon, the 21-year old English driver - who won the US Formula Ford 2000 Championship last season at his first attempt - scorched to victory in Saturday's opening round of the 2000 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship, held in support of the FedEx CART Championship Series, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

In Sunday's second Championship round, Wheldon started from pole position in his PPI Motorsports Jayhard/BG Products Swift Toyota and, despite dropping six places at the start and struggling with handling problems due to left front tyre contact damage, skilfully climbed back to lead the race until the last lap when the more experienced Buddy Rice robbed him of the first place and a double victory.

Wheldon commented: 'I had so much understeer on the first lap, I really had to work hard to keep the car under me. It was very close a few times.

'The team has been incredible and now we are just looking forward - and focusing on winning as many races as possible.'

Wheldon's impressive debut puts him in a strong second place in the series until the next race - at Long Beach on Saturday 15th April.

Text provided by Kimberley Gee

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