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SCCA: The Johnson Controls 100 presented by Simple Green Preview

13 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Long Beach, Calif. - April 14-16, 2000

Weekend Quick Facts

Green Flag:
Sunday, April 16, 3:45 p.m. PT (6:45 p.m. ET)

Race Length:
51 laps of the (new configuration) 1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit for 100.47 miles.

Television:
Speedvision Network, tape-delayed coverage, Friday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m (ET). Speedvision rebroadcast, April 22 , 12:00 a.m. (ET), and April 28, 2:00 p.m. (ET).

What to Watch:
Brian Simo (No. 88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) looks to continue his momentum after scoring wins at the first two races of the 2000 season, while Paul Gentilozzi (No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Jaguar XKR) looks for his first win of the season after suffering cut tire troubles at both Sebring and Charlotte. Gentilozzi has won three times at Long Beach, and will be trying for his fourth Long Beach win in four different cars (Mustang Cobra, Corvette and Oldsmobile Cutlass and now Jaguar). Other top contenders include Chris Neville, Lou Gigliotti, Leighton Reese, rookie Jack Willes, Randy Ruhlman, Willy T. Ribbs, Mike Lewis, rookie Jeff Altenburg, Johnny Miller, John Paul Jr. (also a Trans-Am Series rookie) and Stu Hayner.

The first round of the $27,500 Johnson Controls Triple Challenge kicks off at Long Beach. The Johnson Controls Triple Challenge pays $20,000 to the driver who totals the most Drivers Championship points over the three Triple Challenge races (Long Beach, Detroit and Las Vegas), and a bonus of three Drivers Championship pointsa bonus that could decide the Drivers Championship title. The second-place Johnson Controls Triple Challenge finisher will receive a $5,000 cash bonus with the third place Triple Challenge driver receiving a $2,500 prize.

The Simple Green "Clean Up Award," a $2,500 bonus that goes to any driver who "cleans up" at any single race by earning the pole position, posting the fastest race lap, leading the most laps and winning the race. With no "Clean Up" winner at Sebring or Charlotte, the award rolls over and is now worth $7,500 to a driver who "cleans up" at Long Beach.

Text provided by Greg Rubenstein

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.