SCCA: Archer avenges Charlotte problems, wins Mosport Speedvision GT
21 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
CANADABobby Archer, of Ft. Worth, Texas, avenged his mechanical difficulties in the Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship season opener by winning Round Two at Mosport International Raceway. Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, and David Schardt, of Dayton, Ohio, completed the top-three.
Defending series champion Archer, who finished 30th at the March 30 season-opener at Lowe's Motor Speedway, started second for the 50-minute timed event, and took the lead from polesitter Peter Cunningham on lap two. Despite challenges from both Schardt and Galati, Archer held on to a 1.650 second win in the No. 32 IQuest/Viper Speed Dodge Viper GTS, averaging 79.077 mph.
"I'm very pleased about the win," said Archer, who sits fifth on the all-time wins' list, with eight. "We were really confident that we would win here, and it's great to do it with a new sponsor in IQuest. I drove my butt off today. I drove every lap like it was a qualifying lap. This is a great series. You can't win every race, so you have to drive to get points when you don't win."
Driving the brand new No. 9 Champion Audi S4 Competition, Galati started third, and utilized the car's all-wheel drive to get power off of corners. The final third of the race, Galati feverishly held off Schardt's No. 94 Hikari Racing/Wheel Source Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to record the Audi's best-ever finish.
"All the restarts were great," said Galati. "Having that four wheel drive really helps. I had a good run on Bobby on the one, but that new pit wall ruined any chance I had. We really had nothing for Bobby today, but the more I drive the car, the more comfortable I become."
Schardt also redeemed a disappointing first round, in which a crash took him out of third on the last lap. His Porsche seemed to have more power than the Audi going up the back straightaway, but he couldn't get by in the late stages of the race, settling for third.
The car was really great at the start," said Schardt. "As the race went on, it went away. I wasn't nearly as comfortable as it was at Charlotte. The car likes to be really stiff and track conditions here wouldn't allow us to run it as stiff as we wanted. We're happy with third though."
Jeff McMillin, of Erie, Pa., moved from 10th on the grid to fourth, earning the Borla Performance Award for the drive of the day. Cunningham, of W. Bend, Wis., finished fifth.
The race was slowed by two cautions for eight laps. No drivers were injured in any incidents.
Race one winner Bill Cooper, of Bozeman, Mt., continues to lead the point standings after finishing sixth. Following Cooper's 54 markers is Cunningham (45), McMillin (41), Schardt and Justin Jackson (39 each).
CANADAResults from Sunday's 27-lap, 66.39 mile Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship Round Two race at Mosport International Raceway with finishing position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps complete and reason out, if any.
1. (2), Bobby Archer, Ft. Worth, Texas, Dodge Viper GTS, 27.
2. (3), Michael Galati, North Olmstead, Ohio, Audi S4, 27.
3. (6), David Schardt, Dayton, Ohio, Porsche GT3 Cup, 27.
4. (10), Jeff McMillin, Erie, Pa., BMW M3, 27.
5. (1), Peter Cunningham, W. Bend, Wis., BMW M3, 27.
6. (9), Bill Cooper, Bozeman, Mont., Corvette C5, 27.
7. (8), Derek Bell, Pagham Sussex, England, Audi S4 Comp., 27.
8. (13), Scotty B. White, Puyallup, Wash., Corvette C5, 27.
9. (18), Jimmy Adams(R), Suffolk, Va., Dodge Viper GTS, 27.
10. (19), Justin Jackson(R), Alpharetta, Ga., Porsche 993 RSR, 27.
11. (17), Jorge Trejos(R), San Jose, Costa Rica, Saleen Mustang, 27.
12. (11), Phil McClure, Floris, Iowa, Corvette, 27.
13. (16), Scott Bove(R), Avon Lake, Ohio, Porsche GT3 Cup, 27.
14. (23), Adam Merzon(R), Manhasset, N.Y., Porsche GT3 Cup, 27.
15. (20), Phil Lasco(R), Fenton, Mich., Dodge Viper GTS, 27.
16. (21), Daniel Eastman(R), Miami, Fla., Porsche 993 R, 27.
17. (35), Walter Swick, Concord, Ohio, BMW M3, 27.
18. (31), Rael(R), Valcourt, Ontario, Lotus Esprit T, 27.
19. (7), Matt Drendel(R), Hickory, N.C., Ferrari 355, 27.
20. (29), David Shep(R), Toronto, Ontario, Corvette, 27.
21. (15), Paul Brown, Omaha, Neb., Saleen Mustang, 26.
22. (27), Peter Kitchak, Minneapolis, Minn., Porsche GT3 Cup, 23.
23. (28), Michael Giglio, Watertown, Conn., Saleen Mustang, 21.
24. (32), Dick Grieser(R), Toledo, Ohio, BMW M3, 18, Mech.
25. (5), Frank Allers(R), Coquitlam, British Columbia, Corvette C5, 13,
Susp.
26. (24), Thomas Safar_II, Farmingdale, N.J., Saleen Mustang, 13,
Mech.
27. (4), John Heinricy, Holly, Mich., Corvette C5, 8, Mech.
28. (22), J. Bob Taylor, Parker, Colo., Corvette, 6, Crash.
29. (30), Walter Dethier, Warren, Conn., Saleen Cobra R, 5, Mech.
30. (12), Boris Said, Carlisbad, Calif., Steeda Mustang, 5.
31. (14), Reese Cox, Marietta, Ga., Corvette C5, 4, Mech.
32. (26), Terry Lackey, Hitchcock, Texas, Corvette C5, 3, Mech.
33. (25), Anthony DeMonte(R), Dix Hills, N.Y., Ford Mustang, 2,
Crash.
34. (34), Dennis Petersen, McHenry, Ill., Corvette C5, 0, DNS.
35. (36), Danny Kellermeyer(R), Ortonville, Mich., Corvette C5, 0,
Mech.
36. (33), Jim Oppenheimer, Chicago, Ill., Porsche 993 RSR, 0, DNS.
Time of race: 50 minutes, 22.535 seconds.
Average speed: 79.077 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 1.650 seconds
Lap leaders: Lap 1, No. 42 Cunningham; laps 2-27, No. 32 Archer.
Fastest race lap: Peter Cunningham, 1:29.364 (99.060 mph)
Fastest qualifier: Peter Cunningham, 1:28.175 (100.39 mph)
Cautions: two for eight laps.
Speedvision GT Championship Point Standings
1, Bill Cooper, Corvette C5, 54
2, Peter Cunningham, BMW M3, 45
3, Jeff McMillin, BMW M3, 41
4, David Schardt, Porsche GT3 Cup, 39
5, Justin Jackson(R), Porsche 993 RSR, 39
6, Derek Bell, Audi S4 Comp., 36
7, Bobby Archer, Dodge Viper GTS, 34
8, Peter Kitchak, Porsche GT3 Cup, 29
9, Michael Galati, Audi S4, 28
10, Reese Cox, Corvette C5, 28
Text provided by Eric Prill
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