SCCA: Simo on top at Mosport Trans Am
22 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario- Brian Simo, of Carlsbad, Calif., took advantage of a spin by Paul Gentilozzi to score his second-consecutive BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series race at Mosport International Raceway with a 6.041-second margin over runner-up Jeff Altenburg, while Tomy Drissi claimed the final podium position.
Simo, driving the No. 88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta, started the 40-lap, 98.36-mile race second alongside pole-qualifier Gentilozzi, in the No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Jaguar XKR, and for the first 29 laps the duo ran a fast pace in first and second.
At turn five on lap 30, Gentilozzi spun into the gravel trap, handing the lead and ultimately the race win to Simo, who scored his 11th career victory.
You have to fight for every inch, every lap and every race, said Simo. I was just waiting for my opportunity - if he (Gentilozzi) hadnt made a mistake, Im not sure we could have made it by. We might have been a bit stronger, but that doesnt mean I could have driven by him.
We cant afford to give away races, and thats what I did today, said Gentilozzi. I cant believe that I did that, it was my fault. I had too much rear brake and as I came over the rise, it (the car) stepped out on me. I went off, and then to make matters worse, it stalled. Then youve got to drive the rest of the race knowing what a stupid mistake you made. Its always fun to battle with Brian (Simo). Brian was pushing the pace a bit, but my mistake was my mistake.
Behind the lead pair, Randy Ruhlman and Johnny Miller were locked in a race-long battle for third that was resolved on the last turn of the final lap as Miller, in the No. 64 Automationdirect.com/UPS Chevrolet Corvette, nudged the No. 49 Preformed Line Products Oldsmobile Aurora of Ruhlman. Ruhlman spun as a result of the contact, and Miller slid off course, rejoining the race to finish fourth. Following review of the incident, Miller was penalized five finishing positions, scoring a ninth-place finish, while Ruhlman ended up eighth.
With Ruhlman and Miller off course at the last corner, the window opened for Altenburg and Drissi, who had been contesting for fourth.
We were all practically nose-to-tail, said Altenburg. Tomy and I raced close, but clean and gave each other room. I didnt see the incident happen, but I came around the corner to see Ruhlman sideways. I had the better line than Tomy, and I saw that Tomy saw me and wasnt coming over, so I squeezed through.
With the penalty against Miller, Lou Gigliotti was scored with a fourth-place finish, followed by Stu Hayner in fifth.
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Can. - Results from Sunday's 40-lap, 98.36-mile BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series race at Mosport International Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
1. (2), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Qvale Mangusta, 40.
2. (5), Jeff Altenburg, Baltimore, Md., Jaguar XKR, 40.
3. (9), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 40.
4. (13), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Corvette, 40.
5. (7), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
6. (14), Jack Willes, Cornelius, N.C., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
7. (1), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Jaguar XKR, 40.
8. (3), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., Oldsmobile Aurora, 40.
9. (4), Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Corvette, 40.
10. (10), G.J. Mennen, Austin, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
11. (20), Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., Ford Mustang Cobra, 40.
12. (11), Chris Neville, Scottsdale, Ariz., Ford Mustang Cobra, 40.
13. (12), Willy T. Ribbs, San Jose, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
14. (19), Don Sak, W. Bloomfield, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
15. (24), Don Meluzio, York, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
16. (16), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
17. (34), Bobby Sak, West Bloomfield, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
18. (26), Gary Johnson, Knoxville, Tenn., Ford Mustang Cobra, 40.
19. (21), Charlie Webster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Chevrolet Camaro,
40.
20. (33), Marybeth Harrison, Vancouver , B.C., Canada, Chevrolet Camaro,
39.
21. (28), Craig Shafer, Somerset, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 39.
22. (23), John Macaluso, Winter Heaven, Fla., Ford Mustang Cobra, 38,
n.a.
23. (27), Richard La Barbera, East Stroudsburg, Pa., Ford Mustang Cobra,
38.
24. (29), Dick Greer, Columbus, Ohio, Chevrolet Corvette, 38.
25. (8), Mike Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 37.
26. (30), Chet Williams, Chittenango, N.Y., Chevrolet Camaro, 37.
27. (25), Jerry Kinn, Anchorage, Alaska, Chevrolet Corvette, 36,
n.a..
28. (15), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra,
35.
29. (17), James Holtom, Ontario Canada, Chevrolet Corvette, 32, n.a..
30. (32), John Paul Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet Corvette,
29.
31. (31), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., Chevrolet Camaro, 24.
32. (22), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Corvette, 19,
Mech.
33. (6), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., Pontiac Grand Prix, 14,
Mech.
34. (18), Eric Curran, South Deerfield, Mass., Chevrolet Camaro, 14,
Mech.
35. (36), Monica Kolvyn, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, 0,
Mech.
36. (35), Jerry Simmons, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, 0,
DNS
Time of race: 1 hour, 3 minutes, 07.197 seconds.
Average speed: 93.498 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 6.041 seconds
Fastest race lap: Brian Simo, 1:21.122 (109.124 mph), lap 10
Lap leaders: laps 1-29, Paul Gentilozzi; laps 30-40, Brian Simo
Cautions: two for six laps
Provisional Drivers Championship Point Standings - Top 10
Position, driver, car, points
1. Brian Simo, Qvale Mangusta, 117
2. Paul Gentilozzi, Jaguar XKR, 90
3. Tomy Drissi, Ford Mustang Cobra, 82
4. Chris Neville, Ford Mustang Cobra, 74
5. Lou Gigliotti, Chevrolet Corvette, 69
6. Willy T. Ribbs, Chevrolet Camaro, 60
7. Bob Ruman, Chevrolet Corvette, 59
8. Steve Pelke, Ford Mustang Cobra, 59
9. Jack Willes, Chevrolet Camaro, 48
10. Randy Ruhlman, Oldsmobile Aurora, 48
Text provided by Greg Rubenstein
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