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USAC/F2000: Camirand grabs Trois Rivieres, looks to add Mosport

1 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Quebec resident Marc-Antoine Camirand gave his fans plenty to cheer about over the weekend as he swept from the pole position to a convincing victory in Saturday's "Le Grand Prix Player's de Trois Rivieres" United States Formula 2000 National Championship race at the Trois Rivieres Circuit.

Camirand's win over Aaron Justus creates a 36-point gap between the two as Justus will try to protect his point lead in this weekend's "The Grand Prix at Mosport" activities northeast of Toronto. Practice at the 2.459-mile Mosport International Raceway circuit is slated Friday from 10:30-11 am and qualifying is set for 4:25-4:55 pm Friday. Saturday's 20-lap race gets the green flag at 3:25 pm.

Driving the No. 96 Key Motorsport Van Diemen Ford, Camirand lost the lead in turn two at the start of the race but he regained it on lap four and led the rest of the way despite pressure from Justus. The duo separated themselves from the rest of the field en route to a 1.215 seconds margin of victory by Camirand. The win is Camirand's third of 2000 and sixth of his career, third in the all-time standings. The win also gives Camirand a tie for the all-time career lead in top-ten and top-five series finishes.

Peter Walsh of Cork, Ireland earned the Taylor Engineering "Shark" award for his drive to third, while Tom Dyer of San Rafael, Calif. was the ACC class winner, finishing fifth.

USAC F2000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS

1. Aaron Justus 179
2. Marc-Antoine Camirand 143
3. Ian Lacy 126
4. Peter Walsh 114
5. James Hanson 99
6. Billy Asaro 92
7. Memo Rojas, Jr. 81
8. Jeff Harrison 75
9. James Eaton 66
10. Tony Buffomante 66

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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