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NorthernLight IRL: Kentucky slips through Kite's hands

28 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
SPARTA, KENTUCKY--Jimmy Kites 17th place finish in todays Belterra Resorts Indy 300 did nothing to reflect the dominance Kite showed in the Aramis/ Blueprint Racing Special. The Stockbridge, Georgia resident drove his #27 black and gold Aramis entry from a 12th-place starting position into the lead for the first time this season.

"What do I have to do? We cannot buy a break this year," lamented Kite. "The Aramis/ Blueprint guys were awesome! Our second pit stop was incredible. I really wanted this for Brad (McCanless) and his dad. I cant wait to have him back at Texas." McCanless, Blueprint Racing team manager, is absent this weekend due to the death of his father.

Kite led a total of 16 laps in todays Indy Racing Northern Light Series event from Kentucky Speedway. The Aramis/ Blueprint entry fell out of the race on lap 155 due to an engine problem. Kite gained seven spots in the first three laps but fell one lap down after pitting one circuit before a yellow flag flew on lap 49. The Aramis/ Blueprint Racing Special fell from fifth to eighteenth in that exchange. The Randy Ruyle-led team charged back from the one lap deficit on lap 101. Kite re-entered the top-10 on lap 104 and the top-five by lap 108. The #27 G Force/ Oldsmobile took the lead on lap 139 and held in through their final pit stop on lap 154.

The Blueprint Racing Engine shop is not sure at this time what the ultimate reason for the failure is. "It looked like it could be a crankshaft or a connecting rod. It might have even been a cracked block," said Blueprint Racing engine manager Sonny Meyer. "We wont know until we get it back to the shop this week and do a post-mortem."

"We can do it! This team has it in them," enthused Blueprint co-owner Keith Sanders. "I went over after the race and looked at victory lane and I know we can be there. We are excited and proud to have Aramis with us on such an exciting day."

"We missed Brad," offered Aramis/Blueprint Racing chief mechanic Randy Ruyle. "Jimmy did a great job today and the team did a great job all weekend. We are so close. We can do it in Texas."

"Again we showed what we can do," recounted Kite. "I think we showed Aramis that this is a team capable of winning the Northern Light Cup and the Indy 500."

Text provided by Tom Moore

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