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TRANS AM: Neville Wins Controversial TEXACO Havoline Grand Prix Of Houston

1 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Houston -- Chris Neville (#84 Soenen Motorsports Ford Mustang Cobra) was declared the winner of the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Round Nine this afternoon when it was determined that provisional race winner Paul Gentilozzi (#1 Johnson Controls HomeLink Jaguar XKR) violated Article 11.2 (Pit Stop Regulations) of the SCCA Pro Racing Regulations, that resulted in him being dropped to sixth in the the final results. In addition, Jack Willes (#48 TWC Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette), who finished third unofficially, was also penalized and dropped to seventh. Willes was found in violation of Appendix R.1.1.2 of the SCCA Pro Racing Regulations.

For Neville, the finish marked the second win of his career. Neville last won in 1999 at Road Atlanta. "I felt like I had more car in the straightaway than Brian Simo did and that allowed us to pass him," said Neville. "We picked a BFGoodrich Tire with a harder compound than some of the other guys and I think it helped late in the day."

Gentilozzi, who was battling for early control of the race, bumped with Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) on lap 19 and suffered a flat left rear tire. Gentilozzi entered the pits midway through lap 20, at which point the violation was committed.

Article 11.2 states that during any pit stop "only four people may be over the wall in the pit lane: one supervisor and three working crew." A post-race review revealed that Gentilozzis Rocketsports Team had five crew members over the pit wall while stopping to change the flat tire. Appendix R.1.1.2 states that a competitior may not pass under a yellow caution flag. Willes passed Simo while the course was under caution and was penalized during the post-race review.

Both Gentilozzi and Willes were assessed a 25-second penalty which caused a revision in the Provisional Race Results.

As a result, Stu Hayner (#98 Trenton Forging Chevrolet Camaro) finishes third. He will be followed by Simo in fourth and Leighton Reese (#66 Banner Engineering Phillips 66 Pontiac Grand Prix) in fifth.

Round 10 the 2000 season will be on October 15 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif.

1. (5), Chris Neville, Scottsdale, Az., 60, Running.
2. (6), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., 60, Running.
3. (11), G.J. Mennen, Austin, Tx., 60, Running.
4. (1), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 60, Running.
5. (9), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., 60, Running.
6. (2), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 60, Running.
7. (4), Jack Willes, Cornelius, NC, 60, Running.
8. (7), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, NC, 60, Running.
9. (17), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, 60, Running.
10. (21), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 60, Running.
11. (27), Claudio Burtin, Rosario, Argentina, 59, Running.
12. (23), Jerry Kinn, Anchorage, Ak., 59, Running.
13. (12), Jeff Altenburg, Baltimore, Md., 59, Running.
14. (19), Grant Sylvester, Christchurch, New Zealand, 59, Running.
15. (26), C. David Seuss, Charlestown, Ma., 59, Running.
16. (15), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 58, Running.
17. (28), Andre Toennis, Houston, Tx., 58, Running.
18. (14), Michael Lewis, San Diego CA, Calif., 55, Running.
19. (20), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 53, Mech.
20. (13), Craig Baird, Hamliton, New Zealand, 52, Mech.
21. (24), Jerry Simmons, Ancaster Ontario, Calif., 51, Running.
22. (30), Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 48, Mech.
23. (22), Gary Johnson, Knoxville, Tenn., 44, Mech.
24. (8), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Tex., 28, Mech.
25. (29), Dick Greer, Columbus, Ohio, 22, Mech.
26. (25), Jim Briody, Cherry Hill, NJ, 19, Mech.
27. (10), Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 17, Mech.
28. (16), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., 10, Mech.
29. (3), Willy T. Ribbs, San Jose, Calif., 2, Mech.
30. (31), Jim Maguire, Glendale, Az., 2, Mech.
31. (18), Don Sak, W. Bloomfield, Mich., 1, Mech.

Text Provided By David Lang

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