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F2000: US F2000 Winter Testing Gets Underway

27 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
FAIRFIELD, N.J.--The U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by Speedvision has begun its first annual winter test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Testing in preparation for the first race of the season, March 3 at Homestead with Grand-Am, numerous teams took to the 2.21-mile road course for the first day of the two-day test. Teams in attendance included defending champion Cape Motorsports, Richard Morgan Racing, Pabst Racing Services, Continental Motorsport Services, Carbir Race Cars, Team Espiritu de Mexico, Luyendyk Racing, as well as newcomers AIM Autosport, JDC Motor Sports and Lightspeed Motorsports.

Both the morning and afternoon sessions were with run without any major incidents. While all times were unofficial, timing and scoring was on hand testing new equipment and able to take times. In the morning session Jason LaPointe, driving for Richard Morgan Racing, lead the way with a time of 1:27.176 (91.264 mph). Completing the top three was Memo Rojas Jr., driving for Team Espiritu de Mexico, with a time of 1:27.208 (91.230 mph) and Doug Bell, driving for Cape Motorsports, who posted a time of 1:27.396 (91.034 mph). In the afternoon sessions the times improved and Rojas Jr. posted the quickest time of the day, 1:26.530 (91.945 mph). Alexander Figge was second quickest, with a time with of 1:26.593 (91.878 mph) and Bell completed the top-three with a time of 1:26.767 (91.721 mph). Of note, the official lap record of 1:25.580 (92.965 mph), set by David Besnard during qualifying in 1998, was not bettered.

"The team worked really hard," said Rojas Jr., who returns for his second year of competition. "We weren’t thinking we would definitely be quickest, but we thought we would be in the top-three. I like this track and I think it will be great race in March. It has at least three good places to pass."

Day two of testing will take place on the 1.4-mile modified oval course, which will used for Rounds Two and Three of the 14-Round National Championship and the opening rounds of the Road To Indy Oval Crown Championship.

Morning Results

  • Jason LaPointe 1:27.178 (91.264 mph)
  • Memo Rojas Jr. 1:27.208 (91.230 mph)
  • Doug Bell 1:27.396 (91.034 mph)
  • Arie Luyendyk Jr. 1:27.486 (90.940 mph)
  • Tommy Constantine 1:27.543 (90.881 mph)
  • Vanina Ickx 1:27.747 (90.670 mph)
  • Peter Gray 1:27.768 (90.648 mph)
  • Travis Irving 1:27.853 (90.560 mph)
  • Niki Coello 1:28.279 (90.123 mph)
  • Arnold Brinkmann 1:28.412 (89.988 mph)
  • Enzo Pottolicchio 1:28.942 (89.452 mph)
  • Alexander Figge 1:29.943 (88.456 mph)
  • Matthew Green 1.30.323 (88.084 mph)
  • Ira Fierberg 1:32.555 (85.960 mph)

Afternoon Results

  • Memo Rojas Jr. 1:26.530 (91.945 mph)
  • Alexander Figge 1:26.593 (91.878 mph)
  • Doug Bell 1:26.767 (91.694 mph)
  • Paul Dana/Tom Dyer 1:26.848 (91.608 mph)
  • Jason LaPointe 1:26.857 (91.599 mph)
  • Peter Gray 1:27.104 (91.339 mph)
  • Arnold Brinkmann 1:27.257 (91.179 mph)
  • Vanina Ickx 1:27.287 (91.148 mph)
  • Arie Luyendyk Jr. 1:27.294 (91.140 mph)
  • Tommy Constantine 1:27.357 (91.075 mph)
  • Travis Irving 1:27.446 (90.982 mph)
  • Matthew Green 1.28.141 (90.264 mph)
  • Niki Coello 1:28.230 (90.173 mph)
  • Enzo Pottolicchio 1:28.230 (90.173 mph)
  • Ira Fierberg 1:33.438 (85.147 mph)

Text Provided By Allan Craighead

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