31 replies to this topic

[Danny Steyn]

Tomorrow’s double national is shaping up to be a really awesome race. In Q1, Andrew Carbonell put his BSI ’99 on the pole by almost .7seconds over Steyn, followed by Buras, Bolanos, Charbonneau, Rothstein, Tucker, Cliffie Brown, Pat McGinnis and Bruce Anderson Jr.. Second place through 13^th place were covered by 1 second! Incredibly close times all the way through the field.

Todd made some big changes in setup to his car for Q2 and he was hooked up! Todd picked up the pole approx. 0.5 seconds ahead of Carbonell, Cliffie Brown, Steyn, Charbonneau, Bolanos, Leverone, Tucker Burdzy and Tom Brown. Top 12 were within 1 second.

Tomorrow’s qualifier could be faster in the cooler weather, but the humidity is in the 80% range and its possible we might have rain on both days.

Will post more tomorrow

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Dont let Tucker scratch your car pumpkin!!!!!!

[FTodaro]

Danny tell us what kind of times are getting the pole?

[Jim Drago]

looks like 2.19 is pole, they just qualified

[Dan Cooper]

Well i know at least one person is hoping for rain!

Good luck, Mr. Steyn!

[Danny Steyn]

A big shoutout to Alex Bolanos for his first National win. Congrats Alex, its been a long time coming.

Today's Spec Miata race was one of the most thrilling, enjoyable races I have ever been in, and I went from first to 7th!!! For most of the entire 14 laps there were 7-10 cars locked together going down the straights, diving into the corners 2 and 3 abreast, and as far as I know there was no real contact, except for the concertina bumper to bumper contact in the braking zones. So much talent, so much ambition, yet so much respect for the other drivers. Pretty awesome to say the least. Nick Leverone and I went through almost every turn on one of the final laps side-by-side with our mirrors touching. So much fun,

Alex held off a hard charging Charbonneau, and Voytek drove a great race for 3rd spot on the podium. Stephan Tisseront took his brand new 2001 to a 4th place finish (congrats to Dan Tiley for finally making an '01 competitive in a deep national field), Cliffie Brown was 5th, Jamie Tucker 6th, Steyn 7th, Nick Leverone 8th, Buras 9th, Anderson 10th and Carbonnel 11th. Andrew was caught out by the surprise 5 minute warning after lunch and like many others didn't make it to the grid before the 1minute whistle. Andrew drove from DFL to 11th.

[Armando Ramirez]

A big shoutout to Alex Bolanos for his first National win. Congrats Alex, its been a long time coming.

Today's Spec Miata race was one of the most thrilling, enjoyable races I have ever been in, and I went from first to 7th!!! For most of the entire 14 laps there were 7-10 cars locked together going down the straights, diving into the corners 2 and 3 abreast, and as far as I know there was no real contact, except for the concertina bumper to bumper contact in the braking zones. So much talent, so much ambition, yet so much respect for the other drivers. Pretty awesome to say the least. Nick Leverone and I went through almost every turn on one of the final laps side-by-side with our mirrors touching. So much fun,

Alex held off a hard charging Charbonneau, and Voytek drove a great race for 3rd spot on the podium. Stephan Tisseront took his brand new 2001 to a 4th place finish (congrats to Dan Tiley for finally making an '01 competitive in a deep national field), Cliffie Brown was 5th, Jamie Tucker 6th, Steyn 7th, Nick Leverone 8th, Buras 9th, Anderson 10th and Carbonnel 11th. Andrew was caught out by the surprise 5 minute warning after lunch and like many others didn't make it to the grid before the 1minute whistle. Andrew drove from DFL to 11th.

>A big shoutout to Alex Bolanos for his first National win. Congrats Alex, its been a long time coming.

Good show Alex, congratulations - Armando

[Keith Andrews]

Congrats to all! Good luck today.

[Mitch Reading]

Sounds like great racing. Rain today? Results look like they're quickly being updated on MyLaps... http://www.mylaps.co...t.jsp?id=764676

Did Elivan decide not to make the trip?

[Danny Steyn]

Today's rain race was off the hook! Congrats to Todd Buras for getting the win. Everyone, and I mean everyone, had an off course excursion. Some were more permanent than others! Unfortunately pole sitter Carbonnel's car developed a misfire on he outlaw, and he wisely pulled off and didn't take the start.

I got hosed at the start and spent the first 5 or 6 laps driving behind the group ABSOLUTELY unable to see anything; the track, the cars in front of me, not even the brake lights! It was wild! Up front Buras, Charbonneau, Cliffie Brown, Bolanos, and Burdzy were ducking it out. I had a huge. lament, sliding off drivers left at South Bend, got airborne, came across the track, and it was pure luck that kept me off the tire wall.

Then about lap 9 or 10, first Cliffie went off at South Bend, a lap later Charbonneau did the same, and I was back in 3rd. The track looked like a scrap yard. There were cars literally in every tire wall. Tom brown went off drivers left in the uphill Essex and was parked. Two laps later Tisseront parked it right beside him, and a few moments later, Peterson parked it between them. Everywhere you looked there were Spec Miatas parked, never seen anything like it!

Up front Voytek and Todd were having an epic battle, with Todd driving blind in Voyteks spray, but still trying to crowd his mirrors. On the last lap Voytek cracked and drove off deep into the firewall at the turn before Oaktree.

Todd got the win, I was a distant 2nd and Andrew was right on my tail. Not sure about the rest.

While I was getting ready to leave,l Charbonneau was leading SRF field in the rain!

[Keith Andrews]

Thanks for the report. I watched the live timing and it looked like tough sledding. Great job and congratulations!

[Ron Alan]

So I assume everyone was out on Hoosier H2O? Sounds like they do have their limit How much different than the full tread RA1?

[FTodaro]

Anyone see what the leaders wet lap times were?

[James York]

So I assume everyone was out on Hoosier H2O? Sounds like they do have their limit How much different than the full tread RA1?

Massively different, no comparison.

TWS: Dry, call it 2:00, Toyo Wets, say 2:25-2:30. Hoosier H2O, 2:10-2:15

[Keith Andrews]

Anyone see what the leaders wet lap times were?

http://www.mylaps.co...p?st=3&org=6324

[Alex Bolanos]

Thanks for the kind words guys, finally knocked the door down.... What a relief.

Absolutely crazy race on Sunday, ZERO visibility, spray from Hoosiers is twice that of Toyos, no defroster/heater (fail on my part)... Couldn't see going into oak tree and put the left front on the grass, parked it in the tirewall and bent the left front tie rod.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Thanks for the kind words guys, finally knocked the door down.... What a relief.

Absolutely crazy race on Sunday, ZERO visibility, spray from Hoosiers is twice that of Toyos, no defroster/heater (fail on my part)... Couldn't see going into oak tree and put the left front on the grass, parked it in the tirewall and bent the left front tie rod.

Congrats on the big win!!!!!!

[Glenn]

Congrats on the big win!!!!!!

+1

[Gatoratty]

Great win Alex!

(null)

[davew]

What a pair of races, from my slightly biased point of view. On Saturday Voytek, Bolanos and Von C all had the lead in the last few laps. In the rain on Sunday Voytek went from 9th to 2nd on the opening lap. Took the lead a few laps later from Todd. Although they swapped positions on the back side of the track, Voytek held the official lead untill the last lap. He broke too late and ended up in the tire wall 1/2 a lap from the checkers.

Great racing by all involved. Unfortunately some poor decision making by the Stewards left some bad feelings. 4 safety vehicles, on the last lap, going through the up hill esses in front of the Voytek and Todd (in a downpour) could have ended up a disaster had both drivers not been aware of the situation. Along with the above mentioned grid issues on Saturday.

A lot of cars got torn up, but all the drivers made it home unhurt. And that is the important thing. After all, we where only racing for wood plaques with pictures of ourselves on them.

Dave