Info: Greg Franz 949.851.4731
gfranz@competentms.com
Bret Curtis Wins Pirelli Drivers Cup USA Season Opener
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV – February 8, 2009 – Newcomer Bret Curtis (GMG) led 23.8 of the 24-lap Pirelli Drivers Cup USA season opener under cloudyskies and unusually cold conditions. Curtis, who hails from Valencia, CA, was relentlessly hounded byBrooks Potter (Aasco Motors) and GMG stable-mate Brent Holden from green to checker. The top three carsfinished within 1 second providing the excitement we’ve come to expect from this Drivers Cup Series, now inits third season. “There was not a single yellow flag waved for the entire 40 minutes of racing,” stated animpressed Ron Mistak, Chief Steward for the Drivers Cup USA event.Curtis was able to keep his ‘09 997 GT3 Cup Car ahead of the insistent Potter by not allowing him tocapitalize on the braking advantage held by the ABS equipped 996 version of these GT3 Cup cars. “I feltconfident coming out of the transitions because I could pull out a bit of room” said Curtis, “but he really cameon under braking, so I had to stay low approaching (turn) three to keep him behind me. “
Curtis’ only brief loss of the lead came in lap three when John Keane (911 Design) passed on the inside ofturn one after getting a great launch onto the front straight. Curtis immediately regained point as Keane wasunable to slow the car enough to make turn three which resulted in Keane’s slide back to his fourth placefinish.
Some of Sunday’s field opted for the Pirelli P-Zero slicks, betting that the track would dry out in time to givethem the advantage. But conditions proved to be too stubbornly cold and wet for the alternate tire strategy to be effective.
A series of intermittent downpours stymied Saturdaypractice sessions and put most drivers onto Pirelli’s P-ZeroRain tires for their first time. All drivers were extremelycomplimentary of the Pirelli full-wet tire. “ The tires weregreat. They heated up quickly and never faded. We practiced on these tires and then ran them for 40 minutesin the race with no noticeable deterioration” said Curtis
“We are extremely impressed with the talent level of the drivers who are coming to us this season” said seriesDirector Greg Franz begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting. “Over the past two years, we have sent six drivers to compete in the IMSA GT3 CupChallenge and both the Grand Am Rolex GT Series and Koni Cup Series.These rainy and cold conditions gave the coaches an rare opportunity to teach wet conditions strategies and indoing so, made the best out of these racing conditions. Not a bad start for the 2009 season.”
The Pirelli Driver’s Cup USA series next appears April 3-5 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California forRaces 3 & 4 of the ten race season for 2009.
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