Info: Greg Franz 949.851.4731
gfranz@competentms.com
Pirelli Drivers Cup USA Race 7
Sposato/Drier/Curtis Share Chilly Podium
LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY, MONTEREY, CA – Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Race 7 of the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA season proved that on any given race day, all of the PDCUSA drivers have the talent to fight their way to the podium.Joe Sposato (AASCO Motorsports) kept a fairly sedate profile for the first fifteen laps of the 17 lap race at an unseasonably chilly Laguna Seca Raceway. Joe was shadowing one of the new faces, Guy Dreier (GMG) of Palm Springs CA while simultaneously fending off a very quick and persistent Steve Goldman (Competition Motorsport).
All it took was a wide exit of turn three, forcing Dreier to ease off the throttle, Sposato saw the narrow opening he had patiently awaited. Meanwhile, Goldman spun in two allowing the ever-ready Bret Curtis (GMG) to jump into slot three.
Once in the lead, Sposato ran a prefect set of laps to keep the extremely quick Dreier- Curtis train in his mirrors Bobby Faieta, IMSA GT3 champ and Pirelli Drivers Cup instructor for the weekend, had jumped to an early lead in one of the Competition MS cars, but the dreaded sound trolls doomed him to the black flag station and a mid pack finish.
Group A (996 cars) had an incredible dice with John Trefethen, and Brooks Potter (AASCO Motorsports) battling within a second of each other. Matt Ross (son of Greg Ross and series first timer) was extremely impressive, capturing a third in Group A.
This was the first time the PDCUSA has shared the track with non-Cup Cars, in this case it was SCCA’s GT2 group. All were very well behaved and the introduction of moving chicanes and unfamiliar drivers proved to be an enriching (and exciting) addition to the Pirelli Drivers Cup offering.
“The value of the Pirelli Drivers Cup’s emphasis on education was realized in this new environment,” stated Pirelli Drivers Cup guru and head honcho Greg Franz begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting. “It was both interesting and enjoyable to watch our guys utilizing the skills learned in Drivers Cup and applying them to this mixed car group”.
“This was a great opportunity to utilize passing strategies and controlled co-existence on the track added Guest Instructor Bobby Faieta. “Dealing with slower cars, traffic and cars with different strengths and weaknesses is all essential race craft”.
Race 8, of the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA will be June 21 at Laguna Seca.
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