Weekend at MidOhio

Last weekend I found myself at MidOhio Sports Car Course in both a supporting and spectating role during the KONI and ROLEX races. Before supporting my teammates with Freedom Autosport in the ST race on Sunday, I enjoyed some racing as a spectator. When one starts driving in a series, one seldomly gets to sit and watch racing – so I was glad to find myself in the perfect spot on a grassy knoll in front of MidOhio’s keyhole before the start.

In racing, the race is not over until the checkered flag flies. I have seen one too many cars that seem to have the race in the bag only to experience challenge during the last few laps and suffer disappointment.

Such was the case for Eric Lux and Dominic Farnbacher in the #86 FarnbacherLoles Porsche. Toward the end of the race, two race battles were happening simultaneously:  In DP, the 01 Telmex Lexus Riley with road racing juggernaut Scott Pruett at the wheel was fighting with the 76 Krohn Racing Ford Lola with former F1 driver Ricardo Zonta at the helm.  They were ripping through the GT cars and other DP cars. 

Simultaneously, Robin Liddell in the 57 Stephenson Motorsport Pontiac GXP-R was catching Farnbacher, who was running second. Liddell had saved some car for the end of the race and was really putting the pressure on the #86.

As the DP leaders came through the GT leading pack, the 76 Krohn car was working hard to stay with the 01 car.  In certain race situations, there is a distinct advantage to having a car in between you and your competitor. In trying to do just that – keep a car between them -- there was contact between the #86 GT and the #76 DP cars.

Zonta, who was looking for his second win this year, had not been willing to be the pawn and made his move. The slight contact cut Farnbacher’s tire, deflating Eric Lux and the #86 crew along with it.  Although the Farnbacher crew and driver had done all in their power to prepare for this race, the 1-2  win would have to wait for another day.

Lesson learned? It’s not over till the lady waves the checkered flag. And for every risky race move, as in life, the driver must always weigh the risks and benefits and cross his or her fingers that the latter prevails!

See you at MidOhio for my NASA race on July 11-12!

(Special thanks to Kathryn Rapier for the beautiful photos! (c) Kathryn Rapier / kathrynrapier.net)

Weekend at Watkins Glen

After a long day of practice on Thursday, the Freedom Autosport #147 car I drive in the KONI Sports Car Challenge felt perfect for race day.

The Glen was rockin' with a packed weekend schedule that included the KONI ST/GS race, the Rolex GP and DP race and even a NASCAR Camping World Series race. The result of a busy weekend was that we were qualified and raced on the same day, with our last practice happening even earlier that morning at an ungodly 8:30 a.m.

We worked really hard during Thursday’s practice, focusing on qualifying and race set-ups. By Friday the team handed me a great car, and I qualified mid-pack (P20) and felt really strong for the race. The car was really solid under me, which gave me the confidence to relax and drive.

There were some challenges: the race started a little late, and although the Weather Channel had promised there would be no rain on race day, rain droplets were on my windshield as soon as we started. Before I entered turn 1 in my first race lap, the Delphi light (an in-car yellow light used as a local caution system in motorsport) started flashing: full course caution. 

Those of you who follow racing know there is no passing during periods of caution, and as soon as I saw the light I did not make any attempts to pass. As a rookie, I tend to obey these cautionary lights to the letter, but I realized after three cars passed me that the loose interpretation of the yellow light is “no passing until you see a yellow flag.” Lesson learned!

Once the track went back to green I was able to work my way up the field, making up 7 positions, but  the "fender moon" must have out the night before because there was a good deal of bumpin' going on between cars. Nearly 40 minutes into the race, there had already been 3 cautions, and my Team Crew Chief made the decision to call the 147 into to the Freedom pits.  

My co-driver Mark White drove beautifully for the remainder of the race. With about 20 minutes left, he made made a quick stop for a splash of fuel. Team Freedom performed a Formula 1-like pit stop with great efficiency and precision, fueling the car and releasing it back to action in less than 10 seconds. (Thanks, Haus!).  Thanks to the team and my co-driver, we were able to secure a 13^th place(field of 53 cars, 27 of which were in class).

I’m looking forward to heading down to MidOhio the weekend of June 20^th for the next KONI race. While I won’t be racing, I truly enjoy the role of support crew—it’s a good opportunity to show my appreciation to the Freedom guys. See you there!