Uncle Sam Racing Report
S2000 2009.11.27 Interlagos
Uncle Sam Racing Report
Unofficial Practice: 1:42.054 2nd of 12
Official Practice: 1:41.850 8th of 16
Qualifying: 1.41:506 6th of 16
Warmup: 1:41.64 6th of 15
Setup considerations: Balance rear grip with mixed new and used tires to accommodate mandatory pit stop (2 front tire change) – Attempt an overall balance between sectors 1 & 2
Line up 6th on the inside lane behind Gary Lennon (5th) and Rhys Gardiner (4th), in front of Eric Nelson (7th) and Glenn Petersen (8th).
Lap 1
Gregory Degreef (2nd), starting behind Yuri (1st), gets off to a hare start and passes a tortoise like Yuri on the outside. I’m looking at a cloud of tire smoke, as Rhys lights them up just ahead. Kevin Hopkins, starting in 10th, dives down the middle, passing David Swiderski (9th), Glenn and myself. Kevin ends up sliding right in front me so as to avoid Eric Nelson, who is tucked up behind Gary Lennon. All within the first 6.5 seconds of the start of the race! In the next half of a second, Eric drifts right, making contact with Rhys’ right-rear quarter-panel, sending Rhys into the left-rear quarter-panel of Gary. As Rhys gets his car back under control, Kevin slips by on his outside.
If this is how it’s going to be in the 5-7 seconds before we head into Turn 1, I don’t think I want to be there for the party at Turn 1. Especially after having been taken out of contention in the last 2 races, in Turn 1 incidents. I also want to try for the inside approach to Turn 1. Therefore, I will allow all who want by, to go ahead, if they so desire. David presses by, trying to pass Eric on the outside. Robert Isles opts to take the inside approach as well. Glenn is going for the outside approach and pulls up to my right. I’ve dropped 4 spots to 10th in just the first 14 seconds as we approach Turn 1.
I hug the inside and ride up on the curb going into Turn 1, allowing room for Glenn, should he press on the outside. The outside is not the desired line entering Turn 1, as this can really bind up the car for the upcoming sharp right-hander. Glenn understands this and doesn’t press too hard. This allows us both through the next two turns nose-to-tail.
Meanwhile, Kevin’s wild ride from 10th to 4th is unraveling. Up ahead, Yuri is taking the normal “race” line through Turn 1 (not necessarily the “sane” line at the start of a race), going wide on approach and diving towards the apex. Unfortunately, Yves Larose, who is following on the inside, is going for the narrow approach, assuming Yuri will allow room for tight racing through the turn. Instead, Yuri cuts across the bow of Yves just before the apex. This slight contact puts Yuri’s car into a drift, which he eventually gets back under control by Turn 2. Both Yves and Gary lift slightly to avoid total chaos. Kevin is in the catbird seat and checks up his approach to Turn 1, hoping the drivers ahead keep their cool and their cars pointed in the right direction. Not only that, he doesn’t want the Yuri/Yves incident to happen to him, so he follows Gary, who is taking a similar approach to Turn 1 as Yuri did. With Gary slightly ahead of him, Kevin waits for Gary to make a dive for the apex. Unfortunately, Kevin gets the lightest of a tap from Rhys, right at the moment when Kevin’s car is at its most unbalanced. All the while, Dariusz Swiderski and Eric are making a hard charge on the outside of Kevin and Rhys, hoping for the inside line to Turn 2. On the short stretch between Turns 2 & 3, Dariusz and Eric have cleared Kevin on the outside; with Rhys trying to follow them by. Unfortunately, Rhys does not leave any room for Kevin and muscles Kevin up onto the curb and into the inside wall at Turn 3. By the time Kevin can get back on the track and under power, he has dropped to 12th. All within 20 seconds and after achieving his move from 10th to 4th.
I’ve now regained 1 of the 4 spots I surrendered. I eventually tuck up behind Robert, who went off course between Turns 4 & 5 at Descida do Lago. The rest of the field is close on my heels, being led by Glenn. Going into Turn 8, I’m focusing on Robert ahead, unsure on how he will take this turn. I momentarily lose sight of Glenn in my rearview mirrors. Not knowing exactly where Glenn is, I take the corner wide, following Robert’s line. This gives Glenn the opportunity to take the preferred inside line, which he does, passing me as we approach the tight left-hand Turn 9. Robert goes slightly off track, coming back on though the apex of Turn 9. I am on the binders to let him back in and to stay tight to the apex, leaving Glenn room on the outside. Robert now drifts to the right, with Glenn tucking in behind him. On the approach to Turn 10, Robert goes to the outside, moving in front of me. Again, I am on the binders and have to take this turn wide so as not to crowd out Glenn, who is taking the more preferred tight approach. I end up going a little too wide and run slightly over the outside curbing. This allows both Glenn and Tony O’Brien by on the inside. As I ease back onto the track proper, Tony has not allowed me enough room and I lightly touch his left-rear quarter-panel. I check up and let him take the apex of Turn 11. I’m now in 11th, with Kevin and Mark Guy nipping at my heels.
At the slow left-hand Turn 12, Glenn comes in harder than Robert, who is ahead of him, and Glenn goes too wide and off track. In order miss his possible re-entry, I take the apex a little too tight, clipping the curb that sends me wide on exit, allowing Kevin by on the inside. Glenn is less lucky, going onto the grass with his car turning left, straight back on to the track and into the path of Mark. Mark smacks the left front of Glenn, turning Mark around 180-degrees, sending Glenn back off the track, minus his front aero package. Mark finally gets turned around, but not before causing Rafael Barbos a near heart attack, as he narrowly misses Mark’s U-turn on the track. Glenn heads to the pits for repairs.
Lap 2
I’m in 11th, close behind Kevin, who is closely following Tony, Dariusz and Robert. Dariusz lost some ground at the end of Lap 1 when he made light side-by-side contact with Rhys. I am carefully watching the battle ahead between Robert and Dariusz (7th & 8th). At Turn 8 they are side-by-side. Dariusz has a slight lead on Robert as they take Turn 9, with Dariusz on the outside. Robert takes the curb and can’t quite keep the car turned through the apex and shoots into Dariusz, sending Dariusz into a 90 degree slide. Tony, unfortunately, cannot avoid T-boning Dariusz. Tony is able to continue on, while Dariusz drops back to 12th. I finish the lap in 10th, following Kevin and Tony, who are led by Robert.
Lap 3
Eric (5th) misjudges the Senna “S” (Turn 1 & 2) as he tries to stay ahead of a hard charging Rhys. As Eric slides on the curbing at Turn 2, Rhys ends up tapping his rear bumper. Both cars end up off track. I’ve slipped by both of them by Turn 4. Rhys falls in behind me. I am now in a close 5-way battle, led by Tony and Kevin and followed by Rhys and Rafael. Tony goes slightly off course between Turns 7 & 8 and Kevin gets slightly out of shape as he tries to adjust to Tony’s actions ahead. I have to lift slightly and Rhys takes advantage to pass on the right at Turn 9. Rafael passes me on the inside of Turn 10. I now have Eric Nelson charging up my tail pipe. Rafael goes wide and off track on the exit of Turn 11. I slip underneath him at Turn 12, as he once again goes wide. Up ahead, Tony goes wide on exit of Turn 12 and Kevin, who is following, checks up, just a hair, so as not wreck Tony; as Tony slides back on course. However, Rhys runs into Kevin, spinning Kevin 180 degrees and off track. While there are no actual yellow flags flying (track conversion bug?), there should be. Eric decides to take advantage of the wrecking to gain a position by attempting a pass on my inside. As he rides the curb at Turn 14, he loses control and slides into my left-hand side, getting me sideways, thus completing his pass.
Lap 4
After all the excitement, I get a chance to check the scoring and find myself in 8th. Which is to be short-lived, as Rafael passes me at Turn 1. I am now following a tight 3-way battle between Tony, Eric and Rafael. Further ahead there is a similar 3-way tussle between Yves, Yuri and Gary as they try to run down Gregory. Rafael heads down the pit lane, giving back my 8th spot.
Lap 5
Kevin finally gets around Tony and he now has Robert in his sights. Tony goes wide and off course at Turn 12, allowing me to advance. Kevin gets around Robert, who also went wide on exit of Turn 12.
Lap 6
5th as some drivers make early pit stops.
Lap 7
4th as I pass Eric who is pitting. I will make my pit stop, at the end of this lap, for 2 front tires.
Lap 8
Come out of the pits in 8th place, behind Rafael and Eric.
Lap 9
7th as I pass Tony in the pits. I’ve gained some ground on Eric.
Lap 10 –12
I am slowly reeling in Eric, but the sands are running out. By lap 11 the gap is 1.5 seconds. I can only hope for the mistake that never happened. Finish 7th, less than a second behind Eric.
Race 1 Highlights
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1AX1IHF8uE[/ame]
Race 2
With the top 8 finishers reversed for the grid, I am lined up 2nd behind Rhys and in front of Eric and Gary.
Lap 1
At the start of the race, I spy Gregory making a wild run in my left rearview mirror. Brain says, “Anytime you spot someone starting in 8th making this kind of dash to Turn 1, use extreme caution!” Which I do, and let him pass. An especially wise decision, as Dariusz is doing the same from 9th on the far right side of the track. By the entrance of Turn 1, Gregory and Dariusz are 1st & 2nd respectively. I fall in behind Rhys, who has moved to the inside, allowing Gary and Eric to pass on the outside. Kevin looks to make it 4-wide as he tries to pass on my inside. Eric and Gary touch, which sends Gary sideways across my nose. I make slight contact with Gary as Kevin leans on me to avoid Gary, Gary slips by us. Kevin’s contact sends me further to the right, forcing Mark Guy to take evasive action onto the grass. Mark comes back on track barely behind Kevin and myself. Gary hits Mark. Gary is able to continue, but Mark ends up contacting the inside wall of Turn 3, rejoining the track 2nd to last place. Up ahead, Dariusz is pushing his luck and tries to stick his nose into the apex of Turn 2, getting squeezed by Gregory who had the lead going into the turn. As Dariusz gets out of shape, Rhys taps him. This gets both into trouble, and Eric ends up contacting Rhys as Rhys tries to gather it back in. Dariusz gets shuffled back to 6th for his efforts. I fall in behind Dariusz with Tony, Yuri and Yves behind, in hot pursuit.
Lap 2
I am able to hold onto my 7th position, holding tight to Kevin, Gary and Dariusz ahead. I’ve managed to place a small cushion between Tony and myself. The cushion is made larger as Yves has minor contact with Tony coming out of the Senna “S”. Yuri takes advantage and passes them both. Coming into Turn 4, Gary misjudges his entrance and just clips the right-rear quarter-panel of Dariusz. This sends Gary at a 90-degree angle directly in front of me. We make slight contact. I suffer what, hopefully, is only cosmetic damage to my front bumper, but Gary is off course. As I to get my car back under control, Yuri makes a pass to the outside. By the time I’m back up to speed, Tony has passed and I now have Yves and Glenn bearing down on me. We now have 5-way battle going with Mark bringing up the rear. At Turn 10, I try an inside move on Tony. We make slight side-by-side contact as I slip off the curbing at the apex. Tony pulls slightly ahead. I make another feint at Turn 12, but Tony defends.
Lap 3
I am holding onto 8th and onto the tail of Tony. But, as we race each other, Glenn, Yves and Mark are all over my bumper. I finally get my opportunity, as Tony goes wide and off track between Turns 6 & 7. Coming out of Turn 11, Yves catches the left-rear quarter-panel of Tony, sending Tony up the grassy knoll. Tony comes flying back on the track between Turns 12 & 13, just missing my left-rear quarter-panel. Excellent car control Tony!
Lap 4
Now 7th with a small gap back to Glenn and Mark. Kevin and Dariusz are just over 3 seconds ahead. By Turn 11, the gap is down to 3 seconds. In Turn 11, Dariusz loses the rear as he rides the inside curb and drifts off track, gifting me 6th position. I end the lap in 5th as Kevin makes his pit stop.
Lap 5
I now have a clear track ahead with Yuri just over 4 seconds ahead and Glenn 1.5 seconds to the rear.
Lap 6
4th as Yuri pits. I now have over a 2-second lead on Glenn and Rhys is over 7 seconds ahead.
Lap 7
2nd as Eric and Rhys pit. Glenn is hanging on at just over 2 seconds behind. I will pit at the end of the lap for 2 fresh front tires, followed by Glenn.
Lap 8
I come out of the pits in 7th. Glenn is 10th, over 6 seconds behind, with Kevin and Mark in between us.
Lap 9
5th as Tony & Yves pit. Just over 2 seconds ahead of Kevin and over 9 seconds behind Rhys.
Lap 10
The lead over Kevin and Mark is now almost 4 seconds.
Lap 11
Maintaining the lead over Kevin, who now has Yves on his tail.
Lap 12
Yves has replaced Kevin, but the gap is now just under 7 seconds. Finish 5th, 7 seconds behind Rhys and over 7 seconds ahead of Yves.
Overall finish of 4th for the event. Thanks Uncle Sam Racing for a comfortable and fast car.
Race 2 Highlights
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YggVf7O3oAY[/ame]
