This past weekend the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was host to one of the most exciting weekends of racing yet! With World Challenge, ALMS and IndyCar all racing throughout the weekend, this was an event not to be missed. Hotels were sold out months in advance so if you didn’t make your reservation back in spring…you were camping!
The LMP Castrol/Mazda of Dyson Racing claimed it’s first overall and class victory this weekend. The team has had opportunities in previous races but seemed plagued with mechanical failures. They made the move to Dunlop tires from, the perhaps more common, Michelins for the 2010 season; first overall ALMS victory for Dunlop as well – nice job! Even more interestingly, the car was running on isobutanol; a flammable liquid organic biofuel of greater energy density than ethanol making it more efficient and better for the environment. So you can win races and be green…congratulations!!
As motivating as it is to hear about the use of biofuels in racing, the victory for Dyson came by only half a second! - that’s exciting. Just as thrilling was the fantastic GT field as usual. After a long hard fought race with some close calls and an accident or two, it was the #62 Risi Ferrari in 1st and #5 Corvette in 2nd. Excellent driving and pit-work by both teams.
The class victory moves the Risi Competizione Ferraris into a 1st place tie in the Manufacturer’s and Team Championships with BMW. The win also places Melo and Bruni of Risi in 2nd in the Driver’s Championship; 3 points ahead of Auberlen and Milner of BMW and 8 points behind Long and Berg of the ever consistent Flying Lizard Porshces. With Corvette Racing by no means out of contention and Jaguar continuing to build, the season is far from over. Expect more action in up-coming round 7 at the 4 mile circuit of Road America, August 20-22!
Jason
