Under windy conditions and cooler temperatures, Road America, the long, daunting four-mile road course teasingly summoned Toyota Atlantic drivers to test their speed and skill.
Rookie Canadian racing ace, Jonathan Macri, driving for P1-Racing/NTN Bearings, was definitely up to the task, welcoming the opportunity to attack this famed track with the racing fervour and aggression that has become his trade mark. Macri left nothing to the imagination, utilizing his no-holds-barred racing grit, persistence and talent to track down and surpass fellow competitors.
Jason LaPoint did not make it to the end of the first lap before seeing Macri’s blue #31 machine. Standing between Jonathan and the prized number 3 spot was David Rutledge, and so the chase was on finally culminating in lap 9 when Macri manoeuvred past Rutledge. The number 3 spot was good. If Jonathan finished here today, celebrations would be in order – it would have been, after all his first Atlantic podium finish. But this was not to be. The 17-lap race was still young and the number two spot was in sight. Yes, celebrations would be the order of the day, but for a number two finish. Macri drove hard, finally catching and overtaking rookie-of-the-year challenger Joey Hand on lap 13. With 4 laps to go, the flying Hoover Orsi became Macri’s final moving target, albeit the fastest target he had to shoot for on this race day. But the chase looked good and Macri’s lap 16 testified to his effort as he clocked the fastest lap of the race. With Hoover Orsi less still a distance away in lap 17 (under 2 seconds), however, Jonathan called off the hunt and settled for a cruise to a second place podium finish, the first of his Atlantic career – definitely not the last.
“This weekend couldn’t have gone any better,” an elated Jonathan Macri said. I knew we had the right car at this morning’s warm-up. I could throw it into corners at will, and I really felt comfortable in it. I got off to a great start and overtook Jason LaPointe in the first lap. The car seemed to over steer four laps into the race, and so I adjusted the sway bars from inside the car. By lap nine the car came together and I felt comfortable charging David Rutledge for the pass. I caught up to Joey in the 13th lap and took 2nd place. I then really worked hard to catch Hoover, but going into lap 17, I realized that he was a bit too far to really challenge and that it wasn’t worth jeopardizing a podium, so I backed off and coasted to the finish. I really can’t say enough about my team, P1-racing/NTN Bearings Swift. They gave me a phenomenal car, and have been extremely diligent in preparing it for Road America. I want to thank P1-Racing and NTN Bearings Swift for providing me with a car that made it possible for me to race to a podium finish.”
In addition to clinching his first podium finish, Macri won the $1000.00 WorldCom “Fast Pace” award with his record setting lap of 2:02.688 seconds (118.779mph). Posting the fastest lap of the race and a setting a race track record, Jonathan’s outing at Road America has been nothing short of stupendous. Finally, Jonathan has been rewarded for his true racing spirit, talent, grit and enthusiasm. He came close to winning a podium in several earlier races – Montreal and Trois Rivieres. Without doubt, racing results have not accurately reflected Jonathan’s performance; his skill and prowess. However, Road America surely crushes this deceptive pattern, holding a mirror to Macri and his talent, rewarding him accordingly with a well-deserved 2nd-place podium finish.
Jonathan Macri, it would appear, has reached a crossroads in his young racing career. He has stood on the podium and felt victory, and no less wears it comfortably. The psychological valve, as it were, has been loosened and the pressure released or as Jonathan puts it: “The pressure is off for a podium. Now I can race.”
Report by Fedele Fortino
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