The 2002 CART-Toyota Atlantic Championship resumes this weekend with the first of three back-to-back race weekends at Road America. The feature support race at the Motorola 220, Sunday’s race will mark the eighth time since 1990 that the Atlantic series has competed at the famed 4.048-mile permanent race course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The 10th leg of the Atlantic’s 12-race season, Gormley, Ontario’s Jonathan Macri, piloting the blue P-1 Racing-NTN Bearings/Miller Genuine Draft/Battlefield Equipment Rentals Swift 014.a, is looking forward to burying the memory of Trois-Rivieres. After starting 7th and steadily moving through the field to 5th spot, contact with Luis Diaz (Dorricott Racing) saw Macri spin off course and end his challenge for a podium position.
“We’re looking to put Trois-Rivieres behind us,” Jonathan said. “We had a difficult pre-race weekend there, but P-1 Racing really came through to give me an extremely well-handling, competitive car at the Green. Unfortunately, contact put us out early. We’re now looking to put down some good results at Road America. I’m definitely looking forward to running there. I captured my first podium finish at Road America in my rookie season last year and walked away with the Worldcom “Fast Pace” Award. So we’re confident about our prospects this weekend. Road America is a fast track, with long, wide straights. Drafting off the car ahead will make passing very possible. Qualifying is always important, but I think that as long as your time is competitive and close to the front, it’s more crucial that you have a competitive car come race day. We’ve gained good experience running Road America last year, so I think we should really be competitive come Sunday.”
Jonathan enters Road America currently 7th in the Championship Standings with 72 points. Michael Valiante (Lynx Racing) leads the Championship with 123 points.
Speed Channel will broadcast the Atlantic race at Road America on Sunday on Sunday, August 18, at 1:30PM. ET.
For further information on Jonathan visit www.jonathanmacri.com or www.toyotaatlantic.com
|
 |