August 24, 2002 – Jonathan Macri Finishes 12th in Montreal
The tight, hard-fought and highly competitive open-wheel racing that has characterized the 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship Series continued today, as drivers took to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve for the 21st time since 1978. The last Canadian stop in the Atlantic schedule, and the second-to-last race of the season, race-savvy Montreal fans were treated to an exhibition of tight, all-out racing, led by this year’s top-two championship contenders Michael Valiante (Lynx Racing) and Jon Fogarty (Dorricott Racing). The wheel-to-wheel battle between the two quickly dissipated as Valiante pitted early to change a flat tire. The drama, however, continued throughout the field of 28 drivers right from the waving of the green flag.
Starting 11th on the grid, Jonathan Macri, piloting the P-1 Racing–NTN Bearings/Miller Genuine Draft/Battlefield Rentals Swift 014.a, quickly went to work on the field moving up to 6th position by the 4th lap. The first yellow was waved on lap 4 and the race went to green on lap 6. Twenty-year-old Jonathan then took 5th spot on lap 11 after Waldemar Coronas (Scuadra Fortia) made contact with the wall. A second yellow was waved on lap 9 after Stephan Roy (BBGP Racing) hit the wall on the long straight before the final chicane. A mishap on lap 12, however, saw Jonathan Macri and Aaron Justus (Performance Development & Racing) make contact going into Turn 1. As a result, Aaron’s race ended as Jonathan nursed his car back to pit lane to change a flat tire, re-entering in 20th spot. Lap 18 saw the third yellow of the race. Once the race went to green on lap 20, Macri mounted a charge through the field, moving up to 15th position by lap 21. He passed Alex Garcia (Transnet Racing) on lap 23 for 14th spot and Bruno St.-Jacques (Michael Shank Racing) for 13th by lap 25. Jonathan’s charge, however, was cut short by the approaching checkered flag, but not before he managed to pass David Wieringa (Sigma Autosport) for 12th spot on lap 26.
“The race was going really well. I managed to get past quite a few cars early on and was in good shape by the first yellow,” Jonathan said. By the second yellow on lap 9, I was right up front and in the top-five. The race was working itself out really well, and the car was definitely competitive. From 5th spot that early in the race, I was looking for a podium. Unfortunately, Aaron and I made contact and that ended his day, and pretty well ended my run for a podium spot. When I re-started in 20th after my pit-stop, I just re-focused and raced to make some points.”
The racing drama that seems to always play itself out at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve held true to its tradition today. Michael Valiante, who was looking to capture first or second, was relegated to fighting for points, after a flat tire and subsequent pit stop put him back to 27th. However, Valiante made a dramatic charge to the front, finally settling into 7th. Jon Fogarty, whose breathing must have been made much easier after Valiante pitted early, was tested throughout the race by Rocky Moran Jr. (Sigma Autosports), who applied heavy pressure, finally being passed by Moran going into the final chicane. Jonathan Macri looked to be in excellent shape for a podium finish but was, like Valiante, relegated to playing catch-up after his pit stop. Ryan Dalziel (Hylton Motorsports) took to the podium for his 3rd-place finish. Joey Hand (DSTP Motorsports) and Alex Gurney (Dorricott Racing) rounded off the top-five finishers.
Michael Valiante leads the Championship with 146 points. Jon Fogarty sits in a close 2nd with 140 points. Jonathan Macri retains his 7th-place standing in the Championship, with 85 points.
Race Report by Fedele Fortino
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