(Gormley, Ontario) August 5, 2003 – After a three-year hiatus, the Atlantic series returns to Lexington, Ohio this weekend for round nine of the 2003 Championship. The Atlantics have not competed on this track since 1999, so this is a first time for many of the drivers including Jonathan Macri.
Macri has tested at Mid-Ohio before, but is looking forward to racing on the 2.258 – mile road course even more. “I enjoyed testing here, so competing on this track will be even better,” said Macri. “It’s a cool course, one with tight corners and numerous turns. It will however, be difficult to pass on the track because there is only one long straight-away.”
After a somewhat disappointing weekend in Quebec, Macri is just hoping that his first car will be ready to perform on track at Mid-Ohio. Last weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres, Macri hit the wall during qualifying causing such damage to the car that he had to finish the weekend in the back-up car.
“We just were not as fast in the back-up car in Trois Rivieres last weekend, it wasn’t handing well, “ stated Macri. “So, the team is working hard this week to repair our first car so that I don’t have to use our back-up car again. I really appreciate all of their devotion and hard work to get us back out there to compete with the front pack once again.”
This weekend will begin with a 30 – minute practice session Friday afternoon, followed by a provisional qualifying session at 3:45 p.m. EST. Saturday begins with a morning practice session at 8:15 a.m. EST, followed by the final qualifying session at 3:00 p.m. EST. Round nine of the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship race is scheduled to begin at 11:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, August 10. The Speed channel will broadcast the race tape-delay on August 10 at 12:30 p.m. EST (Check your local listings).
B-roll of Macri on track is available for television use. Please contact Macri publicity for a beta tape copy or to set up an interview: Kate Unger, (602) 750-1720, kunger8@hotmail.com or Jessica Jewell, (602) 524-2892, jessjewell@hotmail.com
***Qualifying & race results will be posted on www.jonathanmacri.com.
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