1.JUL.01
Arciero-Blair
Racing Driver Max Wilson Leads First Career CART Race at Cleveland
CLEVELAND,
Ohio (July 1, 2001) - Arciero-Blair Racing driver Max Wilson led
his first career CART race today at the Marconi Grand Prix of
Cleveland Presented by Firstar. The FedEx Championship Series
continued today in round nine of 21 events at the Burke Lakefront
Airport.
Wilson,
driving the Ford-powered number 25 WinnerB2B Lola, started third for
the race that covered 210.600 miles. Wilson passed the first and
second place cars at the start of the race on the inside of Turn One
coming out in the lead of the 27-car field. Wilson changed the lead
only once with Memo Gidley and while leading came in to pit. The
Arciero-Blair team was pitted at pit in and Bruno Junqueira hit the
wall blocking Wilson’s pit. Wilson was already entering the pit
lane and had to drive by; unable to get safely and cleanly in for
his routine stop. He had to go back around the track and pit on the
next time by.
"Today’s
race was good in the beginning it was good to have the Arciero-Blair
team lead our first race," said Wilson. "I could not keep
up with Memo, he was faster. But, we had a car that was good enough
to finish in the points but we were unable to do that today. I did
not see Bruno in our pit until it was too late and I couldn’t
stop. We are getting closer to running at the front of this
competitive series and that’s good for this new team. The team is
working better and better together at every race. Today we just had
bad luck and I know that’s racing. It really seems that after our
first stop everything else continued to go wrong. This track was
still tough for us because we haven’t tested at all. I want to
keep improving and finish in the points again."
The Midwest
temperatures were record-setting over the last few days with extreme
heat throughout practice and qualifying. Rain was forecast for
Friday’s practice but passed over. Saturday, true to the new
weather report, heavy rain started half way through qualifying.
However, the Arciero-Blair Team was able to run in dry conditions
and improved its morning practice time by almost two seconds. This
is a season and career best for both the Arciero-Blair Racing team
and its driver, Wilson. The ten-turn temporary racetrack is located
at the Burke Lakefront Airport near downtown Cleveland and is 2.106
miles long. This is the first year of Championship Auto Racing Teams
(CART) competition for the Brazilian driver.
"I am so
proud to be part of this new team," said Wilson. "This is
a tough track, I’m learning the track and the team is learning the
track. We made a lot of changes to the car after the practice and I
think our time would have still put us in the top-ten or top-twelve
starting positions. Our qualifying time of starting third gave us an
advantage going into the first turn, which is tough here, instead of
starting in the back. Starting third also gave our team a big boost
of confidence; all of the guys have worked so hard. Scoring our
first points last weekend finishing fourth and starting third here
is great. I like driving in the rain or the dry but our car was
decent in the dry on Saturday. We have had so many challenges this
year. But they have gone smoothly since Larry Blair formed this new
team with the Arciero Family, changed us to Ford-Cosworth power and
added a new general manager; things have gotten better and better.
It is hard to be a rookie and be on a new team but we are moving
forward. ."
The FedEx
Championship Series continues on July 15th at the Molson Indy in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 95 lap race on the temporary street
course race will air on the ESPN Television Network, 1:00 p.m. EST
(Live). Check local listings. Today’s race will also air on the
CART Radio Network and on CART's official website, at www.cart.com.
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