Official Discussion Thread - Round 12 - Laguna Seca

Allan Craighead

Hi race fans,

After a long, yet highly entertaining couple months of racing, the 2008 Star Mazda Championship comes to a close this weekend in Northern California. Racing at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course, the season-finale will not only witness the usual battle for weekend supremacy, but three drivers fighting for the series title. AIM Autosport's John Edwards enters the race as the championship leader thanks in large part to his fourth win two weeks ago in Georgia. JDC MotoSport's Joel Miller, the MAZDASPEED Driver Development program race pilot is currently second, while Andersen Racing's Peter Dempsey is third, having won four of the past six races. As always we will be posting the times as we get them here in the forums, as well as any news of note. So be sure to check back often and post any questions you may have.

Cheers,
_________________
Allan Craighead
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

Breaking News

2008 race winners Charles Hall and Tom Gladdis are not in attendance at Laguna Seca having parted ways with Andersen Racing. In their place, F2000 Championship Series runner-up Jonny Baker and former British Formula Renault front-runner Richard will join Peter Dempsey for the season-finale.

Cheers,
_________________
Allan Craighead
eFormulaCarNews.com Managing Editor
eKartingNews.ca Managing Editor
eSportsRacer.com Managing Editor
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

Evening all,

The action is underway in Northern California, with the first of two 35-minute test sessions now in the books. Positioning themselves for a strong season-finale and potentially a championship title, John Edwards and Joel Miller turned the fastest times, while Alex Ardoin completed the top-three. Below are the session times. The second session is scheduled to be run late in the day at Laguna Seca.

Test 1
1. John Edwards 1:21.507
2. Joel Miller 1:21.891
3. Alex Ardoin 1:22.718
4. Patrick O'Neill 1:22.818
5. Peter Dempsey 1:22.976
6. Richard Kent 1:23.475
7. Jonny Baker 1:23.527
8. Scott Rettich 1:23.676
9. Taylor Hacquard 1:23.783
10. Chris Cumming 1:23.888
11. Rusty Mitchell 1:23.892
12. Billy Goshen 1:23.990
13. Caio Lara 1:24.006
14. Dave House 1:24.092
15. Phil Fogg Jr. 1:24.119
16. Dave Mundy 1:24.445
17. J.C. Kester 1:24.544
18. Michael Guasch 1:24.812
19. Chuck Hulse 1:25.071
20. J.W. Roberts 1:25.732
21. Chris Hundley 1:27.496
22. Pedro Serramalera 1:27.958
23. Kristy Kester 1:28.937

Cheers,
_________________
Allan Craighead
eFormulaCarNews.com Managing Editor
eKartingNews.ca Managing Editor
eSportsRacer.com Managing Editor
(226) 808-9472 Cell
acraighead@howdenmediagroup.com

Allan Craighead · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:33 am Post subject:

Morning guys and gals,

Well the second test session at Laguna Seca further indicated that the fight for the series title is sure to be a heated affair. JDC Motorsports' Joel Miller and AIM Autosport's John Edwards were once again the top-two drivers during the session, while fellow championship contender Peter Dempsey was not far back in fourth. Below are the times from the slightly slower afternoon session. Next up is two practice session on Friday.

Test 2

1. Joel Miller 1:21.564
2. John Edwards 1:21.802
3. Richard Kent 1:21.829
4. Peter Dempsey 1:22.089
5. Patrick O'Neill 1:22.181
6. Alex Ardoin 1:22.624
7. Taylor Hacquard 1:22.669
8. Jonny Baker 1:22.853
9. Billy Goshen 1:23.296
10. Chris Cumming 1:23.329
11. Scott Rettich 1:23.403
12. Caio Lara 1:23.708
13. Phil Fogg Jr. 1:23.771
14. J.C. Kester 1:23.802
15. Michael Guasch 1:23.863
16. Dave Mundy 1:23.901
17. Dave House 1:24.025
18. Rusty Mitchell 1:24.075
19. J.W. Roberts 1:24.401
20. Kristy Kester 1:24.469
21. Chuck Hulse 1:25.130
22. Pedro Serramalera 1:28.349
23. Chris Hundley 1:29.092

Cheers,
_________________
Allan Craighead
eFormulaCarNews.com Managing Editor
eKartingNews.ca Managing Editor
eSportsRacer.com Managing Editor
(226) 808-9472 Cell
acraighead@howdenmediagroup.com

Allan Craighead · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

Afternoon gang,

as expected the morning practice session for the Star Mazda cars at Laguna Seca featured the fastest times thus far. Becoming the third different driver to top the speedcharts, Andersen Racing's Richard Kent turned the quickest time, just edging current points leader John Edwards in his AIM Autosport entry. Peter Dempsey, in an Andersen Racing entry and JDC MotorSports Joel Miller continued to show why they are in contention for the series title as well, turning the third and fourth fastest time. Below are the session results. The Star Mazda drivers will have a final 40-minute practice session after lunch.

Practice 1

1. Richard Kent 1:21.074
2. John Edwards 1:21.373
3. Peter Dempsey 1:21.615
4. Joel Miller 1:22.090
5. Patrick O'Neill 1:22.179
6. Alex Ardoin 1:22.390
7. Rick Rosin 1:22.721
8. Taylor Hacquard 1:22.790
9. Scott Rettich 1:22.816
10. Rusty Mitchell 1:22.906
11. Jonny Baker 1:23.120
12. Phil Fogg Jr. 1:23.332
13. Caio Lara 1:23.494
14. Dave Mundy 1:24.060
15. Chuck Hulse 1:24.109
16. Chris Cumming 1:24.139
17. Kristy Kester 1:24.154
18. J.C. Kester 1:24.601
19. Dave House 1:24.750
20. J.W. Roberts 1:24.950
21. Frank McCormick 1:25.502
22. Michael Guasch 1:25.751
23. Chris Hundley 1:26.459
24. Gerry Kraut 1:26.661
25. Billy Goshen 1:26.771
26. Pedro Serramalera 1:34.983

Cheers,
_________________
Allan Craighead
eFormulaCarNews.com Managing Editor
eKartingNews.ca Managing Editor
eSportsRacer.com Managing Editor
(226) 808-9472 Cell
acraighead@howdenmediagroup.com

Rob Howden · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:45 am Post subject:

The second practice for the Star Mazda drivers saw the point contenders rise to the top of the charts as everyone stepped up their games, avoiding slower traffic and the yellows that hindered the opening practice session. Joel Miller set the pace with a 1:21.661 to nip John Edwards for the fastest time. Irishman Peter Dempsey was third quick ahead of Richard Kent and Alex Ardoin.

Pos. / Name / Best Tm
1. Joel Miller - 1:21.661
2. John Edwards - 1:21.676
3. Peter Dempsey - 1:21.761
4. Richard Kent - 1:21.964
5. Alex Ardoin - 1:22.109
6. Jonny Baker - 1:22.260
7. Patrick ONeil - 1:22.794
8. Taylor Hacquard - 1:22.968
9. Scott Rettich - 1:22.970
10. J.C. Kester - 1:23.201
11. Rick Rosin - 1:23.311
12. Caio Lara - 1:23.335
13. Chris Cumming - 1:23.414
14. Billy Goshen - 1:23.590
15. Rusty Mitchell - 1:23.994
16. Dave Mundy - 1:24.185
17. Kristy Kester - 1:24.245
18. Chuck Hulse - 1:24.281
19. Michael Guasch - 1:24.385
20. J.W. Roberts - 1:24.453
21. Phil Fogg Jr. - 1:24.874
22. Gerry Kraut - 1:25.046
23. Chris Hundley - 1:26.242
24. Frank McCormick - 1:26.348
25. Dave House - 1:27.879
26. Pedro Serramalera - 1:28.084
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