Official Discussion Thread: Rounds 7 & 8 - Cleveland

[Allan Craighead]

Hi all,

After a quick turn around the F2000 Championship Series is ready to go racing again this weekend. On tap is the premier event of the season, runing in conjunction with the Champ Car World Series in Cleveland. Over 40 cars are set to do battle this weekend, but all eyes will be on Cole Morgan, who has won three of the four races he's contested. Will be some long days in Cleveland with a morning and evening session each day. As always I will have news and notes here in forums and full reports o the front page of the website. So check back often and feel free to post any comments or questions.

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

[Allan Craighead]

Afternoon race fans,

The F2000 drivers have just completed their first practice session on the Cleveland Airport circuit. Topping the charts when the checkered flag was current points leader Matt McDonough, who posted a fast lap of 1:18.253. Three-time race winner Cole morgan was second quickest followed by Ricardo Vassmer. Below is the provisional top-10. I'll have full times up in a bit, as well as some notes from the paddock.

McDonough 1:18.253
Morgan 1:18.347
Vassmer 1:18.723
Bystrom 1:18.837
Mansur 1:18.887
Kniffin 1:18.923
Hyatt 1:19.378
Yorio 1:19.559
Sahley 1:19.647
Gonzalez 1:19.926

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

[Allan Craighead]

Hi guys and gals,

Just got back from a quick walk around the paddock. Below are a few quick notes, as well as the full times from the first practice session.

- Making their series debut this weekend are seven-time SCCA National Champion Dave Weitzenhof, Ted Sahley, John Brumnder ad Johnny Reisert.
- Ric baribeault's car is now being prepped by Primus Racing, which is operated by former Cooper series owner Jon Baytos.
- Bill Jordan's Van Diemen now features brand new body work, which caused him to be late on-track for the practice session.
- Cole Morgan is using a car owned by Ron Boltik this weekend, since Jason Byers is driving his own car, which Morgan has previously piloted to victory lane three times.
- The Van Diemen Ricardo Vassmer is driving the remainder of the season is the one previously driven by Max Hyatt at Road Atlanta and owned by Richard Morgan.
- All the drivers found the track conditions very slick in the opening practice session.
- The session was halted for Charles Finelli spinning and stalling in turn one. He will be penalized time on-track in the next session for bring out the red flag.
- Clark Cambern is continuing to deal with engine issues which plaqued him at Watkins Glen.
- Phil Lombardi, who is coaching the Skip Barber National drivers in addition to driving, is struggling with the handling on his Mygale.
- Thom Reilly had a water leak in the session, but shut down before overheating the engine.
- Weitzenhof's starter failed late in the session.
- Grumpecht replaced his clutch following the session.
- Gilkes suffered a gearbox failure in practice and is currently replacing gears.

The F2000 Championship drivers will be back on-track at 7:40 p.m. for the second practice session.

Practice #1 Results

1. Matt McDonough 1:18.253
2. Cole Morgan 1:18.347
3. Richardo Vassmer 1:18.723
4. Noah Bystrom 1:18.837
5. Terrick Mansur 1:18.887
6. Doug Kniffin 1:18.923
7. Max Hyatt 1:19.378
8. Jesse Yorio 1:19.557
9. Ted Sahley 1:19.647
10. Juliana Gonzalez 1:19.926
11. Charles Finelli 1:20.252
12. Phil Lombardi 1:20.399
13. Brent Gilkes 1:20.523
14. Clark Cambern 1:20.542
15. Keegan Van Sicklen 1:20.600
16. Mike Baum 1:20.806
17. Brendan Puderbach 1:20.816
18. Doug Prendeville 1:21.025
19. Michael Mazziotti 1:21.092
20. John Brumder 1:21.177
21. Scott Willard 1:21.211
22. Alan Guibord Jr. 1:21.222
23. Dwight Rider 1:21.737
24. Robert Wright 1:21.760
25. Peter Gonzalez 1:21.830
26. Mark Defer 1:22.347
27. Thomas Fatur 1:22.704
28. Tim Minor 1:22.752
29. Craig Clawson 1:22.874
30. Bill Jordan 1:23.319
31. Chris Camadella 1:23.426
32. Dave Weitzenhof 1:23.916
33. Ric Baribeault 1:23.979
34. Lewis Cooper Jr. 1:24.131
35. Johnny Reisert 1:29.313
36. Jed Dorsheimer 1:29.528
37. Thom Reilly 1:30.831
38. Jason Byers No-time
39. Vaughn Horvath No-time
40. Chris Gumprecht No-time

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

[Allan Craighead]

Evening all,

The final practice session is now complete here at Cleveland and posting the fastest time in the session was Ricardo Vassmer. Below are the times from the session and a few notes.

- The track was still extremely slick with numerous cars sliding off-course.
- Defer had to exit his car one time after spinning, in order to remove some tv cables that had become entangled around his car.
- Weitzenhof is still working on the setup on his car, running on the Hankook slicks for the first time.
- Bob Wright had a wheel bearing failure in the session.
- McDonough had the only incident of note in practice, striking the conrete wall in turn eight, damaging the left rear corner of his car.

Practice #2 Results

1. Richardo Vassmer 1:17.325
2. Terrick Mansur 1:17.526
3. Cole Morgan 1:17.527
4. Max Hyatt 1:17.983
5. Doug Kniffin 1:18.096
6. Matt McDonough 1:18.107
7. Jason Byers 1:18.129
8. Jesse Yorio 1:18.225
9. Noah Bystrom 1:18.430
10. Keegan Van Sicklen 1:18.717
11. Phil Lombardi 1:18.892
12. Juliana Gonzalez 1:19.061
13. Doug Prendeville 1:19.100
14. Michael Mazziotti 1:19.184
15. Scott Willard 1:19.216
16. Charles Finelli 1:19.291
17. John Brumder 1:19.487
18. Ted Sahley 1:19.504
19. Alan Guibord Jr. 1:19.835
20. Clark Cambern 1:20.141
21. Mark Defer 1:20.249
22. Craig Clawson 1:20.271
23. Mike Baum 1:20.286
24. Dwight Rider 1:20.315
25. Robert Wright 1:20.597
26. Brendan Puderbach 1:20.871
27. Dave Weitzenhof 1:20.891
28. Thomas Fatur 1:20.911
29. Tim Minor 1:20.940
30. Brent Gilkes 1:21.005
31. Ric Baribeault 1:21.356
32. Bill Jordan 1:21.738
33. Lewis Cooper Jr. 1:22.082
34. Chris Camadella 1:22.307
35. Peter Gonzalez 1:23.109
36. Chris Gumprecht 1:23.953
37. Jed Dorsheimer 1:25.498
38. Thom Reilly 1:27.121
39. Johnny Reisert 1:29.397

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

[Allan Craighead]

Hi guys,

Just been informed that the final practice session on Friday was in fact a qualifying session. The combined times from that session and the morning session, which is just about commence will determine the grid for race one of the doubleheader (5 p.m. today). The starting lineup for Sunday's race will be determined by the fastest race laps in race one.

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

[Allan Craighead]

Morning race fans,

The second qualifying session at Cleveland has just completed and remaining the driver to beat, Ricardo Vassmer posted the fastest time in the session earning his first pole position of the season. Below are the provisional top-10, a full report with results will be on the front page shortly.

Vassmer 1:16.449
Hyatt 1:16.534
McDonough 1:16.764
Bystrom 1:16.816
Mansur 1:16.830
Byers 1:16.904
Morgan 1:16.915
Gonzalez 1:17.585
Yorio 1:17.638
Prendeville 1:17.947

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

[Allan Craighead]

Hi all,

Just a couple quick notes post qualifying.

- Dorscheimer is getting his gearbox looked at by Craig Taylor in order tighten things up and determine if new do rings are needed.
- Morgan pitted during the session to find a gap and when rejoined proceeded to have a hard time getting the tires up to ideal temperature.
- Hyatt who ualified second is running the full west coast package, which includes the larger 8 and 10 wheel package, a sealed Dynamic Suspensions shock setup and a limited choice in gear ratios.
- A number of drivers are still fine tunning their setup for the fast bumpy racing surface here at Cleveland.

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

[Allan Craighead]

Afternoon gang,

Kris Walker is here shooting the various support series for FormulaCar Magazine. He has begun posting pictures on his website, so check it out here:

http://www.kriswalker.com/index.php?groupid=7&ee_lang=eng

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

[Allan Craighead]

Hi all,

The checkered flag has just waved here at Burke lakefront airport and scoring his first win of the season is Ricardo Vassmer. The Andersen Racing driver lost the lead initially, be regained it just prior to midway point of the race and held off a spirited challenge from Max Hyatt. Below are the provisional top-10, a full report will be up shortly.

1. Vassmer
2. Hyatt
3. Mansur
4. McDonough
5. Kniffin
6. Bystrom
7. Byers
8. Gonzalez
9. Mazziotti
10. Prendeville

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

[Allan Craighead]

Hi everyone,

Ahead of the second race here in Cleveland, figured I'd pass on a few post race notes.

- Ric Baribeault suffered yet another mechanical problem, ending his race early with a battery problem.
- Phil Lombardi will likely not race on Sunday, after contact with Yorio damaged his radiator and resulted in an overheated engine.
- Peter Gonzalez suffered an engine problem at the start of the race and will likely not take part in any further competition this weeekend.
- Craig Clawson's team was busy working on his engine, after a problem in the race.
- A number of teams did changes to their car overnight in order to try them out in the morning warm-up.
- Quickest in the 15-minute session was rookie Terrick Mansur.

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

[Allan Craighead]

Evening guys and gals,

The checkered flag has just waved here in Cleveland for the second F2000 race of the weekend and scoring his first career win is Max Hyatt. Below are the provisional top-10. A full report will be posted shortly.

Race Results

1. Hyatt
2. Mansur
3. Bystrom
4. McDonough
5. Morgan
6. Vassmer
7. Byers
8. Van Sicklen
9. Guibord Jr.
10. Manziotti

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