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Road Atlanta (12 Oct, 2002) -
Michael Galati missed out on a podium finish in one of the closest and
most hard-fought SPEED GT races of the season at Road Atlanta, though
his fourth-place result was good enough to preserve his GT Drivers'
points lead over arch-rival and Atlanta race winner Peter Cunningham as
the SPEED GT circus heads to VIR for the 2002 World Challenge finale.
Rookie Paul Edwards, who stunned the GT field by putting his #3 Audi S4
Competition
on the front row during Atlanta qualifying, had a fantastic start and
took and
held the race lead in the early stages of the race. Though he fell back
to fourth
during the race, Edwards recovered to hold a solid third place as the
laps wound
down. But, recognizing Galati's situation in the GT Championship points
hunt,
Edwards (competing in just his second World Challenge race) dropped back
on the
last lap to finish fifth, behind Galati, who earned an extra two points
in the
process to bolster a narrowing points gap to Cunningham.
Derek Bell, in the #2 Audi S4, got his usual excellent start, running
fourth on
the opening lap, only to see his chances dashed when he and John Young
were punted
off into the gravel trap at turn six by another competitor. Bell pitted
for a
thorough inspection that revealed a bent wheel, which was soon replaced
and Derek
rejoined the fray, ultimately finishing sixteenth on the day.
Starting the No. 42 RealTime Racing Acura NSX from the second row,
Cunningham
ran in fourth place for the first half of the event before making a
charge to
the front, passing Paul Edwards, of Santa Maria, Calif., on lap 12,
Pobst on lap
15 and Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, on lap 16 for the race
lead. From
there, Cunningham was out front for the remaining 11 laps of the 27-lap
race to
win by 0.650-second, averaging 95.095 mph.
For series point leader Galati, the event looked like a great
opportunity to extend
his point lead. From his fifth starting spot, he got a great jump at the
green
light and was able to take the lead on lap four when he made a daring
pass around
both Edwards and Pobst in turn one. The pass was named the Rogaine “Hair
Raising Pass of the Day” by the SPEED Channel broadcast team.
With the win, Cunningham was able to close the gap on Galati to 15
points, 246
to 231. The second-place finish by Pobst clinched the 2002
Manufacturers’
Title for Porsche, their third title in the last four years.
Results from SPEED GT at Road Atlanta:
1. (4), Peter Cunningham, W. Bend, Wis., Acura NSX SC, 27 laps
2. (1), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Porsche 911 Cup, - .65sec
3. (3), Phil McClure, Floris, Iowa, Corvette ZO6, -12.344.
4. (5), Michael Galati, N. Olmstead, Ohio,
Audi S4 Comp., -15.124.
5. (2), Paul Edwards(R), Santa Maria, Calif., Audi S4 Comp., -15.629
.............
16. (9), Derek Bell, Pagham, England, Audi
S4 Comp., -2 laps
SPEED GT Drivers Points after Road Atlanta:
1 - Michael Galati, Audi S4 Comp. 246
2 - Peter Cunningham, Acura NSX SC 231
3 - Johannes van Overbeek, Porsche 911 Cup 194
4 - Randy Pobst, Porsche 911 Cup 191
5 - Jeff McMillin, BMW M3 188
6 - John Young(R), Saleen SR 175
7 - Derek Bell, Audi S4 Comp. 156 |
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Rookie Paul Edwards lines
up second, but is determined to lead from the start... |
Paul hits the rev
limiter, but gets away fast and clean, while Derek Bell slots in behind
Michael Galati on the inside line |
Edwards has the jump
on Randy Pobst's Porsche, and Galati's inside line gives him the
advantage over Pobst for second |
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heading up the hill,
Edwards first, Galati second, Bell fifth |
Full-course Caution
due to van Overbeek/Bell/Young incident at turn six...Paul Edwards leads
handily at the start of lap two |
Derek pits to inspect
his Audi S4, but continues after a bent wheel is replaced |
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Restart...Edwards
leads, moving over to protect the inside line from a charging Randy
Pobst |
Pobst tucks under
Edwards' rear bumper through One, while Galati, on the outside line,
reflects in both Audi and Porsche |
the battle between
Edwards (r) and Pobst allows Galati (l) to move into the race lead |
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Galati pulls off the
Rogaine Hair Raising Pass of the Day, passing both Pobst and Edwards |
Edwards has been
shuffled back to third, as Pobst breaks out of line to challenge Galati
into Turn One |
Pobst, Galati,
Edwards, Cunningham |
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PD works his way past
Edwards for third, while Phil McClure hounds Edwards |
Derek Bell, back in
the race but laps down, meets the curbing with enthusiasm |
Galati leads Pobst
and Cunningham...for now... |
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when Pobst falters
temporarily, Cunningham takes the advantage and the race lead |
Paul Edwards...not
about to give up, takes and holds third spot as the laps wind down |
Edwards proves
himself a team player, allowing Galati past and into fourth...and two
extra valuable points...Edwards comes fifth, Bell 16th |
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No podium finishes
for Champion Audi at Road Atlanta, but Galati earns the Rogaine
Hair-raising pass of the race award for his move on Pobst |
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