Monday, May 15, 2006

Crashes spoil PKV Racing's Grand Prix Weekend AJR Wins GT2 in Houston

Robin Osborne

The streets of downtown Houston were converted into a 1.615 mile temporary circuit this past weekend for round #2 of the Champ Car World Series. PKV Racing would have its inaugural Houston Grand Prix spoiled in separate incidents during the Saturday night race. Katherine Legge, behind the wheel of the #20 Bell Micro – PKV Racing Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone entry was running in 13th position when on lap 42 Dan Clark hit her sending the Bell Micro machine into the tires and knocking off the rear wing. Legge was restarted and returned to the pits where her crew sprang into action repairing the damage. She returned to the contest 15 laps down and in 15th place but would pick up a position and finish the race in 14th place. “What a day, what a day” Legge said. “Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. They say bad things happen in three’s and they were certainly right. First, I had a knee pad get loose in the cockpit. Then I had an electrical problem with the car and finally I got taken out of the race,” she explained. “I really have to thank the Bell Micro – PKV Racing crew. They did a fantastic job getting the car repaired. They are really a great bunch of guys and I appreciate their hard work and support.”

Oriol Servia, driving the #6 Champ Car, would battle back from an early incident that damaged his front wing and was running in fifth place when on lap 88 (100 lap race) he came in contact with Alex Tagliani while fighting for fourth place. Servia’s car was damaged beyond repair ending his race in 12th place. “Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking of passing Tagliani on the lap,” Servia began. “But in the middle of the straightaway he let off the throttle and slowed down. I caught him and then he got back on the throttle. At that point I was beside him and I thought he was having a problem. Then he turned in and hit me,” he explained. “It’s really a shame, I knew we had fourth place for sure and I was looking for a podium finish.”

Teammates Mike Rockenfeller and Klaus Graff would post the first win for Alex Job Racing in round #2 of the ALMS Series. This marks the 50th professional road racing win and 37th ALMS series win for Alex Job Racing. Mike Rockenfeller started the # 23/Alex Job Racing/Bell Microproducts/Porsche 911 RSR from the last row on the grid. The team’s fourth place qualifying session was negated due to the decision to start on new tires as opposed to those they used for qualifying. Rockenfeller wasted no time working his way to the front of the GT2 field. Within 16 laps he was in second place, within a second of the class lead. On lap 55 the leading Ferrari pitted and Rockenfeller assumed the lead. On lap 75, the team’s only pit stop, Graf would climb behind the wheel and run fast and consistent lap times winning the race for AJR.

ALMS car

“Mike did a great job to bring us back up from dead last and into the lead in his stint,” said Alex Job. “Klaus was able to get in and close the deal for us tonight. We had some new crew members on the team and put together a great pit stop to get us out in the front and keep the lead. This marks the team’s 50th professional road racing win.”

Race

Round #3 of the American Le Mans Series will be run at Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course on Sunday, may 21st. The race will be televised on CBS live starting at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Bell Micro Racing will host its next Relationship Sales Event at the San Jose Grand Prix on Sunday July 30th.