LARSSON THREE FOR THREE IN MAY
LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 27) - It took three attempts at the green but when it
finally flew, polesitter Fredrik Larsson fended off a first-lap, first-turn
move by Derek Hill, then drove flawlessly to his third consecutive Barber
Dodge Pro Series win, in round five at Lime Rock Park. Hill kept second place
by surviving a last-lap, first-turn wheel-banging episode with Tony Renna,
with Rino Mastronardi third. Over the past three races--Texas World Speedway
May 5, Nazareth Speedway May 18 and today at Lime Rock--Larsson has cultivated
a healthy points lead over Tim Moser while Mastronardi's consistent points
gathering now has him in third, just three behind Moser.
     The first attempt at a green failed miserably as five drivers back in the
pack went spinning and crashing when things stacked up at the front; the first
couple of rows were staggered and ugly so no green was thrown, catching out
Chris Menninga, Skip Streets, John McCaig, Jarrett Boon and Steve Lorenzen.
Nobody was hurt and after the cleanup, the field came around again, and again
the starter did not like what he was seeing. But the third time around
everybody was where they were supposed to be and down to Big Bend the 22-car
field went.
     Hill, who had qualified second, took the lead into the first part of the
famous 190-degree, double apex righthander, but Larsson stayed with Hill just
off his left sidepod and thus had the advantage for turn three, The
Lefthander. "Was I surprised Freddy stayed with me, on the outside? No. These
guys up front in this series are really good and don't give up a thing," Phil
Hill's young son said. "I'm really learning a lot from them. I think I'm ready
for my own win." Hill has a third and a second in the last two races "and I'm
ready to knock Fredrik off the top step," he said while winking at Larsson.
     With Larsson now motoring away, Hill had his hands full with Thomas
Schie, who in turn had "Big Scholarship" driver Tony Renna all over him. When
Schie spun in the chicane on lap 10, losing three spots, Renna filled Hill's
mirrors. Meanwhile Mastronardi joined the fracas. Those three ran in lockstep
for the next 11 laps, but then the white flag flew--it was now or never if you
didn't like your position.
     Renna, in third, had his mind set on second place. He tried the outside
pass in Big Bend, but ended up paying the price when he and Hill touched,
sending Renna to the dirt. He recovered beautifully, but his now-mangled line
into the Lefthander gave Mastronardi the run he needed and the Italian ducked
underneath at the next corner, after some more inadvertant wheel-banging.
     After the race Larsson was told his "easy," drive-away win meant scant
airtime for his Marlboro-sponsored Barber Dodge, ESPN instead focusing on the
tight action behind him. Larsson smiled and said, "Maybe next time I slow
down." Don't count on it.
-Rick Roso

Lime Rock Park, 1.54-mile, 8-turn road course, Lakeville, Conn., 30-minute
Barber Dodge Pro Series race (shortened to 22 min.), Dodge Dealers Lime Rock
Grand Prix, May 27, 1996. All cars equally prepared Barber Dodges:

Finishing position (starting position), winner's time and average speed, laps
(reason out, if any), prize money:
1. (1) Fredrik Larsson, Sweden, 22:08.816, 96.001 mph, 23,  $10,000
2. (2)Derek Hill, Santa Monica, Calif., 23, 22:09.883, $6,000
3. (5) Rino Mastronardi, Italy, 23, $4,000
4. (4) Tony Renna, Deland, Fla., 23, $2,500
5. (9) Jeff Bucknum, Simi Valley, Calif., 23, $1,800
6. (7) Geoff Boss,Narragansett, R.I., 23, $1,500
7. (3) Thomas Schie, Norway, 23, $1,300
8.(10) Memo Gidley, San Rafael, Calif., 23, $1,200
9. (16) Leandro Larrosa,Argentina, 23, $1,500
10. (8) Tim Moser, Ventura, Calif., 23, $1,000
11.(11) Rocky Moran, Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif., 23, $800
12. (17) Seiji Ara,Japan, 23, $700
13. (14) Steven Rikert, Rhinebeck, N.Y., 23,  $600
14. (18) G.J. Mennen, Vernon, N.J., 23, $500
15. (13) Brian McCarthy, Dayton, Ohio 23, $500
16. (21) Carlos Bonetti, Brazil, 23, $500
17. (26) Joe Vantreese, Batavia, Ill., 22, $500
18 (25) Patsy DiFilippo, Apollo, Pa., 22, $500
19 (27) Art Coia, Barrington, R.I., 22, $500
20. (12) Bryan Selby, Alpine, Calif., 16 (accident), $500
21. (20) Nick O'Sullivan, Boulder, Colo., 15 (accident), $500
22. (6) Andres Felipe Gomez, Colombia, 6 (gearbox), $500
23. (15) Chris Menninga, Pella, Iowa, 0 (did not start; accident)
24. (19) Skip Streets, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 0 (did not start; accident)
25. (22) John MacCaig, Canada, 0 (did not start; accident)
26. (23) Jarrett Boon, Chandler, Ariz., 0 (did not start; accident)
27. (24) Steve Lorenzen, Tahoe City, Calif., 0 (did not start; accident).

Margin of Victory: 1.067 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: Rino Mastronardi, lap 12, :54.705
Most Progressive Driver: Leandro Larrosa, 15th (after re-grid from aborted
start) to 9th.


Qualifying session information is available on the
unofficial Skip Barber Racing School WWW site
http://www.albany.edu/~gr743


Points after five of 12 rounds:

1.      Fredrik Larsson         78
2.      Tim Moser               54
3.      Rino Mastronardi        51
4.      Thomas Schie            45
5.      Tony Renna              45
6.      Derek Hill              44
7.      Jeff Bucknum            42
8.      Bryan Selby             38
9.      Mauro Fartuszek         33
10.     Seiji Ara               33

Next race: Watkins Glen, N.Y., June 29

for more information on

Skip Barber Racing School  or  Barber Dodge Pro Series
email      SPEED@SKIPBARBER.COM