AIS: Calgary report

• jpracer@aol.com (JPRACER)
• America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
• Tue Jul 9 06:26:10 EDT 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 30, 1996

Jimmy Santos and Bill Tempero grabbed the victories in the American
IndyCar Series double race weekend at Race City Speedway Park, Calgary,
Canada.

Saturday's race on the 1.6-mile road course appeared to belong to Jimmy
Santos as he set quick times during the morning practice session, but
during the afternoon session Santos lost the car entering the carousel
and slid into the outside wall ending his run for the pole.

Bill Tempero, sitting on the pole with a new course record, brought the
cars to the line with Jaques Lazier on the outside of row one. Greg
Gorden on the outside of row two powered past Lazier into second in
pursuit of Tempero, and on lap six took over the lead.

Tempero attempting a pass on the outside of Gorden in the carousel
went off the track. While waiting for course workers to get him turned
around, Tempero rejoined the race at the back of the field a lap down.

Santos, starting seventh on the grid, ran a strong second, but Gorden
was in charge of the race.

After losing the lead and a lap, Tempero's chances of a podium finish
were gone, but a persistent Tempero picked his way through the field,
and after a yellow late in the race, was back on the lead lap. Working
his way to second, he made a move on Gorden to take the lead with five
laps remaining. Gorden now in second suddenly slowed and was out of the
race due to mechanical problems giving Santos the second spot.

With one lap to run Tempero pulled off the course as his car ran out of
fuel and Jimmy Santos took the checkerd flag with Dave Adamson finishing
second.

For Sunday's race crews worked to change the cars from their road course
set-up to the oval set-ups. Greg Gordon had pole honors with Jimmy
Santos alongside as the green flag dropped.

Santos, with Saturday's win under his belt, jumped into the lead with
Gorden tucked under his wing. Gorden moved under Santos on lap eight to
take over the lead.

Tempero starting fifth moved up through the field and midway in the race
was once again setting his sights on Gorden. Gorden and Tempero with
Santos in third masterfully worked their way through traffic for sixty
laps. Tempero made his move on the outside of Gorden with eight laps
remaining in the race to take the win on the oval.

"I waited for the race to come back to me. As my fuel became lighter, my
car started working onthe high groove, and I felt I could make the move
on Greg," stated Tempero.

AIS moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado, for Round Four on July 13-14 with
Jimmy Santos leadingTempero by two points in the Championship points.

OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS - ROUND 2
RACE CITY SPEEDWAY - CALGARY, CANADA
JUNE 29, 1996


FP   CAR #     DRIVER

  1  25        Jimmy Santos
  2  18        Dave Adamson
  3  15        Bill Tempero
  4  88        Keith Betchley
  5  37        Greg Gorden
  6  95        Arlon Koops
  7    1       Curtis Spicer
  8  34        Bret Decker
  9    5       Shawn Schmidt
10   21        Ed Eide
11   59        Frank Coombes
12     3       John McDonald
13   33        Jacques Lazier
14   32        Jim Bryant
15   86        Scott Kundsen


OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS - ROUND 3
RACE CITY SPEEDWAY - CALGARY, CANADA
JUNE 30, 1996


FP   CAR #     DRIVER

  1  15        Bill Tempero
  2  37        Greg Gorden
  3  25        Jimmy Santos
  4    5       Shawn Schmidt
  5  34        Bret Decker
  6  59        Frank Coombes
  7  21        Ed Eide
  8    3       John McDonald
  9  88        Keith Betchley
10   32        Jim Bryant
11   18        Dave Adamson
12     7       Arlon Koops
13     1       Curtis Spicer
14   33        Jaques Lazier
15   86        Scott Knudsen


AMERICAN INDYCAR SERIES
DRIVER POINT STANDINGS
(After Round 3 - Calgary)


  1 - Jimmy Santos       55
  2 - Bill Tempero       53
  3 - Dave Adamson       49
  4 - Ken Petrie         47
  5 - Shawn Schmidt      45
  6 - Bret Decker        42
  7 - Greg Gorden        41
  8 - Ed Eide            40
  9 - John McDonald      39
10 - Jaques Lazier       34
11 - Keith Betchley      29
12 - Frand Coombes       25
13 - Curtis Spicer       22
14 - Jim Bryant          18
15 - Joe Simmons         14
16 - Scott Knudsen       11
17 - Dale Buckley          9
18 - Jeff Nish             8
19 - Jim Webb         7


Jon Payne
AIS Freelance Writer