PLAYER'S LTD. TOYOTA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX
APRIL 7-9

PIT NOTES FROM 38-LAP RACE

LONG BEACH, Calif -- SpeedNet -- Hello again from Long Beach.  I had
just about ten minutes to spell-check the Indy car story, use the
bathroom, have a cigarette, and get my tape recorder working in the
press room for the Indy car post-race press conference. Phew!

Well, I'm back in my position in the main press room, where I watched
the Indy lights and IndyCar race today.  This is a better place than in
my spot in the deadline press room because 1) I can't see the tv that
well in the other room, and 2) the scoring monitor is not exactly in the
best of shape - with the picture going off each side of the screen. :)

At 3:35 the command to start engines was given and a minute later the
cars set out on two pace laps before lining up for the standing start
this is the only series in America which gets the green flag when the
field is doing zero mph.

We're on the second pace lap now and we're already under yellow: Dennis
Ashbury somehow already had a broken rear wing and when he got got on
the gas a little too early for the exit of Turn 4 and did a couple 360
spins. He didn't hit anything, but he still has that broken rear wing.

And here is the green light!  As usual with this series here at the
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, it's chaos into Turn 1.  Two cars go
sliding off and one into the tire barrier.  I do not know these drivers
too well so bear with me! :)

Bill Auberlen spins around at Turn 6 and now we'll have our first full
course caution.

After lap one it is pole sitter Richie Hearn leading, followed by
fourth-place qualifier Jonathan Clues, Patrick  David
Empringham, Case Montgomery, Zeca Giaffone, Eric Lang, Colin Trueman and
Felipe Giaffone.  Yes, there are three Giaffone brothers racing here
this weekend.

After 4 laps we have the green flag back out and the top four are almost
as many abreast going into Turn 1.

Rookie "Clues" is hot on Hearn's tail out of Four and slips inside at
Turn 6, to take the lead.  It looks like we will be hearing a lot more
from this guy.  Sorry, I've never heard of them.

After 7 laps know, the top four cars are still pretty close, with
Richie Hearn applying maximum pressure to Clues, who, by the way is
driving a car one specification older than his pursuers (RT-40 vs
Ralt RT-41).

We are now on lap 11 of this 38-lap race, and Hearn is relentless.
Carpentier is staying close, too.

OH NO! Leader Jonathan Clues has just been taken out of the race in an
accident with the lapped car of Jonathan Clues.  It wasn't the fault of
Pratt (later, Clues wanted to make this perfectly clear because many of
us here thought that was exactly what happened). Clues locked up the
brakes and Pratt became an innocent victim in this huge shunt over in
Turn 6.  No one was hurt, which was surprising because it looked as if
Clues right-front wheel snapped back and hit him in the head!

Full Course Yellow

Somehow, Carpentier got around Richie Hearn and into the lead.  We can
only assume Hearn slowed to avoid the shunt in front of him and that let
the Canadian into the lead.

The Pratt/Clues accident was pretty major, as far as course destruction
is concerned.  We've been under yellow for 11 long laps as the Cal Club
workers put the tire barriers back into place.

And....  Here's the green flag!

Richie Hearn pushes Carpentier into the tires at Turn 1.  Carpentier
should have slowed and let him have the corner, but he didn't and he
paid the price.

Colin Trueman also had a charge into Turn 1 and is now up to 2nd behind
Hearn.  Third is Case Montgomery and David Empringham, the series
champion is fourth.

lap 25, Empringham Ham takes Montgomery for third going into Turn 1.
Meanwhile, at the hairpin we have ???? sideways at the hairpin.  I don't
believe it: Another Full Course Yellow.  Hopefully this will be a short
one.

Under Yellow, the leaders are: Hearn, Trueman, Empringham, Montgomery,
Zeca Giaffone, Clint Mears (Rick Mears son), Eric Lang, Felipe Giaffone
Patrick Carpentier and Zak Brown in 10th.

Since we are under yellow I'll tell you about the weather: Its still
about the same ambient temperature bit  windy....

And....  Here's the green flag lap 28.

Colin Trueman leads before the start/finish line but falls back into
place before the first turn so he might not be penalized for passing
before the green flag.  Unfortunately, he also let Empringham through s
know he's dropped back to third.

Empringham takes Hearn going into Turn 6, and now Hearn is dropping back
fast.  Unfortunately he held up the rest...

The leaders after 33 laps: Empringham, Zeca Giaffone, Trueman,

Its a great battle now for second places, with Trueman and Carpentier
tarding 3rd place back in forth.  Carpentier makes it stick on lap 33
and goes after Zeca.

Lap after lap, Carpentier is all over Zeca, and it forced him to stumble
and now Trueman comes back around Carpentier in Turn 6 on lap 35.  If
you cannot tell already, this is a fabulous race, let me tell you: It
is!  Don't miss this one when it comes on ESPN.

OH NO! Carpentier hit the outside wall at Turn 8 and is out of the race!
His steering must have been damaged.  What a terrible end to a great
race.

Meanwhile, Empringham seals the victory, easily, but Zeca Giaffone and
Colin Trueman are still going at it: The two go side-by-side into Turn 6
and then bump twice into Turn 7!  Trueman could have easily put Zeca out
of the race and into the wall, but he didn't, and like a good sportsman,
he settle for third.

What a race!  Hope it appeared so from these notes. :)

-Robert