|
2003 Results - Star Mazda Series Red Line Oil Championship |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portland
International Raceway May 16 - 17, 2003 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Kyle Kelley marks Portland debut with victory |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
May
17, 2003, Portland, OR.
In his first appearance at Portland International Raceway, as part of the
Star Mazda Series Red Line Oil Championship, series newcomer Kyle Kelley
claimed the pole position and prevailed in a race long duel over Phil Fogg
Jr. to claim his first Star Mazda Series victory. “It
always feels great when you cross the finish line first and I have to
thank my team and my sponsors Pauline’s Antiques, UPRacing.com, Carlos
Arroyo and Sons, Lanzini and Design Products,” an exuberant Kelley
exclaimed. “While the pro race at Nazareth had taken a few of the
regular drivers across the country the race here was still hotly
contested.” Much
like the Star Mazda Series North American Championship drivers in
Nazareth, the Red Lin Oil Championship drivers were faced with
ever-changing weather as they prepared for the 24-lap event around the 1.9
Mile road course. Despite only three previous races in the Formula Mazda,
and no experience in rain with the car, Kelley managed to start put the
weekend third fastest and would lower his times all weekend, claiming the
pole position with a time of 1:18.143 just before the rains returned to
the track. As
the green flag fell for the Saturday race, Kelley was able to maintain the
lead for the early part of the race, but slipping up on a wet exit curb
allowed Phil Fogg Jr to slip through and into the lead. The rest of the
race Kelley and Fogg would be locked together in a battle of wills. Kelley
would take the lead only to have Fogg reclaim the spot. So hard fought was
the battle that the lead changed three times on the final lap as Kelley
was able to maneuver past Fogg into turn one, only to give the position
back to Fogg, as they entered the final turn Kelley saw an opportunity to
get inside Fogg and they had a drag race to the finish line with Kelley
edging out Fogg by a nose. “I
don’t think the race could’ve been any more exciting and I have to
compliment Phil Fogg Jr on our battle,” Kelley said. “We were both
going for the win but we gave each other enough room to race. Now I’ve
got to prepare for Seattle and my second new track in as many weeks.” Rounding
out the podium for Star Mazda Series Red Line Oil Championship entrants
was current Masters Championship points leader Bob Negron. While another
series newcomer, John Green, would take fourth place points and Garrett
Drysdale would claim the final position in the top five. Despite
missing the event to compete in the North American Championship Mike
Anderson maintains the top spot in the championship ahead of Alan Rudolph,
while second place finisher Phil Fogg Jr moves up to third in the
championship points battle as the series prepares for a double race
weekend at Pacific Raceway in Seattle.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
webmaster e-mail: eric@starmazda.com |