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Prix of Sonoma Presented by |
McDowell sets pace during Infineon Raceway qualifying
July 17, 2004 – Sonoma, California. Michael McDowell overcame a stuck throttle, and subsequent off track excursion, to capture the pole position for Round Four of the Star Mazda Series North American Championship presented by Goodyear at Infineon Raceway today, lapping the 2.53-mile circuit in 1:28.920.
“The throttle stuck as I was heading up the hill into turn two on my first true lap around the track,” McDowell explained. “I had to flat spot some tires to keep it off of the tire wall and once I was able to get back on track I had to turn the ignition on and off to control my speed back to pit lane.”
McDowell’s crew rushed to resolve the problem with his Drive4USA/Sparco/Star Race Cars Mazda and McDowell wasted no time in rewarding their efforts, setting his fast time on his fourth lap, bumping Scott Jenkins, who had previously posted a time of 1:29.291 in his Team Bucknum prepared Environmental Fibers Mazda, off of the top spot.
Once again the front of the Star Mazda field has bunched up, with nine drivers posting times within one second of the pole sitter heading into Saturday’s 27-lap race. Starting on the second row, directly behind McDowell will be Ryan Justice who turned in his best qualifying session of the year in the Sikkens/AKZO Nobel/R-Sport Mazda, edging out McDowell’s teammate Nick Steele and his Envoii/Steele Aviation Mazda out of the third spot on the final lap of the session.
Series rookies will occupy the third row as Hearn Motorsports driver Raphael Matos piloted his Showtime/Samsung Mazda around the track in 1:29.536, while Blueacre Motorsports driver CR Crews III, fresh of his first Star Mazda podium at Lime Rock Park, will start sixth after setting a time of 1:29.568.
Running as part of the American Le Mans Series weekend at Infineon Raceway, Round Four of the Star Mazda Series North American Championship presented by Goodyear is scheduled to start this afternoon at 3:20 pm Pacific Time.