Atlantic

Bessette inherits first career pole in Long Beach

Charles Zwolsman, one of the many rookies in the Toyota Atlantic Championship series this year, went from a high to a low on Saturday when he earned what would have been his first career pole to finding out his Condor Motorsports car failed ...

Published: Apr 10, 2005, 5:25 PM

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Charles Zwolsman, one of the many rookies in the Toyota Atlantic Championship series this year, went from a high to a low on Saturday when he earned what would have been his first career pole to finding out his Condor Motorsports car failed technical inspection moving him to the back of the grid.

"I'm very disappointed, obviously. At first it was like a dream come true to have the pole and have a positive outlook to the race," said Zwolsman. "Then this news comes to bring you down. But it is nothing that I can control. I'm already thinking about what I can do tomorrow to improve my position and I will try to make the best out of it."

Canadian Antoine Bessette, who had laid down fast times since Friday's opening practice and who held the provisional pole on Friday, inherited the top spot on the grid.

Today's fast time by Polestar's Bessette was quicker than Friday's best time. The young rookie's fast time was 1:19.375 for a speed of 89.257 miles per hour. Zwolsman best lap was only 0.284-seconds better than Bessette's.

Fifteen rookies fill out the 19 car filed with four of them in the first two rows and seven in the top ten.

"I think we will all be learning each other. But, I think we are all good guys," said Bessette about the almost all rookie field.

Andreas Wirth will slot on the front row in the second position with his Brooks Associates Racing teammate Fernando Rees in third.

Sporstcar endurance racing specialist Chris Dyson ran two events last year to shakedown his Atlantic car and to learn the ropes of open-wheel racing. This year, he hopes to run more events. Dyson placed his Dyson Racing machined fourth on the grid.

The top C2 belonged to Rocky Moran Jr who slotted firth on the grid.

Sunday's 32-lap race on the tight streets of Long Beach will start at 10:30 a.m. (PDT).

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