Cleveland: Chris Dyson race one notes

Lakeside Inauguration

June 25, 2005 -- "Today was a solid leap forward for us," noted Chris Dyson after finishing fifth in today's Toyota Atlantic race at Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport.

"We gained a second and a half on the field in qualifying this morning. I knew we had made the car a lot better and in the race I was able to stay in the top five the whole race."

Yesterday was a different story. Chris Dyson qualified ninth after battling a car that rock and rolled more than the nearby museum. This is the only track in the US run on an active airport runway and like the old runways of Sebring Florida, the concrete is very bumpy and uneven. Dyson explained, "The car would hit the bumps and just pick up the rear. It was hopping and oversteering everywhere."

The Therford/Norcold team pretty much changed everything last night and the Swift Toyota was tamed for today. Dyson passed two cars before the first turn after the start, and stayed clean through the inevitable first turn melee. He maintained fourth position for most of the race until passed by Al Unser ten laps from the end, after a dislodged radio temporarily jammed in the steering wheel. This is Dyson's first time here and in effect halved his starting position. Like Portland, this is a double header race weekend with another Atlantic race tomorrow.

Dyson qualified eighth this morning for that race. "We have a lot to look forward to tomorrow," observed Dyson. "I was pleasantly surprised at our result in today's race. This is a good result to build on. We are not on the pace yet, but we have a better car on the way for tomorrow."

-dr-