Laguna Seca Team KOOL Green notes

TEAM KOOL GREEN'S ALEX GURNEY FINISHES 7TH AT LAGUNA SECA

KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship - RACE Honda GP of Monterey

MONTEREY, Calif., (Sept. 11, 1999) - Team KOOL Green's Alex Gurney finished seventh in today's 30-lap KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race. Gurney started eighth on the grid, but gained one position when Will Langhorne did not start because of a mechanical problem.

Anthony Lazzaro clinched this year's KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship with his fourth victory of the season. Lazzaro led all 30 laps and eventually beat second-place finisher Buddy Rice by 0.684 seconds, while Andrew Bordin finished third.

Lazzaro scored 20 points in victory, plus another for most laps led. He only needed to score 13 points at Laguna to clinch the title over his nearest rival Kenny Wilden.

ALEX GURNEY, #27 Team KOOL Green Toyota/Swift: (Started 8th / Finished 7th)

"First of all, the race was secondary in light of the death of Champ Car driver Gonzalo Rodriguez. It was a sad day to go racing.

"The start was a little confusing. [Will] Langhorne didn't start, so a bunch of guys didn't know where to start. I was told on the radio where to line-up, but it was a total mess. I heard on the radio 'no start' and then they threw the green. I just slotted my KOOL car into position. That's just the way it goes sometimes. After that, I'd say we just didn't have it today. The car was loose in Turns 3 & 4 and it felt like a tire was going down. It was a strange feeling. We'll have to keep working at it, but I'm content we were able to finish the race."