Mid Ohio race report

RACE REPORT - - Mid Ohio Sports Car Course - Atlantic Round 9

(25 laps/56.45 miles/90.828 km over the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course) #95 CHRIS SMITH will start in his back-up car due to gearbox problems with his primary P.P.I.-MCI Racing Ralt RT-41. He will start 26th due to the car change after qualifying 17th. 5:36 p.m. - - 26-car Atlantic field pulls away for first of two scheduled "reconnaissance" laps and 25 laps of racing - #35 POOK stops near pit out and is pushed aside with a fuel leak - his crew rushes to pit out, repairs the car, and #35 POOK joins the fray several laps down.

5:38 p.m. - - #7 BINDER returns to pit lane following the first reconnaissance lap for mechanical problems.

5:40 p.m. - - #29 MONTGOMERY returns to pit lane following the second reconnaissance lap with clutch problems - car begins the race following a brief delay for repairs.

5:41 p.m. - - #32 BARRON passes #96 SCHROEDER through turn one following a "standing start" and moves into the lead - #96 SCHROEDER stays close behind but in second place ... #95 SMITH stalls on the start and returns to pit lane where he undergoes quick repairs before officially starting the race.

5:48 Lap 5 The top-five are #32 BARRON, #96 SCHROEDER, #33 GODIN, #4 LAZZARO, and #19 GIDLEY.

5:53 Lap 9 #14 WEST has improved five positions from 12th on the grid to seventh place.

5:55 Lap 10 The top-five are #32 BARRON, #96 SCHROEDER, #33 GODIN, #4 LAZZARO, and #19 GIDLEY - #14 WEST passes #66 TAGLIANI in turn two for sixth place.

5:57 Lap 11 #12 BROOKS stops between turns one and two and retires from the session due to mechanical problems.

6:00 Lap 13 #66 TAGLIANI has dropped to ninth place after starting sixth.

6:01 Lap 14 #46 IRVIN hits the guard rail drivers left in turn 1A and stops - driver out and okay - brings out a YELLOW FLAG.

6:05 Lap 17 #29 MONTGOMERY, who virtually started in last place after starting the race from pit lane, has moved into 14th place with 12 laps completed.

6:10 Lap 19 GREEN FLAG -#14 WEST makes contact with #71 DeSOTO in turn two - #14 WEST spins off course and into the tire barrier - driver out and okay - #71 DeSOTO continues.

#95 SMITH and #3 DAVID make side-to-side contact in turn 13 resulting in #95 SMITH spinning to a stop in turn 13 - #95 SMITH is unable to continue due to clutch problems that are unrelated to the incident, and is moved to a safe location where he retires from the race.

#26 CUTLER contacts #28 SPOSATO in turn 11 - #28 SPOSATO continues with reported suspension damage - #26 CUTLER retires due to the contact - driver moves the car to a safe location for the remainder of the race - brings out a YELLOW FLAG.

6:16 Lap 22 The top five are #32 BARRON, #96 SCHROEDER, #33 GODIN, #4 LAZZARO and #19 GIDLEY.

6:19 Lap 23 GREEN FLAG

6:22 Lap 25 #33 GODIN passes #96 SCHROEDER in turn two for second place - CHECKERED FLAG

#32 ALEX BARRON, of Vista, Calif., wins his THIRD CAREER ATLANTIC race in only his ninth career Atlantic race start in the Lynx Racing-Victory Circle Racing/Red Line Oil-prepared Ralt RT-41.

#33 BERTRAND GODIN, of St. Hyacinthe, Que., scores his third podium finish of the year with second place in the Player

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