Trois-Rivieres Michael David Review

TROIS-RIVIERES, Que., Canada (Aug. 2, 1998) - Michael Todd David and the PDR-Water Joe Racing ran one of their most consistent and competitive races of the 1998 KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship season in finishing 11th place in the 23rd annual Player's Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, Sunday, Aug. 2.

David, who started 15th in the PDR/Water Joe Ralt RT-41, was able to avoid a variety of mishaps that affected other drivers while running competitive laps times around the notoriously unforgiving 1.521-mile, 10-turn temporary street circuit.

"There were some close calls during the race with lap traffic," said David. "That played a role in our finish today. Fortunately, we were able to avoid involvement with any of the incidents and missed a couple of close calls with the walls.

"I went into turn four on lap six too hot and locked the brakes. I went in too deep and fell about two feet short of the wall. That's when MacDonald, Hill, and somebody else passed me. I was able to re-pass them later."

David avoided another close encounter late in the race when many of the top-15 drivers were looking to better position themselves to score championship points.

"On the re-start, the brakes were too cool going into turn one," said David. "David Pook and Rino Mastronardi found their way around me. Then Pook missed a gear running down straight with David Rutledge right in front of me. Rutledge had a poor line which forced me to come completely off the throttle. Mastronardi tucked behind Pook just as I made a move to my left. I almost had to hit the brakes to avoid contact but I was able to fall behind them before anyone else stole the spot."

The final laps of the 45-lap Atlantic sprint brought concern to the Water Joe Racing team when David called in a "vibration" starting to develop.

"I started to feel a vibration near the end of the race," recalled David. "I called and found out we had only two laps remaining, and had a five-second lead over the next driver. I was concerned something in the gearbox was going to let loose. It turned out to be a broken ring and pinion."

David earned five championship points to move him alone in 12th place with 30 points. He also collected $2,000 in purse money.

The next stop for the PDR Enterprises/Water Joe Racing team will be round nine of the 13-race KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sunday, Aug. 9.

The Trois-Rivieres Atlantic race will be telecast on ESPN2, Saturday, August 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT).