USF3: San Diego GP race report

SAN DIEGO, CA ---- Luciano Gomide edged Stuart Crow in the closest ever finish in round ten of the United States Formula Three Championship Powered by Volkswagen. Gomide, who started from the pole position, took an early advantage over Adam Andretti into turn one on the tight 1.65 mile street street of the former United States Navy Training Center grounds. Andretti was eliminated when he hit the turn two retaining wall on the first lap. Marcelo Gaffoglio inherited second place followed George Frazier and Stuart Crow after lap one. Despite his poor start, Crow quickly pursued Frazier and Gaffoglio and quickly cut the gap on Gomide. Soon he found himself in striking distance and passed Gomide with only six laps remaining. Crow held the lead for two laps until Gomide outbraked and passed Crow with just two laps remaining. Crow tried to again challenge Gomide but was unable to make the pass for the win. Gomide beat Crow by just .568 seconds in the 30 lap, 60 kilometer race. Gomide broke his own track record, set in qualifications, with a fast race lap of 1:07.720 for an average speed of 87.714 MPH. Crow's best lap was 1:07.894. Gaffoglio finished third and Frazier was fourth. The top four cars completed all 30 laps. Gomide, Gaffoglio and Frazier all drove Dallara F300 race cars and Crow drove the only Ralt F3/2000 in the field. Luis Perea won the Internacional (Mexican) Formula Three Championship category. He placed fifth overall. Perea completed 29 laps with a quick time of 1:10.788 in his Reynard 993. Crow goes into the final round of the championship with 142 points. Andretti holds onto second with 129 points. Gomide is now only 3 points be-hind Andretti. Twentyone possible first place points are available in Sunday's 60 kilometer finale on the same San Diego circuit. All three remain in mathe-matical contention to win the title.

<pre> Finish Start Driver Car Laps

1       1    Luciano Gomide, Brazil   Dallara F300      30 
2       3    Stuart Crow, USA         Ralt F3/2000      30  
3       4    Marcelo Gaffoglio, USA   Dallara F300      30  
4       5    George Frazier, USA      Dallara F300      30  
5       8    Luis Perea, Mexico       Reynard 993       29  
6       6    Skip Weld, USA           Dallara F399      29  
7       9    Ricardo Vargas, Mexico   Reynard 993       14  
8       7    Luis Vargas, Mexico      Reynard 993       13  
9       2    Adam Andretti, USA       Dallara F300      contact
10           Rino Mastarnradi, Italy  Dallara F300      DNS   
11           Guillermo Zapata, Mexico Reynard 993       DNS  
12           Luis Rodriquez, Mexico   Reynard 993       DNS