Grand-Am

SCC: Laguna Seca: Mikel Miller race notes

(MONTERY, CA-May 8, 2006) Mikel Miller had a frustrating day at one of America's most challenging tracks, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. Mikel's teammate, Tim Traver, qualified the car in 6th position for today's race, with a stunning performance ...

Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:26 AM

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(MONTERY, CA-May 8, 2006) Mikel Miller had a frustrating day at one of America's most challenging tracks, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. Mikel's teammate, Tim Traver, qualified the car in 6th position for today's race, with a stunning performance setting a lap time of 1:39.848. Mikel and Tim were optimistic about capitalizing on their 4th place in driver's points, and 3rd in team points going into the race.

Tim started the race, and managed to keep himself in contention, until being blindsided by a competitor at the top of the famous Corkscrew. The contact resulted in a flat left rear tire, and it wasn't yet known of any additional damage was done to the chassis or suspension. Tim limped the car into the pits, had the damaged wheel changed and the fuel topped off, rejoining at the back of the field. The first half of the race was marked by numerous full course cautions due to cars stuck in the gravel and cleanup of Debris littering the course from the accidents.

Tim brought the car in midway through the race, after consistently, and patiently working his way through traffic. A fast pit stop by his BGB Motorsports crew got the Simplenet.com Porsche Carerra back on track in a position to charge to the front of the field. When the green flag fell to restart the race, Mikel followed his BGB Motorsports teammate, Craig Stanton through the field, and at one point, when Stanton was balked by a slower ST car, past him. After battling his way into 5th position, and threatening for 4th, Mikel was negotiating his way past an ST class Acura, when what could best be classified as a 'racing incident', with minor wheel to wheel contact, resulted in a drive through penalty for Mikel, dropping him to 21st position.

Mikel did well to acquit himself by carving his way back up to the top 15, only to be hit by another competitor twice in the same turn, resulting in a spin which he skillfully recovered from, ultimately finishing in 18th position.

Mikel was disappointed, but realistic after the race:

"I knew we had a fast car that would enable us to finish at the front of the field today, and we managed to overcome a lot of problems caused by all of the traffic on the track. Both the drive through penalty and getting rammed off of the track late in the race really sealed our fate, though. We'll just have to wait and see how the points shake out from this race, and if we drop much in the standings as a result. I'm looking forward to Phoenix next weekend, and know that we'll make up for today's frustrations there."

-teambgb.com

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