Grand-Am

SCC: Watkins Glen: Matt Bell race notes

Matt Bell Scores Second at Watkins Glen WATKINS GLEN (5 June 2009)--Matt Bell and Bill Auberlen made it two in a row for podium appearances in Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge competition as the duo backed up their recent run to third place at ...

Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:24 AM

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Matt Bell Scores Second at Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN (5 June 2009)--Matt Bell and Bill Auberlen made it two in a row for podium appearances in Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge competition as the duo backed up their recent run to third place at Lime Rock Park with a second place finish at Watkins Glen on Friday in the No. 96 H&R Springs/StopTech Brakes BMW M3.

Bell opened the race from the point after breaking the track record to take his fourth pole position of the year and his fifth front row start of the season, which is his first in the GS class level.

While the result of the race was similar two what was achieved at Lime Rock Park, the race was much different for Bell. At Lime Rock, he raced at the point until the halfway point of the race, as he and Joey Hand gapped the field with a Turner Motorsport 1-2 run in the first half of the race.

But on Friday, his time behind the wheel at Watkins Glen was a much more tepid affair, as his opening stint was interrupted by several yellow flag periods before he pitted for fuel and a driver change with Auberlen.

"I wish I had the chance to have done a little more racing during my stint," said Bell after taking part in the podium celebrations. "I never really got to stretch my legs and get into a good race rhythm."

Bell turned the car over to Auberlen, who put on another show as he had at Daytona, scything through the field to battle for the lead late in the race. But as the track conditions changed, the situation favored the winning machine as Auberlen charged home to a second place finish. It was another good day for Turner Motorsport as the Hand/Gleason entry finished in third.

"It's great to get on the podium and of course everyone needs points so I'm happy with this result," said Bell. "I wish I had the chance to do more to have made it happen, but this is still a good day for us and a strong result. I think that we can pick up the momentum from here because we'd had some bad luck every time we started from the pole and now we've kicked that here today, so on to Mid-Ohio."

-credit: sgm

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