AIS: Calgary report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 30, 1996

Jimmy Santos and Bill Tempero grabbed the victories in the American IndyCar Series double race weekend at Race City Speedway Park, Calgary, Canada.

Saturday's race on the 1.6-mile road course appeared to belong to Jimmy Santos as he set quick times during the morning practice session, but during the afternoon session Santos lost the car entering the carousel and slid into the outside wall ending his run for the pole.

Bill Tempero, sitting on the pole with a new course record, brought the cars to the line with Jaques Lazier on the outside of row one. Greg Gorden on the outside of row two powered past Lazier into second in pursuit of Tempero, and on lap six took over the lead.

Tempero attempting a pass on the outside of Gorden in the carousel went off the track. While waiting for course workers to get him turned around, Tempero rejoined the race at the back of the field a lap down.

Santos, starting seventh on the grid, ran a strong second, but Gorden was in charge of the race.

After losing the lead and a lap, Tempero's chances of a podium finish were gone, but a persistent Tempero picked his way through the field, and after a yellow late in the race, was back on the lead lap. Working his way to second, he made a move on Gorden to take the lead with five laps remaining. Gorden now in second suddenly slowed and was out of the race due to mechanical problems giving Santos the second spot.

With one lap to run Tempero pulled off the course as his car ran out of fuel and Jimmy Santos took the checkerd flag with Dave Adamson finishing second.

For Sunday's race crews worked to change the cars from their road course set-up to the oval set-ups. Greg Gordon had pole honors with Jimmy Santos alongside as the green flag dropped.

Santos, with Saturday's win under his belt, jumped into the lead with Gorden tucked under his wing. Gorden moved under Santos on lap eight to take over the lead.

Tempero starting fifth moved up through the field and midway in the race was once again setting his sights on Gorden. Gorden and Tempero with Santos in third masterfully worked their way through traffic for sixty laps. Tempero made his move on the outside of Gorden with eight laps remaining in the race to take the win on the oval.

"I waited for the race to come back to me. As my fuel became lighter, my car started working onthe high groove, and I felt I could make the move on Greg," stated Tempero.

AIS moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado, for Round Four on July 13-14 with Jimmy Santos leadingTempero by two points in the Championship points.

OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS - ROUND 2 RACE CITY SPEEDWAY - CALGARY, CANADA JUNE 29, 1996

FP CAR # DRIVER

  1  25        Jimmy Santos
  2  18        Dave Adamson
  3  15        Bill Tempero
  4  88        Keith Betchley
  5  37        Greg Gorden
  6  95        Arlon Koops
  7    1       Curtis Spicer
  8  34        Bret Decker
  9    5       Shawn Schmidt
10   21        Ed Eide
11   59        Frank Coombes
12     3       John McDonald
13   33        Jacques Lazier
14   32        Jim Bryant
15   86        Scott Kundsen

OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS - ROUND 3 RACE CITY SPEEDWAY - CALGARY, CANADA JUNE 30, 1996

FP CAR # DRIVER

  1  15        Bill Tempero
  2  37        Greg Gorden
  3  25        Jimmy Santos
  4    5       Shawn Schmidt
  5  34        Bret Decker
  6  59        Frank Coombes
  7  21        Ed Eide
  8    3       John McDonald
  9  88        Keith Betchley
10   32        Jim Bryant
11   18        Dave Adamson
12     7       Arlon Koops
13     1       Curtis Spicer
14   33        Jaques Lazier
15   86        Scott Knudsen

AMERICAN INDYCAR SERIES DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (After Round 3 - Calgary)

1 - Jimmy Santos 55 2 - Bill Tempero 53 3 - Dave Adamson 49 4 - Ken Petrie 47 5 - Shawn Schmidt 45 6 - Bret Decker 42 7 - Greg Gorden 41 8 - Ed Eide 40 9 - John McDonald 39 10 - Jaques Lazier 34 11 - Keith Betchley 29 12 - Frand Coombes 25 13 - Curtis Spicer 22 14 - Jim Bryant 18 15 - Joe Simmons 14 16 - Scott Knudsen 11 17 - Dale Buckley 9 18 - Jeff Nish 8 19 - Jim Webb 7

Jon Payne AIS Freelance Writer