NA-F2000: Sebring Preview

WHELDON-CAMIRAND F2000 DUEL ENDS AT SEBRING SATURDAY, SUNDAY

Englishman Dan Wheldon and Canadian Marc-Antoine Camirand conclude their duel for the 1999 USAC/SCCA United States Formula 2000 National Championship this weekend at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. Wheldon leads Camirand by only five points with 64 points available in the two 15-lap, 54-mile races on the 17-turn, 3.6-mile circuit. However, the dropping of the two worst season finishes for final points computation actually gives Wheldon a bigger cushion. Practice is slated on Friday from 10:30-11 am, with qualifying for race #1 from 3:30-4 pm. Saturday's timetable calls for qualifications for race #2 from 10:30-11 am, followed by race #1 at noon. Sunday's race is scheduled for 11 am. Camirand appears to have an edge in terms of road course consistency in his Key Motorsport Van Diemen Mangov. He's never finished worse than fifth in the seven previous events at Mosport, Ontario, Lexington, Ohio, Gainesville, Ga. and Trois Rivieres, Quebec. He has victories at Mosport and Trois Rivieres, two seconds, a third, fourth and fifth. Wheldon, who already locked up the "Road to Indy" Oval Crown Championship in his Primus Racing/Jayhard/Van Diemen Quicksilver, has road course victories at Mosport and Lexington, a second, a third and three DNFs. Both Sebring events are scheduled for live telecast on Speedvision.

USAC/SCCA FORMULA 2000 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1.Dan Wheldon           253     6. Mark Dismore, Jr.    158
2.Marc Antoine-Camirand 248     7. Daniel Muniz         147
3.Steve Rikert          195     8. Jonathan Bottoms     145
4.Bobby Oergel          172     9. Aaron Justus         132
5.T.J. Bell             168     10.Rolando Quintanilla  117