SBRS: Lime Rock report and final 1997 standings

HILL WINS RACE; LARSSON CLINCHES CHAMPIONSHIP AND $150,000 LAKEVILLE, Conn. (Oct. 12) - In the SCCA Pro Racing Barber Dodge Pro Series season finale at Lime Rock Park, Derek Hill led wire-to-wire for his first win of the year. The 20-year-old son of America's first Formula 1 World Champion, Phil Hill, took an early lead from his starting pole position and was never headed during the 32-lap race. Fredrik Larsson of Sweden was an even bigger winner, as his second place finish clinched the 1996 Barber Dodge championship and the $150,000 in bonus money that goes with it. Larsson started fourth and only needed to finish 12th to win the title. "I was conservative and made sure I made no mistakes. I was worried only for the first couple of laps, afraid in the early fighting I might become a victim. But I settled in, and the car was just fine, and this really feels good. It is my first pro Championship, and I am very, very happy!" Jeff Bucknum, son of yet another former F1 driver, Ronnie, gained some satisfaction from a generally disappointing year by finishing third after having started eighth. Tony Renna, Geoff Boss and Tim Moser rounded out the top six. Thomas Schie had a slim chance of winning the title had he won the race and Larsson finished 13th or lower, but while in second place, about three seconds behind Hill, he had trouble on a downshift for the first turn and slid off the track. He recovered quickly, but had fallen to seventh and that was that. Chris Menninga, Rocky Moran, Jr., and Steve Rikert were eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively. Team Norelco celebrity drivers Alfonso Ribeiro, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Sean Patrick Flanery and Grant Show were were 14th, 16th, 17th and 20th, respectively. -Rick Roso

SCCA Pro Racing, Barber Dodge Pro Series, round 12 of 12, 1.53-mile, 7-turn road course, Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn., Oct. 11, 1996. All cars identical Barber Dodges.

Time of race: 30:09.680 Winning average speed: 97.396 mph Margin of victory: 3.440 seconds Lap Leaders: Hill, 1-32; cautions: 1, for three laps

1. Derek Hill, Santa Monica, Calif., 32 laps, $10,000 2. Fredrik Larsson, Sweden, 32, $6,000 3. Jeff Bucknum, Simi Valley, Calif., 32, $4,500 4. Tony Renna, Deland, Fla., 32, $2,500 5. Geoff Boss, Narragansett, R.I., 32, $1,800 6. Tim Moser, San Jose, Calif., 32, $1,500 7. Thomas Schie, Norway, 32, $1,300 8. Chris Menninga, Pella, Iowa, 32, $1,200 9. Rocky Moran, Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif., 32, $1,000 10. Steve Rikert, Rhinebeck, N.Y., 32, $1,000 11. Jon Fogarty, Portola Valley, Calif., 32, $800 12. Carlos Bonetti, Brazil, 32, $700 13. Philippe Siffert, Switzerland, 32, $600 14. Alfonso Ribeiro, Los Angeles, Calif., 32, $500 15. G.J. Mennen, New Nernon, N.J., 32, $500 16. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Valencia, Calif., 31, $500 17. Sean Patrick Flanery, Hollywood, Calif., 31, $500 18. Stephen Sardelli, Jamestown, R.I., 31, $500 19. Jerry Tack, Rochester, Mich., 31, $500 20. Grant Show, Toluca Lake, Calif., 30, $500 21. Jarrett Boon, Chandler, Ariz., 29 (accident), $500 22. Patsy DiFilippo, Apollo, Pa., 28 (accident), $500 23. Steve Lorenzen, Tahoe City, Calif., 21 (accident), $500

Final 1996 Points Standings, Barber Dodge Pro Series

Pts. Season Winnings 1. Fredrik Larsson, Sweden 163 $220,000 2. Thomas Schie, Norway 139 $47,500 3. Derek Hill, Santa Monica, Calif. 124 $37,300 4. Tim Moser, San Jose, Calif. 123 $30,800 5. Rino Mastronardi, Italy 121 $29,900 6. Geoff Boss, Narragansett, R.I. 116 $41,500 7. Tony Renna, Deland, Fla. 105 $26,500 8. Jeff Bucknum, Simi Valley, Calif. 65 $14,700 9. Chris Menninga, Pella, Iowa 62 $10,700 10. Rocky Moran, CotodeCaza, Calif. 61 $14,600 /EN