SBRS: National: VIR race notes 2006-04-23

Two new Winners at VIR

Skip Barber National Presented by RACER: It's Wehrheim in Race One, Rossi in Race Two At 14, Rossi becomes youngest-ever winner of a professional open-wheel road race

ALTON, Va. (April 22 & 23) In the pouring rain, series newcomer Chris Wehrheim won the first of the double-header Skip Barber National event at VIR, supporting the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series event. Justin Moon came from ninth on the grid to finish second, Richard Heistand third. In race two, in picture-perfect weather, Alexander Rossi made a last-lap pass on points leader Marco Di Leo to win. At age 14, Rossi becomes the youngest-ever winner of a professional open-wheel road race in the U.S. Heistand again took third.

<pre> April 22, 2006, Round 3 of 14, Skip Barber National Presented by RACER Virginia International Raceway, 17-turn, 3.27-mile road course Starting position in parentheses

1.  (1)  Chris Wehrheim, Norcross, Ga.          9 laps, 64.550 average mph
2.  (9)  Justin Moon, Shingle Springs, Calif.   9 laps, -14.716 seconds
3.  (5)  Richard Heistand, Orlando, Fla.        9
4.  (2)  Marco Di Leo, Markham, Ont. Can.       9
5.  (8)  Ricky Taylor, Altamont Springs, Fla.   9
6.  (12) Alexander Rossi, Nevada City, Calif.   9
7.  (4)  Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.     9
8.  (18) Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.         9
9.  (15) Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind.       9
10. (16) Jason Fennessey, Andover, Mass.        9
11. (10) Mario Adrian Ochoa, Mexico,            9
12. (11) Enzo Pastor, Philippines,              9
13. (3)  Alex Doman, Conifer, Colo.             7
14. (6)  A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.              1 (accident)
15. (13) Jonathan Goring, Norfolk, Conn.        1 (accident)
16. (7)  Cory Turner, Bakersfield, Calif.       0 (accident)
17. (17) Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, Calif.       0 (accident)
18. (19) Chris Castagna, S. Boston, Mass.       0 (accident)
19. (14) Andy Rossetto, Grafton, Wis.           0 (accident)

Race length: 9 laps of 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course for 29.43 miles Time of race: 27 minutes, 21.342 seconds Conditions: Very wet Winner's average speed: 64.550 mph Margin of victory: 14.716 seconds Lap leaders: Werhrheim, 1; Di Leo, 2 ­ 3; Wehrheim, 4 - 9 Caution laps: One caution period for 1 lap (lap 3) Fastest race lap: Moon, 2:34.272, lap 8 Fastest qualifier: Wehrheim, 2:09.878 / 90.639 mph

April 23, 2006, Round 4 of 14, Skip Barber National Presented by RACER Virginia International Raceway, 17-turn, 3.27-mile road course Starting position in parentheses

1.  (10) Alexander Rossi, Nevada City, Calif.   5 laps, 88.777 average mph
2.  (2)  Marco Di Leo, Markham, Ont. Can.       5 laps, -0.435 seconds
3.  (3)  Richard Heistand, Orlando, Fla.        5
4.  (11) Mario Adrian Ochoa, Mexico,            5
5.  (1)  Chris Wehrheim, Norcross, Ga.          5
6.  (6)  Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.     5
7.  (12) Alex Doman, Conifer, Colo.             5
8.  (16) Jonathan Goring, Norfolk, Conn.        5
9.  (5)  Jason Fennessey, Andover, Mass.        5
10. (8)  Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind.       5
11. (19) Cory Turner, Bakersfield, Calif.       5
12. (15) A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.              5
13. (9)  Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.         5
14. (11) Enzo Pastor, Philippines,              5
15. (4)  Ricky Taylor, Altamont Springs, Fla.   5
16. (18) Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, Calif.       5
17. (13) Andy Rossetto, Grafton, Wis.           5
18. (17) Chris Castagna, S. Boston, Mass.       5
19. (7)  Justin Moon, Shingle Springs, Calif.   2 laps, suspension damage

Race length: 5 laps of 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course for 16.35 miles Time of race: 11 minutes, 03.006 seconds Conditions: Dry Winner's average speed: 88.777 mph Margin of victory: 0.435 seconds Lap leaders: Heistand, 1 ­ 2; Di Leo, 3 ­ 4; Rossi, 5 Caution laps: None Fastest race lap: Jonathan Gore, 2:09.982, lap 4 Fastest qualifier: Chris Wehrheim, 2:25.947 / 80.659 mph (wet-to-damp)

SBN Points standings, top 15 drivers, after 4 of 14 rounds: 1. Marco Di Leo 241 2. Alexander Rossi 180 3. Justin Moon 175 4. Mario Adrian Ochoa 159 5. Jonathan Goring 150 6. Alex Doman 149 7. Richard Heistand 122 8. Kyle Wiegand 114 9. Chris Wehrheim 112 10. Jason Fennessey 105 11. Kyle Lawrence 103 12. Duncan Ende 73 13. Andy Rossetto 72 14. Timmy Megenbier 51 15. Quentin Wahl 42

Next two races: May 19-20, Lime Rock Park

-sbr-