BFGoodrich Long Beach preview

Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich* Tires Cup
Grand Prix of Long Beach
April 8, 2001; 3:45 p.m. PDT
Johnson Controls 100 Mile Sprint presented by Simple Green
Temporary Street Circuit, Long Beach, Calif.

Boris Said To Go for Two in a Row
Boris Said, winner of the 2001 Trans-Am Sebring season opener by a mere split second over Paul Gentilozzi, will face stiff competition in his quest for a victory on the streets of Long Beach. In addition to two-time Trans-Am champion Gentilozzi, Said will face reigning series champion Brian Simo, 2000 Long Beach victor Tomy Drissi, and 2000 San Diego season finale winner Johnny Miller.

Manufacturers Battle at Long Beach To Be a "Super" Global Affair
Started as a hotbed for Detroit machinery, the 2001 Trans-Am has gone global. The super cars participating include: Jaguar XKR, Ford Mustang Cobra, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Qvale Mangusta, Dodge Viper and Panoz Esperante.

California Drivers Prominent in Long Beach Field
Many of the top drivers have local ties. In addition to Said and Simo, both from Carlsbad, and Drissi, from Hollywood, they include: Michael Lewis, Escondido; Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda; Peter Shea, Newport Beach; and Mike Davis, Huntington Beach.

BFGoodrich* Tires Cup Winner To Receive Record Payout
This year's BFGoodrich Tires Cup, annually awarded to the Trans-Am Champion, will come with a record $100,000 paycheck. This is part of the Trans-Am's $300,000 points fund, also a record for the Series.

Drivers Vie for BFGoodrich* Tires Take Control Award
New for 2001, the BFGoodrich Tires Take Control Award, good for a set of BFGoodrich g-Force T/A® race tires, recognizes the driver who leads the most laps in each race. Said won at the Sebring opener by leading 26 of the 27 laps.

BFGoodrich* g-Force T/A* Ready for All Conditions at Long Beach
Every track presents different challenges for tire engineers and Long Beach is no exception. To increase grip on the slippery street course, lead engineer Gary Blalock is recommending a slight decrease in rear tire pressure to help drivers put the power down. "Lower pressure increases the contact patch of the tires and, as a result, increases the car's mechanical grip allowing for a more efficient launch off the corners," Blalock explains. And, even though the chance of rain is slim, the engineers have a new rain tire. New technology allows for the use of a softer compound that will build more heat and grip.

Trans-Am Series on Speedvision
The Trans-Am Series Long Beach race will be broadcast tape-delayed on April 15 at 12:00 p.m. EDT on the Speedvision Network.

-BFG