Long Beach race report

Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup; Johnson Controls 100 presented by Simple Green Results

Lou Gigliotti Picks Up Second Career Victory In Johnson Controls 100 Presented By Simple Green

Long Beach, Calif. -- Lou Gigliotti (#28 LG Motorsports G2 Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) picked up his second career Trans-Am Series victory this afternoon in the Johnson Controls 100 presented by Simple Green. Gigliotti's last Trans-Am Series victory was in 1998 at Lime Rock Park. Johnny Miller (#64 Automationdirect Cutler Hammer EATON Jaguar XKR) finished second and Michael Lewis (#12 AmeriSuites Jaguar XKR) finished third to complete the podium.

Gigliotti moved into first place midway through lap 30 when Brian Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) briefly spun off course. Simo never regained his momentum and was not a factor. From that point, Gigliotti held off each and every challenge that Miller posted to pick up the victory.

"I have got a good team," said Gigliotti. "We're not a rich team, but I have my son to help me. My team works very hard, we start early in the morning and finish very late at night."

"I felt like I was back in the Speedvision World Challenge again this afternoon," continued Gigliotti. "We won 19 races in World Challenge and you get used to running up front. I have been humiliated in Trans-Am for three years. This is our fourth year and we are very excited about the way that we ran at Sebring. We're used to winning, but coming into Trans-Am, these guys are tough. You have to fight for every inch. Johnny challenged me, but I managed to hold him off. It was a very clean race."

"Lou had been hounding me," said Miller. I rolled around the hairpin and missed a shift. Lou was able to pass me good and clean. I Just couldn't get him back. I tried to slow and cool my tires and I was able to get close. But getting close and passing are two different things. Second still feels pretty good."

Polesitter Paul Gentilozzi (#3 Johnson Controls HomeLink Jaguar XKR) suffered a broken front end and crashed into the tire wall midway through lap eight. He later returned to the race, but finished a disappointing 23rd.

Unofficial points following the second round: Miller, 54; Gigliotti, 52; Kenny Wilden and Tommy Archer, 44; Simo, 43; Boris Said, 41; Lewis, 39; Justin Bell, 38; Gentilozzi, 33; Bob Ruman, 32.

Round three of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup will be held on May 20 at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

-SCCA/SCCA ProRacing-