Mid-Ohio Trans-Am Preview

SIMO GOES FOR HAT TRICK AT MID-OHIO; GENTILOZZI READY

LEXINGTON, Ohio. (June 3, 1999) - With wins in four of the last five races (including the last two races of 1998), Brian Simo looks like the man to beat at this weekend’s BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series contest during the U.S. Road Racing Classic weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Sunday’s 45-lap, 101.25-mile contest, televised live at 1:00 p.m. on The Speedvision Network, will feature the series’ largest field to date this season, with 43 cars registered for the event. Simo, driving the No. 2 Valvoline Ford Mustang Cobra out of the RaceWerX stable, is sure to face stiff competition from defending Mid-Ohio Trans-Am winner Paul Gentilozzi, in the No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Mustang Cobra as well as Michael Lewis, Johnny Miller IV, Randy Ruhlman, Chris Neville and Dorsey Schroeder, among the many top drivers. “While there was great racing at the front at Mosport, I still consider Paul as the main threat,” said Simo. “Having other drivers competing up front does change the complexion of the race - different drivers change the pace of the race and push the rhythm of the race in different ways. But either way we’ll be ready. Leading the point standings is great, but sometimes it's easier to be the hunter versus the hunted. The team's matured and we've hit our stride, but the level of competition in the field is always increasing, too. Just when you think you've got everyone covered they all catch up. What it comes down to is not who's the best, but who makes the least mistakes.” For Gentilozzi, returning to Mid-Ohio will be his opportunity to return to form after suffering uncharacteristic mechanical troubles at Mosport and Lime Rock Park. “I'm going to be good this weekend,” said Gentilozzi. “I'm going to be as fast and as aggressive as I can. We didn't have a car for Mosport and I never got a chance to race. Now we've fixed the car and we're ready to be competitive.” This weekend’s race will be Round Four of the 1999 BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series’ 34th season. Trans-Am racing at the Mid-Ohio dates back to 1967, and this year’s race will be the 21st time the series has competed at Mid-Ohio.

Source: SCCA/SCCA Pro Racing/USRRC