Pikes Peak Paul Gentilozzi Preview

GENTILOZZI ... A CONSERVATIVE RACER? TRANS-AM LEADER A SAFE BET TO CLINCH TITLE AT PPIR

FOUNTAIN, Colo. - Paul Gentilozzi racing conservatively is like Dale Earnhardt moving over to let someone pass.

But that’s how Gentilozzi says he’ll take it easy at this weekend’s NTB Trans-Am race during the Children’s Hospital Grand Prix of Colorado at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

The 48-year-old veteran from Lansing, Mich., is so close to the season championship he can taste it.

Gentilozzi has won seven of 11 races this year.

“This will be the first time in my life that I’m not going to start a race going all out,’’ he said of needing just 14 points to win his first season title in Trans-Am. “I’m going to be real conservative. No one believes me when I say that.”

He nearly wrapped up the title a few weeks ago at Road Atlanta in his exotic Chevrolet Corvette. He had the race clinched and the season title less than a mile away when a belt broke on his oil pump. It ended his day and delayed the coronation for another race.

“The week after Road Atlanta was miserable,” said Gentilozzi, who entered the season with three Trans-Am victories. “I’d wake up in the middle of the night and wonder what happened.”

You can bet it won’t happen again.

“We X-rayed the oil pump belts and put a screen around it so nothing can get up there,” Gentilozzi said.

“I’m going to be smart.”

And safe.