Road Atlanta: Paul Gentilozzi race summary

Paul Gentilozzi, driver of the No. 3 Johnson Controls Jaguar XKR, fourth after starting fourth in today'S Trans-Am race. NOTE 1 - Gentilozzi has seven previous starts at Road Atlanta, has two top-five finishes, but has never won here...In 1999, ...

Paul Gentilozzi, driver of the No. 3 Johnson Controls Jaguar XKR, fourth after starting fourth in today'S Trans-Am race.

NOTE 1 - Gentilozzi has seven previous starts at Road Atlanta, has two top-five finishes, but has never won here...In 1999, the last time Trans-Am raced here, he qualified fourth, started last (30th) because of a technical penalty, worked his way to the front, led several laps, but retired early with engine problems.

NOTE 2 - 2002 Stats...Won the season-opener at Long Beach...Has three additional top-two finishes and eight top-five finishes.

NOTE 3 - Career Stats...Three-time Trans-Am champion (2001, 1999, 1998)...Only driver to have won three championships driving three different marques...Ranks first in all-time Trans-Am top-three (59), top-five (94), and top-ten (124) finishes, lead lap finishes (122), "Fast Five" qualifying starts (112), lead-lap finishes (122), race starts (184)...Has 24 Trans-Am wins.

On his race today... "I said I'd go out there and race today and that's just what we did. Unfortunately, I got held up in a major way twice today and it proved costly. When we pitted under caution, we got out before Boris. But then I got blocked by the 23 car, I don't know what he was thinking, and that allowed Boris to get by, by driving over the curb.

"Then later, Mike Lewis was holding both Johnny (Miller) and I up. I had a second and a half on him (Lewis) a lap. He cost us three seconds on the front of the field. We were side by side and I finally got by cleanly on the inside.

"Once we were by, we were pedaling to catch up. We got by Tony Ave, but then we ran out of laps. I had a really good car today. It ran well everywhere and stopped very well, too. It did everything I asked of it, but we just ran out of time."

On Boris Said clinching the Drivers' Championship... I've always said that defending a championship is a lot harder than it is to win one, and that certainly has proven true this season. I congratulate Boris on winning the championship."