Toronto: Gentilozzi will start from back of grid

Paul Gentilozzi To the Back of the Toronto Trans-Am Grid

TORONTO, Ontario (July 10, 2004) -- Paul Gentilozzi (No. 3 Jaguar R Performance XKR) has forfeited his third-place qualifying effort and will start last in today's Trans-Am in T.O., part of the Molson Indy Toronto weekend.

Gentilozzi elected to change four tires on his car and was cited under Trans-Am rule 9.16.2A: "The four (4) declared tires will be used for qualifying and to start the race...If a team is unable to start the race on at least three (3) of their marked tires, they will forfeit their starting position and they must start the race from the back of the grid."

Interestingly, two of Gentilozzi's three victories this season have come in similar circumstances. Gentilozzi started last at Portland due to a technical infraction and he went to the back in Cleveland due to his crashing his primary car in qualifying, forcing him to start in a back-up car.

Today's Trans-Am in T.O., Round 5 of the 2004 Motorock Trans-Am Series Championship, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. (EDT). The race will air LIVE on HDNet with a tape-delayed highlights package on Spike TV's popular "Dangerous Curves" show at 1:30 p.m. (EDT, PDT) on Sunday, July 18.

The Motorock Trans-Am Series features closed-fendered, production-based, V-8-powered sports cars, competing on permanent road courses, and temporary street and airport circuits throughout North America. The Trans-Am Series is America's oldest continuously running road racing series and celebrates its 39th year of competition in 2004.

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