Round 3 USTCC at Infineon
Round 3 of United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) were held at Infineon Raceway in beautiful Sonoma Wine Country. This is one of the most beautiful and challenging track in the country. Weather is expected to be sunny and hot, in 100 degree range. Infineon Raceway is also one of the track that suits the BMW very well. Coming into the race weekend, BTM Motorwerks BMW is the favorite, despite not leading the championship points. Championship leader, Hartanto is cautious and up to the challenge.
Saturday Practice,
Hartanto was able to top the time sheet of 1:52.195, followed by Pete Bovenberg (Honda Civic), Curt Simmons (Dodge Neon SRT4), Andy Chittum (BMW 328ti) and Michael McColligan (Mazda RX8) rounding the top five. We know the temperature is expected to be 100 degrees today and will effect lap times tremendously.
Saturday Qualifying,
We decided to have some fun and make it 2 races this weekend. Honda Challenge is holding their round 9, and have extended their invitation to race with them today. We decided to accept their invitation, so not only we will qualify for USTCC, but Honda Challenge as well.
Come as surprised, Hartanto in his RedZone and Prima Racing Acura TSX was able to take the provisional pole in USTCC edging out Andy Chittum BTM Motorwerks BMW. Hartanto again topped the time sheet with a time of 1:52.548, over half of a second clear of Andy Chittum in second place.
In Honda Challenge though, Hartanto was beaten to the pole by Meris with a time of 1:52.523. A mere 0.025 seconds. This will be a battle come race time.
Locking the rears onto T2
Saturday Honda Challenge Round 9,
At the start, Meris was able to launch well, and took the lead. Hartanto tried to fight hard and tried several attempt to pass Meris in the early stage to no avail. After a few laps, Meris was able to build a gap and went from flag to flag with a slight lead. Lap times were closed, with Meris edging Hartanto by 0.117 seconds.
Sunday Qualifying,
Chittum stepped up his game and was able to grab the pole with a lap time of 1:52.023. Hartanto was second with 1:52.489. Simmons was a distant third, followed by McColligan and Rich Woo rounding the top 5. It is worth noting that Pete Bovenberg lost his engine in morning practice and is now driving a different car in the attempt to collect valuable points for the championship.
Race (Round 3),
Being in pole position, Chittum chose the right side or outside going into turn 1. However, it gives an inside line into turn 2. Chittum did a great start and immediately pulled away. Hartanto is second, followed by McColligan slotting into third place, and Rich Woo right on his bumper. Simmons meanwhile, dropped from 3rd to last place because he stalled. He managed to get his car fired up and now in hot pursue.
Chittum immediately working to open up a gap. He was almost a second faster in the first lap and back it up by putting another half a second in second lap. Hartanto who was running with a loose car tried hard to match the pace of Chittum in the opening laps to no avail. Chittum was also pushing hard and continue to turn faster lap times.
In this hot weather, one of the concern is to keep the tire under the car. While following Chittum, trying to catch him, Hartanto noticed Chittum rear tire start to go away and the car is getting away from him. The opposite is happening to Hartanto. Prima Racing has given Hartanto a loose car in hope that the car will come to him mid race, which it finally did. Hartanto with a better working car, quickly close the gaps to Chittum who now has a worse handling car. With the help of a lapped traffic, Hartanto was able to close the gap and got right onto Chittum’s rear bumper, battle ensues.
Meanwhile, McColligan is on the road to get his best finishing position ever. Running in 3rd place, he is fending a constant pressure by Rich Woo and Vincent Parker. This however, was not to be the case, as on Lap 7 McColligan made a mistake in the carousel and spun off track. Woo and Parker zoomed by and McColligan dropped into 5th.
Hartanto determined to remain unbeaten, kept the pressure on Chittum in hope of a mistake. Chittum, under intense pressure is forced to drive as hard as he can and not able to save the tire. Finally in lap 7, Chittum out braked himself into turn 7, Hartanto was glued on his bumper and quickly capitalize on his mistake and slot inside to take the lead. With a better working car, Hartanto quickly build a gap and was able to take the win with a gap of 1.625 seconds.
The top five are Hartanto, Chittum, Woo, Parker, and McColligan. Chittum got a consolation price by turning the fastest lap time with 1:52.166
Hartanto took the win and remain unbeaten in 2009. He also hold the record with most consecutive win (6) dating last year.
Podium
Thanks for all our sponsors and fans. Without you none of this is possible.
Also special thanks for Prima Racing team member, lead by crew chief, Wayne Sausa.
Unfortunately we had a malfunction on our in-car camera. We will make sure it is working for the next race. From here on we are going to Auto Club Speedway, Fontana. We fully expect the Dodge Neon SRT4 to do well given the power, followed by the BMW.
For event pictures, please click here
