From The Atlantic Championship
The Atlantic Championship points leader Simona De Silvestro became the winningest driver in the 36-year of the series with another dominating performance at Lime Rock Park.
Driving the No. 78 machine for Team Stargate Worlds, De Silvestro started from the pole position and led every lap en route to a 10.004-second victory over John Edwards.
It was the third victory of the season for De Silvestro and the fourth of her career, moving her one win ahead of Katherine Legge, who won three races in her lone Atlantic season of 2005.
The win also enabled De Silvestro to extend her lead in the championship standings to 17 points, 89-72, over a second-place tie between Edwards and Jonathan Summerton after five of 12 races.
Edwards charged from fifth on the starting grid to finish second in the No. 36 entry for his third podium result in five races this season.
His gain of three spots from start to finish earned him the $2,000 Hard Charger bonus and an extra championship point, allowing him to move into a tie with Summerton, his Newman Wachs Racing teammate, in the point standings.
Garcia finished third after starting second in the No. 6 machine for Condor Motorsports. It was the second Atlantic podium of the Spanish rookie's career. He also finished third in the first race of last month's doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Defending series champion Markus Niemela had a tough race after qualifying fourth for his first race in the No. 1 machine. Niemela - who drove the first four races of the season for Newman Wachs Racing - finished three laps down in ninth position.
Race results for Round 5:
Finishing Position. (Starting Position) Driver, Hometown or Country, Car #, Team, Laps Completed
1. (1) Simona De Silvestro, Switzerland, No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds, 53.
2. (5) John Edwards, Cincinnati, Ohio, No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing, 53.
3. (2) Borja Garcia (R), Spain, No. 6 Condor Motorsports, 53.
4. (6) Jonathan Summerton, Kissimmee, Fla., No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing, 53.
5. (7) Tonis Kasemets, Estonia, No. 35 Polestar Motor Racing, 53.
6. (3) Frederic Vervisch (R), Belgium, No. 17 Genoa Racing, 53.
...
9. (4) Markus Niemela, Finland, No. 1 Jensen MotorSport, 50.
10. (10) Frankie Muniz, Scottsdale, Ariz., No. 77 Team Stargate Worlds, 50.
Etc.
Time of Race: 45:40.416
Lead changes: None.
Unofficial Series Points Leaders: 1. De Silvestro, 89; 2. Edwards and Summerton, 72; 4. Vervisch, 60; 5. Garcia, 46; 6. Kasemets, 42; 7. Niemela, 36; 8. Muniz, 33; 9. Winslow, 30; 10. Lefevre, 19.
Next Race: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Ill. - Saturday, July 25.
The Atlantic Championship points leader Simona De Silvestro became the winningest driver in the 36-year of the series with another dominating performance at Lime Rock Park.
Driving the No. 78 machine for Team Stargate Worlds, De Silvestro started from the pole position and led every lap en route to a 10.004-second victory over John Edwards.
It was the third victory of the season for De Silvestro and the fourth of her career, moving her one win ahead of Katherine Legge, who won three races in her lone Atlantic season of 2005.
The win also enabled De Silvestro to extend her lead in the championship standings to 17 points, 89-72, over a second-place tie between Edwards and Jonathan Summerton after five of 12 races.
Edwards charged from fifth on the starting grid to finish second in the No. 36 entry for his third podium result in five races this season.
His gain of three spots from start to finish earned him the $2,000 Hard Charger bonus and an extra championship point, allowing him to move into a tie with Summerton, his Newman Wachs Racing teammate, in the point standings.
Garcia finished third after starting second in the No. 6 machine for Condor Motorsports. It was the second Atlantic podium of the Spanish rookie's career. He also finished third in the first race of last month's doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Defending series champion Markus Niemela had a tough race after qualifying fourth for his first race in the No. 1 machine. Niemela - who drove the first four races of the season for Newman Wachs Racing - finished three laps down in ninth position.
Race results for Round 5:
Finishing Position. (Starting Position) Driver, Hometown or Country, Car #, Team, Laps Completed
1. (1) Simona De Silvestro, Switzerland, No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds, 53.
2. (5) John Edwards, Cincinnati, Ohio, No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing, 53.
3. (2) Borja Garcia (R), Spain, No. 6 Condor Motorsports, 53.
4. (6) Jonathan Summerton, Kissimmee, Fla., No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing, 53.
5. (7) Tonis Kasemets, Estonia, No. 35 Polestar Motor Racing, 53.
6. (3) Frederic Vervisch (R), Belgium, No. 17 Genoa Racing, 53.
...
9. (4) Markus Niemela, Finland, No. 1 Jensen MotorSport, 50.
10. (10) Frankie Muniz, Scottsdale, Ariz., No. 77 Team Stargate Worlds, 50.
Etc.
Time of Race: 45:40.416
Lead changes: None.
Unofficial Series Points Leaders: 1. De Silvestro, 89; 2. Edwards and Summerton, 72; 4. Vervisch, 60; 5. Garcia, 46; 6. Kasemets, 42; 7. Niemela, 36; 8. Muniz, 33; 9. Winslow, 30; 10. Lefevre, 19.
Next Race: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Ill. - Saturday, July 25.