Atlantic: Jonathan Summerton wins as Simona De Silvestro crashes

Championship just got a whole lot tighter as Jonathan Summerton led a 1-2 sweep for Newman Wachs Racing in the Grand Prix of Mosport.

Summerton parlayed his fourth pole position of the season into his third victory of 2009, leading from the race’s standing start all the way through the 45-minute timed event. His teammate, John Edwards, crossed the line second, 1.122 seconds behind.

Meanwhile, points leader Simona De Silvestro, who entered the race with a 21-point lead over Edwards, crashed in Turn 2 six laps from the finish. She was not injured and was scored 10th.

As a result, De Silvestro’s lead is now just eight points, 160-152, over Edwards; with Summerton another four points back in third.

Vervisch came home third. He continues to lead the Rookie of the Year point standings with 113 points. He is now 25 points ahead of Spanish driver Borja Garcia with two races remaining on the schedule.

Driving in his first Atlantic Championship race in more than two years, Canadian racer Robert Wickens wound up fourth.

Defending series champion Markus Niemela came home fifth for his third straight top-five run.


Race results for Round 10 at Mosport International Raceway:

1. (1) Jonathan Summerton, Kissimmee, Fla., No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing, 33.
2. (4) John Edwards, Cincinnati, Ohio, No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing, 33.
3. (3) Frederic Vervisch (R), Belgium, No. 17 Genoa Racing, 33.
4. (5) Robert Wickens, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, No. 18 Genoa Racing, 33.
5. (6) Markus Niemela, Finland, No. 1 Jensen MotorSport, 33.
6. (8) Tonis Kasemets, Estonia, No. 35 Polestar Motor Racing, 33.
7. (6) Borja Garcia (R), Spain, No. 6 Condor Motorsports, 33.
8. (9) Max Lefevre (R), France, No. 7 Condor Motorsports, 33.
9. (10) Eric Jensen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, No. 3 Jensen MotorSport, 32.
10. (2) Simona De Silvestro, Switzerland, No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds, 27, contact.


Series Points Leaders:

1. De Silvestro, 160; 2. Edwards, 152; 3. Summerton, 148; 4. Vervisch, 113; 5. Kasemets, 90; 6. Garcia, 88; 7. Niemela, 80; 8. Frankie Muniz, 62; 9. James Winslow, 57; 10. Lefevre, 47.


Next Race: Road Atlanta; Braselton, Ga.; September 25.