Friday, April 24, 2009
Young Brazilian Felipe Polehtto, third in points after the first two races, took the pole for round three at VIR by nearly a second. More photos below
ALTON, Va. (April 24) - At Virginia International Raceway, second-year man Felipe Polehtto ran the fewest number of laps in qualifying for round three of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, but he put them to very good use. Of his seven laps – most of the other 21 drivers got in 10 – two were in the 2:05 bracket. The second fastest qualifier, rookie Ian Costa, mustered a best of 2:06.280. The next 10 drivers, through 12th-quick Sage Karem, were within 1 second of Costa. Third on the grid for Saturday’s race – Sunday will see round four qualifying in the morning with the race late afternoon – is Connor DePhillippi, followed by Kyle Marcelli, Corey Lewis, Brett Smrz, Ashley Freiberg and Victor Pedrosa. Court Vernon and Isaac Lyons round out the top 10. Qualifying was originally scheduled for 12:45 but was moved to 6:15 when the track ran behind schedule.
Friday, April 24, starting grid for Saturday race one (round 3 of 14) following Q1 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Virginia International Raceway 1. Felipe Polehtto, 2:05.318 2. Ian Costa, 2:06.280 3. Conner De Phillippi, 2:06.587 4. Kyle Marcelli, 2:06.651 5. Corey Lewis, 2:06.653 6. Brett Smrz, 2:06.854 7. Ashley Freiberg, 2:06.859 8. Victor Pedrosa, 2:06.923 9. Court Vernon, 2:07.058 10. Isaac Lyons, 2:07.085 11. Jason Toft, 2:07.104 12. Sage Karam, 2:07.262 13. Stevan McAleer, 2:07.385 14. Julian Albarracin, 2:07.467 15. Matthew Mair, 2:07.678 16. Arrie Maree, 2:07.785 17. Sean Rayhall, 2:07.807 18. Robert LaRocca, 2:07.843 19. Dennis Trebing, 2:07.957 20. Michael Vincec, 2:08.416 21. Carlos Linares, 2:09.930 22. Michael Ramies, 2:11.026
Heading into the Esses, Polehtto in the red car runs up on Ian Costa in the blue #8. Costa was second-quickest in round three qualifying.
Points leader Connor DePhillippi (#58) and Brett Smrz (#36) head to the Esses side by side. DePhillippi will start third, Smrz sixth.
Sage Karam (#10) was only 1 second slower than outside frontrow man Costa, but it still leaves him in the sixth row. Meanwhile Kyle Marcelli (#50), second in points behind DePhillippi, will start fourth in Saturday's race.
Corey Lewis, a Nazareth, Pa., neighbor of Karam (both families of which are Andretti family friends), qualified fifth.
Rick Roso, words and photos
