Friday, September 22, 2006 ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Okay, that was a bit unexpected… Two drivers who are not regular competitors in this year’s Skip Barber National now hog the front row following qualifying for the first of the two races at Road America. Charles Anti, a regular in 2005 in the Skip Barber Regional Series (and currently showing moments of brilliance in this year’s Star Mazda Championship) put up his fastest lap – a 2:33.911 that took the pole – halfway through the 30-minute session. Revere Griest, a many-time Midwest Region champion, secured outside pole with a 2:34-flat, done on his third lap.
Charles Anti gittin 'er done in Turn 14. The Star Mazda regular is doing an SBN one-off here at Road America. And takes the pole.
So where are the three championship contenders? Points leader Jonathan Goring switched cars between practice and qualifying but barely got within two seconds of Anti and will start an uncharacteristic 10th. P2 Marco Di Leo did a lot better, but still, fourth was what he could muster (albeit just .265 off Anti’s time). And third-in-points Alexander Rossi? He did the best of the Gang of Three, qualifying third, a tenth-and-a-tick off pole. Mario Adrian Ochoa qualified a fine fifth, Jonathan Gore sixth, followed by Alex Doman, Timmy Megenbier, Kyle Lawrence and Goring.
Less of a surprise was Revere Greist's outside pole; he's won many a Regional race at Road America. Indeed, Greist's a multitime Midwest Region champion.
The National’s first-ever woman driver – er, actually, she’s a girl (age 14) – Julia Landauer, struggled with understeer, a tach that wasn’t working correctly and a fuel pick-up problem late in the session. Still, the star karter put up a time identical to Goring. And they both did it on their last lap! Tiebreaker went to Goring, however, because his last lap was his 11th, Landauer’s her 12th.
Julia Landauer didn't let a few car gremlins upset her National debut.
Sporting his Steelers/Pirates/Penguins livery of black and gold, Pittsburgh's Anti hopes to leverage his pole run into a race win.
Qualifying for the Sunday race is tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:00 a.m. Central, 9:00 Eastern; race one is Saturday, 5:30 local time (6:30 p.m. Eastern).
Practice Session, Skip Barber National Presented by RACER, Road America Champ Car. Conditions: Dry (heavy wet air) 1. Alexander Rossi, Nevada City, Calif., 2:34.935 / 94.051 mph 2. Marco Di Leo, Markham, Ont., Canada, 2:35.541 3. Kyle Lawrence, Ft. Gratiot, Mich., 2:35.978 4. Alex Doman, Conifer, Colo., 2:36.527 5. Revere Greist, Madison, Wis., 2:36.794 6. Charles Anti, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2:37.907 7. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill., 2:37.915 8. Paul Albert, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, 2:38.055 9. Jason Fennessey, Andover, Mass., 2:38.113 10. Mario Adrian Ochoa, Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, 2:38.330 11. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn., 2:38.373 12. Peter Husser, Salinas, Calif., 2:39.062 13. Julia Landauer, Newton, N.J., 2:39.529 14. Jonathan Goring, Norfolk, Conn., 2:39.698
Race One Qualifying, Skip Barber National Presented by RACER, Road America Champ Car. Conditions: Dry (heavy wet air) 1. Charles Anti, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2:33.911 / 94.683 mph 2. Revere Greist, Madison, Wis., 2:34.000 3. Alexander Rossi, Nevada City, Calif., 2:34.058 4. Marco Di Leo, Markham, Ont., Canada, 2:34.176 5. Mario Adrian Ochoa, Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, 2:34.907 6. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn., 2:35.044 7. Alex Doman, Conifer, Colo., 2:35.163 8. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill., 2:35.443 9. Kyle Lawrence, Ft. Gratiot, Mich., 2:35.457 10. Jonathan Goring, Norfolk, Conn., 2:35.775 12. Julia Landauer, Newton, N.J., 2:35.775 11. Jason Fennessey, Andover, Mass., 2:36.272 13. Peter Husser, Salinas, Calif., 2:36.488 14. Paul Albert, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, 2:36.645 Rick Roso
