WILD RACE AT RAIN SOAKED MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE GIVES BACK TO RICHARD ANTINUCCI TOP SPOT IN THE FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 1-DAY HIATUS

BARELY A DRIVER ESCAPED MISTAKES AND MISHAPS IN ROUND 12 THRILLER, AND CARNAGE TAKES TOLL ON TITLE HOPEFULS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN HAS 1-POINT EDGE ON BRAZILIAN RAPHAEL MATOS, AND THEIR DUEL WILL RESUME AFTER SUMMER BREAK AT KENTUCKY

Sunday, July 20, 2008

SUNDAY'S NOTES
LEXINGTON, OH. — The second leg of the Mid-Ohio doubleheader was delayed 1 hour due to a severe thunderstorm, and the 100-mile round was shortened to a 40-minute race sprint. When the grid got going, spins and incidents on the wet track struck across the field. Richard Antinucci, who started from the front row, kept the runner up spot throughout the two first caution periods, then after the second restart went for the lead trying to go past Jonny Reid. On lap 9 he went wide on the grass during his passing attempt and dropped to 4th. Antinucci immediately worked his way back into the Top 3 passing Pablo Donoso, but the 3rd full course caution stopped short this comeback. Meanwhile former points leader Raphael Matos — who Antinucci was trailing by three points before Sunday's race — had to pit with car damage after coming together with Bobby Wilson on Lap 7. Antinucci was therefore poised to give a big shakeup to the points standings securing another success at the track where he clinched his maiden win, but after the third restart a spin moved the San Diegan back to 8th. Antinucci was able to make up two spots from rivals Robbie Pecorari and Sean Guthrie on Lap 17, but one lap later the Sam Schmidt Motorports driver was pushed wide on the grass, and with one lap to go his attempt to recover one spot passing Logan GOmez on the inside wound up with the pair coming together at Turn 5, collecting Pecorari who was running nearby. A heated argument between Antinucci and Gomez ensued. This weird Sunday finished accordingly, as under full course yellow race leader Jonny Reid pitted just before the chequered flag, dispatching therefore the silverware to elated Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver James Davison, the seventh different winner in the series this season. Antinucci earned 16 points for a 14th-place finish, while Matos finished 18th and took 12 poitns, therefore the Rome, Italy-born driver was back on top: 376-375.

RICHARD'S TAKE
"Well, one has to find a silver lining in any unpleasant situation, therefore I have to be philosophical about today's outcome: yesterday I was runner-up to Matos, today I am in front, although with the pace the Lucas Oil Lifelock Dallara No. 7 was capable of today on wet — this cushion could have been a lot more comfortable. Never mind, this means that I'll have to figure out how to sweep all the remaining 4 rounds... Joking apart, I am still confident that we can be as competitive as anybody both at the two remaining oval venues and at Infineon road course. Today in spite of a couple of spins on a treacherous track I could have nonetheless picked up a hefty haul of points, but during the last three laps Pablo Donoso and Logan Gomez — who also happened to be lapped — made sure that I did not. Anyway the Mid-Ohio doubleheader will make me more focused, starting with next Thursday's open test. Anything can happen in this series, and we've seen that pretty well today, with my team mate James Davison maiden win — and fourth for SSM — unfolding like a whodunit!"