After almost a month since the last race at Virginia International Raceway, thedrivers of the 2010 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda are getting ready for roundsseven and eight at Lime Rock Park. Last year, the race was in October and the fall weather was a keyfactor in the racing. However, the track conditions are warm and sunny and look to stay that way for thisweekend’s double-header.
Championship leader Spencer Pigot and Michael Dörrbecker each took home a race win for rounds fiveand six, and Pigot currently holds a strong lead in the championship with a thirteen-point lead over IsaacLyons (174), followed by Dennis Trebing (165), Nick Andries (164) and Felix Serralles (160).Trebing is still dealing with a broken hand, but will still no doubt put up a fight as he did at VIR,clinching the pole position for round five. This past weekend, Ashley Freiberg picked up a win in theSummer Series at Watkins Glen International and also won the Memorial race at the end of the weekendwith Skip Barber alum John Edwards finishing in second. Freiberg is currently in sixth in thechampionship standings and is bound to carry some of the momentum from last weekend with her toLime Rock Park. The Icelandic volcano is no longer an issue as it was for Daniel Lloyd and Isaac Lyonslast month, and both are sure to cross the pond to fight for position.
2009 ReviewLast year at Lime Rock Park, the track conditions for the National race were anything but ideal, with acold and wet October weekend. Conner De Phillippi clinched the championship at the start of race onebut still drove strong, putting up a fight for the lead position on track. Sage Karam won the first race ofthe weekend, with over a two and a half second lead over Isaac Lyons in second and Dennis Trebing inthird. Karam’s steak continued into qualifying for the next semi-wet round by claiming the pole position,but he would eventually finish in second.
Connor De Phillippi and Ashley Freiberg both slid on wet conditions during the course of the race andhad to work their way up from the back of the pack. In the final lap, De Phillippi worked his way up tothe lead, only to slip out onto the grass and finish seventh. Court Vernon won the race by .026 secondsover Sage Karam and Sean Rayhall. Dennis Trebing, Isaac Lyons and Ashley Freiberg finished P4, P5and P8.
Alumni News2008 National Champion Conor Daly picked up his second win in a row last weekend for round three ofthe Star Mazda Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. His weekend started off with the poleposition, and he now has a 20-point lead in the overall championship, and has a 32-point lead over 2009National Champion Connor De Phillippi.
In 2006, young American Alexander Rossi won the Skip Barber Karting Shoot-Out and went on to placethird in the 2006 National Championship (and also went on to win the 2008 Formula BMW AmericasChampionship and the World Final). Earlier this month, Alex clinched his first GP3 win from poleposition at round two of the Spain opener at Circuit de Catalunya. He also recently qualified fifth in roundthree of the World Series by Renault.
This past weekend, Mikhail Goikhberg picked up a second USF2000 win in a non-points race Sunday atMazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Goikhberg took the lead from pole sitter and fellow Skip Barber alumSage Karam and won by 1.699 seconds.
Current National Championship point leader Spencer Pigot clinched the pole position and race win ofround one of the Canadian Formula Ford Championship debut. Despite a gearbox failure, 16 year oldPigot drove strong and finished second in round two for Brian Graham Racing. Spencer will be defendinghis lead for the Skip Barber National Championship this weekend at Lime Rock Park.
This month is a big one for Skip Barber Alum as the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500 rapidlyapproaches. Not only is the pole sitter, Helio Castroneves, a Skip Barber alum, but 10 more of the 33drivers have Skip Barber ties (qualifying positions in parenthesis): Ed Carpenter (8th), Townsend Bell(10th), 2003 Skip Barber National Champion Raphael Matos (12th), 2004 National Champion MarcoAndretti (16th), 1999 National Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay (17th), E.J. (Ernesto when we knew him)Viso (19th), Danica Patrick (23rd), John Andretti (28th), Sarah Fisher (29th), Sebastian Saavedra(33rd).
Entry list, Rounds 5 and 6, 2010 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by MazdaScott Anderson, 21, Fort Collins, Colo.Nicholas Andries, 19, Pinellas Park, Fla.Ashley Freiberg, 18, Homer Glen, Ill.Daniel Lloyd, 17, EnglandIsaac Lyons, 20, Northern IrelandBrandon Newey, 17, Carmel, Ind.Mukul Sud, 24, IndiaSpencer Pigot, 17, Windermere, Fla.Felix Serralles, 17, Haines City, Fla.Dennis Trebing, 17, Cape Coral, Fla.Trent Hindman, 14, Wayside, N.J.Scott Heckert, 16, Ridgefield, Conn.
