Kamikawa Enjoys GTP Home Cooking At Rapidsby John Wiedemann
3/12/2009
Fitzlaff Wins F1 Opener
Wauwatosa, WI - The ISF 2009 season took the green flag at Rapids International Raceway on Thursday evening. Top ISF divisions GTP and F1 took to the challenging city course with its limited driving sightlines. Starting off the season in style with victories were Mike Fitzlaff and home track favorite Everet Kamikawa. Adding to the action were impressive driving performances by second year challengers Mike Lack and Nick Bartolone. Both racers set qualifying records at the Rapids International Raceway.
The GTP division was dominated by John Shea last year. Shea put his Minolta Toyota in victory lane eleven times in the twelve race season. After the final race, Shea put that car into the museum. With Shea running a new chassis, the rest of the field tasted blood in the water and attacked. Bartolone won the pole, transferring directly to the feature while Lack, Shea and Kamikawa transferred through the B-feature race. Bartolone quickly took the lead early while Kamikawa followed close behind. The top two pulled away and quickly showed that the race would be decided between them. After the halfway break, it was Bartolone with a minimal two lap lead over Kamikawa. The lane switch was not beneficial to Bartolone as he struggled with handling issues. Kamikawa capitalized on Bartolone�s issues and quickly assumed the lead. Behind them, Lack took advantage of the halfway lane switch and stepped up the pace to try and battle Shea for the third spot. In the end, Kamikawa took the win with Bartolone holding on to second. Shea held off the hard charging Lack for third by just two laps. If tonight�s racing is any indication, the GTP division could see a change at the top. Heat winners on the night included Shea, Kamikawa and Mark Walczak.
Amongst the moans and groans of the paddock, option tire racing returned to the F1 division for the second year. While most of the strategy has been figured out for racing on the traction-less tires, a few wrinkles still find their way into the race night. The noise of option tires spinning to find traction as the cars accelerated out of the turns echoed in the cavernous Rapids Raceway during the races. In the feature race, Mike Fitzlaff took command of the race immediately and didn�t let up until the checkers flew. Whether on slicks or option tires, Fitzlaff blitzed the through the field. Polesitter Lack, ran well and finished in second with the Ferrari team of Kamikawa and Shea ending up in third and fourth. Heat winners included Kamikawa and Walczak.
The ISF season continues on March 26th in West Bend with the GTP and LMP divisions being contested.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2009-01-104
15th Annual Rapids Invitational
March 12, 2009
Rapids International Raceway
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GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 5 Everet Kamikawa Marlboro Toyota CV89 211 Running
2 1 Nick Bartolone Radical Toyota CV89 199 Running
3 3 John Shea Minolta Toyota CV89 196 Running
4 2 Mike Lack Tamiya Jaguar XJR9 194 Running
5 8 Mark Walczak Red Bull Jaguar XJR7 114 Off
6 6 John Wiedemann Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9 120 Running
7 7 Cory Galbraith Tenoras Toyota CV89 96 Running
8 4 Mike Fitzlaff Castrol Jaguar 93 Off
9 10 Dan Margetta Red Bull Toyota CV89 86 Off
10 9 Larry Rotter Denso Toyota CV89 74 Off
11 11 Steve Kohlman Shell Porsche 965 0 Withdrew
Fastest Qualifier -- Bartolone; 3.657 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Bartolone; 3. Shea; 4. Lack. (Fastest Lap -- Bartolone; 3.796 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Lack; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Walczak. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.032 seconds)
Fast Heat -- 1. Shea; 2. Lack; 3. Bartolone. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.009 seconds)
Reg. Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Wiedemann; 3. Galbraith; 4. Fitzlaff. (Fastest Lap -- Kamikawa; 4.136 seconds)
Slow Heat -- 1. Walczak; 2. Margetta; 3. Rotter; 4. Kohlman (DNS). (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Qualifying -- 1. Bartolone, 3.657; 2. Lack, 3.741; 3. Shea, 3.844; 4. Fitzlaff, 3.860; 5. Kamikawa, 3.960; 6. Wiedemann, 3.979; 7. Galbraith, 4.002; 8. Walczak, 4.013; 9. Rotter, 4.066; 10. Margetta, 4.234; 11. Kohlman, 5.337.
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F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 3 Mike Fitzlaff Jordan-Peugeot 181 Running
2 1 Mike Lack Jaguar 171 Running
3 9 Everet Kamikawa Ferrari 156 Off
4 2 John Shea Ferrari 124 Off
5 4 Mark Walczak Red Bull-Renault 10 Off
6 8 Cory Galbraith Arrows-Cosworth 111 Running
7 10 Larry Rotter McLaren-Mercedes 103 Running
8 6 John Wiedemann Jaguar 97 Off
9 7 Dan Margetta Red Bull-Renault 93 Off
10 5 Nick Bartolone Williams-Honda 21 Off
11 11 Steve Kohlman Williams-Supertec 0 Withdrew
Fastest Qualifier -- Lack; 3.925 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Fitzlaff; 2. Lack; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Shea. (Fastest Lap -- Lack; 4.727 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Shea; 3. Fitzlaff; 4. Walczak. (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Fast Heat -- 1. Not Contested.
Reg. Heat -- 1. Walczak; 2. Wiedemann; 3. Margetta; 4. Bartolone. (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Slow Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Galbraith; 3. Rotter; 4. Kohlman (DNS). (Fastest Lap -- Galbraith; 4.549)
Qualifying -- 1. Lack, 3.925; 2. Shea, 3.963; 3. Fitzlaff, 3.996; 4. Walczak, 4.085; 5. Bartolone, 4.100; 6. Wiedemann, 4.174; 7. Margetta, 4.212; 8. Galbraith, 4.217; 9. Kamikawa, 4.323; 10. Rotter, 4.519; 11. Kohlman, 5.428.
3/12/2009
Fitzlaff Wins F1 Opener
Wauwatosa, WI - The ISF 2009 season took the green flag at Rapids International Raceway on Thursday evening. Top ISF divisions GTP and F1 took to the challenging city course with its limited driving sightlines. Starting off the season in style with victories were Mike Fitzlaff and home track favorite Everet Kamikawa. Adding to the action were impressive driving performances by second year challengers Mike Lack and Nick Bartolone. Both racers set qualifying records at the Rapids International Raceway.
The GTP division was dominated by John Shea last year. Shea put his Minolta Toyota in victory lane eleven times in the twelve race season. After the final race, Shea put that car into the museum. With Shea running a new chassis, the rest of the field tasted blood in the water and attacked. Bartolone won the pole, transferring directly to the feature while Lack, Shea and Kamikawa transferred through the B-feature race. Bartolone quickly took the lead early while Kamikawa followed close behind. The top two pulled away and quickly showed that the race would be decided between them. After the halfway break, it was Bartolone with a minimal two lap lead over Kamikawa. The lane switch was not beneficial to Bartolone as he struggled with handling issues. Kamikawa capitalized on Bartolone�s issues and quickly assumed the lead. Behind them, Lack took advantage of the halfway lane switch and stepped up the pace to try and battle Shea for the third spot. In the end, Kamikawa took the win with Bartolone holding on to second. Shea held off the hard charging Lack for third by just two laps. If tonight�s racing is any indication, the GTP division could see a change at the top. Heat winners on the night included Shea, Kamikawa and Mark Walczak.
Amongst the moans and groans of the paddock, option tire racing returned to the F1 division for the second year. While most of the strategy has been figured out for racing on the traction-less tires, a few wrinkles still find their way into the race night. The noise of option tires spinning to find traction as the cars accelerated out of the turns echoed in the cavernous Rapids Raceway during the races. In the feature race, Mike Fitzlaff took command of the race immediately and didn�t let up until the checkers flew. Whether on slicks or option tires, Fitzlaff blitzed the through the field. Polesitter Lack, ran well and finished in second with the Ferrari team of Kamikawa and Shea ending up in third and fourth. Heat winners included Kamikawa and Walczak.
The ISF season continues on March 26th in West Bend with the GTP and LMP divisions being contested.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2009-01-104
15th Annual Rapids Invitational
March 12, 2009
Rapids International Raceway
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GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 5 Everet Kamikawa Marlboro Toyota CV89 211 Running
2 1 Nick Bartolone Radical Toyota CV89 199 Running
3 3 John Shea Minolta Toyota CV89 196 Running
4 2 Mike Lack Tamiya Jaguar XJR9 194 Running
5 8 Mark Walczak Red Bull Jaguar XJR7 114 Off
6 6 John Wiedemann Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9 120 Running
7 7 Cory Galbraith Tenoras Toyota CV89 96 Running
8 4 Mike Fitzlaff Castrol Jaguar 93 Off
9 10 Dan Margetta Red Bull Toyota CV89 86 Off
10 9 Larry Rotter Denso Toyota CV89 74 Off
11 11 Steve Kohlman Shell Porsche 965 0 Withdrew
Fastest Qualifier -- Bartolone; 3.657 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Bartolone; 3. Shea; 4. Lack. (Fastest Lap -- Bartolone; 3.796 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Lack; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Walczak. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.032 seconds)
Fast Heat -- 1. Shea; 2. Lack; 3. Bartolone. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.009 seconds)
Reg. Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Wiedemann; 3. Galbraith; 4. Fitzlaff. (Fastest Lap -- Kamikawa; 4.136 seconds)
Slow Heat -- 1. Walczak; 2. Margetta; 3. Rotter; 4. Kohlman (DNS). (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Qualifying -- 1. Bartolone, 3.657; 2. Lack, 3.741; 3. Shea, 3.844; 4. Fitzlaff, 3.860; 5. Kamikawa, 3.960; 6. Wiedemann, 3.979; 7. Galbraith, 4.002; 8. Walczak, 4.013; 9. Rotter, 4.066; 10. Margetta, 4.234; 11. Kohlman, 5.337.
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F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 3 Mike Fitzlaff Jordan-Peugeot 181 Running
2 1 Mike Lack Jaguar 171 Running
3 9 Everet Kamikawa Ferrari 156 Off
4 2 John Shea Ferrari 124 Off
5 4 Mark Walczak Red Bull-Renault 10 Off
6 8 Cory Galbraith Arrows-Cosworth 111 Running
7 10 Larry Rotter McLaren-Mercedes 103 Running
8 6 John Wiedemann Jaguar 97 Off
9 7 Dan Margetta Red Bull-Renault 93 Off
10 5 Nick Bartolone Williams-Honda 21 Off
11 11 Steve Kohlman Williams-Supertec 0 Withdrew
Fastest Qualifier -- Lack; 3.925 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Fitzlaff; 2. Lack; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Shea. (Fastest Lap -- Lack; 4.727 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Shea; 3. Fitzlaff; 4. Walczak. (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Fast Heat -- 1. Not Contested.
Reg. Heat -- 1. Walczak; 2. Wiedemann; 3. Margetta; 4. Bartolone. (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Slow Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Galbraith; 3. Rotter; 4. Kohlman (DNS). (Fastest Lap -- Galbraith; 4.549)
Qualifying -- 1. Lack, 3.925; 2. Shea, 3.963; 3. Fitzlaff, 3.996; 4. Walczak, 4.085; 5. Bartolone, 4.100; 6. Wiedemann, 4.174; 7. Margetta, 4.212; 8. Galbraith, 4.217; 9. Kamikawa, 4.323; 10. Rotter, 4.519; 11. Kohlman, 5.428.
Everet Kamikawa stands atop the victory podium behind his newly colored Marlboro Shell Toyota. 2nd place Nick Bartolone (yellow) and 3rd place John Shea (blue) flank him.
The GTP and F1 cars line up for qualifying at the Rapids.
Rookie Steve Kohlman tries his hand at qualifying, finishing 11th.
The racing was close in F1 and GTP.
The new USF1 team of Corey Galbraith has a nice car, but still needs to be approved by the Technical Working Group as a legal entry.
Everet Kamikawa celebrates winning the first GTP event of the season.
GTP Winner - Everet Kamikawa and F1 Winner - Mike Fitzlaff
Mike Fitzlaff in victory lane with 2nd place Mike Lack (green) and 3rd place Everet Kamikawa (red).
