US RaceTronics conducts its first session with Team Driver Carl Skerlong and Frankie Muniz
Buttonwillow, CA (November 15 2007)
US RaceTronics kicked off the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season with its first pre-season test last week at the team's home track Buttonwillow Raceway. While it has been over two months since the team had been on track it didn't take much time for them and driver Carl Skerlong to pick up where they last left off. While the test served to prep Skerlong for the 2008 season, it also provided fellow Champ Car Atlantic competitor Frankie Muniz with an opportunity to test with the team as well.
Skerlong, the Seattle, Washington native, has spent his off-season enrolled at Western Washington University and yet being away from the track hasn't had a negative affect proven by the fact that it didn't take very long for the youngster to get up to speed, and with each session Skerlong only increased his speed. "I'm real pleased about being back in the car. It's been a while since I've been in the car but it felt real comfortable. I can't say enough about the team, they are the best," states Skerlong. "It was a great session. We tried a lot of things out that hopefully will be to our advantage for the races next year. I'm real excited about next year and know we will have a great season"
Los Angeles native and fellow competitor Frankie Muniz also ran a full day with the US RaceTronics team. Muniz, who is still evaluating all of his options for the 2008 season, was also very happy with the way the test went. With each stint the former actor continued to improve his times and clearly became increasingly comfortable with his new surroundings. "The test went very well. I got to run quite a lot of laps and felt very good about the car and where we were heading throughout the day. I to have been out of the car for a while now so it's good to be back," comments Muniz.
For his part US RaceTronics Team Owner Shane Seneviratne also agreed that the test went well and was pleased. "I'm happy with the way the day went and think it was very productive. Having Carl and Frankie in the cars was great. We didn't encounter any problems throughout the day and the feedback both drivers provided was very helpful," comments Seneviratne. "This series is so competitive that every test is invaluable and so when we have a test that is a success on so many levels it's a huge positive," adds Seneviratne.
The 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season begins on April 20 with the Long Beach Grand Prix. The series will hold tests at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida February 2-6 and at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. for "Spring Training" on March 10-11.
About US RaceTronics: 2008 marks the fourth year of competition in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Series for US RaceTronics. Led by former Dorricott Racing Team Manager Shane Seneviratne, US RaceTronics enters the 2008 season with American Carl Skerlong. US RaceTronics is part of Pacific Coast Motorsports' Jr. Team program.
For more information about US RaceTronics and its partners, visit www.usracetronics.com. You can visit Carl Skerlong's website at www.cskerlong.com and Pacific Coast Motorsports' website at www.pcmracing.com
