Las Vegas, NV (April 6, 2007) - US RaceTronics Friday Las Vegas Report
US RaceTronics (USRT) arrived at Las Vegas and started the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season off on the right foot on Friday at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix. Both USRT drivers showed that they have what it takes to compete in this series.
It was immediately apparent that both USRT drivers Carl Skerlong # 24 King Taco/US RaceTronics Swift Mazda-Cosworth and David Garza #4 Axtel/Tecate/Madisa/US RaceTronics Swift Mazda-Cosworth would be fast throughout the Qualifying session. After 2 laps completed Skerlong jumped to the top of the time charts with a lap speed of 92.657 mph while Garza followed with a respectable speed of 91.582 mph. Thanks to the Champ Cars, and GP Masters who were on the track prior to the Champ Car Atlantic qualifying session the track conditions had improved dramatically as most of the dust had been cleaned off the track, replaced by miles of laid down rubber. As the track continued to improve the rest of the field improved their times as well relegating Skerlong and Garza to eighth and ninth respectively.
Midway during the session the Red Flag came out. Caused by Jenson Motorsports Dominick Muermans, the Red Flag came at the perfect time as both USRT cars were able to pit and change tires. The change worked and the result was Skerlong was able to improve his time to third while Garza improved as well.
With the time remaining rapidly dwindling down the pressure was on for the USRT drivers to lay down their fastest laps of the session. Garza immediately responded to the challenge and put up a fast lap of 94.362 mph while Skerlong screamed off a lap at 95.055, which immediately placed him at the Pole Position. As the last of the seconds ticked away James Hinchcliffe #9 NOCO/ProWorks - Sierra Sierra Enterprises put up a speed of 95.055 mph and claimed the Pole Position. Skerlong and Garza would finish the session n second and eighth respectively.
David Garza - "I had a good qualifying session and learned a lot about qualifying, we have a lot of work tonight and will review the data, but overall I am satisfied and we'll go for the pole tomorrow"
Carl Skerlong - "Today was a very good day. We learned a lot about the track and the car. The team did a great job and I'm looking forward to tomorrow where hopefully I can improve and put the car first on the grid"
About US RaceTronics: 2007 marks the third 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 2007 season with Monterrey Mexico native David Garza and American Carl Skerlong.
For more information on US RaceTronics and its partners, visit http://www.usracetronics.com/. You can visit David Garza's website at http://www.david-garza.com/ and Carl Skerlong's website at http://www.cskerlong.com/
