|
|
|
For immediate release: January 12, 2004 - D’Agostino helps lead the charge for Team USA in New Zealand Timaru, New Zealand - Joe D’Agostino helped to lead the way this past weekend for the Team USA Scholarship cars in the first round of the Talley’s New Zealand International Formula Ford Championship, held at Levels Raceway in Timaru, New Zealand. D’Agostino capped a Saturday filled with ups and downs for the three Team USA Scholarship drivers by claiming pole position in the qualifying for Race One. Qualifying for Race Two, held in significantly hotter conditions and on a very greasy track, saw D’Agostino post the seventh fastest time after struggling with an understeering condition during the session. D’Agostino turned the fastest lap of the day, 1:06.200, during qualifying for the first race and will be joined on the front row of the starting grid by New Zealand teenager Chris Pither. Ironically, the two young chargers made contact midway through the session, leaving D’Agostino’s patriotically liveried Team USA Scholarship Stealth/Van Diemen parked against the barriers with damaged right-rear suspension. "It could have been a lot worse," reckoned D’Agostino. "The car was really working well and I was on an even better lap when I came across Pither, who was on a cool-down lap. For some reason, he started to race me when I went past and we ended up getting together. It’s unfortunate but these things happen." Continuing to concentrate on the positives, D’Agostino added: "The car was handling great and I got a really good lap [in qualifying]. I’m just looking to keep the momentum going, so I’m looking forward to a clean start, holding onto the lead, and hopefully having a good, clean race." With that D’Agostino got a clean start and went on to lead most of the first race before having to settle for second to Pither, "I was gone," declared D’Agostino. "I was walking away with it and then, unfortunately, the safety car came out. I got a good restart but was unable to break the draft this time down the straightaway, and so Pither was able to get by." Race Two saw D’Agostino follow up with a sixth-place finish although he was hindered by a problem in selecting first gear. “I really had to work hard for this one, as about midway through the race I started having problems with the gearbox. I just drove as hard as I could and hoped that it would last to the end, and it did so although I did not win I am still pleased with the result.” With these results D’Agostino now unofficially sits third position in the International Championship, after two of six races. The second race meeting of
the Talley’s New Zealand International
Formula Ford Championship will be held on January 16-18 at Teretonga
International Raceway in Invercargill, New Zealand. |
 |
 |