Pot Luck 17 - R5-6 Road America

The third venue and the third road course in a row.  It would appear that resource management is a popular choice across two rounds of racing.  Because of how much was happening across the track and the number of racers this week, We'll just focus on highlights for this week.

Race 1:

Riggleman was one of the only drivers without success ballast and was able to qualify.  Everyone else started in the back by choice or...by choice.

Being Webster's pick, he made some imaginative passes and quickly worked his way up the order to focus on chasing down Mark.

Others were also making bold moves if not quite as many gains.

Hamilton was well within the top twenty when Marcos rubbed a fender and sent him off at turn seven.  Darrel would have to basically start from scratch.

Mad Max's triumphant return to racing was stunted by a run in with the wall.  He didn't want that nasty paint scheme anyway.  Still, four laps on a new track without any practice after about half a year or so off isn't bad.

Darrel Hamilton started back up to regain positions but former teammates came together at the same turn the DG car was turned before.

He almost got away with the transgression but The Bear nicked him on the way by, sending the hornet-colored car flailing.

The two nearly came together again when Darrel turned around.  There were no further issues between these two.  But it will make future poker nights a heralding event.

While he didn't come together with Hamilton, he Smith did nearly wreck his own son as Tnadz was desperately chasing down Webster for second.  This sent the kin off into the gravel where he lost 5th gear.  Fans were calling for a three race suspension but it was ultimately written off as a racing incident.

Suddenly, a Gut Slab appears!  Back from a trip away from the keyboard, Slab returned to the track several laps down and with little to lose.  So he practiced some turns.

Struggling with a crucial, missing gear, Smith got together with a brake-checking Tuca Rocha and suffered a fatal blow to the tire wall.

Down to the final lap and a combination of conservatism and issues slowed Riggleman enough for Webster to close in for a frantic final lap.  Getting Fragga the frag out of the way, Mark cleared the way for an exciting finish.

Out of turn three, Riggleman got loose on dying tires and the two nearly came together.  Zack tucked up the inside and took the lead.

It was all or nothing and both drivers were maxing out as much as they could the little fuel and rubber they had left.  The Bear quickly moved aside to let these two battle it out.

Out of the carosel, Webster had a bad position behind a lapper that caused a critical slow up.

Mark held speed and sung past.  All the while, Gurton Buster slowly crept closer to the dual, waiting for a mistake from either or both to steal the win.

But Mark Riggleman held out through the final corners to celebrate his birthday with an exciting win.

Webster made sure to give him a victory gift and there was much rejoicing.

It was nearly a solid human victory at the front with Hamilton continuing his charge through the field to take fifth.

Race 2:

Same start as Race 1 just swapping Tnadz and Riggleman for the front row.

Buster pulled an odd maneuver and pulled off at the start to let cars by.

The first few turns and Mad Max looked on as destruction reigned around him without his influence.  It has been a while.  He'll have to get back into form.

That's the spirit!  Heavily cutting turn 6 due to lack of brakes, he cut right across Salas into his favorite gravel trap.

Gut Slab was staying close with Riggleman as they caressed their way through the field.

Oddly enough, it was GB who suffered first among the typical top runners and was taken out by Suzuki through the Kettle Bottoms.

He managed to save it without losing much time but damaged tires and race car not a good finish make.  Would he have enough to pull a come from behind?

Slab was doing great and caught an awkward fender on Casagrande out of turn one.

He smooshed the tires good and could really only run the car at half mast for the rest of the race.  Really too bad as he was doing quite well.

It seems Mad Max didn't like this paint scheme much either.  But REALLY loves those particular tires.

At the front, Webster had cleared traffic to second and was narrowing the gap to first when he was caught out by a lapper.

No damage done but he lost valuable positions and Riggleman took up the banner.

He caught Tnadz in short order and even made a brief move to first.

The two dueled for the next five laps to the finish, running within a tenth or less the entire time.

While it was fun to watch and a great balance of gentlemanly sportsmanship, resource management and traffic management, it was not without fault.  Mark closed too quickly without enough gap coming up to turn six and spun the Family Dollar car.

He did redress the position but the two were right back nose to tail to the final lap.

Halfway through in the Hurry Downs, Riggleman moved wide to sweep Marcos when he just barely caught his fender and the two spun violently.

With little damage done, he continued on to second and even got to witness AI on AI action!

But it would be Tnadz to hold on for the victory.

And the family celebrated as The Bear wrapped up his 16th place finish.  Buster settled for double 3rds with Webster and Hamilton rounding out the top five.

Mark Riggleman has broken the streak and chose the form of our destructor: Atlanta.  Brazilian Stock Cars on an oval course.  This will be fun.  One round, 78 F, N wind at 2 mph, about 60+ laps.  Let's see if anyone remembers how to drive one of these tracks.

Race 1

Track: Road America HR

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	008	J Zolecki	2:00.774
2	26	M Riggleman Jr	2:02.110
3	23	Z Webster	2:02.727
4	13	T Nadz	2:03.985
5	61	D Hamilton	2:05.769
6	121	T Bear	2:10.277
7	65	M Wilson	2:12.983
8	10	R Zonta	2:12.995
9	21	T Camilo	2:13.039
10	4	J Campos	2:13.059
11	83	G Casagrande	2:13.117
12	111	R Barrichello	2:13.140
13	25	T Rocha	2:13.177
14	90	R Mauricio	2:13.238
15	188	B Monteiro	2:13.348
16	8	R Suzuki	2:13.395
17	30	C Ramos	2:13.451
18	29	D Serra	2:13.463
19	70	D Nunes	2:13.471
20	3	B Figueiredo	2:13.542
21	0	C Bueno	2:13.662
22	1	A Pizzonia	2:13.761
23	80	M Gomes	2:13.802
24	9	G Lima	2:13.870
25	51	A Abreu	2:13.901
26	46	V Genz	2:13.924
27	110	F Lapenna	2:14.043
28	18	A Khodair	2:14.050
29	73	S Jimenez	2:14.065
30	117	G Salas	2:14.175
31	77	V Brito	2:14.177
32	88	F Fraga	2:14.264
33	31	M Campos	2:14.315
34	5	D Navarro	2:14.344
35	44	A Valerio	2:14.567
36	28	G Osman	2:14.756
37	12	L Foresti	2:15.861

Weather: Clear, 73 °F, Northwest 2 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	M Riggleman Jr	2:00.828
2	21	T Camilo	2:12.074
3	80	M Gomes	2:12.145
4	30	C Ramos	2:12.212
5	8	R Suzuki	2:12.251
6	4	J Campos	2:12.394
7	90	R Mauricio	2:12.535
8	65	M Wilson	2:12.890
9	29	D Serra	2:12.974
10	188	B Monteiro	2:13.044
11	31	M Campos	2:13.047
12	117	G Salas	2:13.080
13	28	G Osman	2:13.173
14	111	R Barrichello	2:13.178
15	51	A Abreu	2:13.300
16	88	F Fraga	2:13.334
17	18	A Khodair	2:13.338
18	5	D Navarro	2:13.577
19	110	F Lapenna	2:13.714
20	12	L Foresti	2:13.729
21	73	S Jimenez	2:13.743
22	46	V Genz	2:13.864
23	10	R Zonta	2:13.980
24	77	V Brito	2:14.114
25	1	A Pizzonia	2:14.184
26	70	D Nunes	2:14.189
27	25	T Rocha	2:14.214
28	83	G Casagrande	2:14.329
29	3	B Figueiredo	2:14.462
30	44	A Valerio	2:14.574
31	0	C Bueno	2:14.866
32	9	G Lima	2:14.948
33	008	J Zolecki	2:19.394
34	61	D Hamilton	--
35	23	Z Webster	--
36	339	M Max	--
37	13	T Nadz	--
38	121	T Bear	--
39	55	g slab	--

Weather: Clear, 73 °F, North 9 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	23	Z Webster	2:06.466
2	61	D Hamilton	2:07.303
3	13	T Nadz	2:07.982
4	90	R Mauricio	2:12.642
5	008	J Zolecki	2:12.735
6	10	R Zonta	2:13.274
7	80	M Gomes	2:13.381
8	4	J Campos	2:13.548
9	21	T Camilo	2:13.800
10	121	T Bear	2:13.853
11	0	C Bueno	2:13.891
12	117	G Salas	2:14.017
13	73	S Jimenez	2:14.120
14	65	M Wilson	2:14.228
15	29	D Serra	2:14.312
16	9	G Lima	2:14.443
17	110	F Lapenna	2:14.464
18	88	F Fraga	2:14.490
19	25	T Rocha	2:14.520
20	8	R Suzuki	2:14.555
21	18	A Khodair	2:14.611
22	3	B Figueiredo	2:14.731
23	83	G Casagrande	2:14.789
24	46	V Genz	2:15.054
25	12	L Foresti	2:15.279
26	31	M Campos	2:15.285
27	5	D Navarro	2:15.342
28	28	G Osman	2:15.386
29	44	A Valerio	2:15.758
30	70	D Nunes	2:15.824
31	77	V Brito	2:15.912
32	1	A Pizzonia	2:16.957
33	111	R Barrichello	2:22.999
34	188	B Monteiro	2:23.566
35	51	A Abreu	2:30.055
36	30	C Ramos	3:10.975

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, Southeast 10 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	M Riggleman Jr	114.372	12	12*	185	Running
2	35	23	Z Webster	-0.94	12	0	170	Running
3	33	008	J Zolecki	-3.90	12	0	165	Running
4	3	80	M Gomes	-1:33.02	12	0	160	Running
5	34	61	D Hamilton	-1:39.38	12	0	155	Running
6	8	65	M Wilson	-1:40.95	12	0	150	Running
7	14	111	R Barrichello	-1:47.44	12	0	146	Running
8	10	188	B Monteiro	-1:48.96	12	0	142	Running
9	17	18	A Khodair	-1:49.92	12	0	138	Running
10	25	1	A Pizzonia	-1:53.69	12	0	134	Running
11	13	28	G Osman	-1:54.01	12	0	130	Running
12	19	110	F Lapenna	-2:03.23	12	0	127	Running
13	28	83	G Casagrande	-2:03.52	12	0	124	Running
14	30	44	A Valerio	-2:03.81	12	0	121	Running
15	29	3	B Figueiredo	-2:03.99	12	0	118	Running
16	7	90	R Mauricio	-2:04.32	12	0	115	Running
17	12	117	G Salas	-2:07.18	12	0	112	Running
18	5	8	R Suzuki	-2:09.58	12	0	109	Running
19	4	30	C Ramos	-2:12.83	12	0	106	Running
20	6	4	J Campos	-2:13.02	12	0	103	Running
21	11	31	M Campos	-2:13.54	12	0	100	Running
22	18	5	D Navarro	-1L	11	0	97	Running
23	31	0	C Bueno	-1L	11	0	94	Running
24	22	46	V Genz	-1L	11	0	91	Running
25	21	73	S Jimenez	-1L	11	0	88	Running
26	20	12	L Foresti	-1L	11	0	85	Running
27	27	25	T Rocha	-1L	11	0	82	Running
28	26	70	D Nunes	-1L	11	0	79	Running
29	23	10	R Zonta	-1L	11	0	76	Running
30	15	51	A Abreu	-1L	11	0	73	Running
31	16	88	F Fraga	-2L	10	0	70	Running
32	38	121	T Bear	-2L	10	0	67	Running
33	24	77	V Brito	-3L	9	0	64	Running
34	37	13	T Nadz	-4L	8	0	61	Accident
35	2	21	T Camilo	-5L	7	0	58	Accident
36	32	9	G Lima	-9L	3	0	55	Accident
37	36	339	M Max	-9L	3	0	52	Accident
38	39	55	g slab	-10L	2	0	49	Running
39	9	29	D Serra	-11L	1	0	46	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 81 °F, Southeast 9 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 70%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
2	339	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	80	M Gomes	2:12.171
2	13	T Nadz	2:12.205
3	65	M Wilson	2:12.320
4	77	V Brito	2:12.398
5	30	C Ramos	2:12.476
6	4	J Campos	2:12.592
7	88	F Fraga	2:12.816
8	90	R Mauricio	2:12.830
9	18	A Khodair	2:12.962
10	110	F Lapenna	2:13.016
11	10	R Zonta	2:13.178
12	83	G Casagrande	2:13.178
13	12	L Foresti	2:13.228
14	111	R Barrichello	2:13.324
15	46	V Genz	2:13.373
16	29	D Serra	2:13.388
17	21	T Camilo	2:13.554
18	44	A Valerio	2:13.711
19	51	A Abreu	2:13.745
20	25	T Rocha	2:13.775
21	117	G Salas	2:13.847
22	3	B Figueiredo	2:13.874
23	8	R Suzuki	2:14.007
24	70	D Nunes	2:14.059
25	1	A Pizzonia	2:14.119
26	5	D Navarro	2:14.400
27	0	C Bueno	2:14.466
28	188	B Monteiro	2:14.481
29	73	S Jimenez	2:14.716
30	28	G Osman	2:14.808
31	31	M Campos	2:14.917
32	9	G Lima	2:15.612
33	99	M Max	--
34	008	J Zolecki	--
35	23	Z Webster	--
36	26	M Riggleman Jr	--
37	61	D Hamilton	--
38	55	g slab	--
39	121	T Bear	--

Weather: Clear, 80 °F, Northwest 3 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	13	T Nadz	114.545	12	11*	185	Running
2	36	26	M Riggleman Jr	-7.85	12	1	175	Running
3	34	008	J Zolecki	-15.81	12	0	165	Running
4	35	23	Z Webster	-45.65	12	0	160	Running
5	37	61	D Hamilton	-49.29	12	0	155	Running
6	7	88	F Fraga	-1:20.66	12	0	150	Running
7	4	77	V Brito	-1:33.51	12	0	146	Running
8	11	10	R Zonta	-1:33.72	12	0	142	Running
9	10	110	F Lapenna	-1:34.62	12	0	138	Running
10	27	0	C Bueno	-1:36.17	12	0	134	Running
11	5	30	C Ramos	-1:41.71	12	0	130	Running
12	3	65	M Wilson	-1:47.31	12	0	127	Running
13	8	90	R Mauricio	-1:47.64	12	0	124	Running
14	20	25	T Rocha	-1:51.68	12	0	121	Running
15	23	8	R Suzuki	-1:55.95	12	0	118	Running
16	39	121	T Bear	-1L	11	0	115	Running
17	13	12	L Foresti	-1L	11	0	112	Running
18	15	46	V Genz	-1L	11	0	109	Running
19	9	18	A Khodair	-1L	11	0	106	Running
20	14	111	R Barrichello	-1L	11	0	103	Running
21	16	29	D Serra	-1L	11	0	100	Retired
22	28	188	B Monteiro	-1L	11	0	97	Running
23	25	1	A Pizzonia	-1L	11	0	94	Running
24	17	21	T Camilo	-1L	11	0	91	Running
25	32	9	G Lima	-1L	11	0	88	Running
26	29	73	S Jimenez	-1L	11	0	85	Running
27	19	51	A Abreu	-1L	11	0	82	Running
28	21	117	G Salas	-1L	11	0	79	Running
29	6	4	J Campos	-1L	11	0	76	Running
30	31	31	M Campos	-1L	11	0	73	Running
31	38	55	g slab	-1L	11	0	70	Running
32	30	28	G Osman	-1L	11	0	67	Running
33	26	5	D Navarro	-2L	10	0	64	Running
34	18	44	A Valerio	-3L	9	0	61	Running
35	22	3	B Figueiredo	-3L	9	0	58	Running
36	1	80	M Gomes	-4L	8	0	55	Running
37	33	99	M Max	-6L	6	0	52	Running
38	24	70	D Nunes	-6L	6	0	49	Accident
39	12	83	G Casagrande	-9L	3	0	46	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 80 °F, Southwest 5 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 70%