NICK WITTMER WINS HIS FOURTH HONDA/MICHELIN POLE OF 2005
Montreal, August 27, 2005 - Nick Wittmer of Hudson (QC) won his fourth
Honda/Michelin Challenge Series pole of 2005 on Saturday at the Molson
Indy Montreal. The Ste. Rose Honda driver posted his best time in the
morning session lapping the 4.361-kilometre Gilles-Villeneuve road course
in 2 minutes 11.121 seconds for an average speed of 119.734 km/h. The
20-year old bettered by 1.468 seconds the record he set on this track
last June at the Canadian Grand Prix. Nick missed the afternoon session
following an on-track incident that damaged his car after setting the
fastest lap.
''Nick took Turn 8 a little too quickly and as the rear of the car slid
from underneath him, he made contact with the wall,'' said Patrick
Wittmer, Honda de Sigi Autosport team owner and father of Nick and
Kuno.'' It's my fault. I told him he was still in second place, but he
was actually first. We could have avoided that incident. We will have the
car ready for tomorrow's race (Sunday).''
Nick will share the front row with his brother Kuno who took his Honda de
Sigi Civic around the track in 2:11.524 for an average speed of 119.367
km/h. Row two will be filled by Frederick Lelièvre of Mont-Joli (QC) and
defending Series Champion Steven Laporte of Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs.
Lelièvre posted a time of 2:11.755 while the Lombardi Racing Team driver
stopped the clocks at 2:11.875.
''We pushed as hard as we could during the second session, but there was
nothing doing,'' Kuno Wittmer said. ''The Michelin tires were really
sticking, but it was too hot out there. It's great to have another Honda
de Sigi front row sweep, and let's hope we can stay out front throughout
the race.''
Lelièvre, who was quickest in the afternoon second session, was happy
with third place. ''I learned a few tricks during the afternoon session
that really improved my driving technique on this track, but it was too
hot to beat the morning times,'' Lelièvre said. ''One thing is sure, I
will charge from the start for the race.''
Sylvain Ouellet of Louiseville (QC) finished fifth overall (2:11.906)
ahead of Denis Baillargeon of Montreal (2:12.006) and Didier Schraenen of
Mont-Saint-Hilaire (2:12.030). The top seven drivers posted their best
qualifying times during the cooler morning session. Emmanuel
Boivin-Moreau of Longueuil (QC) posted the eighth best time finishing
ahead of rookie Tyler Givogue of Embrun, Ontario and Alex Penfold of
Georgetown (ON).
Round 6, a 14-lap or 30-minute race, is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m.
-hmcs-
