Saini Leads Morning MX-5 Cup Practice at Trois-Rivieres
TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. (Aug. 17, 2007) -- Current point leader Jason
Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, topped the first of two practice sessions
for Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5
Cup, part of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Todd Buras, of Melbourne,
Fla., was second fastest, followed by Matt Cross, of Folsom, Calif.
Saini wasted no time in his charge to clinch the 2007 MX-5 Cup
Championship at Trois-Rivieres, turning a lap of 1:17.209 (70.919 mph)
around the 11-turn, 1.521-mile temporary street course.
"Trois-Rivieres is fantastic," Saini said. "It's
the true street circuit experience. It's bumpy, slippery and tight
with walls everywhere. The team's been working really hard on
getting the cars back together. We had a bit of a break, but it feels
good to be back at the track."
The driver of the No. 28 AutobarnMazda/SafeRacer.com admitted that with
only one more round after Trois-Rivieres, the Championship was on his
mind, but he couldn't let it affect his driving.
"I'm looking for good results, but I know that when you
change your focus and try to be conservative, it'll get you into
trouble. I'm just approaching this as any other race, trying to get
the pole and trying to get the win. I'm not going to take any crazy
risks, but I'm also going to approach it like any other
race."
Driving the No. 56 BSI/Team Garcia/MOMO/JoeGibbs MX-5, Buras finished the
session in second, stopping the clocks with a 1:17.870 (70.317 mph).
Cross, in the No. 80 Hooverspeed/MobiTV MX-5 completed the top three,
putting in a lap of 1:18.559 (69.700 mph).
Currently sitting third in the Championship, Ara Malkhassian, of Sonoma,
Calif., finished the session in fourth with a time of 1:18.598 (69.66
mph) in the No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5. Pratt Cole, of Salt Lake City,
Utah, completed the top five in his No. 88 DEX/Western Companies MX-5,
turning a lap of 1:18.707 (69.569 mph).
Tim Probert, Bob Michaelian, John Kuitwaard, Andrew Caddell and Brad
McAllister completed the top ten.
The second practice session of the day is scheduled to begin at 4:10 p.m.
(EDT). Qualifying will begin at 10:15 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday. Live timing
and lap notes are available at www.mx-5cup.com
-credit: scca
