Michigan Dorricott Review

BROOKLYN, Mich (July 26, 1998) - Dorricott Racing and drivers Oriol Servia, Philipp Peter, and Bud Kaeding overcame a variety of obstacles throughout the weekend leading into round 10 of the 14-race 1998 PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Championship, but couldn't avoid simple bad luck at Michigan Speedway and the Detroit News 100, Saturday, July 25.

Peter's race prematurely concluded on lap 16 of the 50-lap sprint when a blown tire sent him careening into the wall of Michigan's two-mile oval. Peter was uninjured but his No. 31 Sebring/Red Bull/ESTEBE Lola was demolished. Servia, who ran a solid race to finish fifth place in the No. 32 Catalonia/Elf/RACC/Heritage Bank Lola, was nonetheless hampered by the bad luck of others on the closing laps. Kaeding, of Campbell, Calif., started 16th and ran a steady race to finish 12th in only his third career Indy Lights start.

"I had a good start and I was able to make up a couple of positions," said Peter. "Shigeaki Hattori, who was in front of me, released a little on the throttle. We were passed by a bunch of cars. I was trying to find the faster line when the tire blew out. I had just turned into turn three when I heard an explosion. It was loud. At least I was alone at the time so nobody could hit me from behind. I remember spinning around and the rear and front of the car contacting the wall. That absorbed a lot of energy but it destroyed the car. "It was a shame because we were right with the gear ratios and the car was running well. I was beginning to understand the lines and was ready to move up." Servia, who ran as high as second place at one juncture, was thwarted from a late race rally when outside pole sitter Mike Borkowski and Airton Dare collided on the backstraight while setting up for a final run for the front with two laps remaining. Servia's race ended under a caution eliminating his chance for a podium showing. Saturday's disappointments followed recouping from less-than-desired practice and qualifying sessions the previous day. Peter was fastest of the Dorricott trio in Friday's morning practice in eighth place. Kaeding and Servia were 13th and 18th, respectively. Tony Renna captured the pole with a time of 39.119 = 184.054. Philipp qualified highest among Dorricott drivers but only ninth at 39.761 = 181.082 mph. Servia qualified 13th and Kaeding 16th.

Despite finishing "out of the points," Peter didn't lose any ground in the Indy Lights championship and remains tied for sixth place with Derek Higgins, each with 55 points. Higgins finished 13th and also failed to collect a championship point. Servia scored 10 points for fifth place, but remained 14th overall with 41 points. Kaeding's 12th place earned him his first career Indy Lights championship point.

Indy Lights action continues next weekend for Dorricott Racing as round 11 unfolds on the streets of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, in the Grand Prix Player's de Trois-Rivieres, Sunday, Aug.2.

Motorsport News International's Internet Access in Brooklyn Provided by **** WebNet Detroit **** * Phone 1-888-WEB-NET-8 * 313-295-6227 * * http://www.wnol.net * info@wnol.net *