Ferrari Challenge 2009 Round 1 Homestead (Miami, Florida)
Ferrari Challenge 2009 Round 2 Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA)
Ferrari Challenge 2009 Round 3 Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, CA)
Ferrari Challenge 2009 Round 4 Road America (Elkart Lake, WI)
Ferrari Challenge 2009 Round 5 Mont Tremblant (Mt. Tremblant (Montreal), Canada)
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Photo Gallery Courtesy of Nathan A Dunning, Boardwalk Ferrari
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Boardwalk Ferrari Wins
2009 Ferrari Challenge Dealer NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!
2009 BOARDWALK Ferrari Challenge Drivers:
Scott Tucker #55
Ted Skokos #2
SCOTT TUCKER #55 ** Founder and Chairman of West Fund Capital, a US based private equity firm. Scott drives for the Boardwalk Ferrari dealership team out of Dallas, Texas. 2009 is the 4th year Scott has driven in the North American Ferrari Challenge series. Scott has achieved 23 Podiums and 16 wins in his 4 years in the Challenge series, claiming 3rd and 2nd in the 2007 and 2008 Championships. Scott has driven in the Ferrari Challenge World Finals in Italy for the past three seasons, recording five podium finishes and two race wins. Scott is the United States of America 2009 SCCA National Champion in the T-1 division piloting a Ferrari 430 Challenge car. Scott also competes in NASCAR's Grand-Am Rolex Series in a Daytona Prototype. His Rolex career includes 8 top ten finishes with one podium in 2009, along with a 9th place finish in the famed Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
TED SKOKOS #2 ** Driving the #2 Ferrari F430 Challenge for Boardwalk Ferrari, is Ted Skokos. Ted's car reflects his proud service to his country as a U.S. Army Officer in the Persian Gulf War. Ted is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves, as well as a retired attorney, after dedicating 20 years to his practice of Law. President & Founder of multiple telecommunications, wireless spectrum, and medical device companies, Skokos is fulfilling his lifelong dream of racing in his second year of racing in the Ferrari Challenge Series, both seasons with Boardwalk Ferrari. Skokos resides in Dallas, Texas, where he is a devoted husband, father of three, and grandfather of five.
Skokos on the rewards of participating in the Ferrari Challenge Series:
"There are many rewards of being a Ferrari Challenge Driver. The satisfaction of knowing you are chasing a dream, that you are perfecting a skill that few people have ever attained and that you are priveleged to be a member of one of the most elite clubs in the world-the Ferrari family of racecar drivers. The best reward is the many friendships I've made with the Challenge drivers, former drivers, pit crew members, racing officials and the Ferrari employees and driving instructors. It is truly a family affair. Every now and then, I have to pinch myself to realize I am living the dream of many a boy and man."
President of the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, Skokos and his wife, through their foundation, receive the greatest pleasure by giving back to deserving charitable entities.
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Nathan A Dunning
Boardwalk Ferrari
2009 FERRARI CHALLENGE WORLD FINALS
CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO, VALENCIA SPAIN
12 -15 NOVEMBER, 2009
We are glad to announce the upcoming edition of "Finali Mondiali Ferrari" which is to be held in Valencia, Spain from 12-15 November, 2009. Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker leads the Championship by a mere 75pts over Ferrari of Houston's Mark Mckenzie for the North American Challenge Series. Boardwalk Ferrari's Ted Skokos also has a pivotal role once again as Boardwalk Ferrari is only 13pts out of 1st Place in the Dealership Championship. Having finished with a season high 5th place, Skokos will be key in ensuring maximum dealer points, as total points are determined by average finish of both drivers. Please join us in wishing the entire Boardwalk Ferrari Challenge Team the best of luck in Valencia, Spain, and the FINALI MONDIALI 2009!! There are limited opportunities to attend the race in Spain, as a guest of Boardwalk Ferrari, please inquire if you so wish to join in the fun in beautiful Valencia, Spain!!
Please email Nathan Dunning if you wish to attend the Finali Mondiali 2009.
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Boardwalk Ferrari Challenge Racing
Race Report: NEW JERSEY
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TUCKER CLAIMS POINTS LEAD IN 2009
FERRARI CHALLENGE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT;
PLACES FIRST IN RACE 12
For drivers competing at a world-class level, a “championship” is the end-of-season goal that solidifies a team’s success in a series. For Scott Tucker and his Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life Racing team, this goal is one step closer. In perfect form, Tucker completed the sixth round of the 2009 Ferrari Challenge Series weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park qualifying in first for race 12, leading every lap of the race, setting a new track record and taking over as points leader in the Series standings.
“It has been a dogfight at the top of the points standings,” Tucker said. “One race could swing the leader board in any direction. This weekend was proof of that. Things can turn around so quickly; with each race, you have to be on your game. The competition level is unbelievable; the International Finals in Spain will be a fun ride.”
Leading up to Saturday’s race 11, Tucker showed fans exactly what kind of power the No. 55 machine was capable of. The Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life team posted the fastest lap time in practice one on Friday, clocking in at 01:25.700. Tucker was the only driver to post a time in the 01:25’s during that practice.
Saturday’s main event was a nail-biter. Pole winner Ferrari of Houston’s Mark McKenzie was put to the test as soon as the green flag dropped. Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Zak Brown, who had qualified in second, flew past the No. 27 car, taking the lead as the field entered turn one.
Tucker wasted no time in advancing from his fourth place starting position. He quickly maneuvered his way past The Collection’s Enzo Potolicchio—a newcomer to the Series—to slide into third.
Over the next laps, Tucker chased McKenzie, who was now in second. McKenzie reclaimed his lead spot on lap five as he passed Brown in turn six.
With 12 minutes remaining on the clock, Tucker buried Brown’s No. 99 car. The Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life driver was able to make a smooth pass over Brown in turn one to take over second.
Narrowing McKenzie’s lead, the two ended the race in a door-to-door duel, lapping the back markers twice in the remaining laps. McKenzie defended his lead to the very end, taking the checkered flag (01:26.134), and extending his points lead in the standings. Tucker followed in second, just 55 points behind McKenzie, posting a time of 01:26.555. Completing the Top Five on the grid were drivers Brown (01:26.394), Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Henri Richard (01:27.032) and Ferrari of Newport Beach’s Steve Hill (01:27.378) in third, fourth and fifth positions.
But McKenzie’s lead would be short lived. Sunday’s race was one for the books. The morning began with Tucker ripping a flyer of 01:24.662 during qualifying, placing him in first on the grid for the afternoon’s race. His time was .24 seconds faster than Brown’s second place 01:24.902.
When the green flag dropped Tucker charged full speed ahead and left the rest of the field behind. On lap four, Tucker set a new track record in the No. 55, posting a time of 01:25.465. He was a full five car lengths ahead of McKenzie, who had qualified in third position, and was working on his attack on second place Brown. Too eager to pass the No. 99 F430, McKenzie got too close for comfort and hit the back of Brown’s car, breaking its rear diffuser. Undeterred, McKenzie kept moving, next aiming for Tucker.
Moments later, the race’s first and only full-course caution occurred: The Collection’s Carlos Conde and Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Harry Chueng No. 13 and No. 77 cars collided. Taking advantage of the slower field, McKenzie inched his way closer to Tucker, who was still in first.
Meanwhile, Brown was struggling. The rear diffuser that McKenzie hit was now dragging on track, and the No. 99 car was forced into the pits to remove the piece by an official black flag. Brown, who had been in third place in the Series standings, would finish the race in seventh, effectively putting him out of contention for the championship.
With Brown out, Potolicchio, who was running in fourth, settled his No. 98 car into third place.
With two laps to go in the 29-lap race, Tucker held the No. 1 spot securely. It wasn’t until the last lap that McKenzie made another attempt to close in on the leader. Unfortunately for Tucker, in turn five McKenzie made another reckless pass attempt, plowing into the left rear corner of the No. 55 and sent Tucker flying off track.
To avoid a late-race accident, Potolicchio drove past the two cars and moved into first. However, a guest of Ferrari North America who was just trying out the Series, Potolicchio’s points and place did not count. Determined to take the win, Tucker quickly drove back on track, passing McKenzie and pushing his faster No. 55 Ferrari to a first-place finish that helped him take over sole possession of the North American Ferrari Challenge Series points lead.
But the battle wasn’t over yet. Two separate requests for review of McKenzie’s driving were filed with Grand-Am officials post race, resulting in McKenzie being penalized for avoidable contact. The one-minute penalty relegated the Texan from second place to twelfth. Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Richard moved into second (01:26.597) with Ferrari of Newport Beach’s Hill in third (01:27.747). The Collection’s Francesco Piovanetti (01:27.697) and Tucker’s Boardwalk Ferrari teammate Ted Skokos (01:28.761) rounded out the Top Five.
Tucker earned 375 points over the course of the weekend compared to McKenzie’s 250. This puts Tucker on top of the standings with 1,950 points. McKenzie is now in second with 1,875 points.
“Unbelievable,” driver coach Ed Zabinski said. “This race was nothing short of dramatic. The last lap was crucial for Scott. Luckily, we were able to get back on track after the collision and continue to lead the race in its remaining seconds. We are now in first in the standings and couldn’t be happier. After this weekend’s events, this team is definitely motivated for the championship.”
The team will have plenty of opportunities to stay in shape before heading to Spain. Next weekend Tucker will compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s National Championship Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. In 2008, Tucker and SCCA teammate Zabinski made national headlines when they capped of the racing season by piloting identical Ferraris to two podium finishes and a National Championship at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. Zabinski became the first driver to ever win an SCCA National Championship in any class while driving a Ferrari; Tucker followed close behind in third position.
Following Saturday’s SCCA race, Tucker will fly to Braselton, Ga. to test the new Le Mans Prototype (LMP) Challenge car at Road Atlanta on Sunday, September 27. Tucker and Grand-Am Rolex Series teammate Christophe Bouchut were invited earlier this month by the American Le Mans Series to test the car. Earlier this summer, the Series announced its planned consolidation of the LMP and GT classes, at the same time introducing a new LMP Challenge class. With the new addition, the Series hopes to bulk up its program long-term into 2011.
The International Finals of the Ferrari Challenge Series will take place in Valencia, Spain November 12-15.
Catch Supercar Life Racing on SPEED TV at the following dates and times:
Ferrari Challenge Series:
Sunday, November 8 at 12:30 a.m. EST
(Race 11 at New Jersey Motorsports Park)
Sunday, November 15 at 12:30 a.m. EST
(Race 12 at New Jersey Motorsports Park)
Rolex Series:
Saturday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. EST
(Race 12 at Homestead-Miami Speedway)
*Notes about the Supercar Life Racing team sponsors:
About Supercar Life: The only event of its kind that allows you to drive a collection of the world's most elite supercars on a private racetrack and at the speeds they were designed for, Supercar Life gives motorsports enthusiasts the opportunity to spend an entire day behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin DB9, Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series and a Porsche Turbo 997. For additional information, please visit www.supercarlife.com
About Boardwalk Ferrari: Boardwalk Ferrari of Plano, Texas is an official marketing partner of Supercar Life Racing. For additional information, please visit www.boardwalkferrari.com
About the Ferrari Challenge Series: The F430 Challenge Series was created to allow Ferrari racing drivers a chance to compete in a structured competitive environment, racing against other Ferraris on the most challenging race tracks in North America. For additional information on the series and the 2009 World Finals, please visit www.ferrarichallenge.com
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Level 5 Motorsports | 7101 College Blvd, Suite 400 | Overland Park, KS 66214
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News From Ferrari Challenge
A great Canadian weekend for Tucker
Published by Nathan A Dunning Courtesy of Ferrari NA
August 4, 2009
The scenic and challenging Le Circuit Mont Tremblant was the backdrop for Rounds 9 and 10 as the Ferrari Challenge racers squared off in an ever-tightening battle for the championship. Heading into the weekend, Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie was 145 points ahead of Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker in a battle that looks like it will go down to the last turn of the last lap at the last race scheduled – the World Finals in Valencia, Spain on November 13-15.
Throwing down the gauntlet in qualifying was championship leader Mark McKenzie who put in a blazing lap of 1:40.352 sec. just eight thousands of a second ahead of Tucker!! Less than a tenth back in third was Ferrari of Beverly Hills' James Henley. The fast five was rounded out by Ferrari of Silicon Valley stable mates Zak Brown and Henri Richard.
When the green flag dropped, McKenzie used the advantage of pole position to take the edge into the sweeping turn one with Tucker falling into second. Over the next 18 laps, the gap between the two leaders would rise and fall as the drivers exchanged fast laps. In the last phase of race Tucker closed to McKenzie’s rear bumper, then after getting a great run off turn 8, Tucker was able to get alongside McKenzie down Tremblant’s long back straight and complete the pass under braking into turn 10 – textbook overtaking. Over the remaining 8 laps McKenzie endeavored to respond but it was Tucker at the checkered flag with a 2.4 second margin. Zak Brown, driving a solid race, finished third two seconds adrift of McKenzie. Fourth and fifth were captured by Henri Richard and rookie standings leader, Steve Hill, respectively.
As a result of heavy early morning rain showers, Sunday's qualifying was cancelled – the race start order would be based on championship points. With a heavy downpour only moments before the start, all the competitors donned a set of Pirelli’s finest rain wear for the final race of the weekend. When the green flew Tucker pushed his Ferrari to the limits of its adhesion and paddled his way to the lead. Surprisingly, however, McKenzie could not respond and he began to fall into the clutches of Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Zak Brown. Brown, looking for a way past, was able to motor by on lap five but the gap to Tucker at this point was considerable. This did not deter Brown who pushed hard over the next 18 laps, setting the race fastest lap on lap 21. Over the closing stages of the race, it looked like Brown might have a shot at Tucker but Tucker responded with enough pace to remain in front of Brown.
Rounding out the podium was Brown’s team mate Henri Richard. Turning in another fine performance was rookie, Steve Hill on his run to fourth place. The race for fifth would see a titanic battle between James Henley, Mike Zoi, and Martin Burrowes. Henley, recovering from an early spin that dropped him to tenth, drove superbly in the drying conditions to round out the top five finishers.
With Mont Tremblant in the rearview mirror, the action moves south to New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 19-20. Tucker is now only 30 markers back, having made up 110 points on the weekend to his championship rival. Brown has consolidated his third place position in the championship and looks poised to take on the points leaders as they pursue the 2009 Ferrari Challenge title.
TUCKER BRINGS HOME FIRST AND SECOND AT ROAD AMERICA
Posted At : June 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Posted By : Nathan A Dunning
Courtesy: Supercar Life Racing
Driver of the No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life F430 Challenge car, Scott Tucker, held off a slew of tough competitors to capture first and second in races seven and eight of the Ferrari Challenge Series this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
"The layout of Road America makes it one of the best classic racing circuits out there," Tucker said. "Every driver who races here loves the place; it's so fast and you can really push the car to its limits. It's a great circuit for the fans, as they can see just how amazing these machines are-their speed, their ability to quickly change direction and their braking. We put on a great show in both races, and I can't thank my crew and everyone involved enough; they've all worked so hard this weekend."
After qualifying in first position for Saturday's race seven with a time of 02:24.133-which bested the official track record (02:24.610) that he had set during Friday's fifth practice session-Tucker took a strong lead on the field as soon as the green flag dropped.
By lap three the No. 55 had stretched its lead to six car lengths over second position Zak Brown . That's when the first caution came: Ferrari of Ontario teammates Martin Burrowes and John Farano had collided.
When the race resumed, Tucker continued to run out in front, extending his lead to 10 car lengths over Brown. Further back in the pack Franceso Piovanetti and Bruce Gingrich went for a wild ride on lap seven; both cars sustained heavy damage in the collision and went into the pits. The race continued under green despite the incident.
After starting the race in last position, Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie-first in the Series standings-knifed his way through the field, achieving the No. 8 spot by lap 12. The Texan had qualified in third, but was penalized for missing a mandatory driver's meeting. Now, he looked to grab seventh position, held by Mike Zoi. In the final minutes of the race, Tucker found himself in the clear. The No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life F430 Challenge car was a freight train-ahead by 30 car lengths. Tucker took the flag with a time of 02:26.811. In a door-to-door duel, McKenzie launched his last bid to advance in position. He passed Zoi, driving ahead of James Henley in the No. 9 car, as well, putting his No. 27 car in fourth position as he crossed the finish line.
Drivers Brown (02:27.007) and Henri Richard (02:26.409) trailed behind Tucker in second and third, with McKenzie (02:25.934) and Henley (02:26.878) rounding out the Top Five. Going into race eight, Tucker was only 120 points behind Series standings leader McKenzie.
Tucker kept the momentum going as Sunday's race events began, capturing the pole after clocking in a fastest lap time of 02:24.153 during a heated qualifying battle that ended with the top three times-posted by Tucker, Henley and McKenzie-mere tenths of seconds apart.
The No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life F430 Challenge car was in prime condition during the opening laps of race eight. Tucker gained two car lengths over the rest of the field going into lap two. Meanwhile, McKenzie, who had qualified third, made a quick pass over Henley to take over second position.
Lining up his sights on the race leader, McKenzie prepared to take over first position. Pushing hard to maintain his edge, Tucker drove wide on lap four and dropped two wheels off the track going into turn 11. It was a heartstopping moment for the Supercar Life Racing team; Tucker was doing at least 150 mph. Drifting just a little, Tucker showed incredible self-control, using his superior handling skills to quickly nudge the car back on track. Though McKenzie slipped by on the inside to take over as race leader, Tucker's amazing recovery kept him right on McKenzie's heels for the next 13 laps.
"We definitely put on a good show for the fans," Tucker said. "That's racing for you; never a dull moment. When my wheels fell off track, I knew I had to counter steer as quickly as I could so that I could maintain control and position. Fortunately, I was able to get back on track within seconds."
The first caution waved on lap seven: Ferrari of Beverly Hills' Quentin Wahl had hit a wall in turn 12 with his No. 4 F430 car. While the field maintained a slow and steady pace under the yellow, several drivers in the middle of the pack did change positions.
On the restart, those who couldn't keep up with the continued sprint were left behind. Such was the fate of The Collection's Zoi: A rear-control piece broke on his No. 8 F430, forcing the driver to leave the track on lap 13.
As Tucker continued to pursue McKenzie- both drivers executing flawless races- Steve Hill, who had qualified in ninth position, was making his way towards the front of the pack and took over sixth position. Brown, who had maintained his fifth-place starting position for the majority of the race, could see Hill closing in. On lap 14, Hill overtook Brown's No. 99.
One lap later, Henley dropped back into fourth and Richard drove into third.
Although Tucker pushed hard in the remaining lap, McKenzie held his lead; the Texan's No. 27 F430 crossed the finish line first (02:25.773). Tucker locked in a close second (02:26.248) for the Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life Racing team, coming in just 2.9 seconds behind McKenzie. With the win, McKenzie maintained his lead in the Series championship; he now has 1320 points. Zak Brown currently holds second in the standings with 1235 points and Tucker sits in third place with 1175. Dominating for the majority of the weekend over incredible competition, Tucker added substantial points to his chase for his and the Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life team's first career series title.
Richard and Henley finished the race in third (02:26.824) and fourth positions (02:26.725), with Hill coming in fifth (02:27.475).
"At any road race, strategy and fuel mileage play a big role," driver coach Ed Zabinski said. "There are so many opportunities to make mistakes, especially in a 45-minute race. Scott did a great job this weekend; his quick thinking and incredible handling saved the car from a potentially sticky situation in today's race. We gave our home track our all and ended with two podium finishes that allowed us to narrow the gap in the Series standings."
Tucker will travel next, along with the Supercar Life Racing team, to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., for the eighth race of the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season, Sunday, July 19. The Porsche 250 presented by Legacy Credit Union will air LIVE on SPEED TV at 3:00 p.m. EST. Races nine and ten of the Ferrari Challenge Series will follow, July 24 through 26, at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec.
Next round at famed Road America circuit, June 26-28
June 11, 2009
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ - The next round of the 2009 North American Ferrari Challenge Series will take place on June 26-28 at the legendary Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, WI.
The series returns to action after an eigth week hiatus and the battle for the championship is on. Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie leads the championship standings ahead of Ferrari of Silicon Valley's Zak Brown. Scott Tucker the winner of four races follows closely in third place. Also poised to move to the top of the championship table is McKenzie's Ferrari of Houston stablemate, Richard Fant. Fant has shown great pace throughout the season and brings the momentum of a victory at the last round of the championship to Road America. Look for Fant to make a move for the top of the championship table.
Also taking to the track at Road America will be historic Ferraris and Maseratis from the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's. Come experience the sights and sounds of pre-war cars from Scuderia Ferrari along with the classic front and rear engined sports and prototype racers that compete in the Historic Challenge. Two historic races per day give you a chance to see the machinery that defined racing's history.
To enjoy the Ferrari Challenge in style consider a VIP Hospitality pass that can be purchased online here or by contacting the Ferrari Concierge service at 866.551.2828.
General public can enjoy the races, peruse the paddock areas, and enjoy the overall Ferrari-festival type of atmosphere. General admission tickets can be purchased at the gate.
Now in its 16th racing season in the U.S., the Ferrari Challenge Series (utilizing race-prepared F430 Challenge vehicles) offers Ferrari owners the opportunity to compete against other Ferrari owners in a highly competitive racing series at world-class venues throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is regarded as the longest-running series of its type in North America.
The Ferrari Challenge Series is organized by Ferrari North America, Inc., and sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association. Complete Challenge information can be found on www.ferrarichallenge.com.
Ferrari North America, Inc. is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and is the exclusive North, Central and South American importer of Ferrari vehicles including the 599 GTB Fiorano V-12 sports coupe, F430 Berlinetta, F430 Spider convertible sports car, 430 Scuderia, California Gran Tourer and 612 Scaglietti (luxury performance 2+2). For more information please visit www.ferrari.com.
FNA supports "After School All Stars Charity"
June 1, 2009
Ferrari North America is proud to announce its partnership with “After School All Stars” – a charity organization that provides comprehensive after school programs for 70,000 school children annually to promote leadership and success. Every day in the United States as many as 15 million children leave school with no place to go. Founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger, ASAS’s mission is to engage high risk youth in activities and on-going re
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Race Reports
ROUND 3 INFINEON RACEWAY, SONOMA CALIFORNIA MAY 1-3
Ferrari of Houston teammates conquer Infineon
May 6, 2009
Weather was the topic of the weekend as rain was forecast for all three days of the event. The clouds and a steady rain persisted for Saturday's qualifying making the Infineon circuit closely resemble San Francisco's famous bay. With water soaking some of the trickiest portions of the track, it was rainmeister Francesco Piovanetti who set the early fast time. In the waning minutes of the session, it was regular table leaders Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie and Richard Fant and Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker who were able to put their web-footed cavallini up front with Piovanetti following in fourth.
At the start of Race 1 it was Tucker getting the holeshot on the field and leading into Turn 1. Tucker's exuberance however got the better of him as he began to spin on the exit of Turn 1. In an effort to miss the spinning Tucker, polesitter McKenzie gracefully pirouetted onto the wet grass at the uphill entry to turn 2. As McKenzie struggled to return to the racing surface, the race went to a full course yellow with Ferrari of Silicon Valley's Zak Brown on point. At the restart, Brown looked confident and poised upfront and put on a sterling drive for the ensuing laps. Closely following Brown were Henri Richard, Richard Fant, Mike Zoi and Steve Hill. On the charge however were front row starters Tucker and McKenzie. By lap 12 it was clear that Brown's lead was in jeopardy as the field closed in on him. By lap 14 Richard took the top spot but this was not to last as both Silicon Valley cars began to fade in the drying conditions. Tucker moved his way to the lead by lap 15 with McKenzie charging from the back of the field in close pursuit. Undeterred by Tucker's 2009 unbeaten streak, McKenzie fought his way into the lead on lap 18 and did not look back. At the checkered, it was McKenzie, Tucker, Fant, Brown, and Richard.
Sunday's action once again began in the rain and again rainmeister Francesco Piovanetti proved quick. In the waning moments of the qualifying session, Zak Brown was able to convert his strong pace from Saturday into a pole, just nipping The Collection's Piovanetti to the top spot. When the race went green, Piovanetti and Richard got together eliminating Richard from the race. Shortly thereafter, McKenzie took the lead and hustled out a gap to teammate and second place challenger Richard Fant with Zak Brown falling to third. McKenzie and Fant continued a torrid pace when Fant began to reel in the leader after the midway point in the race. Despite Fant's charge McKenzie appeared to have the measure of his teammate. A double win for McKenzie was not to be however. In the closing laps of the race McKenzie and Fant encountered a backmarker who was unaware of the battle for the lead right behind him. On the run down to Infineon's famous turn 11 hairpin, McKenzie was slightly balked and this was all Fant needed to slip by on the the inside. From there, Fant was able to pull out a 1.7 second gap over McKenzie at the finish.
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