Road America: Conquest Racing race report

Ricci Ends Championship Season With a Top Five Place Finish in Elkhart Lake
Matt Lee finishes twelfth

Giacomo Ricci (#18 Banca Italease / Lotto / Global / Mazda-Coswoth) was able to move up eight positions to finish fifth at the Champ Car Generac Grand Prix at Road America, the final championship race of the 2007 season. After the start, Ricci jumped to ninth position and was able to climb a couple of positions higher prior to the first yellow flag of the race. He was continuously battling for position with Ryan Lewis, Kevin Lacroix and Jonathan Bomarito, whom he is also chasing in the Championship points battle. In the end he was able to hold of Lacroix to finish in fifth position but never caught up to Bomarito. With today's results, Giacomo Ricci will finish sixth in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship standings and third in the Rookie of the Year competition.

Matt Lee (#44 Integrated Structures / Mazda -- Cosworth) started the race in twelfth, just one position higher than his Italian teammate but due to an error, was not able to finish any better than that. After a difficult start that dropped him back one position he was able to climb his way back up to twelfth. After the initial yellow flag, a mistake on track dropped him back to sixteenth where he was forced to work his way back up through the field. The drop rattled Matt's confidence slightly but after he settled down, he was able to make some passes and end his day in twelfth position.

Giacomo Ricci #18 Banca Italease / Lotto / Global / Mazda-Cosworth

"This is a great way for me to finish the season," said Ricci. "I started in thirteenth but finished fifth and was able to overtake a lot of drivers. My car was really fast and I want to thank my team for all their hard work this season. I finished sixth in the championship and my sponsors Banca Italease, Global, Lotto and Abbey Resort helped me all season to ensure that I could race so it is a good result for them as well."

Matt Lee #44 Integrated Structures / Mazda - Cosworth

"The race seemed to be going well in the beginning," began Lee. "We were moving up through the field but then I made a bad move and lost about five positions. It wasn't my best race, I struggled with the car and the rear end was sliding around a lot. I have learned a lot this year in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship I can take the knowledge and use it to run in the front of the field for next year."

Steve Ragan, Conquest Racing Atlantic Team Manager

"Giacomo was able to go out and take advantage of every opportunity today," said Steve Ragan, Conquest Racing Atlantic Team Manager. "He was able to gain a lot of positions and ended with a great finish to cap off his rookie Atlantic season. Matt struggled a bit more today, he really tried to make the best of his twelfth place start but in the end just wasn't able to improve his position."

-credit: cr