SCC: Lime Rock: Matt Bell race report

Bell Fast But Unlucky at Lime Rock Park

Lakeville, CT (29 May 2010) - It's been said that it's better to be lucky than good, and Matt Bell would have to agree with that after Saturdays GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Lime Rock Park.

Driving the No. 6 Sunoco Fuels Camaro Chevrolet, Bell started the race from fourth on the grid as he took the top spot of all Camaro runners on a track that also attracted a lot of Ford Mustangs to the front of the field.

Knowing that he would have to be conservative with tire wear, Bell tried to be patient, but still held onto his position in the early going. However, before he could get into a rhythm, one of the Mustangs left Bell wishing that he was a little more lucky as the two made contact under braking.

"I'm not sure if he didn't see that I was there, or he did, and he just thought I'd move over, but I was already alongside him and he hit me," said Bell. "At the end of the day, racing that close isn't a problem, except when people aren't predictable. When people don't do what you expect them to do or what they did the lap before, you run into problems like this."

The contact broke the wheel of the machine, causing a flat and sending him into the pits for repairs.

"The team thought that it was just the wheel that was broken, but when I went back out, the car still wasn't right so I had to come back in and they went to work on the control arm. The team did a great job, but it was a long fix. The car was awesome after that."

If not able to show luck, Bell at least was able to put on a display of being good as he made the most of the speed of the Camaro on the ultra-quick 1.5-mile circuit. Turning fast lap after lap, Bell made the most of what he had, even though the repairs had sent him several laps down from the leaders. Co-driver Jeff Bucknum brought the car home 19th after 2.5-hours of racing.

Bell will at least get to return to race action in just one week as the GRAND-AM Continental Tire series head to Watkins Glen for the Continental Tire 150.

-source: sgm