Mishael Abbott Sebring race one notes

Fifth Place Finish for Mishael Abbott in Race 1 at Sebring

ALL THREE B-K MOTORSPORTS CARS FINISH IN TOP 6

SEBRING, FL (March 15, 2007) -- The 2007 IMSA Lites Presented by Hankook race season started today with Mishael Abbott and her B-K Motorsports team chasing the IMSA Lites 1 Championship.

Mishael Abbott started ninth on the grid in the IMSA Lites 1 class in her B-K Motorsports, Mazda powered, Elan DP02 at Sebring International Raceway this afternoon. Her qualifying session the day before was shortened with a flat tire and a high oil temperature alarm.

Mishael was moving up through the field in the opening laps before a crash in turn 17 resulted in a full-course caution. She weaved through the debris field and closed up to the lead pack. After an extended caution period the field went back to green, but only a lap before another incident brought out a second full-course caution.

The race ended at the 30-minute time limit under full-course yellow with Mishael in fifth place. She was hoping for another restart and the chance to improve a few more positions with a final race lap.

"It has been a stressful weekend but we moved up to fifth even with so few race laps," Mishael Abbott said. "My Mazda motor performed just awesome today. I really love my B-K Motorsports team. They worked so hard this week and it really showed. I hope tomorrow will be even better for us."

It was a banner day for B-K Motorsports. Mishael's teammate Gerardo Bonilla won the race and Kurt Roehrig finished sixth.

"What a debut for B-K Motorsports, Mazda and Bob Bach," said Steve Levinsohn, B-K Motorsports Lites Team Manager. "Just an incredible effort by everyone on the team. Gerardo and Mishael are going to be the formidable duo out there this season. They are just working so well together. The fruits of our labor paid off in the best way with all three cars in the top six -- it's just amazing!"

The second of two IMSA Lites races supporting the American Le Mans Series 55th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is Friday, March 16, at 4:05 p.m.

-credit: www.mishaelabbott.com