NA-F2000: Andersen Racing Millville race two notes

Krohn and Baker Finish 1-2 Again On Sunday for Andersen Racing At New Jersey Motorsports Park

MILLVILLE, N.J., Sept. 21 - Champion and Rookie of the Year Anders Krohn of Andersen Racing duplicated his victory on Saturday with another triumph Sunday afternoon in the season finale for the F2000 Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire at New Jersey Motorsports Park's Thunderbolt Raceway.

Just as he did on Saturday, the 20-year-old from Sandnes, Norway led every lap. Saturday's race had two long full-course cautions but Sunday's went non-stop for 15 laps, and Krohn's factory Van Diemen sponsored by Trallfa Industries, Coliseum Dental, Kruse Smith, SR Transport, Antenor and Allied Building Products was simply uncatchable.

One of Krohn's Andersen Racing teammates, Jonny Baker, placed second on Sunday and unofficially also earned that position in the final point standings. Baker, of Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, England, drives the No. 6 sponsored by Allied Interior Products.

Andersen Racing's Doug Prendeville of Whippany, N.J., finished fourth on Sunday with his Allied Interior Products/Restart Communications No. 5, right behind Kyle Marcelli. Tim Minor rounded out the top five in the provisional rundown.

Andersen Racing's representative in the Masters class, Scott Willard of Weston, Conn., placed 16th with his BroadReach Partners Van Diemen after a spirited battle with Al Guibord Jr.

Krohn started on the pole with Baker third and Prendeville fifth. The key move of the race was at the start, when the trio ran nose-to-tail on the inside and drafted into Turn 1. They were so close together that Prendeville's car's nose cone got torn off by the back of Baker's car but the strategy worked, as they held the top three positions for the first five laps. At that point Marcelli got around Prendeville in Turn 1 to push him to fourth. On lap 15 they took the checkered in those same positions. There were big intervals between all the top cars at the end.

Krohn's victory on Sunday was his ninth in the 14-race season. He also won the pole for Sunday's race despite only running seven laps in the 30-minute qualifying session due to starter problems.

Krohn had sewed up the driver's championship before he even showed up here. Unofficially Baker got second for the year and Prendeville finished sixth. Andersen Racing also won the team championship.

Andersen Racing's Web sites are at andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com. More information on the F2000 series is available at eformulacarnews.com and f2000championshipseries.com.

Some post-race quote follows:

Anders Krohn: "This race was a picture-perfect ending to a great season. What a way to finish!

"The car was hooked up big time. I just had to hit my marks and concentrate on my driving.

"At one point one of the lapped cars threw dirt up on the track and caused me to go halfways off the track. That happened in Turn 8. There was a lot of gravel all over the track.

"The problem we had with the starter in qualifying didn't affect me in the race. Once we got it started, it wasn't an issue.

"My Hoosier tires held up perfectly and stayed consistent.

"I have to thank everyone at Andersen Racing and my sponsors for a great year!"

Jonny Baker: "At the start, Doug was pushing me and I was pushing Anders, and it worked out great.

"My car was really quick, but I couldn't get it into second on the downshifts. It was great handling-wise. I think Anders would have won regardless, but I think I would have been closer behind him if I wouldn't have had that problem and could go into the braking zones differently.

"Really though, it was superb. I had a pretty lonely race in second, but second to Anders is always respectable. I have to thank Andersen Racing. My season really turned around since I started working with Mike Reggio. He made me a better driver, and I think he has a great career ahead of him."

Doug Prendeville: "It was a good way to end the season. Thanks to Steve [Thexton]; Mike [Reggio] and Mike [Foshi Jr.]; and to my coach, Tommy Byrne; my parents; Restart Communications, and the people from Allied.

"My nose got knocked off at the start. We planned that start out, and it worked.

"Kyle [Marcelli] got by me in Turn 1. I think I got sixth in the point standings, but I'm not sure about that."

-credit: ar