NA-F2000: Mid-Ohio race report

BESNARD WINS SIXTH F2000 AT MID-OHIO

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Australian David Besnard won his sixth U.S. F2000 National Championship race of the season, leading flag-to-flag at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Miller Lite 200 Weekend. Robby McGehee, of St. Louis, Mo., finished second with Tim Duit, of Edmond, Okla., in third.

Besnard, driving the No. 13 Primus Racing Karts Van Diemen Ford, took the lead from McGehee at the start, and led the entire 22-lap, 49.676-mile contest to win by 0.678-second. Besnard averaged 58.258 mph in the race slowed by four cautions for 11 laps. This was Besnard's second flag-to-flag win at Mid-Ohio, as he also took the June 14 round from the pole.

"I was a bit concerned about the tires -- we had a new spec compound from Yokohama -- and I would go hard for two laps and then try to save them," said Besnard. "It didn't really matter though because of the cautions. We've got to continue doing what we're doing and not make any desperate moves and we'll be in good shape for the Championship."

Besnard extended his points lead to 51 after his chief competitor, Ryan Hampton, crashed with Andy Lally and Ric Rushton on a lap 14 restart on the main straight. McGehee's No. 2 VisionAire/Energizer Tatuus Ford appeared to be slow on the restart and was passed by several cars. Lally and Hampton collided as they tried to go three-wide just past the start line.

"I was worried that Hampton and I touched on that restart, but my crew said we didn't," said McGehee, who finished at Mid-Ohio for the first time. "I think we might have had something for David, but there just wasn't enough time. The car was great today and I'm glad to break my Mid-Ohio jinx."

Duit, driving the No. 34 TTK Construction/Hooten Oil Van Diemen Ford, equaled his career best with third, and actually challenged for the lead on the lap 14 restart.

"Robby and David were both slow on the restart and I got inside in turn one," said Duit. "Unfortunately, David had the right line and Robby got back around that same lap. We're still thrilled with the result. The car and team did a great job all weekend."

Jonathan Bottoms, of Buffalo, N.Y., finished fourth, with Marc-Antoine Camirand, of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec in fifth. Michael Durand, of Wayland, Mass., won the "B" Class for older chassis and Larry Vatri won the Competition Data Systems Drive of the Day after improving 21 positions (37th to 16th).

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Final Results from the 22-lap, 49.676-mile U.S. F2000 National Championship Round 11 race, part of the Miller Lite 200 Weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, class, car, laps and reason out (if any).

1. (1), David Besnard, Sydney, Australia, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 2. (2), Robby McGehee, St. Louis, Mo., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 22. 3. (4), Tim Duit, Edmond, Okla., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 4. (6), Jonathan Bottoms, Buffalo, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 5. (8), Marc Antoine Camirand, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Can., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 6. (3), Bobby Oergel, Palmetto, Fla., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 7. (7), Sam Hornish Jr., Defiance, Ohio, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 8. (13), Anthony Simone, Stouffville Ontario, Can., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 9. (24), Joey Scarallo, Hauppauge, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 10. (16), Guy Cosmo, Bohemia, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 11. (17), James Yott, Montreal, Quebec, Can., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 12. (12), Mike Andersen, Little Falls, N.J., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 13. (26), Jon Herb, Indianapolis, Ind., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 14. (21), Michael Fitzgerald, Newton Square, Pa., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 15. (19), George Scheiderer, Marysville, Ohio, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 16. (23), Michael Durand, Wayland, Mass., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 17. (25), Christian Coggins, Atlanta, Ga., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 18. (37), Larry Vatri, Canal Winchester, Ohio, F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 19. (27), Rolando Quintanilla, Nuevo Larado, Mexico, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 20. (32), Dana LaLiberte, Ann Arbor, Mich., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 21. (42), Jeff Smith, Terre Haute, Ind., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 22. 22. (28), Larry Oberto, Seattle, Wash., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 23. (35), Dean Oppermann, Pottstown, Pa., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 24. (41), Galen Puccini, Simi Valley, Calif., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 25. (39), Matthew Smith, Lafayette, Calif., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 22. 26. (34), John Miller, Edina, Minn., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 27. (38), Jon Groom, Boonton, N.J., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 28. (40), Mirl Swan, Topeka, Kansas, F2B, Vector Ford, 22. 29. (43), Wilmer Valentin, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 30. (44), Ira Fierberg, Manhattan Beach, Calif., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 31. (45), Jeff Kowalik, Oshkosh, Wis., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 32. (20), T.J. Bell, Sparks, Nev., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 33. (36), Brett Harrison, Everett, Wash., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 22. 34. (31), Scott Dick, Cincinnati, Ohio, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 18, MECH. 35. (30), Ron Thomas, Galena, Ohio, F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 17, OFF. 36. (5), Ryan Hampton, Glendora, Calif., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 13, ACC. 37. (14), Andy Lally, Northport, N.Y., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 13, ACC. 38. (18), Ric Rushton, Santa Fe, N.M., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 13, ACC. 39. (29), Bob Hollander, Atlanta, Ga., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 8, MECH. 40. (46), Gregory Geis, Hudson, Ohio, F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 8, SPUN. 41. (47), Jeffrey Martin, Aurora, Ohio, F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 7, MECH. 42. (15), Alejandro Garcia, Venezuela, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 5. 43. (9), Mike Johnson, Gainsville, Ga., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 1, CONTACT. 44. (22), Duncan Dayton, North Salem, N.Y., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 1, CONTACT. 45. (10), Steve Rikert, Rhinebeck, N.Y., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 0, ACC. 46. (11), Greg LeMond, Medina, Minn., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0, ACC. 47. (33), Richard Fairbanks, Centerville, Mass., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 0, DNS. Time of race: 51 minutes, 7.691 seconds. Average speed: 58.295 miles-per-hour Margin of victory: 0.678-second Lap leaders: Laps 1- 22, No. 13 David Besnard Fastest race lap: No. 2 Robby McGehee, 1:26.440 (94.039 mph) Fastest qualifier: No. 13 David Besnard, 1:25.235 (95.369 mph) Cautions: four for 11 laps.