FCS: Road America race summary 2005-08-08

PETERSON, ANASSIS TRADE ROAD AMERICA FERRARI WINS

(ELKHART LAKE, WI, AUGUST 8) Doug Peterson and Emmanuel Anassis are teammates for Florida's Shelton Ferrari team, and between them the pair have won all but one race of the 2005 Ferrari Challenge season. The pair kept that string intact at this weekend's Ferrari/Maserati Racing Days at Road America, each taking a victory at the event. Peterson continues to lead the 2005 Ferrari Challenge championship, but Anassis' win keeps him in contention to repeat his 2004 title.

Kurt Buchwald, the only other driver to score a victory this season, took pole position for the first race, a 30 minute sprint run on Saturday afternoon. Buchwald, racing for the Ferrari of Washington team, held the lead for only two laps. Exiting the track's famed Canada Corner on lap three there was contact with another car, and Buchwald ended up against the barrier. Peterson took the lead and the win, a comfortable five seconds ahead of Anassis.

Joel Quaid had held third place for much of the race, narrowly holding off John Krieg, Lawrence Stroll, and John Horesji until near the end. With just under two laps left an electrical problem slowed Quaid just enough for Stroll, owner of the Ferrari of Quebec dealership, to get by for third and the final spot on the podium.

The starting grid for Sunday's 45 minute race was set by the results of the first race. Peterson started on pole, with Anassis alongside, but as Buchwald proved on Saturday, this was an event where pole position was the "bad luck" spot on the grid. As the field approached the start Peterson headed for the pits instead of the green flag. Two laps later he rejoined the race, but any chance of a win was gone.

Anassis took immediate advantage of Peterson's problem, taking the lead at the start and leading every lap. He cruised to the win, holding a margin as much as 20 seconds en route to the victory.

Buchwald started dead last in the 19 car field as a result of his Saturday DNF, but didn't stay there for long. He spun on the first lap, tearing loose a rear bumper panel which would trail his Ferrari like a parachute for the balance of the race. The flapping panel didn't seem to affect his performance. Buchwald steadily moved up through the pack, seemingly passing cars on every lap, and finally taking second place behind Anassis. That charge, from last to second, earned Buchwald a special award presented by Bose, a series sponsor, for performance and demonstrating the spirit of the Challenge. Joel Quaid held off several determined pursuers to take third place.

During the podium ceremonies Ener1 Group, another sponsor of the Ferrari Challenge, recognized driver Michael Louli for his long-term support of the series. Ener1 also announced that an award recognizing Challenge team performance will be presented at the end of the season.

The Road America event was the last event in the 2005 Ferrari Challenge to be held in North America. The final event will be held as part of the Challenge World Finals held at the Mugello track near Florence, Italy, on October 20-23.

The Ferrari Challenge is organized by Ferrari North America. Drivers compete in specially built racing versions of the Ferrari 360 Modena, with preparation and race support handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers in North America. Preparation rules are very specific, and the series is intended to emphasize driver skill among lady and gentleman drivers. Sponsorship and support for the series comes from Ener1 Group, Bose, Piaggio Aero, Motorola, Pirelli, and Shell.

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