PRA: Illiana results 2006-06-13

GORDON WINS PRA BIG CAR INAUGURAL EVENT

(Schererville, Indiana) Eric Gordon led all the way Tuesday night in winning the South Shore 125 at Illiana Motor Speedway, the inaugural race in the Permier Racing Associations Big Car Series. Gordon held off Tracy Hines who was only 15-hundreths of a second behind when the checkered flag fell.

The fastest 6 qualifiers drew "suitcases" to determine their starting positions. Gordon, who was 5th fastest during time trials, drew the number one spot and started from the pole position. Jay Drake, the fastest qualifier, started outside of Gordon on the front row.

The race was slowed by four caution periods, the first coming out on lap 10, when Jimmy Kite stalled in turn two. But he managed to stay on the lead lap, and drove an outstanding race to finish 8th. The only contact with the wall was by Tom Capie on lap 113, but he was uninjured. That caution period did require the race to go "overtime", because the last ten laps of PRA races, must be run under green. Hines pressured Gordon several times during the last 10 circuits, but could never find the opportunity to pass.

Veteran Dave Steele , who started 6th, was the first out of competition with mechanical problems. Twelve of the eighteen starters were running at the finish of the 125 lap affair.

Next up for the "Big Cars" is a return visit to Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 5th. 26 cars qualified at IRP on the night of May 17th, but the racing part of the program was rained out.

-ims-