Denver: Greg Pickett race notes

PICKETT FINISHES THIRD IN THE CYTOMAX SPORT DRINK 100 TRANS-AM RACE

DENVER (Aug. 13, 2005) -- Greg Pickett, driver of the #6 Cytomax/Muscle Milk Jaguar XKR, scored his fourth consecutive podium finish by collecting third place points in today's Cytomax Sport Drink 100 Trans-Am race, part of the CENTRIX Financial Grand Prix of Denver presented by PacifiCare. Pickett, who started sixth, also won the VP Fuels Harder Charger award by making up the most positions during the race. Maintaining third place in the championship standings, Pickett is now just 12 markers out of the lead, despite missing the Cleveland race due to a previous commitment.

Pickett, who made history with his Edmonton win as the only driver to win a race in each of four decades of Trans-Am competition, has finished off the podium only once -- a fourth place finish in Portland -- in six starts this season. This is Pickett's first podium in Denver in three starts.

The leaders set a fast pace from the outset which continued throughout the 61-lap race. By Lap 13, Pickett moved up to fifth place and on Lap 17 passed championship points leader Randy Ruhlman for the fourth spot. While Rocketsports teammates Paul Gentilozzi and Tomy Drissi battled running nose-to-tail, Pickett remained in close pursuit, watching and waiting to make his move. On Lap 55, Pickett took over third place, challenging Drissi for second place points in the final six laps of racing, but ultimately settled for the third step on the podium.

"That was a great automobile race; it was a lot fun," declared the 1978 Drivers' Champion. "It was a tough pace the whole time. Everyone was pushing hard. Tomy (Drissi) and I had another one of our races; it's like we're tied at the hip. But he was a good, clean racer and we each put up quite a battle.

"Then I ran Paul (Gentilozzi) down and that was pretty cool," continued Pickett. "It looked like Paul was kissing a couple of walls and I thought 'this could be interesting.'"

"After Paul went off, I was back hard at Tomy; I had to keep him honest," said Pickett. "I gave him all I had, but the clutch started slipping late in the race which was unusual. I wish we had a little more for him there at the end."

"But I'm delighted for everyone. We've got a real championship battle heading into the last two races. Congratulations to Klaus (Graf) on his win. He's a heck of a wheel man," said Pickett.

"If you didn't like this Trans-Am race today, then you just don't like racing," concluded Pickett.

The Cytomax Sport Drink 100 race will air on Saturday, Aug.20 at 1 p.m. EDT.

-wg-