MONTEREY, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2003) – Goodyear has clinched one American Le Mans Series Tire Manufacturers championship and holds a healthy lead in another as the series heads toward its last two races of the 2003 season.
Goodyear has clinched the LMP 675 tiremaker title and leads in the GTS class. In addition, Goodyear-equipped teams, drivers and automobile manufacturers also lead their respective championships in those classes.
In the Fry’s Electronics Sports Car Championships, held at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, the Dyson Racing duo of Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver finished second overall and first in the LMP 675 class after starting on the front row and leading the overall standings briefly during the 2 hour, 45 minute race.
The LMP 675 class is for prototype racecars, but the cars in this class are smaller and less powerful than the prototype cars in the LMP 900 class. For the LMP 675 cars, handling and the grip supplied by their tires are the keys to their chances of winning the overall victory. The Dyson team has won one race overall this season and threatened to win others.
The Goodyear advantage became evident in qualifying when both Dyson cars qualified in the top four overall. A Goodyear-shod LMP 900 car, a Riley&Scott piloted by Clint Field and Rick Sutherland, qualified fifth.
The Corvette driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell finished ninth overall and second in the GTS class standings, but used the finish to move closer to the class championship. Their teammates, Oliver Gavin and Kelly Collins, finished 10th overall and third in class to stay close in the chase for the driver’s championship.
Field and Sutherland finished eighth overall and sixth in their class.
Goodyear leads the tire manufacturer standings in LMP 675 by almost twice the nearest competitor’s total. In GTS, Goodyear leads by 21 points with a maximum of 46 points available in the final events.
The first three drivers in the LMP 675 standings, Chris Dyson, Jon Field and Duncan Dayton, all race on Goodyear tires. Three other Goodyear drivers are part of a four-way tie for fourth. Lola holds a commanding lead in the battle for the automobile manufacturers title.
Jon Field and Didier de Radigues, racing on Goodyear tires, won the last two LMP 675 driving championships.
The top four drivers in the GTS standings are Goodyear-shod Corvette drivers. Ron Fellows, tied with Johnny O’Connell for the lead this season, is the defending class champion. Fellows won his title on Goodyear tires last season. Chevrolet leads the automobile manufacturer title chase and can win its third straight championship. Goodyear has won the last two tire titles in this class.
For more information contact:
Lee Elder, Goodyear PR
(805) 981-8678 or (805) 377-3537, cellular
Or contact:
Carole Swartz
Manager, Racing Public Relations
(330) 796-2936
GOODYEAR, GOODYEAR-SHOD TEAMS CLOSE ON ALMS TITLES
MONTEREY, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2003) – Goodyear has clinched one American Le Mans Series Tire Manufacturers championship and holds a healthy lead in another as the series heads toward its last two races of the 2003 season.
Goodyear has clinched the LMP 675 tiremaker title and leads in the GTS class. In addition, Goodyear-equipped teams, drivers and automobile manufacturers also lead their respective championships in those classes.
In the Fry’s Electronics Sports Car Championships, held at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, the Dyson Racing duo of Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver finished second overall and first in the LMP 675 class after starting on the front row and leading the overall standings briefly during the 2 hour, 45 minute race.
The LMP 675 class is for prototype racecars, but the cars in this class are smaller and less powerful than the prototype cars in the LMP 900 class. For the LMP 675 cars, handling and the grip supplied by their tires are the keys to their chances of winning the overall victory. The Dyson team has won one race overall this season and threatened to win others.
The Goodyear advantage became evident in qualifying when both Dyson cars qualified in the top four overall. A Goodyear-shod LMP 900 car, a Riley&Scott piloted by Clint Field and Rick Sutherland, qualified fifth.
The Corvette driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell finished ninth overall and second in the GTS class standings, but used the finish to move closer to the class championship. Their teammates, Oliver Gavin and Kelly Collins, finished 10th overall and third in class to stay close in the chase for the driver’s championship.
Field and Sutherland finished eighth overall and sixth in their class.
Goodyear leads the tire manufacturer standings in LMP 675 by almost twice the nearest competitor’s total. In GTS, Goodyear leads by 21 points with a maximum of 46 points available in the final events.
The first three drivers in the LMP 675 standings, Chris Dyson, Jon Field and Duncan Dayton, all race on Goodyear tires. Three other Goodyear drivers are part of a four-way tie for fourth. Lola holds a commanding lead in the battle for the automobile manufacturers title.
Jon Field and Didier de Radigues, racing on Goodyear tires, won the last two LMP 675 driving championships.
The top four drivers in the GTS standings are Goodyear-shod Corvette drivers. Ron Fellows, tied with Johnny O’Connell for the lead this season, is the defending class champion. Fellows won his title on Goodyear tires last season. Chevrolet leads the automobile manufacturer title chase and can win its third straight championship. Goodyear has won the last two tire titles in this class.
