For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: 317-201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Andersen Racing's Hall Dominates at the Glen,
Takes Lead in Star Mazda Championship
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., June 7 - Andersen Racing now has victories in all three
series in which it is competing this year.
After finishing second in the first two races this year in the Star Mazda
Championship presented by Goodyear, Charles Hall won Saturday's inaugural Star
Mazda race at Watkins Glen International to further bolster Andersen Racing's
lead in that series' team point standings and also propel him into first place
in the drivers' championship.
Andersen Racing is also currently first in the F2000 Championship Series with
three victories, and third in the Firestone Indy Lights Series' team
standings with one victory. The F2000 set will hold a doubleheader at the Glen next
weekend, while the Firestone Indy Lights contingent will do the same here July
5.
On Saturday Hall started second in the Palmetto, Fla.-based team's No. 77,
which is sponsored by Blimpie, AccentBanking.com, Pardoes Solicitors and Allied
Interior Products. He took the lead from polesitter Alex Ardoin on the first
lap and then never looked back, leading every lap of the 20-lap contest on the
Glen's 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course despite two restarts that closed the
field.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first race held on the streets of
Watkins Glen, but it was the first Star Mazda race ever run here. Hall, of
Sheffield, England, said he researched the track on the Internet to get some
idea of what he'd face. "There is so much history here, and so many great
drivers have won at this track, that it's a real honor for me to score my first
Star Mazda win here," Hall said. "Right now this feels like the best day of my
life."
Peter Dempsey started fourth and finished fourth in the Andersen Racing No.
21, which is sponsored by Center Jewellers.ie, Quayside.ie, Allied Interior
Products and a new marketing partner, Trojan Complete IT Solutions (see
Trojan.ie). Dempsey, of Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland, leaped into third on the
first lap by passing Joel Miller, and then got second on lap five when he got
around Ardoin. He ran in second place behind Hall for the bulk of the race, but
dropped two spots on the last restart on lap 16 when Miller and Ardoin
repassed him.
Dempsey is currently third in the point standings.
Two other Andersen Racing Star Mazda drivers, Tom Gladdis and Juliana
Gonzalez, were not able to complete here due to state laws prohibiting participation
by drivers under the age of 18. In order to be fair to the young drivers who
can't compete at the Glen, the series officials announced that only the best 11
of each driver's finishes in the 12-race series will count towards the point
championship.
Jonny Baker, one of Andersen Racing's F2000 drivers, stepped into Gonzalez's
car for this race. He finished in the same position he started, ninth. Baker,
who hails from Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, England, ran in ninth place
for the first 12 laps, dropped to tenth for five laps, and then rebounded for
ninth again at the end. In addition to the top-10 finish, he also gained
valuable track time for his F2000 efforts here next weekend for his sponsor, Allied
Interior Products.
The Watkins Glen race is slated to be broadcast at 11 a.m. Eastern time on
Saturday, June 21 on SPEED.
The Star Mazda competitors now travel to Portland International Raceway in
Portland, Ore. July 26-27 for one of two doubleheaders on their schedule.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. It is the
official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing. For more information see
andersenracingteam.com, andersenracepark.com and starmazda.com.
Post-race quotes follow:
Charles Hall: "From the first test session, the car has been perfect all
week. The car got even better with every change we made. We missed the pole by a
tenth, but we felt confident that we had the best car for the race.
"Both Alex [Ardoin] and I got a good start. I followed him through the first
turn, but I got the lead going into the Bus Stop on the first lap.
"When it was green I was able to pull out a lead, and I was able to hold onto
the lead despite the restarts.
"I'm so happy! We're now leading the driver championship by two points. I
want to thank everyone at Andersen Racing, the series, the track, just
everybody!"
Peter Dempsey: "It went pretty well. We probably should have had a one-two
finish, but the last seven or eight laps the tires were going away, and I had
to let up a little. But at least we know that we were both on the pace
throughout the race.
"It's a little disappointing not to get second, but I really enjoyed racing
here. The track is really good; I think everyone in the series enjoyed it.
"I want to thank everyone at Andersen Racing, Center Jewellers.ie,
Quayside.ie, Allied Interior Products and my new sponsor, Trojan Complete IT Solutions.
They're the people who make it happen!"
Jonny Baker: "It was a solid run; nothing too spectacular, but it should help
me be in good shape for the F2000 races here next weekend, which is my
primary focus this year.
"It was good for the team to get the win; they worked hard and they deserved
it.
"I'm really looking forward to next weekend, and I want to thank Andersen
Racing for the opportunity to get some laps in here and to drive a Star Mazda car
again. Hopefully I'll get the chance to do it again sometime!"
The weekend stats:
IMSA Test Session 1 (Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.):
1. Charles Hall, 1:45.651, 118.238 mph
4. Peter Dempsey, 1:46.622, 117.162 mph
11. Jonny Baker, 1:49.223, 114.372 mph
IMSA Test Session 2 (Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.):
1. Peter Dempsey, 1:46.163, 117.668 mph
2. Charles Hall, 1:46.176, 117.654 mph
10. Jonny Baker, 1:48.344, 115.299 mph
Promoter Test Session 1 (Thursday, 9:40 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.):
1. Charles Hall, 1:47.318, 116.402 mph
2. Peter Dempsey, 1:48.116, 115.543 mph
12. Jonny Baker, 1:51.460, 112.076 mph
Promoter Test Session 2 (Thursday, 11:25 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.):
1. Peter Dempsey, 1:46.589, 117.198 mph
2. Charles Hall, 1:46.838, 116.925 mph
9. Jonny Baker, 1:48.780, 114.837 mph
Official Practice Session 1 (Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.):
1. Charles Hall, 1:46.560, 117.230 mph
4. Peter Dempsey, 1:47.226, 116.502 mph
11. Jonny Baker, 1:48.094, 115.566 mph
Official Practice Session 2 (Friday, 11:40 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.):
1. Charles Hall, 1:46.425, 117.378 mph
2. Peter Dempsey, 1:46.730, 117.043 mph
15. Jonny Baker, 1:48.732, 114.888
Qualifying (Friday, 4:10 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.):
1. Alex Ardoin, 1:46.223, 117.602 mph, automatic NTR.
2. Charles Hall, 1:46.375, 117.434 mph
4. Peter Dempsey, 1:46.691, 117.086 mph
9. Jonny Baker, 1:47.882, 115.793 mph
Race (Saturday, 9:05 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.):
1. Charles Hall
4. Peter Dempsey
9. Jonny Baker
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is
one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States. Founded
in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion
building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than 200
branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and warehouse
space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from residential
roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured stone, interior
products and commercial roofing systems. For more information see
alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training
possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing partners
media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most prestigious
events in North America. It provides a unique, three-step program utilizing
multiple entries in three different series: the F2000 Championship (webcast), Star
Mazda (televised on SPEED) and Firestone Indy Lights (televised on ESPN2).
In 2008 it will field multiple entries in 42 races in 19 states and provinces
at some of the best facilities on the continent, including the famed
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andersen Racing's principals, brother Dan and John Andersen, have extensive
experience in series administration as well as team management. They've worked
with many of today's top open-wheel stars, including several Indy 500 winners.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. It is the
official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, which competes in the IndyCar
Series. In addition, Andersen Racing's F2000 team is the official factory
team of Van Diemen. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre
facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile test track. For more
information see andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.