CWGT2: Unfinished Business Grand Prix Sprint LIVE THREAD

[TheStranger]

61 laps at Heartland Park, hopefully to get us out of Kansas, Toto.

In prequalifying, Travis and IMS-Pitraider have had to go home! Travis explains:

"I was out too late celebrating my win, realized there was another race and got to the track just as the green flag dropped"

[FCYTravis]

I stayed out too late last night on a celebratory drinking binge and forgot to show up for the race. DNPQ time. IMS-PitRaider also DNPQed, though for less spectacular reasons.

1 8 Spinout 1:18.244
2 30 SimRacin40 1:18.486
3 60 mommymushbrain 1:18.492
4 21 ABES 1:18.620
5 34 kahauna dreamer 1:18.632
6 5 Chief 1:18.652
7 64 Mazza19 1:18.666
8 22 Rogue Leader 1:18.677
9 9 powerandglory 1:18.724
10 95 Dan Belcher 1:18.779
11 65 Caspar 1:18.786
12 66 Cigar2 1:18.812
13 15 mclark2112 1:18.873
14 51 Kingsnake2012 1:18.899
15 32 MHF 1:18.968
16 84 ctkatz 1:19.005
17 11 cartcanuck 1:19.079
18 55 thebigtymer 1:19.080
19 99 paper 1:19.099
20 67 Evil Wilke 1:19.117
21 77 Doft 1:19.213
22 85 TheStranger 1:19.287
23 70 fourrunner 1:19.290
24 14 Nadira 1:19.311
25 49 Greg Pizzo 1:19.318
26 7 denith 1:19.470
27 6 CARTChamp 1:19.538
28 13 Meesh 1:19.567
29 97 raptor 1:19.580
30 12 Padre 1:19.649
31 38 Mr. Vengeance 1:19.765
32 26 WildrideFS 1:25.296
33 76 Scott 1:25.299
34 35 RobGuru 1:25.586
35 2 Cohiba 1:25.763
36 25 Stalker 1:25.872
37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 1:26.070
38 20 McB 1:26.281
39 47 SpeedQueen 1:26.529
40 17 Madre 1:26.838
41 75 Hosehead 1:29.893
42 16 16 1994 1:29.906

[TheStranger]

In qualifying now...

56 degrees with NE winds of 10 mph are our local conditions. Will the spin problems in the chicane continue? (I'd bet on it.)

During the start...

SPINOUT PITS BEFORE THE GREEN!

Some early race action:
http://img156.exs.cx/img156/434/hotracing9mg.jpg

[Mr. Vengeance]

psssst.... Travis, we've got some stuff that'll perk you right up.

[FCYTravis]

With 10 circuits of 61 in the books, Mazza19 holds the early lead by a slim margin over mclark2112. They've opened up a sizable gap back to third place Dan Belcher. No retirements to report yet.

7 64 Mazza19 92.584 10 7* 185 Running
2 13 15 mclark2112 -0.86 10 0 170 Running
3 10 95 Dan Belcher -10.33 10 0 165 Running
4 8 22 Rogue Leader -14.95 10 0 160 Running
5 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -15.52 10 0 155 Running
6 11 65 Caspar -15.96 10 0 150 Running
7 2 30 SimRacin40 -17.15 10 0 146 Running
8 19 99 paper -18.33 10 0 142 Running
9 4 21 ABES -19.11 10 0 138 Running
10 3 60 mommymushbrain -20.45 10 2 139 Running
11 16 84 ctkatz -21.38 10 0 130 Running
12 17 11 cartcanuck -22.37 10 0 127 Running
13 12 66 Cigar2 -25.09 10 0 124 Running
14 20 67 Evil Wilke -25.50 10 0 121 Running
15 15 32 MHF -27.87 10 0 118 Running
16 5 34 kahauna dreamer -28.98 10 0 115 Running
17 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -30.07 10 0 112 Running
18 9 9 powerandglory -17.21 10 1 114 Running
19 32 26 WildrideFS -30.08 10 0 106 Running
20 22 85 TheStranger -31.85 10 0 103 Running
21 6 5 Chief -34.79 10 0 100 Running
22 23 70 fourrunner -35.62 10 0 97 Running
23 21 77 Doft -39.37 10 0 94 Running
24 35 2 Cohiba -39.70 10 0 91 Running
25 33 76 Scott -40.46 10 0 88 Running
26 34 35 RobGuru -41.99 10 0 85 Running
27 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -42.76 10 0 82 Running
28 38 20 McB -43.46 10 0 79 Running
29 25 49 Greg Pizzo -44.05 10 0 76 Running
30 40 17 Madre -44.57 10 0 73 Running
31 18 55 thebigtymer -45.58 10 0 70 Running
32 39 47 SpeedQueen -46.32 10 0 67 Running
33 29 97 raptor -48.08 10 0 64 Running
34 26 7 denith -49.04 10 0 61 Running
35 36 25 Stalker -49.77 10 0 58 Running
36 27 6 CARTChamp -50.85 10 0 55 Running
37 42 16 16 1994 -51.48 10 0 52 Running
38 30 12 Padre -52.40 10 0 49 Running
39 28 13 Meesh -53.38 10 0 46 Running
40 1 8 Spinout -1L 9 0 43 Running
41 41 75 Hosehead -1L 9 0 40 Running
42 24 14 Nadira -1L 9 0 37 Running

Lap 12 - Mazza19 SPINS from the lead, handing the point to matt.

Lap 18 - Matt SPINS from the lead, handing the point to Mazza19.

No, I am not making this up.

[FCYTravis]

As we reach 1/3 distance, up front the battle continues to be tight.

1 7 64 Mazza19 92.409 20 12* 185 Running
2 13 15 mclark2112 -1.38 20 5 175 Running
3 8 22 Rogue Leader -13.58 20 0 165 Running
4 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -15.50 20 0 160 Running
5 3 60 mommymushbrain -18.23 20 2 160 Running
6 10 95 Dan Belcher -20.90 20 0 150 Running
7 2 30 SimRacin40 -21.85 20 0 146 Running
8 11 65 Caspar -27.46 20 0 142 Running
9 4 21 ABES -35.66 20 0 138 Running
10 5 34 kahauna dreamer -44.08 20 0 134 Running
11 35 2 Cohiba -45.45 20 0 130 Running
12 20 67 Evil Wilke -45.72 20 0 127 Running
13 15 32 MHF -46.14 20 0 124 Running
14 32 26 WildrideFS -48.75 20 0 121 Running
15 22 85 TheStranger -49.38 20 0 118 Running
16 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -52.74 20 0 115 Running
17 26 7 denith -54.06 20 0 112 Running
18 17 11 cartcanuck -55.13 20 0 109 Running
19 40 17 Madre -58.63 20 0 106 Running
20 33 76 Scott -1:10.93 20 0 103 Running
21 19 99 paper -1:15.62 20 0 100 Running
22 29 97 raptor -1:18.02 20 0 97 Running
23 9 9 powerandglory -1L 19 1 99 Running
24 23 70 fourrunner -1L 19 0 91 Running
25 16 84 ctkatz -1L 19 0 88 Running
26 12 66 Cigar2 -1L 19 0 85 Running
27 41 75 Hosehead -1L 19 0 82 Running
28 18 55 thebigtymer -1L 19 0 79 Running
29 34 35 RobGuru -1L 19 0 76 Running
30 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -1L 19 0 73 Running
31 6 5 Chief -1L 19 0 70 Running
32 1 8 Spinout -1L 19 0 67 Running
33 21 77 Doft -1L 19 0 64 Running
34 39 47 SpeedQueen -1L 19 0 61 Running
35 24 14 Nadira -1L 19 0 58 Running
36 42 16 16 1994 -1L 19 0 55 Running
37 36 25 Stalker -1L 19 0 52 Running
38 38 20 McB -1L 19 0 49 Running
39 30 12 Padre -1L 19 0 46 Running
40 28 13 Meesh -1L 19 0 43 Running
41 25 49 Greg Pizzo -1L 19 0 40 Running
42 27 6 CARTChamp -1L 19 0 37 Running

[FCYTravis]

With 31 laps complete, we're just past halfway in this quick make-up sprint in the rolling hills of eastern Kansas. Mazza19 continues to show the way, but pit stops are in the offing.

1 7 64 Mazza19 92.473 31 23* 185 Running
2 13 15 mclark2112 -5.14 31 5 175 Running
3 3 60 mommymushbrain -30.09 31 2 170 Running
4 4 21 ABES -41.13 31 0 160 Running
5 10 95 Dan Belcher -47.46 31 0 155 Running
6 22 85 TheStranger -54.12 31 0 150 Running
7 35 2 Cohiba -57.76 31 0 146 Running
8 17 11 cartcanuck -59.24 31 0 142 Running
9 20 67 Evil Wilke -1:01.82 31 0 138 Running
10 15 32 MHF -1:11.59 31 0 134 Running
11 26 7 denith -1:12.96 31 0 130 Running
12 8 22 Rogue Leader -1:13.82 31 0 127 Running
13 40 17 Madre -1L 30 0 124 Running
14 29 97 raptor -1L 30 0 121 Running
15 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -1L 30 0 118 Running
16 11 65 Caspar -1L 30 0 115 Running
17 33 76 Scott -1L 30 0 112 Running
18 16 84 ctkatz -1L 30 0 109 Running
19 2 30 SimRacin40 -1L 30 0 106 Running
20 19 99 paper -1L 30 0 103 Running
21 9 9 powerandglory -1L 30 1 105 Running
22 23 70 fourrunner -1L 30 0 97 Running
23 12 66 Cigar2 -1L 30 0 94 Running
24 18 55 thebigtymer -1L 30 0 91 Running
25 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -1L 30 0 88 Running
26 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -1L 30 0 85 Running
27 6 5 Chief -1L 30 0 82 Running
28 1 8 Spinout -1L 30 0 79 Running
29 5 34 kahauna dreamer -1L 30 0 76 Running
30 32 26 WildrideFS -1L 30 0 73 Running
31 34 35 RobGuru -1L 30 0 70 Running
32 39 47 SpeedQueen -1L 30 0 67 Running
33 21 77 Doft -1L 30 0 64 Running
34 36 25 Stalker -1L 30 0 61 Running
35 25 49 Greg Pizzo -1L 30 0 58 Running
36 42 16 16 1994 -1L 30 0 55 Running
37 27 6 CARTChamp -1L 30 0 52 Running
38 30 12 Padre -1L 30 0 49 Running
39 38 20 McB -1L 30 0 46 Running
40 41 75 Hosehead -2L 29 0 43 Running
41 28 13 Meesh -2L 29 0 40 Running
42 24 14 Nadira -2L 29 0 37 Running

Lap 37 - The leaders all come down pit road for what should be their first and only stop for service.

[FCYTravis]

Being that it's Christmastime, it's snowing now in Kansas, and even rain tires don't help much in that kind of weather, so the race has been red-flagged until the snowplows can clear the course. All cars are parked in their current locations and will resume racing as soon as the green flag is dropped.

[TheStranger]

During this competition yellow, we would like to highlight some of the moments of past races that are memorable, classic, and yet embarassing, in a

HUMAN INTERST SEGMENT OF NO INTEREST

There are many ways to analyze Mr. Vengeance's championship run in CWGT1, but the easiest is to look at the race that put him over the top, his fourth win of the year, at the 6 Hours of Rouen:

Just past 2 hours into the attrition-heavy event, a bodyslam move was placed on Cohiba which positioned Mr. V safely out of pit lane, and Cohiba right into the haybales and out of the race. This would prove to be the move for the lead (as Mr. V was 2nd to Cohiba at the time) and also ultimately would lead Mr. V to his first title.

http://www.champcarfanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22064&page=2&pp=20

http://img86.exs.cx/img86/8523/rouen2189pa.jpg

[Mazza19]

Hey, Travis, know when the weather's gonna clear up? I like the snow and all, but first we have to race.

Please, don't let the snow screw up my car setup.

[TheStranger]

Please, don't let the snow screw up my car setup.

As long as you don't eat the yellow snow, you should be okay. :afro:

[Dan Belcher]

As long as you don't eat the yellow snow, you should be okay. :afro:
Watch out where the huskies go!

[FCYTravis]

The snow has been cleared, the red flag has been withdrawn and the race has restarted! We're working lap 38 of 61 and Mazza19 continues to lead.

We cross the 40-lap mark, just 21 to go. Still no retirements - this will set a new CWGT record for most miles completed without a DNF.

1 7 64 Mazza19 90.839 40 32* 185 Running
2 13 15 mclark2112 -21.78 40 5 175 Running
3 3 60 mommymushbrain -37.51 40 2 170 Running
4 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -38.52 40 0 160 Running
5 11 65 Caspar -40.80 40 0 155 Running
6 10 95 Dan Belcher -48.67 40 0 150 Running
7 4 21 ABES -49.50 40 0 146 Running
8 2 30 SimRacin40 -52.56 40 0 142 Running
9 8 22 Rogue Leader -52.97 40 0 138 Running
10 18 55 thebigtymer -58.96 40 0 134 Running
11 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -59.89 40 0 130 Running
12 35 2 Cohiba -1:00.85 40 0 127 Running
13 19 99 paper -1:02.94 40 0 124 Running
14 22 85 TheStranger -1:03.94 40 0 121 Running
15 17 11 cartcanuck -1:10.87 40 0 118 Running
16 26 7 denith -1:15.91 40 0 115 Running
17 34 35 RobGuru -1:17.59 40 0 112 Running
18 39 47 SpeedQueen -1L 39 0 109 Running
19 21 77 Doft -1L 39 0 106 Running
20 5 34 kahauna dreamer -1L 39 0 103 Running
21 32 26 WildrideFS -1L 39 0 100 Running
22 40 17 Madre -1L 39 0 97 Running
23 29 97 raptor -1L 39 0 94 Running
24 15 32 MHF -1L 39 0 91 Running
25 16 84 ctkatz -1L 39 0 88 Running
26 12 66 Cigar2 -1L 39 0 85 Running
27 27 6 CARTChamp -1L 39 0 82 Running
28 25 49 Greg Pizzo -1L 39 0 79 Running
29 42 16 16 1994 -1L 39 0 76 Running
30 23 70 fourrunner -1L 39 0 73 Running
31 41 75 Hosehead -1L 39 0 70 Running
32 33 76 Scott -1L 39 0 67 Running
33 9 9 powerandglory -1L 39 1 69 Running
34 6 5 Chief -1L 39 0 61 Running
35 1 8 Spinout -1L 39 0 58 Running
36 36 25 Stalker -1L 39 0 55 Running
37 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -1L 39 0 52 Running
38 24 14 Nadira -2L 38 0 49 Running
39 38 20 McB -2L 38 0 46 Running
40 30 12 Padre -2L 38 0 43 Running
41 20 67 Evil Wilke -2L 38 0 40 Running
42 28 13 Meesh -2L 38 0 37 Running

Lap 49 - Mazza19 has lapped up to 11th place, but matt is steadily eating away at the gap - it's down to just 15 seconds.

[FCYTravis]

With just 10 laps to go, this is the way the field stands -

1 7 64 Mazza19 90.754 51 43* 185 Running
2 13 15 mclark2112 -14.28 51 5 175 Running
3 3 60 mommymushbrain -32.71 51 2 170 Running
4 35 2 Cohiba -41.59 51 0 160 Running
5 4 21 ABES -52.07 51 0 155 Running
6 22 85 TheStranger -53.83 51 0 150 Running
7 10 95 Dan Belcher -1:04.03 51 0 146 Running
8 17 11 cartcanuck -1:06.08 51 0 142 Running
9 26 7 denith -1:07.07 51 0 138 Running
10 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -1L 50 0 134 Running
11 8 22 Rogue Leader -1L 50 0 130 Running
12 11 65 Caspar -1L 50 0 127 Running
13 29 97 raptor -1L 50 0 124 Running
14 40 17 Madre -1L 50 0 121 Running
15 18 55 thebigtymer -1L 50 0 118 Running
16 2 30 SimRacin40 -1L 50 0 115 Running
17 16 84 ctkatz -1L 50 0 112 Running
18 19 99 paper -1L 50 0 109 Running
19 15 32 MHF -1L 50 0 106 Running
20 6 5 Chief -1L 50 0 103 Running
21 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -1L 50 0 100 Running
22 34 35 RobGuru -1L 50 0 97 Running
23 39 47 SpeedQueen -1L 50 0 94 Running
24 23 70 fourrunner -1L 50 0 91 Running
25 21 77 Doft -1L 50 0 88 Running
26 1 8 Spinout -1L 50 0 85 Running
27 9 9 powerandglory -1L 50 1 87 Running
28 36 25 Stalker -1L 50 0 79 Running
29 12 66 Cigar2 -1L 50 0 76 Running
30 32 26 WildrideFS -1L 50 0 73 Running
31 33 76 Scott -1L 50 0 70 Running
32 5 34 kahauna dreamer -1L 50 0 67 Running
33 27 6 CARTChamp -1L 50 0 64 Running
34 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -1L 50 0 61 Running
35 42 16 16 1994 -2L 49 0 58 Running
36 41 75 Hosehead -2L 49 0 55 Running
37 25 49 Greg Pizzo -2L 49 0 52 Running
38 38 20 McB -2L 49 0 49 Running
39 30 12 Padre -2L 49 0 46 Running
40 20 67 Evil Wilke -2L 49 0 43 Running
41 24 14 Nadira -2L 49 0 40 Running
42 28 13 Meesh -3L 48 0 37 Running

20.7 miles left. Who will finish on top?

[FCYTravis]

Lap 61 - LAST LAP for Mazza19. Can he bring it home safely? Currently, the Viper holds a 40-second lead over Cohiba, so it looks like all he needs is to stick that Dodge on cruise control... the WHITE FLAG is waving.

J.D. WILBUR HAS THE TWIN CHECKERS OUT AND FLYING, MAZZA19 WINS THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS GP SPRINT at Topeka, Kansas!

Final official results below - NOT A SINGLE RETIREMENT in the entire 61-lap race.

1 7 64 Mazza19 90.898 61 53* 185 Running
2 35 2 Cohiba -33.81 61 0 170 Running
3 13 15 mclark2112 -36.25 61 5 170 Running
4 3 60 mommymushbrain -39.04 61 2 165 Running
5 17 11 cartcanuck -56.49 61 0 155 Running
6 26 7 denith -1:01.71 61 0 150 Running
7 22 85 TheStranger -1:04.32 61 0 146 Running
8 4 21 ABES -1:07.78 61 0 142 Running
9 14 51 Kingsnake2012 -1:11.80 61 0 138 Running
10 8 22 Rogue Leader -1:19.84 61 0 134 Running
11 18 55 thebigtymer -1L 60 0 130 Running
12 10 95 Dan Belcher -1L 60 0 127 Running
13 29 97 raptor -1L 60 0 124 Running
14 11 65 Caspar -1L 60 0 121 Running
15 6 5 Chief -1L 60 0 118 Running
16 40 17 Madre -1L 60 0 115 Running
17 16 84 ctkatz -1L 60 0 112 Running
18 39 47 SpeedQueen -1L 60 0 109 Running
19 1 8 Spinout -1L 60 0 106 Running
20 2 30 SimRacin40 -1L 60 0 103 Running
21 9 9 powerandglory -1L 60 1 105 Running
22 31 38 Mr. Vengeance -1L 60 0 97 Running
23 21 77 Doft -1L 60 0 94 Running
24 34 35 RobGuru -1L 60 0 91 Running
25 15 32 MHF -1L 60 0 88 Running
26 27 6 CARTChamp -1L 60 0 85 Running
27 19 99 paper -1L 60 0 82 Running
28 32 26 WildrideFS -1L 60 0 79 Running
29 23 70 fourrunner -1L 60 0 76 Running
30 36 25 Stalker -1L 60 0 73 Running
31 12 66 Cigar2 -2L 59 0 70 Running
32 33 76 Scott -2L 59 0 67 Running
33 5 34 kahauna dreamer -2L 59 0 64 Running
34 41 75 Hosehead -2L 59 0 61 Running
35 25 49 Greg Pizzo -2L 59 0 58 Running
36 42 16 16 1994 -2L 59 0 55 Running
37 37 44 FlyingBuckeyeC1 -2L 59 0 52 Running
38 38 20 McB -2L 59 0 49 Running
39 30 12 Padre -2L 59 0 46 Running
40 20 67 Evil Wilke -2L 59 0 43 Running
41 24 14 Nadira -3L 58 0 40 Running
42 28 13 Meesh -3L 58 0 37 Running

[denith]

With the old F1 point system (10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1):

1. Mazza19 --- 16
2. Cohiba --- 15
3. FlyingBuckeyeC1 --- 14
4. Mommymushbrain --- 13
5. mclark2112 --- 13
6. Doft --- 11

[TheStranger]

Speaking of championship battles, it is pretty intriguing that we now have an 8 way tie for first place (one win) after 8 races...a lot tighter than CWGT1 in which we went only 6 races in a row without multiple winners.

Continuing the comparison, by the conclusion of CWGT1 Round 11 we had 3 two-time winners - two of which would not win again that season (Mazza19 and RobGuru) and one who would be our champion (Mr. Vengeance).

How much longer will it take for this championship battle spread out? Stay tuned in this subforum later today for the Bill and Bob's Auto Parts 30 Minute Enduro Presented By Lucas Oil later today at Phoenix International Raceway, located near the Cashion area of Phoenix, AZ!

[Mazza19]

CWGT Press Conference

We're here with Mazza19 who's here to discuss his victory at Kansas today. Maz, terrific job, winning in the snowy conditions on a Kansas winter, just in time for Christmas presents.

"Hehehe, well, I thought with the snow coming down, I thought 'Oh crap! Snow! I'm gonna be sliding around on ice all day!' *laughs* Oh well, luckily we got the track cleaned off and we can go to the joke race in Phoenix."

You slid way down the slide late last year after becoming the first multiple winner, now you're in an 8-way tie for first with one win. With the bigger field, how much more competitive is the series?

"Oh yeah, it's very competitive, used to be that starting 19th meant you sucked, now it means you didn't do a bad job. But you still sucked if your boss wants top 10 starts every race."

Are you particularly tired of these make-up races lately?

"Yes. And furthermore, hell yes."

What did you get for chirstmas anyway?

"MP3 Player, America the Book, a Super NES I may get FedEx'd to me later, and a die-cast Dodge Viper SRT-10. Kinda like mine!"

And do you think ABES will win a race?

"If Alex Tagliani can, so can ABES."

That's it here, we'll see you for the "epic" 30 Minutes of Phoenix.