Scott Pruett is The Man in St. Pete!
by rob elting                                                                                             feb23/03

  Starting from the pole and leading all but a one and a half laps, two time Trans Am Champion Scott Pruett showed he was the man to beat as he dominated the Trans Am Road Racing Series race in The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Even with all the other drivers chasing him, Pruett proved that use of his smooth and fast driving style would give him the best car by race end.
Boris Said had to start in the rear, along with his Menards teammate Paul Menard. Said, the defending Trans-Am Series Champion, qualified fourth in the field, but was found to have a front-nose height non compliant with Trans-Am technical specification 2.10 Ground Clearance, which calls for a minimum ground clearance of 2.5 inches.
Menard, who timed ninth on the grid, elected to change all four tires after flat-spotting his qualifying set when he spun out late in the session. Menard was penalized under Trans-Am General Rule 1.7.10.2 Tire Declaration: "If a team is unable to start the race on at least three of their marked tires, they will forfeit their starting position and they must start the race from the back of the grid."
Don't think that either of them were bothered by this, because as the race unfolded Boris stormed thru the field, to finish second. Paul after getting spun out in turn one late in the race dropped from running fourth to tenth were he finished. Both drivers did a superb job coming thru the field.
Johnny Miller finished third with a great performance staying up front all race. Having a great race with Paul Gentilozzi and Scott Pruett, the three of them had the front all to themselves.
Max Lagod, was able to make his way to the front, out braking others into turn one, and by lap 15 had caught up to the front three, but a transmission problem sent him to the pits by lap 20, he did not return.
This year in Trans Am marks the first time that a Jaguar powered Jaguar will compete, and this was the first Trans Am race ever won by such a car. Good job Scott!
St. Petersburg Trans-Am results:
Pos Driver Car Laps
1) Scott Pruett (Jaguar XKR), 56 laps, 1h16m06s, 78.314mph
2) Boris Said (ACS/Menards Mustang), 56, +1.296sec
3) Johnny Miller (Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR), 56
4) Paul Gentilozzi (Johnson Controls Jaguar XKR), 56
5) Stuart Hayner (Trenton Forging Corvette), 56
6) Jorge Diaz, Jr. (Jaguar XKR), 56
7) Jon Leavy (Chevrolet Camaro), 56
8) Bobby Sak (Chevrolet Corvette), 56
9) Michael Lewis (ProQuest Jaguar), 56
10) Paul Menard (ACS/Menards Mustang), 56
11) Greg Pickett (Cytomax Jaguar ), 55
12) Tommy Drisi (Phone Booth Jaguar XKR), 55
13) Randy Ruhlman (PLP Corvette), 55
14) Claudio Burtin (Panoz Esperante), 54
15 Simon Gregg (Derhaag), 51
16) John Baucom (Jaguar XKR), DNF, engine
17) Bill Bentley (Chevrolet), DNF, contact
18) Max Lagod (Hypermax Camaro), DNF, gearbox
19) Bob Ruman (McNichols/Cenweld Corvette), DNF, accident damage

   
   Driver Links
Tony Ave Justin Bell Mike Davis Jorge Diaz Paul Fix Paul Gentilozzi Lou Gigliotti Simon Gregg Stu Hayner Peter Klutt Butch Leitzinger Mike Lewis Paul Menard Johnny Miller Randy Ruhlman Bob Ruman Bobby Sak Don Sak Don Soenen Kenny Wilden