July 5, 2008 - With Dillon Battistini having won 3 races already and being in the season points lead, Raphael Matos and Richard Antinucci, with one win each, decided that they had better do some catching up and let him take the day off – points wise.
So, just as these two guys did at St. Petersburg back in April, they took turns winning a Lights double header. While they were doing that, Dillon [Panther Racing], a road racer who had won 3 ovals, finished 17 and 20th at The Glen.
It was a hard day’s work for all. Although the Lights Series has had two races on IndyCar race weekend the two were on different days. Not this time. They had about a 90-minute break between races and raced 200 miles – the same day.
The result for these three was that Richard is now in the points lead with 307, Raphael with 280 and Dillon in 3rd with 265. It looks like nobody is going to run away with the championship this year.
The first Lights race saw Frenchman Frank Perera, with Guthrie Racing, win the pole. Matos, driving for AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing, was in the other car on the front of the grid.
After the start Frank led the first 2 laps. On the third lap, however, going down the back straight Matos put his move on Perera on the inside, while Antinucci [Sam Schmidt Motorsports], who started 4th, set up his pass on the outside. Going into the Bus Stop right hander they both passed Perera. Rahpeal came out in the lead and Richard was second. As for Perera, he later spun and crashed on that same 3rd lap.
From there on Matos kept the lead, Antinucci got a draft tow for 2nd and Jeff Simmons [Team Moore Racing], who started 3rd, stayed in 3rd and they were all on the podium together.
As for Battistini, he completed 8 laps before crashing.
For the second race, Matos got to draw the chip to see what the starting order would be. Logan Gomez [Guthie Racing], who had finished 6th in the first race, was the lucky pole sitter for the 2nd. Next to him was Pablo Donoso [Team Moore Racing]. The second row had Ana Beatriz in the 3rd spot and Jeff Simmon who was 4th this time. Then starting on the 3rd grid there was Antinucci and Matos starting 5th and 6th.
On the start Ana Beatriz [Sam Schmidt Racing], who had finished 4th in the first race, wasted no time and decided that she wanted to have the credit for leading the first lap of the race, and sped past Gomez. She would lead the first 9 laps before her teammate, Antinnici who was then in 2nd, got a better restart after a yellow and jumped into the lead. It wasn’t long until Matos was able to pass Ana also but that was the end of anyone else being able to pull that on her. She stood on the podium with the other two. It was Ana’s third podium, 3rd place finish. The Glen went with Iowa and St. Pete for her – a street course, an oval and a road coarse. And, oh yes, don’t forget the 9 laps she led.
As for Dillon Battistini, he finished 6 laps before crashing.
Now it’s back to the ovals and Nashville Superspeedway on July 12, with ESPN2 on July 17. We know that Dillon Battistini is looking forward to that one!
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