With two races on the slate for the Grand Prix of Cleveland and the return of standing starts to the Atlantic Championship the Epson and MSR Houston Team Jensen entries were set for battle.
Steve Ott, driver of the #22 MSR Houston Team Jensen entry showed his speed in the first qualifying session posting the fastest time of the session by 3 tenths. With 8 minutes to go in the session however Steve made contact with a tire barrier bringing out a red flag. Ott was denied his fastest lap of the session as a penalty for causing the red flag and had to settle for 4th on the starting grid of race #1. Steve qualified also qualified 4th during the second qualifying session for race #2
Tim Bridgman, driver of the #2 Epson Team Jensen entry meanwhile was struggling to find grip on the 2.1 mile airport circuit and had to settle for positions further back in the pack.
 Race 1 proved difficult for Ott, running in 6th position midway through the race he had to pit due to a broken wing suffered during an off course excursion. He later retired after further problems developed due to the incident. Tim meanwhile was working his way through the field showing grit and determination to finish 13th and gaining some valuable championship points.
In Race 2 fortunes were reversed for the two Jensen drivers with Bridgman having to pit for a nose change early on in the race due to contact with another car. Steve Ott meanwhile was in a fight for third, passing Matos for the position midway through the race and then defending his podium spot from point leader Wirth and a late charge by Ryan Lewis. Ott was able to bring it home in 3rd position for his first podium as an Atlantic driver.
Bridgman and Ott are looking forward to the next race as the Atlantic Championship moves to Toronto on July 7-9 for its first of three Canadian races.
Jensen MotorSport Formula BMW program was also in action this weekend with Frankie Muniz and Alex Navejar racing at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Both drivers showed good speed and competitveness during the rounds 5 and 6 of the FBMW schedule. Muniz and Navejar both made their way up towards the top ten in both races. Muniz unfortunately spun while trying to pass another car for 10th in the second race and finished back in the field as a result. Alex Navejar managed to bring his #20 BMW home in 10th place for the teams first points of the season. Frankie Muniz is now looking forward to the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis this coming weekend. |