The point standings among the
top three drivers in the USAC Formula Russell Championship
flip-flopped in the waning moments of Sunday's A Group race
during the March rounds at Infineon Raceway. With two laps to go,
Steve Hill was in the lead and in position to add to his
championship lead as well, but an off-course excursion put him
out and dropped him to third in the standings.
Brazilian veteran Fernando Dias Ribeiro was the chief benefactor,
moving to the top of the points charts while Bruce Feldman took
home the biggest trophy for the race win. Ribeiro's second place
combined with his win on Saturday moved him to 63 points with
Feldman one point back, while Hill's total stayed at 55. Scott
Wilson posted a win on Saturday and his first A Group podium on
Sunday to stand fourth at 42 points. Richard Fullerton and David
Whitelaw are tied for fifth overall at 41 points.
Lorenzo Mandarino, the 2002 Graduate Runoffs Winner and Jim
Russell/RACER Trophy recipient, missed the first rounds of
the USAC Formula Russell Championship due to other racing
commitments, but he leapt to seventh in points at 35 with a
second-place finish on Saturday and a win on Sunday in the B
Group. His points will advance him into the A Group for the next
event which is scheduled for April 12 and 13 at Infineon Raceway.
Ribeiro and Feldman are also up top in the Masters Division for
drivers 40-49. Tied for third in Masters are Chuck Hulse and
Cristian Sabellarosa at 34, with two second-places on the year
part of Sabellarosa's tally. Lon
Bender posted a pair of podiums to lie at 27 points. Leading in
Grand Masters is Jon Day at 24 points followed by Michael Gesser,
23; Ze'ev Drori, 20; Tom Brady, 18; and Jim Mustanich with 16.
Scott Wilson leads in the Young Charger standings trailed by Tad
Funakoshi at 21 points and Jared Thompson at 20.
The USAC Formula Russell Championship is considered to be one of
the top training series for amateur and aspiring professional
racers. Scott Speed and Joel Nelson, two of the this year's Red
Bull Formula 1 Drivers Search winners are past champions of this
arrive-and-drive program. The overall 2003 USAC Formula Russell
champion receives as part of his prize package two free races
with a top team in the 2004 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship
season opener at Sebring, Fla.
Both the Masters and Grand Masters champions receive a free
season of racing in the 2004 USAC Formula Russell Championship.
The Young Charger crown is a new award that is won mid-season
with a prize of two free race weekends to be used later this
year. Drivers need to be under 20 years old as of the May rounds
of the series to be eligible.