Driver: Herbert Pohlai (herbert@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at) Team: Hammer International New Hotlap for Long Beach: 53.784 (replay available on request) Race result: Long Beach Long Beach, CA 78 Laps Temp: 75øF Wind: NO WIND NO RAIN December 14 Long Beach Final Standings (78 Laps) Fin No Driver Led Result 1. 0 Herbert Pohlai 78+ 101.289mph* 2. 31 Al Unser, Jr. 0 -2L 3. 6 Mario Andretti 0 -3L 4. 16 Stefan Johansson 0 -3L 5. 8 Michael Andretti 0 -3L 6. 4 Bobby Rahal 0 -3L 7. 12 Jacques Villeneuve 0 -3L 8. 40 Scott Goodyear 0 -3L 9. 28 Arie Luyendyk 0 -4L 10. 25 Marco Greco 0 -7L 11. 18 Jimmy Vasser 0 Crashed 12. 17 Dominic Dobson 0 Crashed 13. 71 Scott Sharp 0 Crashed 14. 11 Teo Fabi 0 Crashed 15. 5 Raul Boesel 0 Crashed 16. 3 Paul Tracy 0 Crashed 17. 9 Robby Gordon 0 Crashed 18. 22 Hiro Matsushita 0 Crashed 19. 1 Nigel Mansell 0 Crashed 20. 15 Mark Smith 0 Crashed 21. 10 Mike Groff 0 Engine 22. 2 Emerson Fittipaldi 0 Gearbox 23. 88 Mauricio Gugelmin 0 Electrical 24. 24 Willy T. Ribbs 0 Rear Wing 25. 14 Eddie Cheever 0 Crashed 26. 7 Adrian Fernandez 0 Gearbox * = Polesitter + = Led Most Laps Herbert Pohlai Best Lap: 0:53.296 107.405mph Season Standings as of December 14 No Driver Points 1. 0 Herbert Pohlai 22 2. 31 Al Unser, Jr. 16 3. 6 Mario Andretti 14 4. 16 Stefan Johansson 12 5. 8 Michael Andretti 10 6. 4 Bobby Rahal 8 7. 12 Jacques Villeneuve 6 8. 40 Scott Goodyear 5 9. 28 Arie Luyendyk 4 10. 25 Marco Greco 3 11. 18 Jimmy Vasser 2 12. 17 Dominic Dobson 1 13. 2 Emerson Fittipaldi 0 14. 90 Lyn St. James 0 15. 9 Robby Gordon 0 16. 88 Mauricio Gugelmin 0 17. 24 Willy T. Ribbs 0 18. 3 Paul Tracy 0 19. 11 Teo Fabi 0 20. 10 Mike Groff 0 21. 15 Mark Smith 0 22. 71 Scott Sharp 0 23. 7 Adrian Fernandez 0 24. 1 Nigel Mansell 0 25. 22 Hiro Matsushita 0 26. 14 Eddie Cheever 0 27. 23 Buddy Lazier 0 28. 19 Alessandro Zampedri 0 29. 49 Parker Johnstone 0 30. 95 Bryan Herta 0 31. 76 Robbie Groff 0 32. 50 Franck Freon 0 33. 5 Raul Boesel 0 comments: a replay of the finish is available on request. Race statistics: Qualified for Pole, 2nd was Boesel with 55.401 Best average: 102.705 (L70) 1st Pitstop: L59 fuel 102.254 -> 100.861 2nd Pitstop: L40 fuel, 4 tires 100.920 -> 100.323 3rd Pitstop: L21 fuel 101.273 -> 100.716 Interview: Es...Eurosport HP...Herbert Pohlai Es: Congratulation! This was your first win on a road track. HP: Thanks. Yes, I have been racing for some seasons now, but I prefered the ovals. Es: Why are you racing on roads now? You haven't participated in the ICRS seasons. HP: Well, the main reason was, that the IICC rules allows me to use my favorite engine, the Menard. And Hammer International persuaded me to support Peter Burke on the road tracks. Es: The Menard? Well, it is definitely the best engine for fast ovals, but some people say, it's crap on slow road tracks... HP: Those people will shut up now, right? At least after they take a look at my qualifying times... But it's true: The menard is difficult to drive, I cannot use the automatic, and it's not so easy to find a proper gearing for road tracks. But my main goal is the oval championship, and I know, I can win it with the Menard. Es: Yes, I have seen your incredible 52.801 lap live. I feared, you wouldn't come out of your wrecked car alife after hitting the wall that hard... HP: No danger at all: The Penske is indestructible! Unfortunately, we are not allowed to use this chassis in the hotlap competition. The lap is available at server.complang.tuwien.ac.at pub/herbert/52801.rpy for everybody who missed it live. Es: Ok, let's speak about the race itself. The start was very important? HP: Yes, therefore I decided to begin with a light fuel load. Boesel had a better start and took the lead, but for a few meters only - then I could out-accelerate him without problems, and the gap was large enough finally to go into turn 1 without problems. Es: Your driving style was very aggressive, wasn't it? HP: That's right for the first part of the race. I wanted to show everybody that there isn't much choice: Get out of my way or end in the wall! Some of them got the message and let me pass without troubles... Es: And the rest? Hp: The rest of them cost me a lot of passing credits when I sent them off the road. Es: You had two time consuming accidents, too? HP: Right. Without those stupid backmarkers, I could have done an 102+ average. Especially after my first pitstop, they cost me a lot. Es: You stopped three times. Was this the winning strategy here in Long Beach? HP: Definitely. I did a lot of test races while the others destroyed their cars in this remarkable hot lap competition. And I'm sure, pitting 3 times saved me many seconds. Es: Thank you for the interview, and good luck!