WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., (June 28, 2014) – Mikhail Goikhberg continued his march from the front of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series, completing a weekend sweep of Rounds 5 and 6 with a victory Saturday at Watkins Glen International.
Goikhberg, from North Vancouver, British Columbia, has won five of six rounds this season in the No. 10 JDC Motorsports Élan DP02 chassis powered by a Mazda engine and on Cooper Tires. He finished second in Round 3 on June 7 at Kansas Speedway and has 118 points this season, just two shy of perfection.
“I want to thank JDC and everyone who is involved in that program,” Goikhberg said. “We are getting better every weekend, and I really like where this program is going. And thanks to Cooper Tires and Mazda for making this series possible. The tires were very consistent and manageable in this race.”
Andrew Novich and Hayden Duerson finished second and third, respectively, on the 11-turn, 3.4-mile circuit at scenic, historic Watkins Glen to each record their first career podium finishes in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Development Series.
Goikhberg won Round 5 under caution Friday. But he had to work harder for the victory Saturday morning under a second consecutive day of brilliant sunshine.
After starting from the pole, Goikhberg rocketed to a lead of 13.009 seconds over Craig Duerson just 15 minutes into the 45-minute race. But Goikhberg’s cruise control ended shortly thereafter when the No. 31 Eurosport Racing entry of Michal Chlumecky spun into the gravel in the famous “Boot” section of the circuit, triggering a full-course yellow.
“We worked to a nice, comfortable lead there and just tried to conserve the tires,” Goikhberg said. “When you are chasing someone, that (full-course yellow) is the greatest thing in the world. But when you are leading, you are not looking forward to being chased.”
Watch for further details on Goikhberg’s accomplishments in an upcoming issue of Inside Track Motorsport News.
From: Paul Kelly // GRand-Solutions
{fcomment}
Discussion about this post