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| November 12, 2004 News |
| EKN Trackside: Stars Finale Day 1 |
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 | Abrasive asphalt yields
a lot of marbles (Photo: SKI) |
Action is finally underway here in Orlando for the championship finale of the 2004 Snap-On Stars of Karting Presented by the IRL. The event is set on a temporary circuit at the Grumpy Lot on the grounds of Walt Disney World, or as some of the drivers have termed it, the “Bumpy Lot”. Early reports regarding the track is that the circuit is actually quite grippy - a rarity on parking lot courses.
Driver reaction is a mixed bag, with most complaining about the bumpy nature of the track while others have stated that it’s going to be a good race track once practice and qualifying have been completed. The lot’s asphalt been top-dressed and the final layer is very abrasive. In checking the tires on karts coming off the track after the first two practice sessions, the rubber looks to be badly grained although following the later sessions of the day, tire conditions have improved greatly.
The two top Stars classes - ICA and ICC - have good-sized fields with 39 and 46 entrants in the two classes, respectively. Of course, the big stories this weekend are the title fights for these two categories. Three drivers are in the hunt for the ICA championship: Jordy Vorrath (Italkart), Michael Giessen (Birel) and Johnny Johnson (Biesse). Things are a little different in the ICC battle as a total of eight competitors are vying for the gearbox crown title, a list that is led by Divisional Champions Alan Sciuto (West) and Alex Speed (East).
The ICC fight should be exciting. Speed, on the Birel again this weekend after his debut on the kart at the SKUSA SuperNationals two weeks ago, seems to have worked out some of the bugs that he encountered in Las Vegas and finds himself back near the front of the field where he is accustomed to being.
The return of defending champions Bobby Wilson (ICC) and Robbie Pecorari (ICA) to the finale has added yet another component to the storyline. Both drivers will re-unite with their former teams with Wilson getting back behind the wheel of Terry Ventresca-tuned First Kart and Pecorari donning the familiar red and black livery of his J&J Racing Biesse. Putting these guys back amongst the lions fighting for the individual class championships will undoubtedly up the excitement level here at the Grumpy Lot.
We’ll be back later today with the times recorded by each class during the final practice session. |
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