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For Immediate Release: November 12, 1999
EDWARDS FASTEST IN SNETTERTON PREPARATIONS
All Three Team USA Scholarship Winners Among Top Eight in Final
Test
The 1999 Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series begins with a pair
of
15-lap races on Sunday at Snetterton, England, and three young
American
drivers are among the leading contenders for victory.
Paul Edwards, 21, from Santa Maria, Calif., set the fastest times
in
each session today as the 22 protagonists took part in a final
day of testing
on the former airfield circuit some 100 miles northeast of London.
"I feel good because I actually engineered my own car today,"
said
Edwards, who has raced in Europe the past four years and finished
a strong
third in this season's EFDA Formula 2000 Euroseries against some
extremely
tough competition. "I learned so much from my race engineer in
the EFDA
series, Sean Thompson, and I was able to put that knowledge to
good use. The
car is still understeering a little, but we improved it throughout
the day
and we were quickest in every session.
"I'm really looking forward to the races on Sunday," continued
Edwards, who posted a fastest time of 1m04.41s. "It's always nice
to 'win'
testing, but it's the races that count."
Team USA Scholarship teammates Jeff Simmons and Andy Lally also
impressed today, despite having never seen the circuit before.
Simmons, 23,
from Granby, Conn., was sixth fastest at 1m05.85s and Lally, 24,
from
Northport, N.Y., was eighth at 1m06.30s.
Both drivers were obliged to miss the crucial final portion of
the
last session in order to complete paperwork for the appropriate
licenses that
will enable them to participate in the first "overseas" races
of their
careers. Nevertheless, they were pleased with progress.
"I was looking forward to trying a couple of different setup changes,
but I didn't get the chance to do that," said Simmons. "My car
had a little
too much understeer entering the quick corners and then some oversteer
in
mid-corner, and in the slow corners I had a pretty good understeer;
but I
think I have a pretty idea of what to do when we get into qualifying."
Added Lally: "It's been a bit of a struggle, especially getting
used
to the horsepower, but these cars are really fun to drive. I'm
having a blast
and learning a lot. I'm so grateful for the opportunity."
"The other thing is, the cars look sensational in the red, white
and
blue color scheme," said Lally. "I tell you, it's the most beautiful
thing I
have ever set my eyes on. It makes you so proud just to look at
the cars."
The bold design of the three identical Formula Palmer Audi challengers
(which comprise "spec" Van Diemen chassis and turbocharged Audi
motors
producing around 240 horsepower) was finalized by famed graphic
artist/marketing guru David Aronson. The cars feature a patriotic
red, white
and blue color scheme with sponsorship from Valvoline, CART, Tasman
Motorsports, Audi, PacWest Racing, Mercedes-Benz USA, Road Racing
Drivers
Club, Klein Tools, Skip Barber Racing School, No Fear and Mitel
Semiconductor. |