Full Throttle

I bet you thought the NEXTEL Cup was dead, no contrário meu amigo!

NEXTEL is alive and well with the 2009 season opening Copa NEXTEL event held this past weekend at Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil.

(NOTE: Translated from Brazil’s native language Portuguese.)

Paulo Salustiano Salustiano wins in Interlagos from end to end

The first stage of Nextel Stock Car 2009 was highly disputed, and in the final the victory belonged to Paulo Salustiano (Mega Energy), from pole position.

“I am super happy, neither it believed that would be possible this result. We had a lot of problems in this year principle, so much of sponsorship like with small problems in the new car”, said the winner. “Be in the podium next to two pilots that accompanied your performances by the television abroad is something fantastic.

Paulo Salustiano at the wheel of his Chevy during the opening Copa NEXTEL Cup round win at Interlagos.

In the race had a very good car, however had to have economized a little the car at the beginning. Was only bothered with Zonta that forced very the bar trying to overtake me, but that is same race thing”, talked still the pilot, “that thanked firstly God by the result, after to your team and your family that always has the supported.”

From the start Salustiano was accompanied closely by Thiago Camilo. On four lap Camilo had problems with the gear box

In the middle of the race several cars touched - and introduced a safety car period.

In restart the menace to Salustiano came from Ricardo Zonta, who had passed Ricardo Maurício. Zonta’s attacks became ever more more aggressive, with several touches to Salustiano which eventually put Zonta out of contention.

Salustiano took his first win in Nextel Stock Car, followed by Ricardo Maurício and with Antonio Pizzonia completing the podium. With the result Salustiano took 28 points and has an advantage of eight over Ricardo Maurício the current champion. Antonio Pizzonia occupies the third place in the table with 16 points.

Nextel’s next stage happens April, 12, in Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba (PR).

Result of first stage of Copa Nextel Stock Car:

1. 55 - Paulo Salustiano (CA, SP), 25 laps in 46:49.813
2. 90 - Ricardo Mauricio (CA , SP), 1.677
3. 1 - Antonio Pizzonia (P3 , AM), 2.028
4. 29 - Daniel Serra (P3 , SP), 2.182
5. 11 - Nonô Figueiredo (CA , SP), 4.516
6. 63 - Lico Kaesemodel (CA , PR), 10.109
7. 51 - Atila Abreu (CA , SP), 17.646
8. 18 - Allam Khodair (P3 , SP), 18.395
9. 9 - Giuliano Losacco (P3 , SP), 22.800
10. 99 - Xandinho Negrão (CA , SP), 26.683
11. 77 - Valdeno Brito (P3 , PB), 30.793
12. 35 - David Muffato (P3 , PR), 35.731
13. 0 - Cacá Bueno (P3 , RJ), 39.070
14. 44 - Norberto Gresse (CA , SP), 44.220
15. 5 - Enrique Bernoldi (P3 , PR), 44.890
16. 7 - Thiago Marques (P3 , PR), 1:07.870
17. 6 - Alceu Feldmann (CA , PR), 1 lap
18. 23 - Duda Pamplona (CA , RJ), 3 laps
19. 15 - Antonio Jorge Neto (P3 , SP), 3 laps
20. 74 - Popó Bueno (CA , RJ), 4 laps
21. 20 - Ricardo Sperafico (P3 , PR), 4 laps
22. 65 - Max Wilson (CA , SP), 4 laps
23. 3 - Chico Serra (P3 , SP), 5 laps
24. 8 - Pedro Gomes (CA , SP), 11 laps
25. 33 - Felipe Maluhy (P3 , SP), 21 laps
26. 21 - Thiago Camilo (CA , SP), 22 laps
27.37 - Claudio Capparelli (P3 , RJ), 24 laps
28. 14 - Luciano Burti (CA , SP), 24 laps

Best Lap: Thiago Camilo, 1:41.206 (153,27 km/h)