Full Throttle

Nelson Piquet driver had initially planned to contest the Free State 500 stock car event on the Phakisa oval prior to his US racing debut but will now head straight to Daytona.

“Due to the close proximity of the next race in my USA programe for 2010, the details of which have just recently become firmed up, and the logistics involved in getting back from the race in South Africa, I have unfortunately had to withdraw from the event,” Piquet explained.

“I would have loved to take part, but I have to concentrate on this race in America now. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it next year.”

(Forgive me for asking, but this race is on Sunday qualifying for the ARCA event isn’t until Saturday. How was he planning to get back to the states, by elephant, that would partially explain the six day travel time? ed.)

PRACTICE NOTES:

The first practice session for Sunday’s ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 has ended at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. This was the only practice session to take place on Friday.

Gary Lewis (Bothell, WA, USA), the 2009 ASA Northwest Late Model Tour Champion, led the field in practice with a time of 37.334 seconds with 1986 Daytona 500 champion Geoff Bodine (Chemung, NY, USA) in second with a time of 37.534 seconds. Russ Blakeley, an ASA Midwest Tour competitor from Wisconsin, USA was third with 37.926 seconds. Jaco Correia from Welkom, Free State, South Africa was fourth with a time of 38.194 seconds. Greg Barnhart from Oklahoma City, OK, USA rounded out the top-five with a time of 38.210 seconds.

2009 ASA Midwest Tour Champion Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI, USA) was sixth with a time of 38.248 seconds with Tiff Daniels from Smithfield, VA, USA seventh with a time of 38.293 seconds. Eighth was Chris Wimmer from Wausau, WI, USA with a time of 38.395 seconds. Marc Davis from Mitchelville, MD, USA was ninth with a time of 38.424 seconds. Danie Correia of Welkom, Free State, South Africa rounded out the top-ten with a time of 38.720 seconds.

The fans in attendance to watch practice today cheered when it was announced that the Correia brothers ended the practice session with times in the top-ten. Both looked very strong as they toured the 1.5-mile oval for the first time ever.

Saturday will have a full day of on-track activities at Phakisa with practice starting at 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Qualifying will get underway later in the afternoon.

NOTE: American Speed Association officials along with Sirius Satellite Radio are announcing that the ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 event will be broadcasted live on Sunday, January 31, 2010 starting at 6:00 a.m. EST on Sirius channel 90 and XM channel 244.