The return to the scene of the crime is complete. After such a dismal showing at my last Mid Ohio event I wanted to go back again during this season to try to right the wrongs of the weekend of woe. Yesterday was disappointing since we didn’t get to race all the way to the end.
It was already very hot at 8 am and I thought that if I get in the car and start it and sit under my canopy for a few minutes before I go to the grid I will save myself time sitting in the direct sun. I assumed that we would be gridded as we finished yesterday or by our fastest lap time, that was wrong it was first come first serve. Lucky for me my clock is a few minutes off in the car and I was not the 24th to show up. I was a few cars back from the top guys and thought that might be some motivation.
Back when I was racing Vees one of my very favorite things to do was crush people’s souls on the first lap of a qualifier. A wise racer told me 25 years ago that you only get one lap to practice on cold tires and that is the first lap of a session. Racing on cold tires is a skill and I have spent many years working on it.
As we began the session I had a few cars to get around and then I went into Formula Vee qualifier mode. The car was feeling great and I could see that I was gaining time on the two top cars drafting together. My goal time was as deep into the 1:42’s as I could manage. My confidence is building with each lap and the times keep dropping. Finally into the mid 1:42’s, it was close to being a bust as we had started catching the lap traffic and the last two laps had too many cars to try to get around to attempt a good lap. I was satisfied until I saw the results, I am third again, I guess the drafting got them the tiniest margin, number one by .2 and number two by .001.
At 11 am it’s hot, the track temp is 105 degrees. I am sitting in my car with my helmet on as they play the National Anthem, I had an Indy 500 moment as I spoke to myself, Start Your Engines.
Yesterday I got a phenomenal start and I am obviously going to use the same strategy today. As we come around to the front straight I shift up into third and drop the hammer, the second place qualifier is next to me screaming out 2nd gear and I am already pushing on the bumper of the pole setter. When the second place car shifts into third gear I have already cleared him and fully own the position going into turn one. I am quite pleased with myself as I look in the mirror pulling away.
The first couple of laps the car is tight and doing as it is told but then it starts getting sloppy and slow to react, I can’t keep pace with the leader. If I try to push it too much more I feel I am going to lose more time, he is currently about 2 seconds ahead. The third place car is so much stronger than me in a few corners I decide he might be able to close down to the gap to the leader if I let him take the position. I give him a point and move over so that he maintains his speed, he goes by and I could read his disbelief in his driving. We begin working together as much as we can but we are unable to reel him in dropping to a 5 second deficit by the end. Nearing the end of the race my car comes back to life and now the tables have turned and my car looks to be working better than his. During the last couple laps I am pushing him down the back straight which was one of the sections that he could pull a gap on me. On the last lap I need to nail turn one and be right on his bumper coming out of turn 2 for a great run down the back straight, it goes to plan and I have a huge run as we approach turn 4, I pop out from behind him at my latest convenience and brake later than I have during the entire race, he has no defense as I pass and then take away his line. It was a sweet end, although for second place, but it feels good to have a great finish.