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Iannucci Nearly Gets G-Phactory's Silver Onto The Podium |
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Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
The G-Phactory / Sodi Racing USA put their new, very silver karts to the test this past weekend at the Snap-On Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar season opener at Ocala Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida. The team, seven drivers strong and represented in three classes, fought against the toughest karting competition in North America, along with Mother Nature, as rain threw yet another variable into the mix at Ocala.
In the headlining ICC class, Ryan Yop was joined by new teammate Nicholas Halen for the first time in Stars competition. Yop stated his case for the new Sodi chassis by throwing down a time good enough for fifth on the grid, less than two-tenths off of pole. Halen, for his part, would line up ninth. Unfortunately, save for a sixth in the second heat for Yop and an eighth in the first for Halen, G-Phactory's two ICC drivers would suffer from a run of bad luck that would ultimately knock them out of competition in the main events.
In the first main, Yop was sent into the turn one barriers, hitting his head hard against them. The resultant concussion meant his day was done, while Halen suffered with motor problems as a result of the rain and was a DNF in both mains as well.
G-Phactory brought four guns to the TAG race, easily the most competitive class on offer in Ocala. Michael Self, fresh off his victory in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas finale, was the standout for the team in qualifying as he put his Sodi Kart ninth on the grid, ahead of Andrick Zeen (12th), Pat Iannucci (15th) and Adam Zeen (26th).
Self also had the team's best tally in the heat races, with a sixth in the first heat. But in the first main, and their first session in the rain, Self spun while battling for fifth, which meant Andrick Zeen scored a fine seventh place for the team, just ahead of Iannucci in eighth. In the second main, with the rain coming down in a big way, Iannucci advanced five positions to end up a fighting fourth, with Andrick Zeen putting in another great performance to end up eighth, with Self in eleventh.
The team's lone JICA driver, Thomas Micich, made some serious progress in the first JICA main to finish thirteenth after starting in 20th. However, the young driver from Oregon spun in the rain in the second main and did not finish.
"It was a challenging weekend all around, especially with the weather playing up the way that it did," said team co-manager Phil Giebler. "Unfortunately, the rain did us no favors with our ICC drivers, but we will have them back on track at Miller Motorsports Park. Our TAG guys did a phenomenal job, and we really have to hand it to Pat for his phenomenal drive in the second main, which ended up being the highlight of our weekend. We very nearly could have had three guys in the top ten in both mains, which is great progress for our team."
A large portion of the team, including managers Phil Giebler and Preston Newberry are headed to Salbris, France with drivers Adam and Andrick Zeen to compete in the FFSA race the weekend of April 12 and 13. The entire squad is then back in action at the first round of the Snap-On Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar's Western Division opener on April 25-27.
About G-Phactory
G-Phactory races aboard Sodi Karts and is a full-service kart shop and racing team located in Huntington Beach, California. For more information, contact
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, or call (714) 841-2700.
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