Alex Lloyd Collects Second of Corning Twin 100's at Watkins Glen

Sam Schmidt Motorsports' Driver Resumes Domination of Indy Pro Series Competition

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Alex Lloyd returned to the top of the podium with another impressive Indy Pro Series victory, at Watkins Glen's second Corning Twin 100 race on Sunday. The win makes his career ninth in barely twice as many attempts (nineteen) as the Manchester-born racer renewed his pace toward a record-making season on the track.

Sam Schmidt’s Alex Lloyd at The Glen. Photo: DanaGarrettIRL

Unscrewing the downforce literally gave Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Alex Lloyd ‘wings’ as he flew off into the distance to win the second Corning Twin 100 race on Sunday (July 8th) at Watkins Glen International raceway.

Lloyd overtook competitors from the opening circuit of the 3.4 mile road course then drew away to a 4.7-second victory that was never in doubt.

The win extends his lead in the Indy Pro Series championship points chase even further, and sets up the speculation as to which IndyCar Series team will nab the immensely talented Brit for service in the big cars next year, if not sooner.

AFS Racing’s Wade Cunningham advanced from sixth at the start to a runner-up finish in the race, and Daniel Herrington of Speedworks continued to make good impression with another super drive: this time from pole to third (in only his fourth Indy Pro Series event).

Strength of Field Again Shows at The Glen

Phil Giebler, racing’s veteran Marco Polo at the wheel of the Playa del Racing machine, gave the team its best-ever Indy Pro Series result with a solid fourth-place that did nothing to diminish his own ambitions aboard an IndyCar next season; while Panther’s Hideki Mutoh settled for sixth place after Cheever Racing’s Richard Antinucci made a last-minute dive around him for fifth at The Glen.

Seventh was Apex Racing’s Mike Potekhen, followed by RLR/Anderesen’s Andrew Prendeville in the “Racing for Best Friends” car; with Apex’s Jonathan Klein ninth and AGR/AFS Racing’s Jaime Camara tenth.

Robbie Pecorari in the black Team KMA number thirteen car was eleventh, while Bobby Wilson’s Brian Stewart Racing Dallara took him to a hard-earned twelfth-place result in the second of the Corning Twin 100 affairs in upstate New York.

Lloyd’s Lead, Once Claimed, Never Wavered

Alex Lloyd. Photo: Chris JonesIRL

Herrington led from the flag to turn one, where second-on-the-grid Wilson spun. In the confusion Lloyd snuck past Giebler for second and set sail for the leader. By the time lap three took him to the inner-loop turns Alex was ready to make his move and he leaped past Daniel to the front position.

Meanwhile, behind them, Cunningham was picking off the competition rapidly, advancing from his sixth-place spot on the grid to a quick third.

On lap four Jon Brownson crashed in turn one bringing out an extended yellow for cleanup.

On the lap seven restart Lloyd leapt ahead by fifteen car-lengths and Cunningham set up Herrington for a pass in turn one that set up the eventual finishing order.

The race was remarkably error-free with only the Brownson full-course yellow holding up the proceedings for three laps.

Arie Lueyndyk, Jr.’s record running-at-the-finish string remains at 34 as he retired with engine failure on lap 24 in his forty-sixth Indy Pro Series start (again breaking his own record).

Alex Lloyd Puts a Stranglehold on Cup Intentions

The victory pushed Lloyd’s lead in the race for the Firestone Firehawk Cup further ahead of the field, now at 477 points total. Mutoh’s 6th-place finish left him further awash of Lloyd, now facing a deficit of 138 points in his pursuit of Alex.

Bobby Wilson’s well-paced recovery from the spin and 12th place finish on Sunday kept him third with 277 points total, though Cunningham advaned to within seven points as he ran his score to 270 points for the season. Mike Potekhen moved into a tie for fifth with Camara, each holding 231 points after round ten of sixteen went into the books.

The triumph also drew Alex even with Mark Taylor's 2003 mark of seven victories in a single Indy Pro Series season.

The Indy Pro Series takes scant time off before returning to the track at Nashville Speedway on Friday the 13th where practice and qualifying commence for the 100-mile event on the oval that is scheduled for next Saturday (July 14th) afternoon.

Indy Pro Series field glides over the Watkins Glen circuit at Sunday’s second Corning Twin 100 race. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

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Watkins Glen Corning Twin 100 Race Two Results

Indy Pro Series Cumulative Results 2007