Matos, Antinucci Collide in Early AM Warm-Up at Mid-Ohio
Points Leader and Contender Bring Session to a Close with Crash
by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com
Just when you thought the Indy Lights Series championship race couldn't get any tighter, fate stepped in this morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to twist the thumbscrews just a little bit more.
Firestone Firehawk Cup points leader Raphael Matos poked the nose of the No. 27 car beneath the red and white No. 7 of Richard Antinucci as the pair entered the 90 degree right-hander at the end of the backstretch on the 2.258 mile road course at approximately 8:05 AM, bringing contact that knocked the left front suspension of Matos' car askew and sent both racers into the kitty litter at the outside of the turn.
Both drivers emerged from their race cars uninjured, and a civil discussion of the do's and don'ts of warmup practice ensued.
Antinucci's car looked essentially intact; however, the right front wing was broken from the front of the No. 27 car in addition to the suspension damage sustained.
The practice session was checkered after the incident with only a few minutes remaining.
Matos leads the series by three points over Antinucci, having overtaken the latter for the top spot in the standings Saturday (July 19th).
Matos and Antinucci stood on second and third for the session when the incident occurred. Team Moore's Pablo Donoso had the fastest clocking, with Guthrie Racing's Logan Gomez and Brian Stewart Racing's Mitch Cunningham fourth and fifth at the close.
The second Mid-Ohio 100 race is scheduled to begin at 10:35 AM.
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