Race Start Moved Forward to 12 Noon EDT on Sunday
by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com
 Rafa Matos (L) and Richard Antinucci. Photo: ChrisJonesIRL
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AFS Andretti Green's Raphael Matos extended his lead in the Firestone Firehawk Cup championship race by one point on Saturday (September 6th) by winning pole for Sunday's Firestone Indy Lights series SunRich Gourmet 100 at Chicagoland Speedway.
The 27-year old Brazilian holds the slimmest point advantage in FILS history going into the final Indy Lights race of the season that will decide the series' championship.
"It's another point that we definitely needed," he said. "We have a four-point lead now, and we'll see what happens tomorrow. We're 67 laps away from the title. There's a lot of work and hard racing tomorrow."
"I feel great about my car," he continued. "I feel great about the opportunity. We've been good all year long. We've had some ups and down this season, but we've found good momentum. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into tomorrow."
Sam Schmidt Motorsports' Ana Beatriz continued to look strong on the oval configuration, putting the No. 20 Healthy Choice Dallara onto the front row alongside countryman Matos.
Matos teammate Arie Luyendyk Jr starts from the inside of the second row, with Team SWE's Mike Potekhen holding down the fourth spot.
SSM's Richard Antinucci qualified ninth, a disappointing effort that was nearly two miles per hour off Matos pace over the 1.5 mile oval.
"I thought we had a little more," he said. "In testing this morning we ended up pretty well in qualifying trim, but the race is what counts and that's what we spent most of our time doing. Tomorrow is when it's all decided."
"Hopefully it will be a clean fight and it should be really exciting," he continued. "Matos was sitting on pole at Homestead, Kentucky and Chicago this year, and at the end of the Homestead and Kentucky rounds I was in front of him in the standings. I have to do that again at Chicagoland tomorrow."
"This track has a tradition of hosting nail-biters: 4 of 6 races have had a margin of victory of less than 0.1 second: I have to do my best to keep this tradition alive!"
Race Start Advanced Thirty Minutes to Noon EDT
The 67 lap championship-deciding race of 100 miles has been moved up by thirty minutes, to Noon Eastern time on Sunday.
ESPN2 cited 'scheduling conflicts' as the reason for the change in times for the final Indy Lights event of the season.
The start of the IndyCar series race remains unchanged at 2:30 PM EDT.
Firestone Indy Lights SunRich Gourmet 100 Qualifying Results
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