Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008

Mukilteo's Skerlong records 2nd straight Atlantic Championship podium

Strous wins Atlantic race at Mont-Tremblant

Herald staff

 MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec -- Carl Skerlong of Mukilteo parlayed a first-lap pass into his second straight podium finish in the Atlantic Championship Sommet des Legendes race in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec on Sunday.

Skerlong started on the outside of the second row after qualifying fourth, but was able to get past second-fastest qualifier Kevin Lacroix to take third place, where he would finish the 50-minute timed event.

“The race today was great. I was able to make a pass for third on the first lap, and after that we ran a clean and consistent race,” Skerlong said in a press release from his team, Pacific Coast Motorsports. “After dealing with inconsistent weather all weekend, I’m very happy with the overall outcome. I would have loved a win today, but I’m so happy to be finishing in the top three again, and we’ll take all the points we can get.”

Skerlong, who finished a career-best second last month at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, moved into the top five in the point standings.

Dutch driver Junior Strous raced to his first Atlantic race victory, leading every lap in the 30-lap race that ended under a full-course caution.

Strous gave his Condor Motorsports/Team Holland team its second straight victory at Mont-Tremblant. Franck Perera won in 2007.

The victory also gave Strous a 74-67 lead over to Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe in the season standings. Hinchcliffe was fourth Sunday.

"This first career victory feels so good," Strous said. "We had a clean sweep this weekend, had the pole position, won the race and had the fastest race lap. I took the lead in the championship, so obviously, I'm really happy with that. We needed this."

Finnish rookie Markus Niemela was second in the No. 8 car for Brooks Associates Racing.

Skerlong's PCM teammate, Frankie Muniz, started 15th but finished 11. Muniz, formerly the star of the television show "Malcom in the Middle," fell just short of his goal for the season, which is a top-10 finish.

Champ Car Atlantic-Sommet des Legendes results

Sunday at Circuit Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant, Canada
Lap length: 2.65 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
(All chassis Mazda-Cosworth, all engines Swift 016.a)

1. (1) Junior Strous, 30 laps, 87.621 mph.
2. (3) Markus Niemela, 30.
3. (4) Carl Skerlong, 30.
4. (5) James Hinchcliffe, 30.
5. (8) Dane Cameron, 30.
6. (13) Jonathan Bomarito, 30.
7. (6) Andreas Wirth, 30.
8. (10) David Garza, 30.
9. (14) Simona De Silvestro, 30.
10. (9) Dominick Muermans, 30.
11. (16) Frankie Muniz, 30.
12. (7) Jonathan Summerton, 30.
13. (2) Kevin Lacroix, 30.
14. (12) Daniel Morad, 28, contact.
15. (15) Douglas Soares, 28, contact.
16. (18) Leo Mansell, 25, contact.
17. (7) Henri Karjalainen, 19, contact.
18. (0) Greg Mansell, DNS.
19. (0) Luis Schiavo, DNS.

Race Statistics
Time of Race: 53:50.600
Margin of Victory: Under Caution
Caution Flags: Three for 10 laps.
Point Standings: 1. Strous, 74. 2. (tie) Hinchcliffe and Niemela, 67. 4. De Silvestro, 55. 5. Skerlong, 53. 6. Summerton, 51; 7. (tie) Wirth and Bomarito, 45. 9. Garza, 41. 10. Lacroix, 40.
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