Compass 360 Racing Sis Take Home the Win
C360R S2 CIVICS WIN AT MIAMI
Mar 14th, 2009 // Article By: David Hsu // Photographer: David Hsu
After a long break since the 3rd place finish in Daytona, the team headed back to Miami, Florida to contest the second round of the Grand Am Cup endurance racing championship. Upon arriving in Miami, with season opener jitters out of the way and new members of the team settling in and getting more comfortable, it was apparent that the mood was lighter than it was in Daytona. Entering the Homestead race, the team was filled with optimism knowing that it had three very competitive cars and driver team ups; combined with perfect 80*F weather and a world class racing facility it almost felt like a vacation.
Once again, like in Daytona, the Compass360 S2 civics topped the time sheets in both practice sessions. After the second session the team began final car preparation for qualifying scheduled for late in the afternoon. Qualifying was one of the most intense sessions we have ever seen. The #74 car driven by Christian Miller set fast time in the middle of the session. And with 2 laps left in the session, the team crossed its fingers, hoping that Christian's time would hold till the end. Unfortunately with one lap the factory supported turbocharged Subaru Legacy posted a fast lap of 1:32.976 to the 74's 1:32.979. Christian missed his first Grand Am pole by only 0.003 secs, but the consolation was that the 74 would start the race on the front row. More than satisfied with a bittersweet qualifying result, the team prepared the cars for the next days battle. It was amazing that we actually left the track before 7:00pm!
On race day the team only ran one of the morning practices. It was a clear sign the team was ready for battle. When the race started, there was an early battle between the 2 cars on the row, the number 74 Compass Civic and the number 111 Subaru. But after 5 laps of trading paint, the 74 moved to the front and led the next 36 laps. Christian did an excellent job of the keeping the 74 out front and in good shape as he pitted in on lap 43 and turned the reigns over to Randy Pobst. With all the pitstops completed lap 58, it only took another 2 laps before the 74 moved back up to the front. By lap 66 the race was shaping up to be a 2 way battle between the 74 Compass Civic and the 145 Freedom Alliance Mazda Miata.
Pobst fought Tom Long in a seesaw battle that saw both drivers lead multiple times over the final half hour of action on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn track, but a pass in Turn 11 on Lap 89 of 92 gave Pobst the lead for the final time. He held onto the point for the final four laps to earn his fifth career overall and class victories, while giving Miller his first win.
The margin of victory, which stood at 0.129 seconds, was the second closest finish in KONI Challenge history. Only the race at Watkins Glen International in 2004 was closest (0.050 seconds). The race's average speed was 84.418 mph, the second fastest KONI race at the track.
Overall it was a fantastic weekend and it was great for the team to get its first win so early in the season. The 2009 Grand Am Cup season is shaping up very nicely and we look forward to Round 3 at New Jersey Motorsports park in early May.
Once again, like in Daytona, the Compass360 S2 civics topped the time sheets in both practice sessions. After the second session the team began final car preparation for qualifying scheduled for late in the afternoon. Qualifying was one of the most intense sessions we have ever seen. The #74 car driven by Christian Miller set fast time in the middle of the session. And with 2 laps left in the session, the team crossed its fingers, hoping that Christian's time would hold till the end. Unfortunately with one lap the factory supported turbocharged Subaru Legacy posted a fast lap of 1:32.976 to the 74's 1:32.979. Christian missed his first Grand Am pole by only 0.003 secs, but the consolation was that the 74 would start the race on the front row. More than satisfied with a bittersweet qualifying result, the team prepared the cars for the next days battle. It was amazing that we actually left the track before 7:00pm!
On race day the team only ran one of the morning practices. It was a clear sign the team was ready for battle. When the race started, there was an early battle between the 2 cars on the row, the number 74 Compass Civic and the number 111 Subaru. But after 5 laps of trading paint, the 74 moved to the front and led the next 36 laps. Christian did an excellent job of the keeping the 74 out front and in good shape as he pitted in on lap 43 and turned the reigns over to Randy Pobst. With all the pitstops completed lap 58, it only took another 2 laps before the 74 moved back up to the front. By lap 66 the race was shaping up to be a 2 way battle between the 74 Compass Civic and the 145 Freedom Alliance Mazda Miata.
Pobst fought Tom Long in a seesaw battle that saw both drivers lead multiple times over the final half hour of action on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn track, but a pass in Turn 11 on Lap 89 of 92 gave Pobst the lead for the final time. He held onto the point for the final four laps to earn his fifth career overall and class victories, while giving Miller his first win.
The margin of victory, which stood at 0.129 seconds, was the second closest finish in KONI Challenge history. Only the race at Watkins Glen International in 2004 was closest (0.050 seconds). The race's average speed was 84.418 mph, the second fastest KONI race at the track.
Overall it was a fantastic weekend and it was great for the team to get its first win so early in the season. The 2009 Grand Am Cup season is shaping up very nicely and we look forward to Round 3 at New Jersey Motorsports park in early May.
