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Andersen Racing’s mechanics took the center stage in the paddock after Star Mazda qualifying Thursday at Road Atlanta. They’re working hard to make repairs to both Jonathan Goring and Jonny Baker’s cars after both young drivers were involved in single-car accidents during Thursday afternoon’s qualifying session. They hope to have both cars ready to start 10th and 14th, respectively, when the 45-minute Star Mazda race gets the green flag at 1:50 p. m. Eastern time Friday.
Luckily neither Goring nor Baker were hurt in their accidents. Goring’s occurred in Turn 3 of the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course. It severely damaged the rear end of his No. 14, which advertises the Skip Barber Racing School, Alfas Unlimited, NPA Graphics and Performance Drink.
The damage wasn’t as extensive in Baker’s crash, which happened in Turns 6 and 7.
Goring had topped the charts in the morning practice session before qualifying with a 1:19.261. He was second in the first practice session Wednesday with a 1:19.235. He also did very well in the three test sessions on Tuesday, posting the second-fastest time twice as well as a fourth.
James Davison ended up with the pole with a 1:18.956 (115.811 mph). Less than one second separated the top eight drivers.
Meanwhile, another one of the Fairfield, N.J. -based team’s drivers, Yannick Hofman, brought his car home in one piece in quals. His Jig-A-Loo No. 00 will start 11th tomorrow, right behind point leader Dane Cameron, who will share Row 5 with Goring.
The race will be broadcast at noon Eastern Oct. 13 on SPEED.
After this event the season finale will be held Oct. 19-20 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The season finale will air on SPEED at 3:30 p. m. Eastern time Oct. 27.
Driver quotes follow:
Yannick Hofman, Montreal, Quebec: “Everything is new to me, but I’m building my confidence level more and more, and I’m trying to work better and better with my engineer. I only tested here before; I’ve never raced here.
“What I’m really doing here this weekend is preparation for next year. You can do two races without losing your rookie status. I finished fifth at Trois-Rivieres and I’m doing this race this weekend so I don’t lose my rookie status for next year. I’m just getting acclimated to my new team. “
Jonathan Goring, Norfolk, Conn. : “It was my fault. I have to take it like a professional, admit that I made a mistake, and learn from it.
“I should have just let it go; it would have just gone into a slide and I would have gone into the grass. Instead I tried to hold onto it, and I ended up in the wall. “
Jonny Baker, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, England: “It started in Turn 6 and then went straight on to Turn 7 and into the wall.
“The car was much better in qualifying than it had been in practice. I did a 20.5 right away, and I was confident that I could do a 19 because the 20.5 had come so easily.
“Instead I got up on the curbing, onto the grass, and then I hit the wall. It’s hurt in the left rear; I bent two A-arms. ”
