BARBERDODGE: Largest Barber Dodge Field Ever For Detroit Grand Prix Is Set
3 June 1998
LAKEVILLE, Conn. - Thirty drivers have entered round three of the $1.1M 1998 Barber Dodge Pro Series, Sunday morning June 7, supporting the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix. In the championship's first two rounds, Todd Snyder in March won at Sebring while last week Thomas Schie survived a mid-race rain shower and won the shortened Lime Rock Park race. Snyder's second place at Lime Rock kept him in the points lead, but just barely; he's got 36 to Schie's 34. For Schie, it was his third career Barber Dodge win; the Norwegian won two races en route to his championship runner-up effort in 1996.Schie, Snyder, Nicolas Rondet, Martin Stenshorne, "Rio Big Scholarship" driver Shane Donley, Sepp Koster, Giovanni Anapoli, Rocky Moran, Jr., and some others were all comfortably predicted frontrunners. But the complexion of this year's title chase changed dramatically last week, however, with the last minute arrival of Rino Mastronardi. Mastronardi won five races last year and finished second to champion Derek Hill, and worked over the winter to secure an Indy Lights ride, but he could not procure the entire budget. He decided just two weeks ago to re-enter Barber Dodge for a third campaign (the Italian was fourth in points in 1996) by racing at Lime Rock. Mastronardi very nearly won his very first time out in the new Reynard Dodge: he qualified third and led half of the green flag laps. Mastronardi missed the Sebring season opener, but remains a formidable title contender nonetheless.
Both Rondet and Mastronardi won street races last year; Mastronardi at St. Petersburg, and Rondet at Minneapolis. Fearless Victor Gonzalez, Jr., has always shown well in Barber Dodge street races and should be a factor in Detroit, too.
The 40-minute Barber Dodge race at Detroit is Sunday, June 7 at 8:20 a.m. local time. ESPN2 coverage is set for Saturday, June 20 at 12 noon Eastern.
-Rick Roso
