Tommy Archer [Dodge Viper] wins GT Manufacture Cup

The Preferred Line - Road racing news and commentary

SPEED World Challenge Wednesday (October 18, 2006) By Jim Bourn

"There is only one strategy, win! I can still win the championship, but I can't get it by just driving around. I've got to go for the victory, just like I did at Road Atlanta." - Team Cadillac's defending champion Andy Pilgrim


Take the points at Laguna Seca

I am always keen on keeping things simple, in fact I subscribe to KISS Quarterly, and so towards that end here are the simple possibilities for the final round at Laguna Seca.

Tommy Archer simply has to drive his c3controls/Autohaus Dodge Viper to a 1st or 2nd place finish in the GT race and Dodge wins the Manufacturer's Championship!

If Pierre Kleinubing can simply finish his Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSX ahead of Randy Pobst's MazdaSpeed Tri-Point Mazda 6, or even position behind, Pierre wins the Touring Car driver's title!

It will be simple for Lawson Aschenbach to win the GT driver's title if he finishes his AXA Financial Porsche 997 ahead of Andy Pilgrim and Lou Gigliotti and some place within the top ten.

Simple really! Let's all crack a beer, toast the winners, console the runners-up and head to the banquet!

"What was the middle thing? About the police?" - Kevin Kline from A Fish Called Wanda

Simple plans have a way of becoming simple disasters and last weekend proved to me that there is no such thing as a sure thing!

Case in point a friend seemed to think that the points Chicago was giving to Phoenix to be extremely low as surely the juggernaut Bears would crush the 1 and 4 Cardinals. Me, I was all over the home standing Redskins waltzing over the winless Titans.

So since it is fall and all what are the points spreads this weekend?

The mortal lock of the weekend goes to Touring Car rookie leader Jeff Courtney who is getting 27 from Robb Holland. Bet this one for sure as Connecticut has a better chance of beating West Virginia on Friday night!

Pierre Kleinubing looks to be a solid bet, even though RealTime is on the road at Mazda Raceway, as the Brazilian is getting 11 from Pobst for the TC driver's title and looks to be a strong bet to cover.

Kleinubing will be the top qualifying and probably finishing Acura as RealTime will probably be playing team ball at Laguna to win one for PK. There might not be an "I" in team but there are a few in Pierre Kleinubing and the squadron from Wisconsin has nothing to race for at Laguna except to win the Driver's championship for Pierre!

Then again Pobst was strong enough to cover 11 and more at Road Atlanta.