Posted (04/23/2001) -
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Hollywood couldn't have scripted a movie better than the real life situation that saw the US Filter Planet Earth Motorsports team take the win on Earth Day 2001 with the #41 Comptech Sport Acura Integra GS-R
The win by the US Filter Planet Earth Motorsports effort came after the most spirited race on the track between the #41 Planet Earth Motorsports Acura Integras and the #69 Honda of America Race Team comprised of factory Honda engineers.
Earth Day 2001
For Earth Day 2001, the entire US Filter Planet Earth Motorsports team was outfitted in commemorative "Earth Day 2001" crew shirts. The US Filter Planet Earth Motorsports team had many different activities planned for the weekend including: ·Race to Recycle - Collection of all Glass and Aluminum cans through the campaign's recycling bins. ·Flyers distributed to the Race Fans detailing EARTH DAY 2001 and everyday environmental friendly practices ·Press Conference at Phoenix International Raceway.
Practice
After only two laps of practice the #42 Comptech Sport Acura Integra GS-R was being sent to the frame shop for repairs after a high speed incident in turn one. The driver, Steve Lisa, was okay, but the car would not see the track again until qualifying.
Qualifying
Qualifying saw Bill Pate, who was suffering from food poisoning, put the #43 Orison Earth Day 2001 Acura Integra GS-R on the first row with a 1:11.9 qualifying effort. The #41 Comptech Sport Acura Integra would start from fourth place.
The Race
From the very first lap, the race turned into a three way battle between the #41 Acura Integra driven by Wayne Nonnamaker, the #69 HART Civic driven by Pete Halsmer, and the #43 Integra driven by Bill Pate. For the first hour of the race, the #41 car led, but could never pull out more than a ten second margin over second.
Wayne Nonnamaker turned the #41 Comptech Sport Integra over to his brother, Will Nonnamaker, and from that point on, the #41 and #69 had the most spirited battle on the track. The two cars traded the lead many times during the remainder of the three-hour endurance race.
When the checkered flag finally flew, Nonnamaker had pulled out an eight second lead over second.
"This is a fantastic way to celebrate Earth Day 2001," said winning driver Will Nonnamaker. "We had a great weekend, and I am so thankful to our environmentally friendly partners that made winning on Earth Day 2001 possible: US Filter, Acura / Honda, ORISON Marketing L.L.C., Comptech Sport, and CCAR-GreenLink®."
The #43 Orison Earth Day 2001 Acura Integra finished third with 2000 Porsche Cup Champion Mike Fitzgerald taking over the driving chores for Bill Pate. "Mike and Bill did everything we could ask of them," said crew chief Mike Thomas. "It was unfortunate that we had problems at the pit stop and lost the car the lead lap. Mike proved us right in bringing him in by fighting as hard as he could to get back on the lead lap, and setting fastest race lap along the way. He didn't get the car back on the lead lap, but he did fight his way back to third."
The #42 Comptech Sport Acura Integra worked its way from its last place starting spot to come to third place at one point in the race, before finally coming in fifth. "The crew did an amazing job getting this car back together," said Wayne Nonnamaker, who finished for Steve Lisa. "Except for the power steering<
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