June 28, 2010
American campaign resumes next weekend!
 testing - Daniel Erickson [Janice Eakin; 750x380].jpg)
After a stunning F2000 debut in April, Daniel will be back in action at Watkins Glen next weekend! Photo courtesy of Janice Eakin.
Daniel Erickson will be back in action next weekend after a two-month interruption to his American F2000 Championship Series campaign. Lack of funds forced the young Sydney driver to sit on the sidelines for the past four rounds of the national series, but now he has scraped together enough money to resume his campaign at Watkins Glen International.
He made a sensational debut in the opening two rounds at Virginia International Raceway back in April. In his first competition drive of a 'wings and slicks' racing car, on the unfamiliar 5.3km VIR road course, he qualified on pole position for both rounds, setting a new circuit record in the process.
In round one he shadowed winner Victor Carbone across the finish line after mis-timing his first ever race 'rolling' start. In round two, he held a commanding lead until three laps from the chequered flag, when a loose spark plug lead dropped his Van Diemen racer to 10th place.
While Daniel hoped to be on the pace at Watkins Glen, he admitted that a repeat of his VIR results was no certainty.
"I've never been to Watkins Glen, let alone raced there. And I've missed four rounds of the series, whereas the other guys can only have been getting quicker after racing regularly."
Daniel acknowledged that a bumper F2000 field at the high-profile IndyCar meeting would make his task at 'The Glen' even tougher.
"I hear that there could be as many as 40 drivers because the IndyCars are on the program. About the only thing in my favour is that this time I'll have driven an F2000 car before, which I hadn't at VIR. I'll be more than happy if I can finish in the top five at Watkins Glen."
Daniel and his US mentor, Jon Baytos of Prime Racing Parts, will hook up with leading F2000 team Quantum Racing Services for his racing resumption.
Operating out of Oklahoma City since 1977, Quantum is one of America's longest established and most respected racecar preparation workshops. Owners Wendell and Slade Miller have experience in everything from Formula Ford up to IndyCars, and have chalked up more than 150 race wins and 30 regional championship titles.
"It's reassuring to know that I'll be driving a car prepared by an organisation with such an impressive track record," Daniel said.
As at VIR, Jon Baytos will engineer Daniel's Van Diemen F2000 racing car. Jon has played a pivotal role in the careers of many talented young racers, including 2004-5-6 Indianapolis 500 winners Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon and Sam Hornish Jnr.
"I'm also looking forward to working with Jon again," Daniel said. "What he doesn't know about F2000 isn't worth knowing, and we hit it off really well at VIR."
2010 AMERICAN F2000 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
POINTSCORE AFTER 6 OF 14 ROUNDS
1. Victor Carbone (BR) 281
2. Cole Morgan (USA) 203
3. Phil Lombardi (USA) 166
4. Remy Audette (CDN) 165
5. Tim Minor (USA) 154
13. Daniel Erickson (AUS) 69 - contested two rounds only
WATKINS GLEN TIMETABLE
Thursday, July 1
13.00-13.45 US EDT / 03.00-03.45 Friday, Australian EST - testing (untimed)
15.00-15.45 US EDT / 05.00-05.45 Friday, Australian EST - testing (untimed)
Friday, July2
10.45-11.15 US EDT / 00.45-01.15 Saturday, Australian EST - official practice
13.00-13.30 US EDT / 03.00-03.30 Saturday, Australian EST - official practice
14.45-15.15 US EDT / 04.45-05.15 Saturday, Australian EST - Round 7 qualifying
16.45-17.30 US EDT / 06.45-07.30 Saturday, Australian EST - Round 8 qualifying
Saturday, July 3
10.20-10.50 US EDT / 00.20-00.50 Sunday, Australian EST - Round 7 race
Sunday, July 4
11.00-11.45 US EDT / 01.00-01.45 Monday, Australian EST - Round 8 race
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