Ron Costin Crusies To Victory @ Indy

[David Holzwarth]

The Mixed Oval Series switched it up a bit this week by putting drivers into iRacings newest vehicle, the Dallara Automobili. This vehicle makes 650hp with a weight to power ratio of 2.4 making this Honda powered car very exciting to drive. With series director Randy Tessar down and out with flu like symptoms the drivers took to the track. The new car and track combo was great but many drivers didnt have the package so attendance was a but thin for the normal 20+ car field. Never the less the drivers that did show up were poised and ready to race.

Ron Costin was fast in the top three during practice and would show he was going to be tough to beat in qualifing trim as well. Costin posted the fastest time giving him the pole with Midwest Motorsports Mark Wulf out side front row. The green flag would wave and drivers were off. Mark Wulf and Mike Kelley would take off and draft well together for the first seven laps. Mike Kelley made a move to the inside and Marc would get into the marbles in the upper grove and loose the rear end of the car causing him to careen into Mike Kelley taking them out out in the same wreck. This would put Ron in position to start gaining points for leading laps. Taking the green again the car driven by Mikell Coleman would prove to be too loose for the tight traffic on a restart causing him to spin into Michael Teassar and Bob Deppe. It was great to see Deppe back on track after a severe accident damaged his car (computer). The body shop made finally made the repairs and Bob is looking forward to mixing it up again.

The third caution of the night was on lap sixteen caused by Patrick Skahill who got loose in traffic on a restart and drove into the lane occupied by Mark Wulf. The powerful car were proving to be a handful for even the most experienced of sim racers. The yellow flag would not wave agian till lap 26 when Wulf would clip the apron and get loose in the short chute. This would allow the cars to get in position for the longest run of the race. At this time the drivers were commenting on how this sim race was playing out much like the real life races do, with only a few drivers on the lead lap racing for position. The final caution would happen on lap 49 by Thomas Conheady when his Dallara would get light in the rear and swap ends. During this caution one of the lead lap cars Holzwarth would feel a tire going down and loose control damaging the right side suspension beyond being drivable. As drivers found out a reset at this track ment you were going to loose at least a lap if not two.

This set things up for a 20 lap run to the finish. Ron Costin brought the field to the green and before long the lap car of Conheady would take the point followed by Greg Harris. Ron, while still in the lead would settle behind them just cruising alot and trying to stay out of trouble. This stradagy would prove to pay off as Ron Constin cruised to his first victory in the RSRL. Ron has always been very competitive and runs strong just about every where he goes. In victory lane Ron gave props to his crew and teammates for giving him such a strong car. Thomas Conheady would finish second in front of Greg Harris and David Holzwarth who would battle it out to the last lap for third and fourth spots. Returning in his first event with the RSRL league was Bob Deppe finishing in 5th spot. Thomas finishing second would also win the award for being the hard charger gaining six positions from the start of the race. Congratulations once again to Ron Costin on the win and we all look forward to next weeks race at Michigan in the Star Mazda. Good luck and hope to see you all there.