Carrio and World Speed Podium at Three Rivers
Leading the driver and team championships with four races remaining
August 06, 2006
Carrio, the current championship points leader, was pleased to bring his #14 Rockford Fosgate World Speed Motorsports Mazda home in the final podium spot after a difficult race in Portland which saw him go off on the opening lap. "With a track as challenging as this, where a single mistake can cost you, it feels good to finish on the podium and get those points for the championship," the seventeen-year old driver from Monument, Colorado, said. "I got a good start and was able to move to third and almost had second place before Michael got through. The World Speed Motorsports guys gave me a fast car but I couldn't find a way around Michael and wasn't going to make a low-percentage maneuver to try and gain the spot."
Ace and the WSM team had qualified on the second row with a 102.388 just 0.282 away from pole time set by Ryan Justice. Matt Varsha won the event, his first in a Star Mazda event.
With four races remaining in the 2006 championship chase Carrio holds a thirteen point lead over Potekhen with 289 points to Potekhen's 276 points. Kevin Lacroix, from St. Eustache, Quebec, sits in third place in the championship with 252 points.
In the Team Championship World Speed Motorsports, returns to the top of the charts with 148 points. The series now heads to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where it will join the American Le Mans Series for the Generac 500 at Road America on August 17-19. Round Eight of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is scheduled to air on Speed Channel at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, August 13th.
World Speed Looking for Second Canadian Victory
August 02, 2006
World Speed Motorsports and Ace Carrio are headed back to Canada for Round Eight of the Star Mazda Championship on August 4-6. Five races remain in the 2006 championship as the series becomes the featured event at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres. The team is hoping to increase their championship lead, and will lean heavily on lessons learned at this track when WSM competed here in Atlantic.
“The Canadians are so passionate about racing, and that gets all the teams pumped up for an event like this, said Team Manager Mark Milazzo. Having just raced here a little over a month ago, and winning in front of the F1 fans at Montreal was fantastic. A win at Trois-Rivières would definitely be another memorable day for the team.”
This weekend’s race will be the 37th running of this world famous event. It was in 1967 that a local group of sports car devotees, members of the Club Autosport Mauricien (CAM), organized the 1st edition of the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières through the city streets. For many years the race in Trois-Rivières was unique in North America. It was the only organized racing on city streets at that time.
"Historically, the race in Trois-Rivières has been the turning point of the season, and the race winner has, in many instances, gone on to take the drivers championship at the end of the season; this has made for some thrilling racing, where no one wants to concede even an inch," remarked the President of the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières.
Adrian Carrio Fastest at Portland – Still Leads Championship
July 23, 2006. Portland, Oregon.
After waiting until the final seconds of qualifying at Miller Motorsports Park to capture the pole position one week ago Adrian Carrio came out swinging early at Portland International Raceway, posting the pole winning lap early in today's qualifying for Round Seven of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Driving the #14 World Speed Motorsports Rockford Fosgate Mazda, the Monument, Colorado native lapped the 1.944-mile circuit in a time of 1:08.988 (102.487 MPH) to secure his second consecutive pole and third pole position this season.
Carrio got off to a great race start and led into turn one when he was hit by another driver. “It was unfortunate that we were crashed out, because I really believe that this would have been an easy win. We really had the car dialed in, and we turned the fastest time of the entire weekend,” said Carrio. “I’m looking forward to Three Rivers as World Speed has raced there many times with their Atlantic program and has always been competitive.”
Despite getting knocked out of the race on the opening lap Carrio continues to lead the championship with 251 points overall. In the team championship World Speed Motorsports is in second, behind by only one point.
Five races remain in the 2006 championship as the series now travels back into Canada in two weeks time as the series becomes the featured event at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres for Round Eight of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear on August 4-6. Round Seven from Portland is scheduled to air at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, August 5th.
Carrio & World Speed victorious at Miller Motorsports Park
Pole position, track record & every lap led in Utah
July 15, 2006. Tooele, Utah.
Adrian Carrio, of Monument, Colorado, survived a first lap scare and then pulled away to victory today in Round Six of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear at the brand-new Miller Motorsports Park circuit. Driving the #14 World Speed Motorsports Rockford Fosgate Mazda, Carrio mastered the 4.468-mile circuit to take the checkered flag 4.153 seconds ahead of second place finisher Ron White, in his #69 Ron White Racing Fulton Valley Farms Mazda. Kevin Lacroix, of St. Eustache, Quebec, completed the podium, finishing third this afternoon in his #74 John Walko Racing Uni- Select Auto Parts Mazda.
After an aborted first start due to the stricken car of Steve Hickham Jr, Carrio, who had qualified on pole position brought the field around for a single-file restart, as the field took the green flag and raced towards the first corner Carrio and fellow front row starter Michael Potekhen touched, knocking the wing off Potekhen's car and ending his day early. Carrio was able to recover from the contact and would lead every lap to score his second consecutive victory.
"It was really unfortunate what happened there on the start between Michael and myself," Carrio said afterwards. "The first start was pretty hectic and as we came down the front straight on the restart I felt a thud and in my mirror I saw his wing under my rear tire. After something like that happens you wonder if anything on the car is broken but when you get to the corner you either make the turn and go racing or your day is done, and fortunately we were able to continue. Once the race settled down the car was working well, even though the track was a little slippery, and I was able to open up a gap after each restart and take another victory."
The conclusion of Round Six marks the halfway point for the season and Carrio becomes the first repeat winner as he stretches his lead over the field with 234 points towards the championship. In the Team Championship World Speed Motorsports holds onto to first with 124 points while John Walko Racing and AIM Autosport climb to second and third place overall with 103 and 100 points respectively.
With half of the 2006 championship complete, the series now travels west with the American Le Mans Series to Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, for the American Le Mans Series Portland Grand Prix and Round Seven of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear on July 20-22.
Ace Carrio drives to first Star Mazda Victory
June 24, 2006. Montreal Quebec, Canada.
Driving the #14 Rockford Fosgate World Speed Motorsports Mazda, Adrian Carrio, from Monument, Colorado, earned his first career Star Mazda victory today on the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Round Five of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, being held in conjunction with the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada. Carrio lead every lap to take the checkered flag ahead of Matt Varsha by 1.482 seconds in a race marred by an opening lap incident towards the front of the field that knocked 15 of the 42 competitors out of the event and shortened the race.
The opening lap trouble came as the cars entered the high-speed right-hand kink on the backstraight when Herrington and Michael Potekhen touched wheels, sending Herrington into the tire barrier and back onto the circuit. Chaos followed as the cars behind all tried to avoid Herrington and each other. "I came up on the blind corner flat out and all I could see was smoke and waving yellow flags," John Faulker described. "I hit my brakes as hard as I could and flat spotted my right front tire but was able to find a way through the accident."
"Coming down to the green flag for the start of the race Daniel and I were wheel to wheel and I was able to hold on on the outside of turn one and then move into first place in the right-hander so I was ahead of the incident and really didn't know what happened until we came around and stopped for the red flag," Carrio explained. "Once the race resumed it came down to managing my tire temperatures and running consistent laps. I have to thank World Speed team owner Telo Stewart, my engineer Mike Doyle and everyone else at World Speed for all their hard work this weekend and hope that all the other drivers are okay."
Chris Cumming and Jim Mashburn who are WSM Russell Pro Series regulars came out to their first Star Mazda Series event and finished 14th & 18th respectively.
The championship points standings have been shuffled with Carrio assuming the championship points lead with 189 points. Potekhen climbs from third to second place with 179 points while Herrington drops to third place with 168 points.
In the Team Championship World Speed Motorsports moves from second to first with 99 points while Apex Racing rises to second with 85 points. AIM Autosport drops from first to third place with 80 points.
The series now regroups and heads to the recently opened Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City, Utah for Round Six of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, marking the halfway point for the season, on July 13-15.
Round Five from the Montreal Grand Prix weekend is scheduled to air at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, July 9th.
CARRIO FASTEST AT MILWAUKEE
June 3, 2006. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ace Carrio and World Speed Motorsports took off from the rest of the pack at the start of the Milwaukee Mile race. Carrio clicked off the fastest lap of the race, and put a lot of distance between the #14 Rockford Fosgate Pro Mazda and the rest of the pack.
The race went yellow twice, and Ace was able to retain the lead at the first yellow. At the second restart Ace got caught up in some lapped traffic and a few cars were able to get by before the end of the race.
The race was won by Michael Potekhen. With a quarter of the season complete Herrington maintains his place on top of the championship with 153 points. Carrio, who recieved third place points today, holds onto second place with 145 points and Potekhen slips into sole possession of third place with 142 points.
In the Team Championship AIM Autosport remains in first with 77 points while World Speed Motorsports is second with 74 points.
The team now heads north to Canada to take part in the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada weekend at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal for Round Five of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear on June 23-24. In addition to Ace, WSM will run Jim Mashburn and Chris Cumming at this event. Round Four from the Milwaukee is scheduled to air at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, June 18th. For more information please visit www.starmazda.com
Carrio Earns Pole Position at the Milwaukee Mile
June 3, 2006. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Setting a blistering pace, Adrian Carrio, from Monument, Colorado, qualified out front for Round Four of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, lapping the famed Milwaukee Mile in his #14 World Speed Motorsports Rockford Fosgate Mazda in a time of 27.249 (136.343 MPH). Joining him on the front row will be Robbie Pecorari, of Aston, Pennsylvania, who posted a fast lap of 27.330 (135.939 MPH) in his Maxwell Paper Products Mazda.
"It's great to qualify out front," said Carrio, after earning his first series pole position. "I have to thank everyone on my team for preparing a great car. My engineer Mike Doyle has a track record here, engineering Case Montgomery to a victory in the Atlantic Series, so this is a good start to continuing that history."
Pecorari, who finished second in the 2005 championship and tasted victory in the series' only oval event at Pikes Peak International Raceway was also pleased with his qualifying performance as he fills in for Ross Smith in the #8 John Walko Racing Maxwell Paper Products Mazda. "This weekend came together quickly when the team learned that Ross had come down with an illness the day he was supposed to fly out here," Pecorari explained. "It's good to be able to repay them for this opportunity with a front-row start for today's race."
Michael Potekhen, who was fastest for most of the weekend in his #53 Apex Racing Centerpoint Communities Mazda, will line up third on the grid. The Tempe, Arizona resident was the final car to post a qualifying time, lapping the 1.032-mile circuit in a time of 27.361 (135.785 MPH). Championship points leader Daniel Herrington will line up seventh on the grid for this afternoon's 100-lap event.
Round Four of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, being held this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile as part of the Champ Car World Series Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225 activities, is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM Central Time
Ace Podiums Again - Increases Points Lead!
Lexington, OH
May 20th, 2006
Starting from 5th spot on the grid today in the Star Mazda Championship event at Mid-Ohio, Ace Carrio put his head down and got right to work. Within the first few laps Ace was able to get past 2 cars to get him into a podium slot. When the first yellow came out Ace planned his pass on Branam in turn 1. Branam was able to hold Ace off, but when the track went green after the second yellow Ace gave himself a little more running room and timed a perfect pass in the keyhole.
Now in second place Ace began to run down Ryan Justice. In the remaining laps the two cars worked slower traffic, and Carrio was able to challenge Justice a couple of times before the checkered flag was shown. Ace finished second, and was able to increase his championship points lead.
"After Houston I spent a lot of time working with my driver coach focusing on starts and restarts and it paid off today," Carrio said. "I got a great start to move into third place and was able to get past Branam on the restart when he went a little wide. We were gaining on Ryan after the second restart for a bit before he was able to open up a gap. The World Speed crew gave me a great car and I have to thank Rockford Fosgate and my dad for all their support to get me to the front of the championship."
Never ready to rest the team is headed to a multi-day test this week, and then straight onto Round 4 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Ace Carrio Leading Star Mazda Championship
May 15th, 2006
Sonoma, CA
With a solid top five finish in the race, and a blistering qualifier that put him on the front row WSM driver Adrian Carrio has taken over the lead in the Star Mazda Championship. “Ace really came through in the final laps of the qualifying session,” said Team Owner Telo Stewart. “We’re really proud of Ace and the fact that his consistent driving has us leading the championship.”
The team now heads to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in one weeks' time for Round Three of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear to be held in conjunction with the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio on May 18-20. Round two from Houston is scheduled to air at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, May 28
Carrio Finishes on Podium & Sets Fast Lap in Sebring
In the season opener of the Star Mazda Series presented by Goodyear Adrian 'Ace' Carrio took home a third place finish and fastest lap of the race.
Carrio, in his World Speed Motorsports/Rockford Fosgate Pro Mazda, started the race in seventh place after what could be described as communal adversity for the entire 'fast group' in the split qualifying
"I was disappointed after qualifying,"said Carrio, " never got to show what the car or I could do, but I am happy with the race result and to leave here in good shape for the championship." Carrio moved into sixth place on the first lap but the course immediately went yellow. After the second restart Carrio was able to move into third place in less than two laps and continued to challenge for second throughout the remaining green flag laps.
The World Speed Motorsports team was also excited about the finish. "We are pleased with the result," acknowledged team owner Telo Stewart, "I know Ace and the car could have won today but we needed more green flag laps, he was the fastest car on the track." The race ended up being a timed race do to several crashes requiring full course yellows on the 3.6 mile course.
Carrio finished behind local driver Gerardo Bonilla and Daniel Herrington, first and second respectively. Carrio spent most of the few green flag laps trying to get by Herrington, coming close on a couple of occasions but remembered the adage about discretion and valor. "I could have forced the issue a couple of times but I knew I wanted to leave this event in good standings," said Carrio.
The team will now head home to California to prepare for the second round of the series which will be held in Houston Texas in May.