Sonoma, CA ? Sports car aces Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty continued their quest for the 2007 Rolex Series championship with a come-from-behind victory on the 12-turn road course at Infineon Raceway on Saturday afternoon.
Taking advantage of a late-race caution flag, Gurney soared by underdog David Donohue in the closing minutes to win the Armed Forces Grand-Am 250. In scoring their record-breaking eighth win of the season, the driving duo jumped into the Rolex Series point lead for the first time.
Gurney and Fogarty have 385 points with Scott Pruett in second with 384 and Max Angelelli trails with 382. One race remains — the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City on September 15.
The winners drove the Gainsco/Bob Stallings Pontiac Riley.
A late race caution flag set the stage for a three-car sprint to the finish. With Donohue in the lead but running on worn tires, Gurney powered past the leader with Pruett attempting to pass both of them. Once in the lead, Gurney pulled away for a conclusive finish.
?The final yellow flag concerned me, but without it I don?t think we could have won,? Gurney said. ?I was trying to be on the ball and quick if a hole opened. It did and we made it. It was a wild race for me but great to win.?
Dan Gurney, father of the winning driver, reminded his son yesterday that he scored his last major victory at Infineon after a hard battle with Mario Andretti.
Fogarty started the race and was thrilled with the finish on his home track.
Donohue and teammate Darren Law finished second for their best performance of the season. They drove the Brumos Porsche.
Third place went to Pruett and co-driver Memo Rojas in the Telmex-Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley.
Angelelli and teammate Memo Gidley took fourth place with fifth going to Nic Jonsson and Ricardo Zonta. Sixth and the final car on the lead lap were drivers Jim Mathews and Marc Goosens.
Seventeen Daytona Prototypes were in the race.
Joe JenningsUnited SportsCar Championship