Doornbos scores fourth place in OZ

Surfers Paradise, Australia (October 21, 2007) – It was another exciting race in Surfers today for the 2007 Lexmark Indy 300, and despite starting the race at the back of the grid (in 14th), Minardi Team USA driver Robert Doornbos rebounded to score a top-four finish. He nearly came home with another podium but in the end finished fourth. For team-mate ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke, his race began very well, moving up from tenth to eighth, but his ended after only twelve laps due to suspension damage and was ultimately classified 17th.



Robert has been struggling a bit all weekend, but the young Dutchman redeemed himself today in the race, and showed once again that his place in the Championship is well deserved. He and his engineers took advantage of the early yellow, and put Robert on a pit sequence that found him up front. He led lap 11 through 18, and was doing a brilliant job saving fuel and still turning competitive lap times. After Robert made his final pit stop, he was chasing Bruno Junqueira, and then realized he was struggling to keep up with the Brazilian. It was later determined that the engine had a broken valve spring, which cost valuable horsepower, but Robert managed to protect his position and bring home the fourth place finish. He has clinched the Rookie of the Year title and sits third in Championship points, with 261 (9 behind Wilson and 27 ahead of Power).

ROBERT DOORNBOS: "First off, I have to thank all the boys, the whole team, and especially my engineers for their terrific strategy getting me up to the front for a strong finish. I was giving it 110% every lap, and we had good pit stops and it’s a great way to finish the weekend. We had an engine problem at the end, so we were definitely down on power, otherwise we could have had another podium. I’m happy to be Rookie of the Year and in the top three in points right now. Our target is second place, and we’ll give it a run in Mexico.”

Meer Robert Doornbos nieuws

Ander autosport nieuws