9/30/00

Finally the day had come...........race day. I actually really wasn't that nervous when I woke up and set out to the track. Which in all reality slightly surprised me.

After a real quick warm-up in the morning session in the car, Divina, Belinda, Cole (the team owner, manager and engineer for our car) and myself had our last team meeting before the race. It was a good meeting to make sure all of us had our race faces on and ready to play ball. The media attention at times was preoccupying and Cole wanted us to put that behind us.

As the time got closer to the start of the race, the last minute photos were taken and the hugs and best wishes were given by my family and friends. The team was ready and so were we.

The opening ceremony was good but that was when it actually hit me of what I was about to do! Now was not a good time to be thinking about that! Fred was down with me on the track which was a great comfort. The time had come for us to do our job, the reason we came to Road Atlanta.

The start of the race was exciting. Everything was going good until around lap 13 or so. I was being aware of the prototype traffic but at the same time had to run my own race. Then it happened! Going into turn 7, the slowest corner of the track, I got tagged in the bumper by one of the Panoz cars. Enough to spin me around and then I was a sitting duck for another GT car to collect me in the right rear. I was ticked but wasted no time getting back on the track and get back to racing.

Other than bodywork damage, the car was straight and ready to race. So I did not have to make a stop which was good.

The first yellow came at the almost perfect time of my fuel window. Since driver changes, were not one of our "strong" points I was really concentrating on hitting the marks perfectly in pit lane. The first change was good and Divina was off and running. I started the car in 14th position in class and turned it over to Divina in 8th place. Don't get me wrong, I didn't pass that many cars in class but the attrition was starting to kick in. And from here, we were problem free. The other two drivers did an outstanding job. They did what needed to be done and it was a real honor to drive with them.

When we weren't driving, we had a wonderful motorhome to go back to and rest up. G&W had arranged to have the Trak Med Team be on hand to help us out with our nutrition and messages if necessary. And boy was it ever needed!! I cannot tell you how much it helped. This is what I mean about how truly professional the G&W team is, first class all the way.

Each of us did 2 full stints, 1 hour and 20 minutes each time. I then popped back in the car with 40 minutes remaining in the race. We had a chance of moving up one more position in class. The car in front of us was only a 1/2 lap ahead and running at a slower pace when I jumped back into the car. But then the worst happened............. yellow flag came out and we went a lap down. So the attempt to move ourselves up just got washed down the toilet.

But with 30 minutes remaining, a few more GT cars fell out of the race. Our sister car, #80, was doing excellent. They were in 4th spot and we were now in 6th spot. It was great having the experience and assistance from the teammate car all weekend. They were excellent.

As the fireworks started to fly in the sky, I knew we were getting close to the end. All race long, Cole did an outstanding job on the radio keeping us apprised of all the traffic coming up on us. I don't know he did it for 9 hours straight. He is a true professional.

As Cole and I were talking on the radio the last lap, it was a great feeling. Out of 16 GT cars in class, we finished up 6th in class. As I told Cole, "not too bad for a bunch of chicks." He laughed but I knew in his heart, he was just as proud.

We received a lot of congratulations from fans, officials, teams and other drivers. We had our share of lumps but we soldiered on and finished the race. It truly was a team effort by all involved.

As I sit here on the plane headed back to Portland, bruised and sore, I know in my heart that I haven't raced in my last race. I will be back for more. Some way and somehow it will happen. It must. I have found my new home for racing and it feels very, very good.

Cindi