Sorry about that guys
. I entered the 90 too wide thinking about leaving space inside and then looped it trying to hold on too slowly. Greg said my race yesterday was patient and smart, this one was more #RustyIesty (seeing Paul's privs post
).
Axel got a great start from 3rd, so I followed Rob thinking we could start pulling clear over time. Lap 2 and that plan flew out of the window, with the draft I passed and tried to pull us clear from the front, with bad results. Got going again quickly, but Rob had spun behind me (bump from Axel? Ray out avoiding? All too close to do anything.. not a great moment caused by me), so I waited for Rob and we set off from last to catch up the pack.
I was content to just hold station behind Rob until we caught back up, after passing Dave, but his LF got hot and he let me through at the Loop, so I pulled us up to Tim (Clive went off behind me approaching big bend), and eventually Axel/Tris/Dean. Axel's engine blew agonisingly short of half distance, and Rob kept passing cars a lap after me, but once on my tail for the lead he also went off under braking at Big Bend (draft effect on braking point?), after quite a battle with Tris.
At that point I pushed for home to get clear of Tris, although Rob came back through for 2nd and Tris went out late on. Wasn't sure if I had cost Dave a position by lapping him after Tris' exit but I didn't! I wanted to draft him for a fast lap/new PB, but caught him before the 90 instead of on a straight, so Rob got that with impressive one lap pace in Q and R. I did a race run late in Q to work out race temps, during which time Rob pipped me for pole, but it was worth it as I finalised Lotus tyre temps for the race at 21 left, 22 right, -3psi! for the LF tyre from Cloyd's Q set.
PS. Unlucky Doni, we needed you out there tonight.. but always nice to visit McD's with the family