Courtesy Eric McCombs
May 12, 2006. Houston, Texas. Ryan Justice, pilot of the #38 Northwest Autosport Mazda, has served notice to the rest of the Star Mazda competitors that he is the driver to beat as he paced the second consecutive session on the temporary street circuit around Reliant Stadium, posting a blistering lap of 1:09.207 (87.909 MPH) in practice for Round Two of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, being held in conjunction with the American Le Mans and Champ Car Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston this weekend.
Justice has set the bar high for the other 37 drivers in the field with Matt Varsha, driving Racers Edge Motorsports prepared Jeff Haas Mazda, setting the second fastest time in today's session at 1:10.170 (86.705 MPH), almost a second behind the pace set by Justice. Daniel Herrington, in the AIM Autosport Bluetooth Mazda finished with the third fastest time of the day at 1:10.406 (86.413 MPH) in the 45 minute session held in the noonday sun with temperatures in the mid-80's.
Series regulars Jon Branam, Michael Potekhen and Ross Smith held down the next three spots on the time sheet with Branam, from Miami Beach, Florida, posting a time of 1:10.512 (86.283 MPH) in his 3-Dimensional Services American Speed Factory Mazda. Behind the wheel of the Apex Racing Avenue Communities Mazda, Potekehn, from Silverthorne, Colorado, lapped the 1.69-mile circuit in 1:10.575 (86.206 MPH) to lock down the fifth spot on the day. Smith was the fastest Texan on the day with the Plano resident setting the sixth fastest time of 1:10.617 (86.155 MPH) in his Maxwell Paper Products John Walko Racing Mazda.
Final Qualifying will be held from 12:00 to 12:45 PM Central Time on Saturday, May 13th. The cars are scheduled to take the green flag for Round Two fo the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear at 2:15 PM Central Time.
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