Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup
Round 1, Madison, Indiana
For immediate release
Monday, July 5th, 2010
U-96 SPIRIT OF QATAR FINISHES IN FIFTH PLACE AT 60TH ANNUAL INDIANA GOVERNOR’S CUP IN MADISON
- Steve David seals home victory in Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison
- U-96 Spirit of Qatar cruises to victory in heats 1B and 2B
MADISON (USA): Dave Villwock was unable to give U-96 Spirit of Qatar a dream debut in its new Qatar team colours at the 60th annual Indiana Governor’s Cup, round one of the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Championship, on the Ohio River at Madison, Indiana, on Sunday.
The Washington State driver was the defending Madison champion, but fell victim of a crew error in heat 3B on Sunday and was unable to challenge eventual race winner Steve David in the winner-takes-all final. Local hero David duly secured his 10th career victory aboard Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison and clinched his first success at Madison since 2001.
The U-96 Spirit of Qatar crew left a cover on the inlet of the turbine for the third heat on Sunday and Villwock’s boat would not start. As a result of missing the heat, Dave lost points and finished fifth in the final behind the four boats that started on the front row.
“We made a rare mistake that kept the motor from firing,” said Villwock. “That’s very unusual for this crew and it cost us. We have plenty of time to fight back. On to Detroit and the Gold Cup.”
U-96 Spirit of Qatar is a new sponsorship programme instigated by His Excellency Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which will host the final round of the H1 Unlimited Championship in November.
Sheikh Hassan was unable to attend the race meeting in Madison, having secured a fine victory in the second race at round three of the Australian AOPC Class 1 Championship at Townsville in Queensland on Sunday afternoon.
David Villwock had cruised to victory in heat 1B on the Ohio River on Saturday, while close rival Steve David secured victory in heat 1A and JW Myers won heat 1C. Villwock set an average speed of 143.175mph in U-96 Spirit of Qatar, after he had run second behind Steve David’s U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison in Friday afternoon’s timed qualifying sessions.
Sunday’s action included six unlimited race heats and the winner-takes-all final and the U-96 Spirit of Qatar boat won heat 2B from Jeff Bernard in U-5 Formulaboats.com and eventual Governor’s Cup winner Steve David.
Dave Villwock and the U-96 Spirit of Qatar team will be determined to redress the balance and exact revenge on their rivals when the second round of the H1 Unlimited series roars into life at Detroit in Michigan next weekend (July 9-11).
2010 Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup – final results
1. U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David 139.485 mph avg. lap speed.
2. U-7 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly 135.953 mph
3. U-37 Miss Peters & May, J.W. Myers 135.580 mph
4. U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance, Brian Perkins 132.858 mph
5. U-96 Spirit of Qatar, Dave Villwock 122.419 mph
6. U-22 Miss Broadway Tavern, Mike Webster 116.590 mph
Ends
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