REPEAT THE FEAT -- DE PHILLIPPI WINS FROM THE POLE FOR THE SEASON-OPENER AT THE GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG

March 24, 2012 / G.P. of St. Petersburg - Connor De Philliippi, winner of this race last year, repeated the feat with a clean, green run, leading from flag-to-flag in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season-opener at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. 

Starting from the pole in the #2 Juncos Racing / ModSpace Racing / One24 Mazda, De Phillippi experienced only one moment of real drama in the race when, on the final lap, Jack Hawksworth made a passing attempt in Turn 13 that just missed... and wound up costing him a couple of car lengths.  Forced to settle for 2nd place, he crossed the finish line just 0.486-seconds back.

"It really was an ideal race in most respects; I got a good start, was able to control the pace and save my tires for the end when I needed them to defend against Jack," said De Phillippi.  "I pulled out a lead of almost two seconds during the race, but then Jack closed it up to nose-to-tail right at the end, so we'll have to have a look at that in the engineering de-briefing, but overall I was very happy with the car that Juncos Racing gave me.  My only regret is that the grid for the second race, tomorrow, is being set by the quickest lap you turned today, and while I won the race, I only turned the 7th-fast lap, so I'll be starting from a bit back in the field tomorrow.  Fortunately I've done that before and know how to win here even when in involves some passing."

March 21, 2012 / Barber Motorsports Park - The teams and drivers of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear put on another day of unofficial record-smashing during the second of two days of 'spring training' at Barber Motorsports Park.  Unofficial because lap records can only be set in qualifying or the race... but impressive nonetheless.

Connor De Phillippi (#2 Juncos Racing / ModSpace Racing / One24), now entering his third season and by far the most experienced driver in the series, was the star of both days, breaking the lap record of 1:21.166 - set last year by eventual series champion Tristan Vautier - yesterday on Lap 20 of Session 1 and then even more thoroughly today on Lap 19 of Session 4 with a best time of 1:20.076. 

DE PHILLIPPI SIGNS WITH JUNCOS RACING AND IS QUICKEST OVERALL IN THE TWO DAYS OF STAR MAZDA SPRING TRAINING AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK