MARCO DI LEO AWARDED VICTORY AT SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

March 16, 2007. SEBRING, FLA. - Marco Di Leo was declared the winner at Sebring International Raceway Friday afternoon in the No. 21 Maxwell Paper Products Ross Smith Racing Pro Formula Mazda, after it was determined by race officials that the No. 7 Easternauts car, driven by James Davison of Velocity Motorsports, who crossed the finish line first with a significant lead, did not give back the positions he gained after going off track during the opening caution laps.

The No. 20 car, driven by Daniel Di Leo, also from the Ross Smith Racing stable, sponsored by Maxwell Paper Products, finished second, followed by Davison, pole-winner Dane Cameron, driving the No. 19 Mockett.com/Ocean Tomo car and Lorenzo Mandarino in the No. 23.

"It was a decent day for points,” Cameron said. “It was a little disappointing to finish fourth after leading every practice session, but we are going for the Championship before everything else, and we did well in points.”

Cameron broke Brad Jeager's track record, posting a qualifying time of 1:59.986. The race commenced at 4:15 local time, with a 30-minute limit.

The first caution of the race came on the first lap, when John Strickler, Dan Weyland and Gerry Kraut wrecked on the front stretch, and were unable to continue.

With two laps to go, Dan Di Leo lost his second place position to brother Marco in Turn 13, and the two raced hard for the position behind Davison, who had a comfortable lead on the field.

Davison went off track during the cool-down lap, and had to be towed into victory circle, where he was awarded first place, along with the Racing for Kids award.

During the celebration, race officials confirmed that Davison had gone off track into a puddle at the start of the race on the second caution lap, losing and then regaining two spots. Since he never gave up the two spots, he was penalized, officially giving Marco Di Leo the win, putting Davison in third place.

Dan Tomlin, Jr. won the Masters Division, driving the No. 58 Tomlin Investments for Team Tomlin.Phil Fogg Jr. won the Expert Division in the No. 29 Consonus for Northwest Autosport.

The Star Mazda Championship will run next at Houston on April 22nd.

Press Release Courtesy of Star Mazda