07/10/2002

COSMO EXTENDS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD IN STAR MAZDA

Guy Cosmo notched win number three into the record books for the 2002 Star Mazda North American Championship with another notably decisive win at Road America, July 7.    The young standout driver in his #45 www.kc-baggers.com / Racers Edge Motorsports Formula Mazda took command of the race in turn one and never looked back. Cosmo has now won three of the last four Star Mazda races, extending his championship lead.

"These past two races have been perfect," an excited Cosmo said afterwards. "These guys at Racers Edge Motorsports have been absolutely fantastic.  We communicate so well together and have tons of respect for each other.  We keep making progress as a team, and I think we’re just making each other better."

“Tire wear was definitely a concern, “ said Cosmo.  “Road America is very tough on these Goodyear tires, but our setup was perfect.  I just kept pressing as hard as I could, but within reason.  I had to keep myself at 9/10ths and saw that I could still run away with it.”

Guy Cosmo won handily at Mid-Ohio only one week before the Road America race.  He admitted that the emotions were still high, but that he had to “bottle up” the energy from that win and planned on releasing it when the time was right.  However, it didn’t affect his focus on the race at hand.

“I was thinking I’d take the energy I contained from last week’s win at Mid-Ohio and release it today, but I realized I had the race under control without it.  I guess I’ll just pack a little more energy into that bottle, that’s really about it.  Who knows when I’ll cut it loose,” grinned Guy.

Guy Cosmo will continue his trek towards the championship title during Round Six of the Star Mazda Series when it travels to the street circuit at Washington D.C.

Guy Cosmo is no stranger to the Star Mazda victory circle.  He pulled off a podium finish for Round 1 at Sebring, won at Sears Point and finished 6th on the oval Pikes Peak circuit.  At Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Guy Cosmo bested the field by more than 10 seconds, in spite of a late yellow flag.

Guy Cosmo has consistently demonstrated his aptitude in several different formulae.  In 1999, he distinguished himself as one of the hottest young drivers in the US when he won the US F2000 American Continental Championship, notching five victories in the process.  Also that year, he tested in Indy Lights and was selected as a test driver for Dunlop tires.

In 2000, the 23 year-old Long Island based driver spent ten months in Denmark as the Mygale works development driver in the Scandinavian Formula 2000 series.  While there, he scored two poles, two wins, and 14 top-five finishes on his way to a second place finish in the talent rich Scandinavian open-wheel series championship.

In 2001, he has contested the Star Mazda series for Racers Edge at Texas Motor Speedway and Sebring.  Cosmo finished third at Sebring in only his second Star Mazda series start.  He also made his debut in the CART Toyota Atlantic Series.  Guy finished in the top-ten in three of his four Toyota Atlantic starts, including the daunting street circuits at Long Beach and Houston.

Sources:  Guy Cosmo Racing PR
Posted:  July 10, 2002