Race 08: Round of Russia

Delgado's Determined Drive Nets First Top 5 of Season

After finishing 5th at the Round of Russia today, Tom Delgado moved up to 18th in the championship despite missing the first three races of the season recovering from his heart attack in January, and was apparently in a good enough mood to talk to a few reporters.

"It's been a slow-build process for us in the Nemoto camp this year" Delgado said after the race. "The car hasn't been as good as it was last season, and that's been a challenge. However, today was very encouraging in that we were able to grind out a top 5 here" Delgado added.

When asked about his immediate future amidst rumors that he would be pulled out of the car due to his personal problems & back problems, Delgado was defiant. "If that's what Katashima-san wants to do, then he can do it. It's his team. I don't want my career to end like that though. I'm gonna fight to stay in this car for the rest of the season. After that, all bets are off. I'm not sure if I want to retire, or if I want to keep going. I'm not gonna lie though, I'm scared of becoming one of those guys who hang around too long" Delgado said, quickly realizing he went on a ramble longer than he should have.

With a smile that we haven't seen from Delgado since his win in the 2011 Round of Michigan, he went back to the garage and immediately had someone wrap an ice pack around his ailing back as he congratulated Louis Kingston on his podium finish.

I crossed the finish line, saw the white flag waving, quite content with second place, it has been quite an unfortunate run up until today, so happilly I stuck to my line, behaved myself, did not want to show off, especially around the concrete maze that I was too busy not trying to get lost in, when all of a suddern...

Davey Davies (Crew Cheif):<bbzt> Keep Calm, only 10 turns to go <bbzt>

...ok Davey, I acknowledged in silence, heading down to the hairpin where the "blood" of recent victims had been spilt (yes ok tyremarks, was being dramatic)...

Davey: <bzzt> Keep Calm <bzzt>
...this is interesting, dont normally get this, heading onto the back stretch and I see what to my mind was a course car at the time, did not get a really good look, began to think something stupid had happened like a 10 car pile up with 2 or 3 cars into the crowd, I decided to reply to Davey this time...

Davey: <bzzt> just keep calm, everything is ok, ignore what you just saw it was nothing <bzzt>

....final two corners, dont really see any kind of fanfare from the crowd, it did not really sink in, I barely get to see what the crowd are reacting to, I exit the final corner, relieved that I've finally finished, PROPERLY finished in....

Davey: <bzzt> YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! #####THTHTTTH~явыпитьT~HTEEAGEW$GWGSWявыпить$H$WE%HYиэтопобедадлякапустыASE%R <bzzt><Bzzt> MICHAEL YOU'VE WON!!!<Bzzt>

...it still hasn't sunk in, I've won, but it hasn't sunk in.

Matthews done in by pit stops, finishes 12th:
With a career-best eighth-place start under his belt, Ryan Matthews was hoping for a good result.

In his first race back after missing Karjala, Matthews was in the top 10 most of the day - but slow pit stops late dropped him to 12th.

"Drat," he said after exiting his car. "I really thought we'd crack the top 10 today, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I shouldn't complain though...this is the third time in four races that I've gotten points. So that's a positive."

He was also impressed with the debut of new teammate Melanie Clevenot.

"Wow," he said. "Melanie did a terrific job, especially considering this was the first time she's been in one of these cars. She kind of reminds me of another young female driver I met years ago.

"Her input has been invaluable for us," he added. "She's been a real shot in the arm for this team, and did we need one!"