Patrick O'Neill Clinches Formula Mazda Championship at Infineon Raceway

July 15, 2007.
Sonoma, California.
A fresh set of doughnuts was added to the Infineon Raceway circuit this weekend as World Speed Motorsports driver Patrick O'Neill celebrated clinching the 2007 Formula Mazda Challenge Championship with his second victory of the weekend by smoking the tires of his #64 O'Neill Construction Pro Formula Mazda in the center of the turn eleven section of the circuit.

"This has been another tremendous weekend, sweeping both races for the fourth time of the year and locking up the championship," an excited O'Neill commented. "I have to thank the team, my mechanic and driver coach for helping me get here. This season I was focused not just on going fast but on being consistent and avoiding any mistakes and it has paid off with the championship."

O'Neill, from San Francisco, California, would qualify on the pole position for both events, edging out fellow World Speed Motorsports driver Dave House both times. O'Neill would hold off an early challenge from House on Saturday, to capture his ninth victory of the season ahead of House and 2006 Formula Mazda Challenge champion Stan Kohls and would lead Kohls and Paul LaHaye to the podium on Sunday.

In the Mazdapalooza category, for drivers in the Standard Formula Mazda, Shawn Westerhoff, from Corte Madera, California, would take the checkered flag for his second victory of the season ahead of former series champion Chaz Lemmon and Doug Smith. On Sunday gearbox problems would keep Westerhoff out of qualifying and Smith was able to capitalize to earn a flag-to-flag victory over Lemmon and Westerhoff.

Both series now take a four week break before returning to Infineon Raceway on August 9-12 for rounds 13 and 14 of their respective championships

MORE INFO ON THE SERIES:
www.FormulaMazdaChallenge.com