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Press Releases by Mishael Abbott
August 7, 2005
Mishael
Abbott Finishes Fourth Defending Title at Oak Tree National
Alton, VA – Formula Mazda and Menards Infiniti
Pro Seriesä driver, Mishael Abbott of Coral Springs,
FL returned to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) this weekend
to defend her title from last year in the Oak Tree National
hosted by the North Carolina Region Sports Car Club of America
(SCCA).
The field was set on Saturday morning’s qualifying in
ideal conditions with Mishael Abbott slotting in fourth. Due
to Formula Mazda tire rules none of the competitors used the
afternoon qualifying session to improve their times so as
not to use up their tires.
After spraining her ankle while helping change tires Saturday
afternoon, Mishael was ready for the early Sunday morning
race with her ankle sore and heavily taped. The Formula Mazda
field ran all 14 laps around VIR’s 17-turn, 3.27-mile
road course virtually nose to tail in the same order they
qualified. Mishael finished fourth with Chris Schanzle, the
2003 Formula Mazda National Champion, taking the checkered
flag by a narrow margin.
“I knew this was going to be a very good race today
and passing was going to be tough,” Mishael Abbott stated
afterward. “I started fourth last year and made it to
the front so I was hoping for the same today.”
“We missed on the shock set-up a little today,”
said Mishael. “The car was good at the beginning but
we quickly lost the handling. My foot went numb during the
race and with the handling going away, I was glad it was only
a 14-lap race.”
Mishael’s fourth place finish qualifies her for the
SCCA National Championship Runoffsâ at Mid-Ohio Sports
Car Course, September 19-25, 2005.
Mishael Abbott is pursuing her formal education at Florida
Atlantic University, working toward an elementary school teaching
degree, and seeking sponsorship support to complete the entire
season of the Indy Racing Leagueâ Menards Infiniti Pro
Seriesä.
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