With a dominant Friday and Saturday behind them, US RaceTronics/Roshfrans team prepared for what was their best chance at a first-time win Sunday in Montreal. With the season inching away, a great performance would be a perfect way to cap what already is considered a successful season for a first time team and driver!
As driver David Martinez suited up, the crew was concerned that the dampness of the track, a result of early morning rain showers, would affect the race, as Martinez's car had been flawless under dry conditions.
Once the green flag dropped Martinez got the holeshot and was able to lead the field into the first turn. With the track still containing puddles, however, Martinez had a bit of a slide in Turn 2 which allowed the second place car of Tonis Kasemets (#6 Flexovit Abrasive Prods/MK/TMI/Red Line Oil - Dan Cobb Racing/Team Tonis) to get by Martinez. While Martinez was trying to recover from the slide, Montreal native and third-place starter Antoine Bessette (#3 Unik Auto Design/Gouin Leblanc C.A./Services de Courtage Lessard - Polestar Racing) also got by him. Bessette and Kasemets battled for firstt, which Bessette eventually took from Kasemets on the third lap.
Though frazzled, Martinez recovered and was able to hold off a hard charge from British rookie Katherine Legge (#12 PKV Racing). In fact, during the battle for third place, Legge put up the fastest race lap on the fifth lap 1:39.615 (97.901 mph). Despite that fast lap, Martinez had third place locked up for the majority of the race. Martinez car eventually began come around and the lap times from this young Mexican rookie began improving. The US RaceTronics/Roshfrans team was closely monitoring the track to see if there was any data to provide Martinez that might help him catch the top two drivers and join the fight for first but that was not to be as, except for a few minor incidents, the race would stay green for its duration. Martinez continued to find some speed as he posted the fastest lap of the race on his 25th and final lap.
Martinez would cross the finish line third, just 3.337 seconds behind the second-place finish of Kasemets and 15.878 seconds ahead of the fourth-place car of Legge. Overall the race was bittersweet, though Martinez was unable to win the race, it was a podium performance and Martinez's results brought him up one notch higher in the Championship standings. The season was less than disappointing. The list of accomplishments that the team and it's phenomenal driver have achieved are as follows:
Martinez moved up to fifth place in the standings after the season finale with 238 points, even though he missed the first round of the season in Long Beach.
Martinez had five Podiums this year - three third-place finishes (Monterrey, Road America, and Montreal) and two second-place finishes (Toronto, and San Jose), which equates to approximately 41% of all races.
The team completed 333 laps, lead 10 laps, and led one race (Toronto)
Owned the fastest lap of the race in two events
Completed 333 out of 387 possible laps (86%)
Martinez was awarded the prestigious Jovy Marcelo Sportsmanship Award at the 2005 Awards Banquet
Currently Team Owner Shane Seneviratne is evaluating all options for next year and is keen on having Martinez join the US RaceTronics team once again, as there is unfinished business left to accomplish!
Team Driver - David Martinez
"I guess that we had different conditions than we were expecting (in the race). And that forced me to make some mistakes that allow Tonis and Antoine to go by me. After that I just focused on my race and toward the end I started to gain some speed and I posted the fastest lap. Like I said, the rain took us by surprise, and even during the warm-up, we thought that the race was going to take place in dry conditions. I did my best effort and all I could do was third. I have to be happy with it. (Looking back on his season) We grew really strong as a team along the year. Everybody within the team did a great job, and hopefully we will be stronger for next year."
