OLSON MOVES UP TO SECOND PLACE IN POINTS;
“THE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE MINE.” SAYS CONTROVERSIAL
RACER
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For Immediate Release
April 8, 2002
Hollywood, CA - Yesterday was
Round 2 of the JHR Spring 2002 Championship Karting Series in Ventura,
California. Despite overcast weather
that resulted in a slippery track, there were some fierce battles between the
aspiring champions of both the sprint and shifter kart series. As seems to be the norm, aspiring champion
“Pete” Olson caused consternation among competitors and fans with the events of
the day, which, for him, included destroying yet another kart as well as being
black-flagged for an insulting gesture during the second sprint kart “A” group
race of the day.
Olson was running some of the fastest lap times in practice, only to blow an engine apart in qualifying. The mechanics later stated that Olson had complained of inadequate power in the fastest turns of the course, after his crankshaft exploded in the engine casing. Despite the bad luck in qualifying, Olson was placed on pole for the inverted grid in the “A” group in the second race of the day. Olson typically wins every race in which he starts on pole, as he did yesterday.
However, during his run to victory in the second “heat” race, Olson received a warning flag for his gesture directed at Steve McClave when McClave hit the back of Olson’s kart on the straight, while Olson was leading the race in the final laps. Olson later apologized to McClave for giving him “the finger”.
From his home in Hollywood, Olson said, “I didn’t know who was behind me, all I knew was that someone had slammed into the rear of my kart and I was so angry that I slipped up and let my emotions loose. I regret it, and I apologized to Steve several times about it. I won’t let it happen again – I can only say that it was during the heat of battle. In racing, you should never be emotional. If you want to finish on top, you have to be completely focused as soon as you get into your vehicle. But sometimes, things get the best of you. Steve is a great racer and I regret my actions, but what is done is done. I feel that despite what happened today, we will have a very competitive, very fun season together.”
Olson finished the day 3rd, 1st, and 3rd. For more information on Peter Olson, visit
his website at: www.peteolson.com. And to follow the Jim Hall Kart Racing Series,
log on to: www.jhrkartracing.com.
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Charles Schepens
Schepens Promotions
29000 West Nine Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
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