3RD, 2ND,
1ST FOR OLSON IN ROUND 2;
OLSON SECOND PLACE IN POINTS
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For
Immediate Release
October 9, 2001
Hollywood, CA - In
another fantastic day for rookie Pete Olson, Olson claimed his second victory
in only the second round of the Jim Hall Fall 2001 Racing Series. Olson took the podium for all three of his
races on Sunday, managing 3rd, 2nd, and a win.
Despite the pain of his injuries from Round One, Olson endured martyrdom
aboard his Yamaha KT100 to go on to victory.
While not another day marred by controversy, it was a day of consistent
superb driving for the karting rookie from Maryland.
Of the three races yesterday, Olson took 3rd, 2nd,
and 1st, despite his injuries from the last race. We asked Olson about pushing the limits of
physical pain, and of overcoming the inevitable barriers that a professional
racer encounters in his quest for victory.
Olson said: “I was ok until up around qualifying time in the late
morning. By then, I had run about 30
laps total. Between G loads and
brushing berms [curbs], well, after those 30 laps or so, I could feel the
fractures start to hurt again.
Sometimes, of course, a lot.
Striking the berms at over 70mph in some turns produces a lot of force,
up to 1.3 G’s, which most people will never experience in their lifetimes. That force is transmitted directly into
your kart, into the stiff fiberglass seat, and therefore, directly into your
body. But despite the pain that it
caused me because of my fractured ribs, I had to just put everything out of my
mind and focus on the task at hand.
Sacrifice is synonymous with victory.
By the time we started the races, the pain was quite noticeable. But I shut it out of my mind, and I was
focused only on the driving.”
We also asked Olson about his plans for the future, after his stunning accomplishments as a rookie driver. Olson said: “The path is actually very straightforward. I am going to stick with karting for years, many years, because it is, as many pros such as Michael Schumacher [Four time Formula One World Champion] say, racing in its purest form, and a fantastic way to hone your driving skills and keep them sharp, even for much higher forms of automobile racing. But, next year, I will start Formula Dodge. From then, after a few years it's up to Barber Pro Dodge, and then, hopefully Indy/CART. Of course, there is also always Sports Car racing. I have always dreamt of racing for Porsche, and I hope to eventually get a shot at Le Mans, even as a one-time or annual deal. And I will win because I want it more than anyone else. I am addicted to winning.”
Quite a statement from Olson. For more information on Olson, visit his website at www.peteolson.com. And to follow the Jim Hall Fall 2001 Racing
Series, go to www.jhrkartracing.com.
- - - -
Charles Schepens
Schepens Promotions
29000 West Nine Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
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