“Soul Red Finale” at Watkins Glen International – Pro Mazda qualifying #2 – Franzoni claims pole in damp conditions

By Steve Wittich

For the fifth time in 2017, Victor Franzoni will start from pole, earning the bonus point that goes along with that honor, and increasing his championship points lead to nine markers.

The final MRTI qualifying session of the 2017 season began with a damp track and a light drizzle, and the track went red quickly after the twenty-minute session began when TJ Fischer made contact with the ARMCO barrier at the exit of the inner-loop.

The Team Pelfrey sophomore wasn’t the only driver to have an issue. Martin tapped the wall exiting Turn 11, and Sting Ray Robb also spun.

At the point of the session, most drivers had only turned one lap, and it was Cunha who held the provisional pole.

The track went back to green with under 10 minutes left, and it only took one lap for Franzoni to grab the provisional pole.

As the session wound down, the rain started to fall a little harder, and nobody was able to touch his quickest lap of 123.022 seconds, which was eight-tenths of a second ahead of fellow Brazilian Cunha.

Despite tapping the wall, Martin was able to qualify third, but the reigning USF2000 Champion did blow the checkered flag, and lost two grid positions. That means the Australian will have to start the race on the inside of the third row in fifth.

Franzoni can still win the championship by finishing second if Martin wins the race, and also collects the two bonus points available for the quickest race lap and leading the most laps.

Pro Mazda Watkins Glen Grand Prix Presented by Cooper Tires qualifying #2 results

The second and final Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire race of the year will roll off bright and 7:55am.