Liuzzi wins debut Speedcar race

The ex-Red Bull and Toro Rosso racer was passed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen at the start, but Liuzzi regained the lead when Frentzen was forced wide by Christopher Zoechling.

Liuzzi then built a short-lived lead which was reduced when Jean Alesi tangled with Stefan Johansson, who was flipped over when he was collected by Marcel Tiemann, causing a safety car period.

But Liuzzi remained at the head of the field after the restart to score a victory on his series debut.

"We had a pole and victory in our first race," he said. "We're starting eighth tomorrow (due to Speedcar's reverse grid system) but I feel quite good about it."

Frentzen recovered well, passing reigning Speedcar champion Johnny Herbert and Gianni Morbidelli to reclaim his second place.

Hasher Al-Maktoum was the highest finishing non-former F1 driver in fifth, ahead of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve who was forced to pit in the early stages after a collision.

Pos Driver                   Team                        Gap
 1. Vitantonio Liuzzi        UP Team               40:55.976
 2. Heinz-Harald Frentzen    Phoenix Racing           +0.839
 3. Gianni Morbidelli        Palm Beach               +3.091
 4. Johnny Herbert           JMB                     +12.858
 5. Hasher Al-Maktoum        UP Team                 +15.815
 6. Jacques Villeneuve       Durango                 +34.741
 7. Marchy Lee               HPR                     +40.868
 8. Damien Pasini            JMB                   +1:18.517
 9. Eric Charles             Continental Circus    +1:37.722
10. Jean Alesi               HPR                   +1:41.563  
11. Christopher Zoechling    Durango                  +1 lap
 
Retirements

    Mattias Lauda            Phoenix Racing          12 laps 
    Marcel Tiemann           Continental Circus       5 laps
    Stefan Johansson         Palm Beach               5 laps
 
 
Fastest Lap, Frentzen 2:05.910 on lap 15