Allmendinger leads the way for first Barber win.

American AJ Allmendinger overcame relative inexperience, a few misplaced wheels and a hard charging Davy Cook to score his first professional victory in the opening round of the 2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series at Sebring, Florida.

The 19-year old resident of Hollister, California, starting on his first career BDPS pole in only his fourth Pro Series race, led the way to an all-Formula Dodge National Championship alumni podium finish, with 2000 FDNC driver Davy Cook and 2001 FDNC Champion Julio Campos completing the celebration.

The action began early as BDPS veteran Marc Breuers, consistently one of the fastest drivers all week and starting fourth, spun between Turns 1 and 2 on the pace lap. Since Pro Series rules dictated that he start in the back, Breuers faced the challenge of working his way up through the 23-car field.

As the field came to the green flag to start the 19-lap race with Allmendinger on the point and 2000 Pro Series Champion Nilton Rossonni starting on the outside pole, Cook, starting third, got the jump and made a bold but clean move to the inside as the field headed through the sweeping Turn 1. Allmendinger fell back to second, with Rossonni following in third.

Losing the lead on the start, Allmendinger settled himself and equaled Cook's daring first turn pass one ap later and assumed the lead early on Lap 2. But that lead would only last for two laps as Allmendinger dropped two wheels off in Turn 13 allowing Cook to move back in front on Lap 4.

Meanwhile, Campos, starting fifth, slipped by Rossonni on Lap 3 for third place and started to pull away and track down the two leaders. However, on Lap 8, a momentary slip caused two 360-degree turns in the middle of Turn 17 coming onto the front stretch. Although Rossonni passed him, Campos did an excellent job of keeping the engine lit and set off again after third place.

At the front Allmendinger was again confronted with the challenge of retaking the lead from Cook.

"At the start, there were a lot of nerves," said Allmendinger. "Davy got a great start and got around me. I got him back but I was still a little unsettled and dropped a wheel off a few times. He got around me again and I knew I just needed to settle down."

As the two came around to complete Lap 8, Allmendinger used an advantage in Turn 17 to close the gap and draft up to Cook on the front stretch. Once again Allmendinger made his move heading into Turn 1 and finally completed the move at Turn 3. From that point Allmendinger pulled out to a one second lead that would grow to the final margin of 2.984 seconds after Cook made a shifting mistake and began to fight an ill-handling racecar.

"My car got faster through the race," said Allmendinger. "I finally caught him in Turn 1, then he made a little mistake in Turn 2 and I was able to get by in Turn 3. From there it was just a matter of driving a smart race and keeping all four wheels on the track."

"I far surpassed my expectations this weekend," continued Allmendinger, runner up in the 2001 Formula Dodge National Championship to Campos. "I came in hoping to have a clean week and finish in the top-5. But to get the pole and the win makes me really excited about heading to (the next race) Lime Rock."

"I was getting ready to make a late race charge and then I missed a gear," said Cook, a veteran of the 2001 Barber Dodge Pro Series season. "I lost some time there, plus the car began to push. At that point I really wanted to be smart and secure a second place finish. There was no reason to do something stupid. We have a long season in front of us and I am really pleased with this strong second place start."

Further back the final podium position was still in contention. With three laps remaining, Campos once again found his nose firmly planted under Rossonni's gearbox heading down the Ullman Straight. Using the draft to his advantage, the young Brazilian, making his first Pro Series start, darted to the inside at Turn 17 and completed the pass as the two cars came onto the front stretch. Campos would finish 8.178 seconds back in third. Rossonni would finish over 10 seconds back in fourth.

Christian Szymczak of Oakland, California showed his fast speeds earlier in the week were for real by finishing fifth after starting a disappointing ninth. Barber CART Big Scholarship winner Leonardo Maia, also of Oakland and a National Championship graduate, came home in sixth. First time starters Josh Beaulieu of Langley, British Columbia and Hannu Wiinikainen of Espoo, Finland finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Breurers overcame his mistake on the pace lap and charged from the rear of the field to finish in ninth. Rounding out the Top Ten was Portola Valley, California's Tom Fogarty, brother to CART Toyota Atlantic driver Jon Fogarty, winner of the Atlantic season opener in Monterrey, Mexico.

The top three each secured their first ever Pro Series podium finishes. By virtue of his race win (20), pole position (1) and posting the fastest race lap (1), Allmendinger scored 22 out of a possible 23 points. Cook follows with 16 points, while Campos has 14 points. Outside polesitter Rossoni, who gained an extra point through CART's new rules by being the fastest in first round qualifying, has 13 points.

Championship standings - Barber Dodge Pro Series (after round 1 of 10):

1. AJ Allmendinger 22 points
2. Davy Cook 16 points
3. Julio Campos 14 points
4. Nilton Rossoni 13 points
5. Christian Szymczak 11 points