Racing is never easy. Even with a completely rebuilt race car, teething problems can show up at the track on race day. During morning warm-up, Daniel focused on the racing line and finding a drafting partner to minimize lap times. But when times started to count, issues appeared.
In qualifying sessions, it’s all about getting into a ‘pack’ and using the slipstream to draft. The lead car pushes the air out of the way, creating a low pressure pocket for the following car. The lead car also benefits from he overall drag being split between two vehicles, but ideally, each driver takes turns drafting. That just didn’t happen.
During qualifying, Demaras’ engine would not rev above 5,000 RPM by the end of the Andretti Straight (500-600 RPM lower than optimal). Knowing this deficiency, Daniel mentally prepared for a tough race ahead, while the team searched for a solution like a twisted throttle cable or some obvious issue that could be resolved before Race 1.
Demaras drove the No. 12 Can Jam Motorsports F1200 car to P3, and would start on the inside lane behind multi-time champion Phil Wang. But the writing was on the wall; the engine issue had not been resolved, and the speed deficiency became very obvious in the straightaways. Even in the draft, the No. 12 could not keep up.
Without the straight-line speed, Daniel had to maximize where he could. Driving as smoothly as possible to keep the minimum rolling speed in the corners as high as possible. After the race, it was determined that the exhaust valves were staying open, and power was just being spit out the tailpipe. There was nothing Demaras could have done for a better result.
By the end of the race, Demaras dropped three position. It was a very frustrating start to the season, but the race weekend is long, and there would be two more chances to race for glory on Sunday.
