[b][center][h2]Joel Nicolosi[/h2][/center][/b]

[i]It’s the Grand Prix of Sol City, present to you by…[/i] The commentator went on through a short list of the major sponsors for the race including everything from large banks to tire companies as the broadcast returned from commercial. The logos faded in and out along with a montage of events from the day: The flyover, the grid girls standing in front of the cars, cheering spectators and a barrage of flags arrayed down the pit lane. The live shot came back up as the helicopter hovered over the river looking towards Old Harbor where the cars wound their way around the chicanes from out of the tunnel. As the race had settled in for a few laps, the spacing between some of the cars had expanded to a safer distance. The black GT-R still led the race and Joel was behind him by about three car lengths between the turns. 

[i]We should be coming up on the first round of pit-stops any time now, Rob.[/i] The drivers names, positions and time off the leader were scrolling across the bottom of the screen. [i]That’s right, it’ll be interesting to see if Joel takes another run at it before they come in[/i], The second commentator replied. [i]He was absolutely hounding the GT-R of Sato for the first ten laps, but seems to have mellowed a bit now[/i]. Another montage played of some of Joel’s passing attempts and the black GT-R’s successful countermoves. [i]He gave it another go after that spin on lap fifteen grouped the field back together, but hasn’t given it another try since[/i]. The live shot changed from the helicopter to a stationary shot of the front straightaway as the lead GT-R flashed by. Joel was about a second behind him. [i]Both of them are on the super-soft compound which are good for about thirty laps here[/i], The man continued in a very sporting British accent, [i]The advantage of being in the lead is that you can set the pace for the first round of stops, especially if the chap behind you has already wrung out his tires, you can string him out, build your lead and force him to pit first[/i], The camera shifted once again, this time to a view down the pit stalls where there was typical movement about, but no teams had tires and men out ready for a stop,  [i]Let’s go down to pit lane and check in with David who’s outside the OHI pit, go ahead David…[/i]

[i]Yes Rob, I’ve spoken with Team Nismo and just now got a chance to talk to Lou Grego and Tommy Lomax of OHI[/i], The polo shirted reporter, also British, shouted over the sound of the paddock behind him and the continual sound engines from the spread out field, [i]Obviously both teams keeping it VERY close to the cuff right now, Team Nismo tell me they hope to gain a significant lead by keeping their second car on the harder compound today while Lou and Tommy are both confident they can leapfrog the GT-R in the pits much like they did last year...[/i]

Lou’s nose curled slightly as he watched the readouts and telemetry the car sent back to the hauler mounted crew-chief station. He was mildly concerned that Joel had not been able to get in the lead. No one expected it to be easy, though. The Japanese were a world-class team. He balanced the pros and cons in his head of calling Joel in now or waiting. Joel was enough of a driver that he knew he could keep him out there even as the tires grip faded, but then there was the second GT-R on the harder compound; they would make a quicker stop without having to change tires, then he had to think about Tommy’s run which would mostly be in a mixed field of traffic and then [i]what the hell was that smell???[/i] 

Lou looked back from the monitors at Marinalia and Tommy who were standing behind them, “Tommy, whadda hell is that smell?”

“Smells like burnt antifreeze,” Joel’s dad said. He glanced back from his seat and looked down at Marlin’s coffee cup, “I think it’s Joel’s girlfriend’s coffee.” He said with a chuckle.

Tommy burst into laughter, “Now that is funny, ‘Joel’s girlfriend’” He howled. The three men all laughed.

“You really drinkin’ that?” Lou said looking at Marlin with a grin. He shook his head. 

“He’s goin for it!” Tommy said pointing at the television monitor. Everyone turned back to look at the coverage feed: Joel was again tucked in on the bumper of the GT-R as they came off the first turn into the narrowest street section, not normally used for passing and barely able to fit two cars in line abreast. He didn’t back off this time and jinked to the inside drawing a block from the Japanese driver then quickly cut back to the right, however this time it was a fake and as the black car swung to block yet again, Joel crossed back behind him and got the nose of the 300 to the inside line for the hairpin. For a brief moment both cars occupied the width of the track. Joel could see the rivets in the metal barrier he was so close, but the way ahead was for once, [i]wide open[/i]. He thought he could hear a shout go up from the stands as he dug hard into the inside of the turn and the now second-place GT-R was forced to concede the line.

Everyone in the hauler seemed to exhale at once and Joel crackled over the radio, “’Bout damn time wasn’t it?” He said, “Gimmie about three more laps and tell Tommy not to forget his purse when I come in.”

[@PrinceAlexus]