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<\/a><\/p>\nIn the third sector, the Stig and Launch pulled away from the field while Captain Slow struggled, allowing Jaap to pass for 7th. \u00a0Between those two pairs, the Green Team and Cobalt battled. \u00a0After what had been a relatively clean lap for most cars, the pits would play a more significant role in this race than any that had preceded it.<\/p>\n
Launch had managed to eke ahead of the Stig, but wore out some tires to do so. \u00a0Despite a clean lap, Launch opted for a quick pit to change\u00a0tires in anticipation of a hard fought second tour. \u00a0For the Stig, this is where everything went wrong. \u00a0Needing to downshift in the final curve, he was unable to carry momentum into the pits. \u00a0It didn’t help much that his pit was the farthest along pit lane or that he needed a technical stop for minor repairs.<\/p>\n
As Launch crossed the starting line first in preparation for\u00a0a second go around, the trailing pack was just coming through the final corner. \u00a0Ice and Danger Wheel were the first to get there, and each took a different tack. \u00a0While Danger Wheel need to stop, Ice had run a clean first lap and decided to stay out, gunning it down the front straight in 5th gear. \u00a0Behind him, his teammate Nero went in. \u00a0The most significant move, however, was Mater’s decision not to pit. \u00a0Mater hit the final corner just right and blew past the pits in 6th gear, jumping all the way into 2nd and hot on the heels of Launch Bornado.<\/p>\n With Launch and Mater well ahead, and Ice forgoing the pits, the Stig found himself in 4th place to start the second lap. \u00a0Danger Wheel’s quick pit stop had him\u00a0close behind, while Nero pushed to catch up in the first two turns. \u00a0The Stig struggled with his car, which was unresponsive to his commands. \u00a0Conversely, Danger Wheel managed to reel in the front runners to take the lead he’d lost on the first lap. \u00a0Mater also passed Launch on the long front straight, but his gambit came at the expense of his brakes and gearbox. \u00a0The Cobalt cars, meanwhile, were able to join the front pack with the pedal to the floor. \u00a0After babying his tires on the first lap, Ice wore his tires heavily rounding\u00a0Turn 3 in a desperate effort.<\/p>\n Danger Wheel and Launch found separation in Turn 4 as the challengers worked to keep their more heavily abused cars on the track. \u00a0The two front runners found perfect lines through turns 5 and 6 and it quickly became clear that only a disaster would see either car finish lower than third. \u00a0Meanwhile, Nero managed to find an edge on Ice, who looked far better poised to take 4th than Mater given the conditions of both cars. \u00a0Behind them, the Stig marched along steadily with Captain Slow and Jaap both living up to the Captain’s name.<\/p>\n At the front, Danger Wheel and Launch charged hard into the final two turns. \u00a0Danger Wheel had the edge and chose a tight line in turn 9. \u00a0Launch, who’d run a clean second lap and had tires to burn, simply couldn’t match it. \u00a0Despite coming in faster, Danger Wheel’s edge was too great as he took the checkered flag. \u00a0Launch was left\u00a0to settle for second. \u00a0Behind them, Nero established a comfortable 3rd position that would not be relinquished. \u00a0The rest of the field, however, was nowhere near set.<\/p>\n Ice, who was comfortably enough ahead of Mater and looked destined for 4th place, suddenly lost all feel for his car. \u00a0Captain Slow and Jaap, who had been so far behind\u00a0over the first two sectors, suddenly started finding their lines. \u00a0 They sped past the Stig and looked to add more. \u00a0Ice and Mater, both forced to drive cautiously, were no longer well in the distance.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n