Fort Worth businessman/racer Don Istook will make good use of the four-month gap between the Koni Challenge Series opener at Daytona International Speedway and Round 2 at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. Istook's 2003 Audi TT coupe was destroyed 28 laps into Friday's three-hour endurance event when co-driver Colin Cohen of Southlake was rear-ended while entering the pits. The contact sent Cohen spinning into the inside concrete wall at over 100 mph. The car then flipped on its roof before bouncing onto its wheels.
Cohen, who was making his professional racing debut after previously competing with Istook in the SCCA amateur ranks, escaped serious injury thanks to the car's rollcage, seat and his HANS Device. "He didn't get a scratch on him," Istook said, "but he's sore. The next day, he wanted to go racing."
Unfortunately, the twisted Audi is a total loss. Istook spent Monday on the Internet, shopping for a replacement TT to convert into a Street Tuner race car. "We'll salvage what we can, but we're going to secure another chassis and build a better car for the next race," Istook said. Round 2 is May 23-26 at the famed track in Lakeville, Conn.
-- John Sturbin
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