Trans-Am Mike Gagliardo Dies in
Mosport Crash
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, May 20 Trans-Am
Series driver Mike Gagliardo has died as the
result of a
crash involving him and Gary Longo on the 38th lap
of
the Trans-Am 125 at Mosport International Raceway
today.
Gagliardo was transported to Lakeridge Health
Center
in Bowmanville following the accident, which
caused
the race to be red-flagged for 40min.
Gagliardo, who was driving the No. 29 Agri Oils
Chevrolet Corvette, was pronounced dead on
arrival.
Longo, driver of the No. 53 Wickes
Lumber/Trilithic
Panoz Esperante, was airlifted to Sunnybrook
Medical
Center in Toronto. He was conscious and alert, but
is
listed in critical condition.
Gagliardo was making his first 2001 Trans-Am
appearance, driving a car prepared by Lou
Gigliottis LG
Motorsports. It was his fifth appearance in the
series,
his most recent being at Road American in 2000.
He was a former SCCA S2000 champion, and Gigliotti
had hoped to help him become the Trans-Am rookie
of
the year.
Gagliardo made his home in Chicago, where he was a
third-generation owner of Columbus Foods Company,
which was founded by his grandfather in the
mid-1930s.
Well provide more details as soon as they are
available. John Gardner, News Bureau Editor,
RACER