Project CORS

Race 1: Gateway

The fireworks went off in St. Louis.

The sunset was interrupted by the bright red, white and blue lights exploding in the sky. Dramatic music played. A military drummer banged on his instrument until the banner was finally flown on a freshly erected flagpole.

The banner read, "Alexander Rossi, 2030 CHAMPION"

The crowd cheered and also booed at the champion who wore a wreath given to him by the Gateway track promoters and waved almost mockingly to the parts of the crowd raining down boos.
Finally, he was given a microphone. 

Alexander Rossi: Thank you, thank you very much!

He paused to hear the growing sold-out crowd increase the booing.

Rossi: You have not seen ANYTHING yet! I am going to win a second championship THIS YEAR! And you will all have to go through this again NEXT YEAR!

Rossi's team was pumped up. They were able to beat everyone last year, who's to say they wouldn't do it again? If you asked the other drivers and teams though, his team was only celebrating like this because Rossi offered bonuses if they did.

The entire Adore Motorsports Group team of drivers were sitting together. Alvaro Suzuki, driver of the 33 PlayStation Honda Accord had volunteered to get his teammates Zelda Mosler, Chris Buescher and Khalil Halliday bottles of water.

Alvaro hated that Rossi was the champion, but he didn't take that out on anyone but himself. Alvaro simply was not the better driver last season. He was not consistent enough. Still though, he went to get everyone the bottles of water so he wouldn't be tempted to run up on stage, tackling and punching Rossi in the face.

Alvaro: I got the water. One for you Chris, one for Zelda, and one for you Khalil.

Khalil Halliday was the youngest of the group of 4, and it was fitting that he had the smallest car number of the bunch. Number 4.

Khalil: Thanks Alvy.

Khalil ran his hands through his hair before grabbing the water. Khalil had put hair gel in his hair today, trying to look different compared to his flat hair from last year. Other people had teased him in the garage and on social media, saying that he looked like an eSports or chess player rather than an actual race car driver. Khalil took a big sip of the water. This was now his 2nd season competing full time. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could win races as he was very close last year, but just didn't close the deal. He wanted to prove that he wasn't a rookie anymore. The other 3 on his team were much more experienced than he was. Chris Buescher was an established driver who knew setups unlike anyone else, Zelda was a fan favorite who pulled off 3 wins last year, and Alvaro had won the Daytona 500 last year.

Zelda: Another year in the trenches. Everyone ready for it?

Alvaro: As ready as I'll ever be. Tired of racing on that simulator.

Chris Buescher poured some water on himself.

Chris: I just hope I don't wreck again. 

Zelda: You'll be fine Chris. I think you'll make it.

Khalil tried to insert himself in to give advice.

Khalil: Yeah. After all, it's a new year! New year new me, I guess.

 Alvaro: Khalil's right. We can do this.

Chris: Hopefully.

Chris was a bit superstitious. The 19 number on his car was changed to black this year because last year was not the greatest to say the least. He tumbled down the backstraightaway at Talladega wildly, and barely ran top 10 in the others. Not very good when everyone else on the team was winning besides the young rookie.