Forty superboats launched the 2005 season in Miami Beach, greeted by 30mph winds and four foot waves. Also being launched was the filming of the new Michael Mann movie Miami Vice, to be released in July 2006, featuring Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. The acting duo was out on the water training to drive high-speed boats.

Meanwhile the real race developed immediately into a battle against the odds of survival. The action was exciting right out of the shoot, with Micosucci Indian Gaming jumping to an early lead, followed in hot pursuit by two more Fountain Powerboats and then the big red Scarab of Lucas Oil.

Half-way down the backstretch, the Lucas Oil Scarab #7 took the lead and charged into the first corner. The two Fountains darted to the inside lane forcing the Scarab to the outside, and the race along the beach began. Within a couple of miles, the Lucas Oil Scarab again leveled the score, flying side-by-side with Miccosuci.

The tides turned against Lucas Oil as a vapor lock cut out one engine, and the raceboat came to an idle. Throttleman Nick Pavlichek crawled back to the engine compartment to troubleshoot the gremlin while bobbing up and down in the four foot seas. Nick, whose profession is building custom and extreme trucks for Alton Company , showed himself to be a master mechanic who excels under adverse conditions. Within minutes he diagnosed the problem and got a fix on the way.

Last year, Nick and Nigel survived a 1,200 mile race through the Amazon Rain Forest and Plains, seizing first place for speed in their class. So it's no surprise that on this day in Miami Beach, the Lucas Oil team was quickly back in motion and only three laps down. In swift order, they picked off competitors and moved up the pack. By the time the race clock showed 59 minutes, the Lucas Oil Scarab #7 had moved up into fourth place.

Nigel Hook, captain and driver, summed up the race, “In the end we were happy with the result. The Scarab flew over the rough water, and our Weismann drives gave us the reliability to cross the finish line stronger than any other team out there. We were excited to see the Superboat Organization meld so well with the American Power Boat Association and to run with UIM sanction.”

Team manager Keli Gunn was pleased to pass on news from the drivers' meeting that part of this series will be covered internationally on SKY Sports, in addition to having increased air time on the Outdoor Life Network. Keli said, “850,000 viewers watched our last race on OLN, and the ratings are climbing.”