Flying Lizard Motorsports headed into this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with a relatively clean sheet of paper, having no prior Daytona Prototype experience. But Thursday’s qualifying result proved the that veteran GT squad are quick learners.
Porsche factory star Jorg Bergmeister drove his No. 45 Riley-Porsche to the overall pole for Saturday’s twice-around-the-clock classic, smashing the DP track record along the way. The German’s 1:40.099 lap edged out 2010 Rolex 24 pole-sitter Max Angelelli by 0.034 seconds.
“I honestly didn’t expect it,” Bergmeister said. “I was hoping for a top-five result in qualifying. I had some good laps in the beginning of the session and I think Max was on provisional pole and they told me I was nine-hundredths behind. I was about to come in and they told me to try again. So I went for it… and it worked out.”
It turned out to be the right call, with the 2006 Daytona Prototype champion scoring his first-ever Rolex Series pole. But for Bergmeister and co-drivers Patrick Long, Johannes van Overbeek and Seth Neiman, starting first on Saturday won’t make a huge difference in the twice-around-the-clock classic.
“It’s obviously nice to have the pole, especially for Flying Lizard as we’re a new team with the DP,” Bergmeister added. “It just shows how good of a team they are. But in terms of the outcome of the race, [the pole] doesn’t really mean anything, in my opinion.”
The Lizard’s entry, powered by the only flat-six Porsche power plant in this year’s race, outran the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Dallara-Chevy of Angelelli, who settled for second. The rapid Italian, who will team with Ricky Taylor, Ryan Briscoe and team owner Wayne Taylor, set a 1:40.133 lap time.
Defending Rolex Series co-champion Scott Pruett qualified third in his No. 01 Telmex/Target Chip Ganassi Riley-BMW, ahead of the No. 8 Starworks Riley-Ford of Ryan Dalziel. The sister Ganassi machine of IndyCar star Scott Dixon was fifth.
It proved to be another close battle for DP honors, with the top-five separated by just 0.203 seconds in qualifying.
In GT, Andy Lally had stormed to a 1:48.487 lap time, leading a TRG sweep of the front row. However, Lally’s No. 67 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car failed post-qualifying inspection, giving teammate Dominik Farnbacher the pole for Saturday’s twice-around-the-clock classic.
Farnbacher’s 1:48.781 lap time, another qualifying track record, edged out the No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Camaro GT.R of Jordan Taylor by 0.294 seconds. The No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche of Craig Stanton was promoted to third, thanks to the rear-wing infringement by the No. 67 TRG Porsche.
“It was a good lap,” Farnbacher said. “I had no draft and no luck there. But overall, the car was phenomenal. It had very good traction in the Bus Stop [chicane] and was good under braking… In the end it worked out. I was glad to drive a good lap without overdriving the car. In the end, it worked out pretty good.”
Farnbacher will share his No. 66 Porsche with fellow German Lucas Luhr, Tim George Jr. and Ben Keating.
Pos No. Class Pic Drivers Team/Car Time Speed Sponsors
1 45 DP 1 Bergmeister / Long / Neiman / van Overbeek Flying Lizard Motorsports / Porsche Riley 1:40.099 128.033
2 10 DP 2 Angelelli / Briscoe / Taylor / Taylor SunTrust Racing / Chevrolet Dallara 1:40.133 127.989 SunTrust
3 01 DP 3 Hand / Pruett / Rahal / Rojas Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates / BMW Riley 1:40.245 127.846
4 8 DP 4 Braun / Dalziel / Enge / Forest / Lowe Starworks Motorsport / Ford Riley 1:40.250 127.840
5 02 DP 5 Dixon / Franchitti / McMurray / Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates / BMW Riley 1:40.302 127.774
6 90 DP 6 Edwards / Garcia / Maassen Spirit of Daytona Racing / Chevrolet Coyote 1:40.396 127.654
7 77 DP 7 Bell / Frisselle / Kaiser / Richard Doran Racing / Ford Dallara 1:40.468 127.563
8 6 DP 8 Allmendinger / McDowell / Wilson Michael Shank Racing with Curb/ Agajanian / Ford Dallara 1:40.469 127.561
9 23 DP 9 Blundell / Brown / Brundle / Patterson United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing / Ford Riley 1:40.784 127.163
10 99 DP 10 Fogarty / Gurney / Johnson GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing / Chevrolet Riley 1:40.828 127.107
11 60 DP 11 Goossens / Negri / Pew / Valiante Michael Shank Racing / Ford Riley 1:40.847 127.083
12 9 DP 12 Barbosa / Borcheller / Fittipaldi / France / Papis Action Express Racing / Porsche Riley 1:41.128 126.730
13 5 DP 13 Donohue / Frisselle / Law / Rice Action Express Racing / Porsche Riley 1:41.240 126.590
14 7 DP 14 Beyer / Heylen / Mayer / Peterson / Valentine Starworks Motorsport / Ford Riley 1:41.288 126.530
15 76 DP 15 Jonsson / Krohn / Minassian / Zonta Krohn Racing / Ford Lola 1:41.695 126.023
16 67 GT 1 Bertheau / Gaughan / Henzler / Lally / Pumpelly TRG / Porsche GT3 1:48.487 118.133
17 66 GT 2 Farnbacher / George Jr / Keating / Luhr TRG / Porsche GT3 1:48.781 117.814
18 88 GT 3 Lester / Marsh / O’Connell / Taylor Autohaus Motorsports / Camaro GT.R 1:48.821 117.771
19 44 GT 4 Holzer / Lietz / Potter / Stanton Magnus Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.011 117.566
20 17 GT 5 Armindo / Baldwin / Burtin / Ragginger / Tandy Burtin Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.134 117.433
21 65 GT 6 Lewis / Pagerey / Sheehan / Sweedler Chris Smith Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.297 117.258
22 4 GT 7 Eversley / Graeff / Wallace / Yarab Jr. / Zahn TRG / Porsche GT3 1:49.451 117.093
23 57 GT 8 Bremer / Liddell / Magnussen Stevenson Motorsports / Camaro GT.R 1:49.472 117.071
24 94 GT 9 Auberlen / Dalla Lana / Plumb / Said Turner Motorsport / BMW M3 1:49.503 117.037
25 59 GT 10 Davis / Haywood / Keen / Lieb Brumos Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.540 116.998
26 54 GT 11 Bleekemolen / Curtis / Pappas / Pilet / Sofronas TRG/Black Swan Racing/GMG Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.554 116.983
27 22 GT 12 Lux / O’Young / Walker / Wong Bullet Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.707 116.820
28 48 GT 13 Bell / Miller / Sellers / Sugden Paul Miller Racing / Porsche GT3 1:49.916 116.598
29 42 GT 14 Gidley / Nonnamaker / Nonnamaker / Nonnamaker / Sahlen Team Sahlen / Mazda RX-8 1:49.961 116.550
30 40 GT 15 Dempsey / Espenlaub / Foster / Long Dempsey Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:49.974 116.536
31 70 GT 16 Bomarito / Christodoulou / Edwards / Tremblay SpeedSource / Mazda RX-8 1:50.020 116.487
32 69 GT 17 Assentato / Ham / Lazzaro / Longhi / Segal SpeedSource / Mazda RX-8 1:50.064 116.441
33 32 GT 18 Cheng / Hyatt / Lewis / Papadopoulos PR1 Motorsports / BMW M6 1:50.135 116.366
34 41 GT 19 Cameron / Gue / James / Kitch Jr / Lacey Dempsey Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:50.178 116.320
35 07 GT 20 Curran / Gavin / Ledoux / Schaldach Banner Racing / Camaro GT.R 1:50.300 116.192
36 86 GT 21 Atterbury / MacNeil / Pobst / Whitis Mitchum Motorsports / Porsche GT3 1:51.139 115.315
37 18 GT 22 Friedman / Ludwig / Thomas / von Moltke Muehlner Motorsport / Porsche GT3 1:51.305 115.143
38 11 GT 23 Empringham / Maxwell / Nastasi / Russell TPN Racing/Blackforest / Ford Mustang 1:51.528 114.912
39 36 GT 24 Cumming / Hacquard / Marks / Miller Yellow Dragon Motorsports / Mazda RX-8 1:51.847 114.585
40 53 GT 25 Doyle / Michaelian / Mulligan TRG/Nadeau Motorsports / Porsche GT3 1:51.983 114.445
41 56 GT 26 Allen / Davidson / Dumoulin / Geddie / Skeen Bennett Racing / Ferrari 430 Challenge 1:51.996 114.432
42 81 GT 27 Baron / Poordad / Wagner DragonSpeed / Ferrari 430 Challenge 1:53.639 112.778
43 63 GT 28 Downing / Grupp / Murry / Spencer / Trinkler Team Spencer Motorsports / Mazda RX-8 1:54.184 112.239
44 43 GT 29 Gidley / Nonnamaker / Nonnamaker / Nonnamaker / Sahlen Team Sahlen / Mazda RX-8 1:55.203 111.247
45 47 GT 30 Earnhardt / Harrington / Hull / Monroe / Sandberg Rick Ware Racing / Porsche GT3 1:57.478 109.092
46 30 GT 0 Buford / Jensen / Jensen / Marsal / Rettich Racers Edge Motorsports / Mazda RX-8
47 55 DP 0 Bouchut / Diaz / Tucker / Wilkins Level 5 Motorsports / BMW Riley
48 00 GT 0 Abergel / Collard / Jones / Lisa / Pompidou Aten Motorsports / Ferrari 430 Challenge
49 95 DP 0 Hunter-Reay / Matos / Tucker / Westbrook Level 5 Motorsports / BMW Riley
Source: Mintori.com http://mintori.com/rolex-24-flying-lizards-lead-porsche-sweep-in-qualifying/
1/28/2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
GRAND-AM Rolex 24 Preview - nofenders.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Grand Am: 2011 ROLEX 24 - Preview
HURRAH! It’s time to go racing, as this year’s Daytona 24hrs race is set to kick off in just over ‘Juan-day from now. As qualifying has already been held and as always, the Daytona Endurance race brings out a gala of racin’ Starz – spanning the gambit from Formula 1, IndyCar (OH CRAP! I FORGOT TO GO ALL CAPS...) ‘RASSCAR & Sports Cars... As here’s a look at just some of the competitors in this year’s event.
Level 5 MotorsportsFirst out of the Chute to announce their 2011 driver lineup were the ‘lil Level-5 Boyz – quickly snapping up the services of dispatched De Ferran Dragon IndyCar Piloto ‘RAFA, nee Rafael Matos, with Sports Car Ace Luis Diaz also in the mix.
The team will run a brace of BMW-Riley Daytona Prototypes (DP) and could be a force to reckon with, whilst Thanxs to ‘Ponches IndyCar Roster for Rolex 24 story, I now know that Ryan “The EX-IZOD DUDE” Hunter-Reay will also be part of the teams driver line-up. Yet for reasons unknown, neither racecar took part in qualifying...
Cheep’s All Star Line-up ConfirmedNot surprisingly – The ‘Cheepster, a.k.a Chip Ganassi will once again field an All Star line-up for his brace of Riley-BMW DP racecars, as newest IndyCar signing – The Graminator (G. Rahal) joins proverbial Sports Car Champion ‘Scooter, (Scott Pruett) Memo Rojas and Joey Hand in the No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (FS) Target-TelMex entry.
HOLY ALPHABET SOUP BATMAN!GEEZ CHIP! Are Yooze tryin’ to secure the whol alphabet too with your Team/Sponsor/Car/Entries?
The No. 02 TelMex Ganassi/Sabates racecar is filled with a Trio of Indy 500 champions: Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Juan Pablo Montoya with Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurry batting “Clean-up.”
And although Pruett claimed they weren’t shooting for top speed honours during The Roar before Daytona 3-day practice session, both Scooter’s and the ‘Seester-car with Scott Dixon topped their respective Timesheets during various practice segments, with Pruett’s car qualifying third and Dixon’s mount starting P5...
Starworks Seeing Stars?Defending Rolex 24 winner and former Champ Car driver Ryan Dalziel set the unofficial track record on the final day’s testing by blistering the course with a lap over 128mph. Dalziel, along with ex-Formula One/Indy Racing League Ace Tomas Enge is part of the two car Riley-Ford DP lineup for Starworks Motorsports, as the Scotsman (Dalziel) was the meat in a TelMex sandwich during qualifying with a fourth place finish...
Bubble Roof for Michael Shank Racing?Couldn’t resist, as Justin BIG UNIT Wilson’s inclusion in the No. 6 Mike Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian; Hmm? Weren’t those Old Indy Racing League team owners? Err; Wilson’s height made me flashback to those Ford GT-40 Dazes with a bubble roof canopy to help a lanky driver by the name of Dan Gurney fit comfortably inside...
Wilson will co-drive the No. 6 MSR Dallara-Ford DP with A.J. (“WallDinger”) Allmendinger and Michael “Double Gainer” McDowell, while the team’s No. 60 Dallara-Ford DP will be co-driven by Marc Goosens, Ozz Negri, John Pew and Michael Valiante...
The Jimmy ShowHe’s back.... So get ready once again to hear constant Princess ‘Round-the-Clock type media coverage of Jimmy Johnson’s every BLINKIN’ move... NO – NOT that Jimmy Johnson who was just on Survivor and has lengthened his TV career as a pitchman for Extenz... Nope, its 5-time RASSCAR champ Jimmy Johnson who’ll be moonlightin’ once again with the Bob Stalling Boyz of Alex Gurney & John “On-the-Bayou” Foggerty. While I’m guessing JV’s – as in Jimmy Vasser is back again as co-driver? Hmm? Wonder if the Stalling Gang gets a discount for Bodywork repairs at KVRT; Hya!
Action Jackson’s Answer to CGRw/FSDefending Overall Rolex 24 victors Action Express Racing have said Oh Yeah to The Cheepster – We can do that two! And have brought their own 2-car All Star driver cast, featuring seven previous Overall Rolex 24 winners.
The No. 9 riley-Porsche DP features last year winners Joao Barbosa and Terry Borcheller, who’ll be partnered by Massimiliano “MAD MAX” Papis, Christian Fittipaldi, and JC “WHAT DRUGS?” France. (Don’t Yuhs knows who My Daddy is?)
While the No. 5 Riley-Porsche/ Cayenne V8 DP has David Donohue,
Darren Law, Buddy “Hot rod” Rice and Burt Frisselle at its keyboard.
Apparently IZOD’s now Everywhere!Also according to Mr. CHiP’s (Chris Estrada) Ryan “The New IZOD Dude” Briscoe will be part of the No. 10 suntrust driver line-up, as Briscoe will share the Dallara-Chevrolet DP’s cockpit with Max “THE AX!” Angelelli and the father-son duo of Ricky Taylor & Wayne Taylor – the team’s owner...
The Brundell Brothers ReturnAlthough I missed the Big Press Release, British ex-Formula 1 Aces Martin “Billy bob” Brundle & Mark Blundell have teamed up to compete in this year’s Daytona 24hrs as part of the United Autosports drivers line-up; Co-driving with UA Chairman & Co-Owner Zak Brown and Mark Patterson.
And for some strange reason – Claxon Bells started ringin’ in my head when I read Zackery Brown’s name. As in that cannot be the same Zak Brown whose Tony George’s Drinkin’ buddy, eh?
Citizen Tony spotting
HOLY BACARDI ON THE ROCKS BATMAN!Apparently it is the ‘Juan ‘N Only Head Honcho of Just Marketing named Zak Brown – Sponsorship Guru du Jour... Who’s also the Co-founder of Historic Motorsports Productions with Meesh’s buddy Booby Ray-X. (Bobby Rahal)
Reportedly the quartet will be piloting a Riley-ford Daytona Prototype under the assistance of Michael Shank Racing, as I’m assuming its one of MSR’s older racecars? (Actually I’ve now learned it’s the third MSR entry this year...)
Yet wouldn’t it be funny if the BRIT Duo ‘O Brundle & Blundell upset Chip Ganassi? And won the whole BLOODY thing... Hmm? I just realized there’s three Mark’s on the team – so may be I should call it the Mark Brotherz Project instead?
Q&A Session: Mark Blundell (United Autosports, Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona)
You can check out 14hrs of live ‘round the clock coverage via SPEED beginning Saturday, January 29th at High Noon (12PM) PACIFIC – as ALWAYS; check your local listings...
GO JUSTIN ‘N No. 6!
This is the car I’d like to see WIN the race – even if ‘WallDinger DEFECTED to ‘RASSCAR! As I cannot think of two more deserving drivers then Justin ‘N A.J. who are due for a career highlight moment! Hmm? AIN’T McDowell the dude who was the very first driver to test out the Car Of Tomorrow’s (COT) roof structure ‘N roolbar by Barrel rollin’ Mikey “Ah Shucks” Waltrip’s Double Zero Toy Yoter at Daytona International Speedway?
NOTESAnd it AIN’T all Sunshine ‘N Roses over in FenderLand either... As it must mean something if AIM & Godstone Ranch/Dyson Racing both of the Daytona Prototype class decide to skip the series
Level 5 MotorsportsFirst out of the Chute to announce their 2011 driver lineup were the ‘lil Level-5 Boyz – quickly snapping up the services of dispatched De Ferran Dragon IndyCar Piloto ‘RAFA, nee Rafael Matos, with Sports Car Ace Luis Diaz also in the mix.
The team will run a brace of BMW-Riley Daytona Prototypes (DP) and could be a force to reckon with, whilst Thanxs to ‘Ponches IndyCar Roster for Rolex 24 story, I now know that Ryan “The EX-IZOD DUDE” Hunter-Reay will also be part of the teams driver line-up. Yet for reasons unknown, neither racecar took part in qualifying...
Cheep’s All Star Line-up ConfirmedNot surprisingly – The ‘Cheepster, a.k.a Chip Ganassi will once again field an All Star line-up for his brace of Riley-BMW DP racecars, as newest IndyCar signing – The Graminator (G. Rahal) joins proverbial Sports Car Champion ‘Scooter, (Scott Pruett) Memo Rojas and Joey Hand in the No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (FS) Target-TelMex entry.
HOLY ALPHABET SOUP BATMAN!GEEZ CHIP! Are Yooze tryin’ to secure the whol alphabet too with your Team/Sponsor/Car/Entries?
The No. 02 TelMex Ganassi/Sabates racecar is filled with a Trio of Indy 500 champions: Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Juan Pablo Montoya with Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurry batting “Clean-up.”
And although Pruett claimed they weren’t shooting for top speed honours during The Roar before Daytona 3-day practice session, both Scooter’s and the ‘Seester-car with Scott Dixon topped their respective Timesheets during various practice segments, with Pruett’s car qualifying third and Dixon’s mount starting P5...
Starworks Seeing Stars?Defending Rolex 24 winner and former Champ Car driver Ryan Dalziel set the unofficial track record on the final day’s testing by blistering the course with a lap over 128mph. Dalziel, along with ex-Formula One/Indy Racing League Ace Tomas Enge is part of the two car Riley-Ford DP lineup for Starworks Motorsports, as the Scotsman (Dalziel) was the meat in a TelMex sandwich during qualifying with a fourth place finish...
Bubble Roof for Michael Shank Racing?Couldn’t resist, as Justin BIG UNIT Wilson’s inclusion in the No. 6 Mike Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian; Hmm? Weren’t those Old Indy Racing League team owners? Err; Wilson’s height made me flashback to those Ford GT-40 Dazes with a bubble roof canopy to help a lanky driver by the name of Dan Gurney fit comfortably inside...
Wilson will co-drive the No. 6 MSR Dallara-Ford DP with A.J. (“WallDinger”) Allmendinger and Michael “Double Gainer” McDowell, while the team’s No. 60 Dallara-Ford DP will be co-driven by Marc Goosens, Ozz Negri, John Pew and Michael Valiante...
The Jimmy ShowHe’s back.... So get ready once again to hear constant Princess ‘Round-the-Clock type media coverage of Jimmy Johnson’s every BLINKIN’ move... NO – NOT that Jimmy Johnson who was just on Survivor and has lengthened his TV career as a pitchman for Extenz... Nope, its 5-time RASSCAR champ Jimmy Johnson who’ll be moonlightin’ once again with the Bob Stalling Boyz of Alex Gurney & John “On-the-Bayou” Foggerty. While I’m guessing JV’s – as in Jimmy Vasser is back again as co-driver? Hmm? Wonder if the Stalling Gang gets a discount for Bodywork repairs at KVRT; Hya!
Action Jackson’s Answer to CGRw/FSDefending Overall Rolex 24 victors Action Express Racing have said Oh Yeah to The Cheepster – We can do that two! And have brought their own 2-car All Star driver cast, featuring seven previous Overall Rolex 24 winners.
The No. 9 riley-Porsche DP features last year winners Joao Barbosa and Terry Borcheller, who’ll be partnered by Massimiliano “MAD MAX” Papis, Christian Fittipaldi, and JC “WHAT DRUGS?” France. (Don’t Yuhs knows who My Daddy is?)
While the No. 5 Riley-Porsche/ Cayenne V8 DP has David Donohue,
Darren Law, Buddy “Hot rod” Rice and Burt Frisselle at its keyboard.
Apparently IZOD’s now Everywhere!Also according to Mr. CHiP’s (Chris Estrada) Ryan “The New IZOD Dude” Briscoe will be part of the No. 10 suntrust driver line-up, as Briscoe will share the Dallara-Chevrolet DP’s cockpit with Max “THE AX!” Angelelli and the father-son duo of Ricky Taylor & Wayne Taylor – the team’s owner...
The Brundell Brothers ReturnAlthough I missed the Big Press Release, British ex-Formula 1 Aces Martin “Billy bob” Brundle & Mark Blundell have teamed up to compete in this year’s Daytona 24hrs as part of the United Autosports drivers line-up; Co-driving with UA Chairman & Co-Owner Zak Brown and Mark Patterson.
And for some strange reason – Claxon Bells started ringin’ in my head when I read Zackery Brown’s name. As in that cannot be the same Zak Brown whose Tony George’s Drinkin’ buddy, eh?
Citizen Tony spotting
HOLY BACARDI ON THE ROCKS BATMAN!Apparently it is the ‘Juan ‘N Only Head Honcho of Just Marketing named Zak Brown – Sponsorship Guru du Jour... Who’s also the Co-founder of Historic Motorsports Productions with Meesh’s buddy Booby Ray-X. (Bobby Rahal)
Reportedly the quartet will be piloting a Riley-ford Daytona Prototype under the assistance of Michael Shank Racing, as I’m assuming its one of MSR’s older racecars? (Actually I’ve now learned it’s the third MSR entry this year...)
Yet wouldn’t it be funny if the BRIT Duo ‘O Brundle & Blundell upset Chip Ganassi? And won the whole BLOODY thing... Hmm? I just realized there’s three Mark’s on the team – so may be I should call it the Mark Brotherz Project instead?
Q&A Session: Mark Blundell (United Autosports, Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona)
You can check out 14hrs of live ‘round the clock coverage via SPEED beginning Saturday, January 29th at High Noon (12PM) PACIFIC – as ALWAYS; check your local listings...
GO JUSTIN ‘N No. 6!
This is the car I’d like to see WIN the race – even if ‘WallDinger DEFECTED to ‘RASSCAR! As I cannot think of two more deserving drivers then Justin ‘N A.J. who are due for a career highlight moment! Hmm? AIN’T McDowell the dude who was the very first driver to test out the Car Of Tomorrow’s (COT) roof structure ‘N roolbar by Barrel rollin’ Mikey “Ah Shucks” Waltrip’s Double Zero Toy Yoter at Daytona International Speedway?
NOTESAnd it AIN’T all Sunshine ‘N Roses over in FenderLand either... As it must mean something if AIM & Godstone Ranch/Dyson Racing both of the Daytona Prototype class decide to skip the series
Source: nofenders.com http://www.nofenders.net/2011/01/grand-am-2011-rolex-24-preview.html 1_28_11
Indystar.com Rolex 24 Weekend Preview
Rolex 24 this weekend
Johnson might not drive an Indy car, but he's back in a Daytona Prototype for this weekend's Rolex 24, the top U.S. sports car race, held on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway.Johnson will share driving duties of the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet/Riley with Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney. The 24-hour race begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
IndyCar will be well-represented. Graham Rahal will drive with Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas in Ganassi Racing's No. 01 Target BMW/Riley. The team's No. 02 Telmex car has Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti alongside Montoya and last year's Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner, Jamie McMurray.
Ryan Briscoe is in the No. 10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara with Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor. Ryan Hunter-Reay is part of the Level 5 Motorsports' No. 95 BMW/Riley. Justin Wilson is with A.J. Allmendinger in the No. 6 Ford/Dallara of Michael Shank Racing.
Vernay tests with Conquest
Firestone Indy Lights champion JK Vernay will test with Conquest Racing on Monday in his first step toward landing an IndyCar ride.As champion, Vernay, a 24-year-old French driver, has a scholarship from IndyCar in the range of $500,000 to $1 million to be applied to the top series. The test will be at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway.
Conquest is far from settled on its 2011 plans. Team owner Eric Bachelart is interested in retaining last year's driver, Bertrand Baguette, and has talked to Paul Tracy about a program.
Vernay's Indy Lights team, Sam Schmidt Motorsports, will test USAC champion Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, today at Phoenix International Raceway. Clauson has a "Road to Indy" scholarship to compete in the five oval tracks on the Indy Lights schedule.
Etc.
Andrew Murstein, a new partner of Richard Petty Motorsports, said this week he would like the Sprint Cup team to pursue Danica Patrick and/or Clint Bowyer for 2012. The team is fielding A.J. Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose this season. Patrick is signed to drive with Andretti Autosport's IndyCar team this year, but there is an option for next year. . . . Wes Collier, a Zionsville native and Ball State graduate, has been given the general manager's title at Lucas Oil Raceway (formerly O'Reilly Raceway Park) in Clermont. He has served as the acting GM since August.Source: Indystar.com Curt Cavin 1/28/11
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