Speed Source, Inc. Daytona:
01-20-2010, 03:29 PM
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PaPa Bear
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Speed Source, Inc. Daytona:
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Roar Before the 24; New Cars Have Successful Test
Posted (01/14/2010) -
The Rolex Sportscar Series returned to action this past weekend in Daytona Beach, FL for the annual Roar Before the 24. The three-day test at Daytona International Speedway offered many teams the first opportunity to run brand new cars in preparation for the Rolex24. For SpeedSource, it signaled the completion of an off-season surge that included the construction of three new Rolex Series RX8 GT cars and three new Mazdaspeed3 ST cars for the Continental Sportscar Challenge.
With the crew at the shop working long hours to fulfill customer expectations, all cars were completed and delivered on-time. "We've had a great relationship with SpeedSource since 2007 and they really burned the Midnight Oil to get this car built for us in a hurry and allow us to expand our program for Mazda. The RX-8 GT has evolved over the last 3 years and the new car is fast, reliable and easy for the guys to work on," said Team Principal Patrick Dempsey regarding the delivery of the new #41 Mazda RX8.
The quality of work form SpeedSource coupled with the reliability of Mazda allowed both Rolex Series and Continental Series teams to focus on car setup almost immediately. All cars were on track for the first day of testing turning consistent laps. In fact, fast lap in GT practice from the weekend belongs to a customer car, further validating the strong and consistent platform provided by SpeedSource and Mazda. Team Manager of the #41 Mazda RX8 Mike Gue stated: "We're certainly happy with the pace of the new car from SpeedSource but more importantly it ran trouble free for 3 days which is pretty amazing for the first time a car hits the track."
For the crew of the #70 Castrol Syntec SpeedSource Mazda RX8, it was back to business as usual. After initial shakedown of the new chassis went without issue, the team worked on developing the car setup with the aid of chassis designer/constructer Bill Riley of Riley Technologies. The engineers and crew quickly got the car to a setup that all drivers felt was an improvement on the previous year. "The test went very well. To have a new car show up, run a few laps, and then go straight into chassis setup says a lot about the entire program," recalled Bill Riley.
Seeing similar success was the #69 FXDD SpeedSource Mazda RX8. Having run the initial December tire test, the crew had a head start on chassis setup and came to the track with a very well prepared car. The team was able to unload the car from the trailer and put it straight onto the race track without issue. All drivers worked to gain more seat time on the new car and continued to put valuable test hours on all components. This data will be used to further strengthen the reliability of the car for the Rolex24.
With only a few weeks until race day, the SpeedSource crew is back to work at the shop interpreting and reapplying what was learned at the test to prepare for the grueling 24-hour race. Undoubtedly, there seems to be an extra bounce in the step of every team member as the days to the race are winding down. The work of the entire off-season will be put to the test as Mazda attempts to challenge for another Rolex24 race win.
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona will take place on January 30-31. Coverage will begin on SPEED starting at 3pm on Jan. 30.
About Mazda
On any given weekend, there are more Mazda's on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the soul of a sports car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miata's tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Most Recent News Articles
** MazdaSpeed3 - Complete car packages available from SpeedSource
** SpeedSource Scores Victory At Miller Motorsports Park
** Montreal: Assentato and Segal Score Second Consecutive Podium
** SpeedSource Victory at The Glen
** Barber: SpeedSource Secures Second Place Finish
** Daytona: SpeedSource Scores Second Place Finish
** Mid Ohio Sees SpeedSource Score a Top Five
** Watkins Glen: SpeedSource Scores Fourth Place
** SpeedSource Takes Home Victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
** New Jersey: SpeedSource Survives New Jersey Rain; Looks Forward to Mazda Raceway Event
Our Cars
The Drivers
Sponsors
Team Members
Photo Gallery
Schedule & Results
© 2007 SPEEDSOURCE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED POWERED BY: MYRACESITE.COM
Home About News History Links Contact
Roar Before the 24; New Cars Have Successful Test
Posted (01/14/2010) -
The Rolex Sportscar Series returned to action this past weekend in Daytona Beach, FL for the annual Roar Before the 24. The three-day test at Daytona International Speedway offered many teams the first opportunity to run brand new cars in preparation for the Rolex24. For SpeedSource, it signaled the completion of an off-season surge that included the construction of three new Rolex Series RX8 GT cars and three new Mazdaspeed3 ST cars for the Continental Sportscar Challenge.
With the crew at the shop working long hours to fulfill customer expectations, all cars were completed and delivered on-time. "We've had a great relationship with SpeedSource since 2007 and they really burned the Midnight Oil to get this car built for us in a hurry and allow us to expand our program for Mazda. The RX-8 GT has evolved over the last 3 years and the new car is fast, reliable and easy for the guys to work on," said Team Principal Patrick Dempsey regarding the delivery of the new #41 Mazda RX8.
The quality of work form SpeedSource coupled with the reliability of Mazda allowed both Rolex Series and Continental Series teams to focus on car setup almost immediately. All cars were on track for the first day of testing turning consistent laps. In fact, fast lap in GT practice from the weekend belongs to a customer car, further validating the strong and consistent platform provided by SpeedSource and Mazda. Team Manager of the #41 Mazda RX8 Mike Gue stated: "We're certainly happy with the pace of the new car from SpeedSource but more importantly it ran trouble free for 3 days which is pretty amazing for the first time a car hits the track."
For the crew of the #70 Castrol Syntec SpeedSource Mazda RX8, it was back to business as usual. After initial shakedown of the new chassis went without issue, the team worked on developing the car setup with the aid of chassis designer/constructer Bill Riley of Riley Technologies. The engineers and crew quickly got the car to a setup that all drivers felt was an improvement on the previous year. "The test went very well. To have a new car show up, run a few laps, and then go straight into chassis setup says a lot about the entire program," recalled Bill Riley.
Seeing similar success was the #69 FXDD SpeedSource Mazda RX8. Having run the initial December tire test, the crew had a head start on chassis setup and came to the track with a very well prepared car. The team was able to unload the car from the trailer and put it straight onto the race track without issue. All drivers worked to gain more seat time on the new car and continued to put valuable test hours on all components. This data will be used to further strengthen the reliability of the car for the Rolex24.
With only a few weeks until race day, the SpeedSource crew is back to work at the shop interpreting and reapplying what was learned at the test to prepare for the grueling 24-hour race. Undoubtedly, there seems to be an extra bounce in the step of every team member as the days to the race are winding down. The work of the entire off-season will be put to the test as Mazda attempts to challenge for another Rolex24 race win.
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona will take place on January 30-31. Coverage will begin on SPEED starting at 3pm on Jan. 30.
About Mazda
On any given weekend, there are more Mazda's on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the soul of a sports car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miata's tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Most Recent News Articles
** MazdaSpeed3 - Complete car packages available from SpeedSource
** SpeedSource Scores Victory At Miller Motorsports Park
** Montreal: Assentato and Segal Score Second Consecutive Podium
** SpeedSource Victory at The Glen
** Barber: SpeedSource Secures Second Place Finish
** Daytona: SpeedSource Scores Second Place Finish
** Mid Ohio Sees SpeedSource Score a Top Five
** Watkins Glen: SpeedSource Scores Fourth Place
** SpeedSource Takes Home Victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
** New Jersey: SpeedSource Survives New Jersey Rain; Looks Forward to Mazda Raceway Event
Our Cars
The Drivers
Sponsors
Team Members
Photo Gallery
Schedule & Results
© 2007 SPEEDSOURCE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED POWERED BY: MYRACESITE.COM
Roar Before the 24; New Cars Have Successful Test
Posted (01/14/2010) -
The Rolex Sportscar Series returned to action this past weekend in Daytona Beach, FL for the annual Roar Before the 24. The three-day test at Daytona International Speedway offered many teams the first opportunity to run brand new cars in preparation for the Rolex24. For SpeedSource, it signaled the completion of an off-season surge that included the construction of three new Rolex Series RX8 GT cars and three new Mazdaspeed3 ST cars for the Continental Sportscar Challenge.
With the crew at the shop working long hours to fulfill customer expectations, all cars were completed and delivered on-time. "We've had a great relationship with SpeedSource since 2007 and they really burned the Midnight Oil to get this car built for us in a hurry and allow us to expand our program for Mazda. The RX-8 GT has evolved over the last 3 years and the new car is fast, reliable and easy for the guys to work on," said Team Principal Patrick Dempsey regarding the delivery of the new #41 Mazda RX8.
The quality of work form SpeedSource coupled with the reliability of Mazda allowed both Rolex Series and Continental Series teams to focus on car setup almost immediately. All cars were on track for the first day of testing turning consistent laps. In fact, fast lap in GT practice from the weekend belongs to a customer car, further validating the strong and consistent platform provided by SpeedSource and Mazda. Team Manager of the #41 Mazda RX8 Mike Gue stated: "We're certainly happy with the pace of the new car from SpeedSource but more importantly it ran trouble free for 3 days which is pretty amazing for the first time a car hits the track."
For the crew of the #70 Castrol Syntec SpeedSource Mazda RX8, it was back to business as usual. After initial shakedown of the new chassis went without issue, the team worked on developing the car setup with the aid of chassis designer/constructer Bill Riley of Riley Technologies. The engineers and crew quickly got the car to a setup that all drivers felt was an improvement on the previous year. "The test went very well. To have a new car show up, run a few laps, and then go straight into chassis setup says a lot about the entire program," recalled Bill Riley.
Seeing similar success was the #69 FXDD SpeedSource Mazda RX8. Having run the initial December tire test, the crew had a head start on chassis setup and came to the track with a very well prepared car. The team was able to unload the car from the trailer and put it straight onto the race track without issue. All drivers worked to gain more seat time on the new car and continued to put valuable test hours on all components. This data will be used to further strengthen the reliability of the car for the Rolex24.
With only a few weeks until race day, the SpeedSource crew is back to work at the shop interpreting and reapplying what was learned at the test to prepare for the grueling 24-hour race. Undoubtedly, there seems to be an extra bounce in the step of every team member as the days to the race are winding down. The work of the entire off-season will be put to the test as Mazda attempts to challenge for another Rolex24 race win.
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona will take place on January 30-31. Coverage will begin on SPEED starting at 3pm on Jan. 30.
About Mazda
On any given weekend, there are more Mazda's on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the soul of a sports car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miata's tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Most Recent News Articles
** MazdaSpeed3 - Complete car packages available from SpeedSource
** SpeedSource Scores Victory At Miller Motorsports Park
** Montreal: Assentato and Segal Score Second Consecutive Podium
** SpeedSource Victory at The Glen
** Barber: SpeedSource Secures Second Place Finish
** Daytona: SpeedSource Scores Second Place Finish
** Mid Ohio Sees SpeedSource Score a Top Five
** Watkins Glen: SpeedSource Scores Fourth Place
** SpeedSource Takes Home Victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
** New Jersey: SpeedSource Survives New Jersey Rain; Looks Forward to Mazda Raceway Event
Our Cars
The Drivers
Sponsors
Team Members
Photo Gallery
Schedule & Results
© 2007 SPEEDSOURCE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED POWERED BY: MYRACESITE.COM
Home About News History Links Contact
Roar Before the 24; New Cars Have Successful Test
Posted (01/14/2010) -
The Rolex Sportscar Series returned to action this past weekend in Daytona Beach, FL for the annual Roar Before the 24. The three-day test at Daytona International Speedway offered many teams the first opportunity to run brand new cars in preparation for the Rolex24. For SpeedSource, it signaled the completion of an off-season surge that included the construction of three new Rolex Series RX8 GT cars and three new Mazdaspeed3 ST cars for the Continental Sportscar Challenge.
With the crew at the shop working long hours to fulfill customer expectations, all cars were completed and delivered on-time. "We've had a great relationship with SpeedSource since 2007 and they really burned the Midnight Oil to get this car built for us in a hurry and allow us to expand our program for Mazda. The RX-8 GT has evolved over the last 3 years and the new car is fast, reliable and easy for the guys to work on," said Team Principal Patrick Dempsey regarding the delivery of the new #41 Mazda RX8.
The quality of work form SpeedSource coupled with the reliability of Mazda allowed both Rolex Series and Continental Series teams to focus on car setup almost immediately. All cars were on track for the first day of testing turning consistent laps. In fact, fast lap in GT practice from the weekend belongs to a customer car, further validating the strong and consistent platform provided by SpeedSource and Mazda. Team Manager of the #41 Mazda RX8 Mike Gue stated: "We're certainly happy with the pace of the new car from SpeedSource but more importantly it ran trouble free for 3 days which is pretty amazing for the first time a car hits the track."
For the crew of the #70 Castrol Syntec SpeedSource Mazda RX8, it was back to business as usual. After initial shakedown of the new chassis went without issue, the team worked on developing the car setup with the aid of chassis designer/constructer Bill Riley of Riley Technologies. The engineers and crew quickly got the car to a setup that all drivers felt was an improvement on the previous year. "The test went very well. To have a new car show up, run a few laps, and then go straight into chassis setup says a lot about the entire program," recalled Bill Riley.
Seeing similar success was the #69 FXDD SpeedSource Mazda RX8. Having run the initial December tire test, the crew had a head start on chassis setup and came to the track with a very well prepared car. The team was able to unload the car from the trailer and put it straight onto the race track without issue. All drivers worked to gain more seat time on the new car and continued to put valuable test hours on all components. This data will be used to further strengthen the reliability of the car for the Rolex24.
With only a few weeks until race day, the SpeedSource crew is back to work at the shop interpreting and reapplying what was learned at the test to prepare for the grueling 24-hour race. Undoubtedly, there seems to be an extra bounce in the step of every team member as the days to the race are winding down. The work of the entire off-season will be put to the test as Mazda attempts to challenge for another Rolex24 race win.
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona will take place on January 30-31. Coverage will begin on SPEED starting at 3pm on Jan. 30.
About Mazda
On any given weekend, there are more Mazda's on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the soul of a sports car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miata's tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Most Recent News Articles
** MazdaSpeed3 - Complete car packages available from SpeedSource
** SpeedSource Scores Victory At Miller Motorsports Park
** Montreal: Assentato and Segal Score Second Consecutive Podium
** SpeedSource Victory at The Glen
** Barber: SpeedSource Secures Second Place Finish
** Daytona: SpeedSource Scores Second Place Finish
** Mid Ohio Sees SpeedSource Score a Top Five
** Watkins Glen: SpeedSource Scores Fourth Place
** SpeedSource Takes Home Victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
** New Jersey: SpeedSource Survives New Jersey Rain; Looks Forward to Mazda Raceway Event
Our Cars
The Drivers
Sponsors
Team Members
Photo Gallery
Schedule & Results
© 2007 SPEEDSOURCE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED POWERED BY: MYRACESITE.COM
01-29-2010, 07:46 AM
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PaPa Bear
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RX-8's ONE - TWO - THREE pole positions. I will be cheering for all three.
Angelelli, Segal Capture Poles for 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona
Jan. 28, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Max Angelelli prevailed in a back-and-forth battle to capture the pole Thursday for the 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona (complete qualifying results), to be held Saturday at the "World Center of Racing."
Angelelli secured the top position for the opening round of the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 with a lap of 1:40.827 (127.108 mph) in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara.
Jeff Segal won the GT class pole with a track record lap, as both he and Jordan Taylor edged Segal's teammate Sylvain Tremblay for the top position on the final lap to give Mazda a 1-2-3 qualifying sweep. Thursday's qualifying set the top 13 positions in Daytona Prototype plus the top 20 positions in GT.
The Rolex 24 takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Live SPEED coverage is set for 3 -10 p.m. ET, and resumes Sunday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET.
The main drama of the day came in the opening practice session, when four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was unhurt in an incident that badly damaged the championship-winning No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley. While the team planned on sending to its Texas shop for a backup car, it was determined that the car could be fixed in time to be ready for the race.
"I put myself in a position with a GT car that I shouldn't have and paid the price," Johnson said. "I hate it that I tore up equipment and put the guys in this spot. It looks like we will get this fixed and hopefully everything will be good for tomorrow."
Lucas Luhr and Martin Ragginger also escaped injuries in morning session incidents, with their contending race cars expected to be ready to race following extensive repairs.
Angelelli earned his fourth career pole in the Rolex Series, in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara co-driven by Wayne Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Pedro Lamy.
"Winning the pole was really important for the team, after the disappointment of losing last year's championship in the final race," Angelelli said. "It was good for team morale. We really wanted it."
Angelelli was fastest in a three-day practice session earlier in January, after which he said all the team needed to do was "wash the car" to be ready for the Rolex 24.
"The car is great," Angelelli said. "It's really easy to drive. It's fast. We have everything in place, and we're really looking forward to the race to get a good result. Now it's up to us as drivers to make it happen. The SunTrust car is just fast - unbelievable."
The next four cars were separated by .064 of a second. Ozz Negri will start from the outside of row one after running 1:41.100 (126.765 mph), in the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford Riley, edging out Michael Shank Racing teammate Michael Valiante's 1:41.110 (126.755 mph) in the No. 6 Ford Riley.
"My car was still getting better late in the session," said Negri, who won the pole for the 2008 Rolex 24 in the same car. "My tires were finally where I wanted them to be on the final lap. Who knows what would have happened if I had another lap, but I am very happy being on the front row."
Valiante led both of Saturday's practice sessions but slipped to third after running up front early in the 15-minute qualifying round.
"We've been quick all weekend and at the test, but we missed it by just a little bit in qualifying," Valiante said. "I think we've got a real good car for the race, and that's what's important here."
The TELMEX/Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates cars qualified fourth and fifth. Scott Dixon ran a lap of 1:41.147 (126.766 mph) in the No. 02 BMW Riley, followed by the No. 01 BMW Riley of Scott Pruett, 1:41.164 (126.685 mph).
"It was close," Pruett said. "The quality of these cars and drivers is just phenomenal. It shows in qualifying. The cars were so unbelievably close it was incredible. I see that for the race, too. I see it going down to the absolute finish, just like last year."
Rounding out the top 10 qualifiers were Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55 Crown Royal/NPN Racing BMW Riley, Darren Law in the No. 59 Brumos Porsche Riley, Joao Barbosa in the No. 9 Action Express Porsche Riley, Ricardo Zonta in the No. 75 Krohn Racing Proto-Auto Ford Lola, and Buddy Rice in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Porsche Coyote.
Mazdas 1-2-3 in GT Qualifying
A year ago, Sylvain Tremblay won the GT pole for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in dramatic fashion, running a track-record lap on his final lap of qualifying.
Thursday, he lost the pole in similar fashion. Jeff Segal broke his teammate's record with a lap of 1:49.282 (117.275 mph) in SpeedSource's No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8 to take the top spot at the checkered flag.
"I think it's a testament to the SpeedSource team how close the cars are," Segal said. "They build the cars from scratch. It was remarkable to see the car go from nothing over the winter to what it is today, and how close the cars are matched. It speaks volumes about SpeedSource."
Also passing Tremblay on the last lap was Taylor - who just missed joining his father Wayne and brother Ricky on the front row after running a lap of 1:49.371 (117.179 mph) in Racers Edge Motorsports' No. 30 Cobalt Friction/IDEMITSU Mazda RX-8.
"I pushed a lot harder on my last lap to try to pick up a few tenths," said Taylor, a freshman at the University of Central Florida who was qualifying for the first time in a Rolex Series event. "I picked up some time in the bus stop, and that did it. I'm happy with the front row start."
Tremblay ran 1:49.462 (117.082 mph) in Speedsource's No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, the GT winner in the 2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"The team won the pole on the last lap - again," Tremblay said. "As a driver, I ended up third. I had nobody to work with at the end, which was fine. I'm really proud of the No. 69 car winning the pole. It's one shop, one goal, and to have Mazdas 1-2-3 at Daytona is really special."
Paul Edwards qualified fourth in the debut race for the No. 07 Godstone Ranch Motorsports Corvette, 1:49.474 (117.069 mph), followed by Andy Lally in the No. 66 TRG AXA Porsche GT3, 1:49.637 (116.895 mph).
Friday's schedule opens with practice from 9-9:45 a.m. ET, followed by final qualifying at 11 a.m. ET. Qualifying will be followed by the Fresh From Florida 200, the opening round of the 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, at 1:45 p.m. ET.
Rolex Sports Car Series
Next session: Practice 4
1/29, 9:00 a.m. ET
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
Next session: Practice 3
1/29, 10:00 a.m. ET
Related Series NewsAngelelli, Segal Capture Poles for 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona
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Live Updates: Rolex 24 At Daytona
Dalziel, Starworks Launch Website To Assist Haiti
Performance Friction Brakes Extends Partnership with GRAND-AM
Mazda to Pace Field at Daytona
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Angelelli, Segal Capture Poles for 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona
Jan. 28, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Max Angelelli prevailed in a back-and-forth battle to capture the pole Thursday for the 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona (complete qualifying results), to be held Saturday at the "World Center of Racing."
Angelelli secured the top position for the opening round of the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 with a lap of 1:40.827 (127.108 mph) in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara.
Jeff Segal won the GT class pole with a track record lap, as both he and Jordan Taylor edged Segal's teammate Sylvain Tremblay for the top position on the final lap to give Mazda a 1-2-3 qualifying sweep. Thursday's qualifying set the top 13 positions in Daytona Prototype plus the top 20 positions in GT.
The Rolex 24 takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Live SPEED coverage is set for 3 -10 p.m. ET, and resumes Sunday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET.
The main drama of the day came in the opening practice session, when four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was unhurt in an incident that badly damaged the championship-winning No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley. While the team planned on sending to its Texas shop for a backup car, it was determined that the car could be fixed in time to be ready for the race.
"I put myself in a position with a GT car that I shouldn't have and paid the price," Johnson said. "I hate it that I tore up equipment and put the guys in this spot. It looks like we will get this fixed and hopefully everything will be good for tomorrow."
Lucas Luhr and Martin Ragginger also escaped injuries in morning session incidents, with their contending race cars expected to be ready to race following extensive repairs.
Angelelli earned his fourth career pole in the Rolex Series, in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara co-driven by Wayne Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Pedro Lamy.
"Winning the pole was really important for the team, after the disappointment of losing last year's championship in the final race," Angelelli said. "It was good for team morale. We really wanted it."
Angelelli was fastest in a three-day practice session earlier in January, after which he said all the team needed to do was "wash the car" to be ready for the Rolex 24.
"The car is great," Angelelli said. "It's really easy to drive. It's fast. We have everything in place, and we're really looking forward to the race to get a good result. Now it's up to us as drivers to make it happen. The SunTrust car is just fast - unbelievable."
The next four cars were separated by .064 of a second. Ozz Negri will start from the outside of row one after running 1:41.100 (126.765 mph), in the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford Riley, edging out Michael Shank Racing teammate Michael Valiante's 1:41.110 (126.755 mph) in the No. 6 Ford Riley.
"My car was still getting better late in the session," said Negri, who won the pole for the 2008 Rolex 24 in the same car. "My tires were finally where I wanted them to be on the final lap. Who knows what would have happened if I had another lap, but I am very happy being on the front row."
Valiante led both of Saturday's practice sessions but slipped to third after running up front early in the 15-minute qualifying round.
"We've been quick all weekend and at the test, but we missed it by just a little bit in qualifying," Valiante said. "I think we've got a real good car for the race, and that's what's important here."
The TELMEX/Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates cars qualified fourth and fifth. Scott Dixon ran a lap of 1:41.147 (126.766 mph) in the No. 02 BMW Riley, followed by the No. 01 BMW Riley of Scott Pruett, 1:41.164 (126.685 mph).
"It was close," Pruett said. "The quality of these cars and drivers is just phenomenal. It shows in qualifying. The cars were so unbelievably close it was incredible. I see that for the race, too. I see it going down to the absolute finish, just like last year."
Rounding out the top 10 qualifiers were Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55 Crown Royal/NPN Racing BMW Riley, Darren Law in the No. 59 Brumos Porsche Riley, Joao Barbosa in the No. 9 Action Express Porsche Riley, Ricardo Zonta in the No. 75 Krohn Racing Proto-Auto Ford Lola, and Buddy Rice in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Porsche Coyote.
Mazdas 1-2-3 in GT Qualifying
A year ago, Sylvain Tremblay won the GT pole for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in dramatic fashion, running a track-record lap on his final lap of qualifying.
Thursday, he lost the pole in similar fashion. Jeff Segal broke his teammate's record with a lap of 1:49.282 (117.275 mph) in SpeedSource's No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8 to take the top spot at the checkered flag.
"I think it's a testament to the SpeedSource team how close the cars are," Segal said. "They build the cars from scratch. It was remarkable to see the car go from nothing over the winter to what it is today, and how close the cars are matched. It speaks volumes about SpeedSource."
Also passing Tremblay on the last lap was Taylor - who just missed joining his father Wayne and brother Ricky on the front row after running a lap of 1:49.371 (117.179 mph) in Racers Edge Motorsports' No. 30 Cobalt Friction/IDEMITSU Mazda RX-8.
"I pushed a lot harder on my last lap to try to pick up a few tenths," said Taylor, a freshman at the University of Central Florida who was qualifying for the first time in a Rolex Series event. "I picked up some time in the bus stop, and that did it. I'm happy with the front row start."
Tremblay ran 1:49.462 (117.082 mph) in Speedsource's No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, the GT winner in the 2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"The team won the pole on the last lap - again," Tremblay said. "As a driver, I ended up third. I had nobody to work with at the end, which was fine. I'm really proud of the No. 69 car winning the pole. It's one shop, one goal, and to have Mazdas 1-2-3 at Daytona is really special."
Paul Edwards qualified fourth in the debut race for the No. 07 Godstone Ranch Motorsports Corvette, 1:49.474 (117.069 mph), followed by Andy Lally in the No. 66 TRG AXA Porsche GT3, 1:49.637 (116.895 mph).
Friday's schedule opens with practice from 9-9:45 a.m. ET, followed by final qualifying at 11 a.m. ET. Qualifying will be followed by the Fresh From Florida 200, the opening round of the 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, at 1:45 p.m. ET.
Rolex Sports Car Series
Next session: Practice 4
1/29, 9:00 a.m. ET
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
Next session: Practice 3
1/29, 10:00 a.m. ET
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01-15-2011, 09:47 AM
#5
40th anniversary Edition
Latest Rolex rule changes for GT series
Here are latest rules changes (today) following data from early test sessions. Remember last year after the RX8s started dominating in GT, Rolex series imposed a 100 lb weight penalty on the RX8s. The RX8 teams adjusted and due to greater handling and reliability were still able to secure enough top three finishes to capture the drivers and manufacturers titles in GT.
Initial Daytona testing for this month's 24 hour race showed the RX8s at a disadvantage to the Porsches and other competitors, so Rolex is allowing a rpm increase and a slight weight reduction for the Rx8s to keep things competitive.
Read following: January 14, 2011 Newsletter Content
Rule Changes Shakin’ it Up:
At GRAND-AM, we are committed to keeping the competitive playing field “level” so we can continue providing our fans with the best sports car racing possible. In line with that steadfast commitment, this week GRAND-AM made some rule changes for both the DP and GT classes, as we head to the Rolex 24 At Daytona. These changes resulted from intensive data collection during the recent “Roar Before The 24” test sessions at Daytona International Speedway.
As you might imagine, these changes made some people happy, while others were less than pleased. All of that goes with the territory. Here’s what we did:
Adjusted RPM limits for the Daytona Prototype class. BMW-powered cars’ limit was reduced from 7,000 to 6,900.
Also in DP, for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, we are going back to the small wing endplate used last season, to ensure stability over the course of the 24-hour race.
In GT, Mazda RX-8s got an RPM limit boost from 8,600 to 8,880, and lost some weight (35 pounds).
Initial Daytona testing for this month's 24 hour race showed the RX8s at a disadvantage to the Porsches and other competitors, so Rolex is allowing a rpm increase and a slight weight reduction for the Rx8s to keep things competitive.
Read following: January 14, 2011 Newsletter Content
Rule Changes Shakin’ it Up:
At GRAND-AM, we are committed to keeping the competitive playing field “level” so we can continue providing our fans with the best sports car racing possible. In line with that steadfast commitment, this week GRAND-AM made some rule changes for both the DP and GT classes, as we head to the Rolex 24 At Daytona. These changes resulted from intensive data collection during the recent “Roar Before The 24” test sessions at Daytona International Speedway.
As you might imagine, these changes made some people happy, while others were less than pleased. All of that goes with the territory. Here’s what we did:
Adjusted RPM limits for the Daytona Prototype class. BMW-powered cars’ limit was reduced from 7,000 to 6,900.
Also in DP, for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, we are going back to the small wing endplate used last season, to ensure stability over the course of the 24-hour race.
In GT, Mazda RX-8s got an RPM limit boost from 8,600 to 8,880, and lost some weight (35 pounds).
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jasonrxeight
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
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09-30-2015 01:53 PM
2010, 24, cost, daytona, dempsey, expanding, horsepower, mazda, mazdaspeed, patrick, run, rx8, sale, speedsource, wins
