Sports Cars a Big Hit

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca opens its Golden Anniversary season in May with the U.S. Sports Car Invitational featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Good move.

I have to admit I wasn’t terribly excited when the formation of the series was announced and began operations in 2000. We already had the American Le Mans Series for sports car racing, which ran at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in its inaugural season in 1999 and had done so each year since.

The Rolex series added a Daytona Prototype class in 2003, starting with only five regular cars that year. Each year since, however, the DP class has experienced phenomenal growth, with grids of some 60-plus prototypes and GT cars at the Rolex 24 (hours) At Daytona. Huge fields have also shown up at each of the other events.

In the Rolex Sports Car Series, engines and chassis must meet defined standards to be eligible to compete. ALMS is a showcase for technology in its two prototype divisions. The Rolex series usually has very tightly contested races and the ALMS runs four classes of cars on track at each venue, promoting a ton of passing and the best cars money can buy.

At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, we are blessed to have both series here in two fabulous events to open and conclude the season schedule.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona has attracted a large number of drivers from other disciplines, including NASCAR, Champ Car, the IRL and even the ALMS.

Last month, some of those other drivers got in some testing and – just as they do during the race weekend – they all had a blast. Among those in cars were four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon (who is from Vallejo) and newly crowned Cup champ Jimmie Johnson of El Cajon, who drives a Hendrick Chevy co-owned by Gordon. Also, Sam Hornish Jr., who just won his third IRL/IndyCar championship, was there driving a prototype for Michael Shank racing.

They all had a ball. If you haven’t already seen it, use the following link to read their comments at the test session.

http://www.grand-am.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7443

The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series is holding a three-day open test session that began today (Jan. 4) at Daytona. My friend Lynne Hunting (whose handle is Press Snoop) is at the test session and will be sending me info I’ll pass along for you to read.

Humid weather with scattered clouds greeted 68 cars that were entered for the annual three-day test for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Lynne wrote.The Grand-Am Entry List has 28 Daytona Prototypes and 40 GT cars. With an average of three drivers per car, this adds up to more than 200 drivers, not counting all those who are hanging out hoping to get into a car. After all, this is a test session and as such Grand-Am, does not control who is in the car, driver transponders aren't required, and all times are unofficial. Some teams have not listed some or all of their drivers, for a variety of reasons including benign neglect. One of the two CHIP GANASSI teams lists only SCOTT PRUETT of Auburn as driver because the team is making its full Rolex driver lineup announcement Friday as part of a batch of Media Conferences. When Pruett's co-driver is in the car, the live Timing & Scoring shows no name. But the Shadow Knows! It was SALVADOR DURAN of Mexico.The No.11 SAMAX Pontiac Riley lists TBA as drivers, but the four are: PATRICK CARPENTIER of Canada, RYAN DALZIEL of Scotland, DARRIN MANNING of England, and perhaps the only female driver for the test - MILKA DUNO of Venezuela.For the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona race a current valid FIA license is required, but there is no such requirement for the test. All the cars are seen by Grand-Am scrutinizers prior to going on track, but the process is less stringent than for a race weekend and they aren't checked after track sessions. One of the reasons for Pre Tech is familiarization for the teams, so they get used to the process, what tools are used and how things are measured.For the 2007 season, no new safety requirements have been imposed. The series already mandates the HANS Device, the only permissible head and neck restraint. Grand-Am also has required Vectran wheel tethers on all four wheels of the DP cars. The GT cars can use them but they aren't required. It's more difficult to install tethers on a GT car and the need hasn't been shown.GORDON, who drives theNo.24 Dupont Chevrolet Monte Carlo in Cup, will be making his Rolex debut this year. He's driving the No.10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley, with MAX ANGELELLI of Italy, JAN MAGNUSSEN of Denmark, and team owner WAYNE TAYLOR of South Africa. Angelelli was fastest near the end of the first practice session Thursday morning at 1:44.976 (122.085 mph). He also was fastest in the last session, with a lap of 144.357. Gordon had a lot of seat time Thursday. His is the first of several Press opportunities Friday afternoon, but I grabbed a chance to chat him up in one of his few moments out of the car. Gordon didn't know how many laps he'd done, but said he'd been in the car a lot. He didn't have 'expectations' per se as he didn't know what to expect, but is enjoying it. “The car does what I want it to.” Gordon had nothing but praise for the team and his teammates, who have helped him a lot. He is looking forward to the race.BILL AUBERLEN of Redondo Beach CA was the fastest driver overall Thursday afternoon in the second practice session, turning a lap of 1:44.977 (122.084 mph) in No.05 Sigalsport BMW Riley DP

In the larger GT class, DIRK WERNER of Germany was fastest overall for the day in No.85 Farnbacher Loles Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup with a lap of 1:53.036 (113.38 mph). The sister Farnbacher Loles car was fastest in the morning session. CRAIG STANTON of Long Beach CA drove No.88 Farnbacher Loles Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup with a lap of 1:53.409 (113.007 mph).
ANDY LALLY of Dacula GA was fastest in the second_GT session, driving TRG No.66 Porsche GT3 Cup at 1:53.706 (112.712 mph), good for twenty-seventh overall. Among his co-drivers is team owner KEVIN BUCKLER of Petaluma.
Testing resumes Friday morning and includes night practice.

I’ll continue to share the info Lynne sends (including some behind-the-scenes stuff) as the test session continues.

Later this month, I will be at the annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC and will provide reports out of the four-day extravaganza in which we visit most of the Nextel Cup participants’ shops. At the end of that week, I’ll be at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and send reports from there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and thanks to Lynne for the assist at the test days.