January 28, 2007
LEXUS, GANASSI MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW AT ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
Scott Pruett, Juan Montoya and Salvador Duran teamed to give Lexus and Ganassi Racing their second consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona victory as their #01 Telmex/Target Lexus-Riley won in dominating fashion this weekend.
The winning trio led 468 of the 668 laps, while overall Lexus-powered cars led a total of 504 laps – good for more than 75 percent of the laps run over the 24 hours. Over the past two Rolex 24 races, Lexus-powered cars have now led 971 laps – approximately 70 percent of the laps run over the past two years at Daytona.
After starting 12th, the winning #01 Lexus moved to the lead for the first time on Lap 68 and would go on to dominate the race – never putting a wheel wrong as both the Lexus engine and car ran flawlessly, never pitting for more than brake pads, fuel or tires.
The victory was a record-setting seventh Rolex 24 class victory for Pruett, the series all-time leader in wins. It also marked the second win in a row here for Chip Ganassi Racing, which became the first team in 20 years to repeat a Rolex 24 overall victory after Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Casey Mears drove to victory in their #02 Lexus-Riley a year ago.
While the Ganassi team was one of the pre-race favorites heading into the event, the AIM Autosport #61 Exchange Traded Gold Lexus-Riley might have been the biggest surprise. In its first full season of Daytona Prototype, the squad earned a fifth-place finish with Mark Wilkins, David Empringham, Brian Frisselle and Burt Friselle piloting the car in just the second Rolex Series event for the team. After starting 18th, the Canadian-based team moved into the top 10 during the night and never dropped below eighth from there on out.
Michael Shank Racing (MSR) made it three Lexus-powered cars in the top-10 as the #60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley placed ninth. After an early half-shaft problem, team drivers Oswaldo Negri, Mark Patterson, Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. charged from 40th to earn a second consecutive Rolex 24 top-10 showing after earning runner-up honors a year ago. Things didn’t go as well for the second MSR entry, though. An alternator problem negated a spectacular early run by A.J. Allmendinger that saw him stretch out a 12.5-second lead through the race’s first 66 laps. Teammate Ian James later would lead a pair of laps, but mechanical woes thwarted any hopes for victory. After falling as low as 56th, that pair along with Paul Tracy and Henri Zogaib regrouped to earn a respectable 26th.
Things didn’t go as well for the two remaining Lexus-powered entries. The #02 Ganassi Lexus-Riley of Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Memo Rojas ran in the top-five for much of the race, but crashed heavily into the tire barrier on Lap 538 to place 41st. After a testing crash earlier in the month here in Daytona, the Southard Racing team put together an all-out effort to simply make Saturday’s green flag. After qualifying 24th, the team would eventually climb into the top-five before mechanical woes would sideline the squad just 214 laps into the event.
Lexus Race Results
Started/Finished
#01 Telmex/Target Lexus (Pruett, Montoya, Duran 12/1
#61 Exchange Traded Gold Lexus (Wilkins, Empringham, Br. Frisselle, Bu. Frisselle) 18/5
#60 Fresh From Florida Lexus (Negri, Patterson, Castroneves, Hornish) 22/9
#6 Michael Shank Racing (James, Zograib, Allmendinger, Tracy) 10/26
#02 Target/Telmex Lexus (Dixon, Wheldon, Rojas) 8/41
#3 Preformed Line Products Lexus (Lewis, Ruhlman, Rahal, Forbes-Robinson) 24/62
LEXUS ROLEX 24 RACE NOTES:
- The #01 Ganassi Lexus never fell out of the top-three overall after the third hour of the race.
- Today’s win is the second consecutive Rolex 24 victory for Lexus and the manufacturer’s 16th overall triumph in 41 Rolex Series races.
- Today’s win is the second for Lexus in just four Rolex 24 attempts
- Lexus-powered cars led 504 of the 668 laps run in this year’s Rolex 24.
- Scott Pruett’s victory today is his seventh Rolex 24 class victory, setting the all-time record. He’s earned previous class victories in 2002, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1988, 1987. This is his second overall win after taking the checkered flag first in 1994.
- With the victory today, Chip Ganassi Racing becomes the first team to win back-to-back Rolex 24’s since Al Holbert’s squad registered the feat in 1986-1987
- Juan Montoya becomes the only driver in history to win a Rolex 24 hour race, an F1 race and an Indianapolis 500. This is Montoya’s first-ever race at Daytona.
- Salvador Duran’s victory comes in his first-ever Rolex Series start.
- Scott Pruett, already the winningest driver in Daytona Prototype history, now matches James Weaver’s 13 wins for the most in Rolex Series history.
- The Ganassi team led the final 91 laps and 2 hours and 43 minutes today. A year ago the team led the final 168 laps.
- AIM Autosports earned a fifth-place finish in their Rolex 24 debut – in just their second-ever Daytona Prototype event.
Scott Pruett, #01 TELMEX/Target Lexus-Riley: “The job that this TELMEX team did today was just outstanding and the car performed flawlessly. We always hear that this event sports the best group of drivers in all of racing, and it turned out to be one hell of a shootout at the end with three cars battling for the win. I think it says a lot about our team and this series. What a fantastic feeling.”
Juan Pablo Montoya, #01 TELMEX/Target Lexus-Riley: “I though it was pretty tough overall. Max Angelelli and Darren Manning gave me a run for my money through my last stint, doing everything they could to make my life miserable. I starting thinking about all the things that could go wrong after leading 18-20 hours, and then not winning the race. I wanted to go as fast as I could and pass people, but I also didn’t want to be remembered for taking someone out of the race in its final stages. This is a great win for the team and I look forward to running for Chip and Felix in the upcoming NASCAR season.”
Salvador Duran, #01 TELMEX/Target Lexus: “For a rookie in this event, I felt really good going in with a team like this behind me and the great drivers I was fortunate enough to have been paired with. I think I learned that this race is all about consistency and confidence. Scott and Juan played their cards right, while at the same time giving me the confidence to drive to the best of my ability. I think I was able to make the right moves at the right times, and that ultimately led to this team getting through the race nearly incident free.”
Scott Dixon, #02 Ganassi Lexus-Riley: “The team did such a great job. There were a lot of ups and downs but while it is disappointing not to finish this year’s race because of all of the hard work that went into it, it is always so much fun to take part of the Rolex 24. I’m really happy the Chip Ganassi Racing team was able to defend the win. It’s really cool to win back to back.”
Dan Wheldon, #02 Ganassi Lexus-Riley: “The effort put in by the entire team is really incredible and it really showed with the second consecutive team win at the Rolex 24. It’s amazing to drive for so long and still be as close as it was all the way to the finish line. It was just so exciting. It’s too bad that we weren’t part of it at the finish as well but this is definitely a team win.”
Mike Shank, Michael Shank Racing team owner: “I said to someone about 12 hours into this thing after we had all those set backs that it’d be amazing for us to even get a top 10, and though we had even more problems after that, we did it. We had both cars running at the finish and that’s a testament to the job my guys did preparing the cars and never giving up no matter what happened for 24 hours. We had super driving from all our guys. The six car probably passed the leader two or three times-- we had fast cars but we just didn’t have the luck this time around.”
Helio Castroneves, #60 No.60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley: “I had a great time, but the last stint (with no engine cover on the car) wasn’t much fun! A lot of things happened that were just out of our control. When the 99 car hit us from behind, we couldn’t attach the engine cover back on to the car, so we had a really bad aero situation and the car was really loose. It cost us downforce and really hurt us on the straights, which had been our strength all day.”
“But the 24 was a good experience and hopefully I will be back next year. I learned so much, and think there are a lot of things I would do different next time so it was good to get this experience. I rested when I had the chance, so after 24 hours I feel tired for sure, but not destroyed. My conditioning is pretty good. Independent of the results, it was a good race. This is a young team, with lots of good people on it. They are all workaholics who love racing and those are always my kind of people.”
Mark Patterson, #60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley: “After being down in 41st like we were earlier, a top 10 in this race is no shabby accomplishment. From here, we want to target podiums and wins this season and we know with Michael Shank Racing and Lexus, we can do that. We’ve seen what Lexus has done for us all day and night, and we’re looking forward to that kind of partnership all season.”
Oswaldo Negri, #60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley: “This is a great result with all the trouble we had all weekend. It was a big roller coaster all week from having a track record time in practice then right after that crashing in qualifying and then moving up to the front then having all the problems we did and then taking ninth place on the very last lap. Really fantastic. These guys never gave up and there isn’t a team out there with more heart than these guys.”
Sam Hornish, Jr., #60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley: “The competition is so much closer than it was back then (in his first Rolex 24 start in 1999). With the World Sports Cars, we were a lot faster than the GT cars, but now the difference is a lot less, so you really have to do a good job timing your passes to get through traffic. “It’s been fun working with the team again (Hornish raced Toyota Atlantics with the team in 1999), it’s too bad we weren’t able to do better, but we were in the wrong place at the wrong time a couple of times today. Everyone’s working really hard to do the best we can. I definitely want to come back and do it again. If we had a couple less problems, we’d be right there up front no question.”
AJ Allmendinger, No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley: “I was spoiled last year, racing in my first 24 and we didn’t even have a hiccup. We have to take the positives out of this - even at the end, our car was one of the fastest and with how many times we got hit, it wasn’t the handling that was good, that was all motor. Big credit to Mike Shank and his team. These guys just don’t give up. At least the car is going home in one piece which is impressive after getting hit as many times as we did.”
Henri Zogaib, #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley: “(On crossing the finish line for the first time in the Rolex 24 in his adopted hometown with so many friends and relatives on hand to see) “It was fun even though I didn’t have as many gears in the car as I was hoping! I am amaze the car still rolls, but it was very fulfilling to finish here, and obviously the next step is to try to aim for a win. AJ, Ian, and Paul did a spectacular job. Mike and his crew were on it all week, and we had a very fast car and the Lexus/Riley is really a great package to be working with so we will keep building from here.”
Ian James, #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley: “Its disappointing because we had a car that could win here. We showed some great speed and consistency with the car. A few things went wrong but we know we could have been fighting at the front. That’s racing.The good thing is this is clearly a great package, and the Mike Shank cars were running near the front all week, so I’m really looking forward to getting to the sprint races.”
Paul Tracy, #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley: “It’s disappointing to finish like this just because our car was so fast, but we just ran into problems. It’s frustrating to be up front two years in a row but to run into trouble right off the bat. But I’ll just have to come back next year and try to have some better luck.”
Steve Southard, Southard Racing team owner: "With our experience as a team, I had complete faith that not much could stop us from finishing the Rolex 24. The crew worked incredibly hard to get the new car here and ready to race, and it was running really well. Unfortunately, we just aren't allowed to change an engine, otherwise, we certainly would have. It is such a shame; we had great drivers, good pit strategy, and a fantastic crew and were looking forward to another successful 24-hour race. It's just bad luck today. But we won't let it get us down, we will definitely be ready to show what we have in a few weeks at our next race in Mexico City."
Brian Frisselle, #61 Exchange Traded Gold Lexus-Riley: "It's awesome! It's our only finish at the Daytona 24, and now it's our best finish. A top-five is great, especially for a new team. Great teammates, great crew, I can't say enough good things. We want to thank Lexus for giving us such a great motor to make it all the way."
January 26, 2007
SIX LEXUS-POWERED CARS SET TO ROLL AT ROLEX 24
Six Lexus-powered Daytona Prototypes are set to take the green flag on Saturday in the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the Daytona International Speedway.
Scott Dixon will lead the way among the Lexus contingent in the ninth starting position in his Target/Telmex Lexus-Riley. He’ll be followed by A.J. Allmendinger (11th – Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley), Scott Pruett (13th – Telmex/Target Lexus-Riley), Mark Wilkins (18th – Exchange Traded Gold Lexus-Riley) and Oswaldo Negri (22nd – Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley) in tomorrow’s starting grid.
Ironically, it was Negri and the #60 Fresh From Florida Lexus-Riley that was the fastest car on the track leading up to the race. Unfortunately, a multi-car incident on the opening lap of qualifying took away any chance for the pole position. Negri’s fastest practice time was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than the pole-winning time and the fastest seen this week.
The twice-around-the-clock extravaganza will receive 15 hours of television coverage combined between FOX Sports and SPEED. The race will be shown in four parts beginning on FOX Saturday from 1-2:30 p.m. SPEED takes over at 2:30 p.m. and will feature 13.5 hours of coverage in total over three segments. The first will run from 2:30 – 6:00 p.m. The network will rejoin from 8 – 10 p.m. on Saturday night and then bring the race home on Sunday morning, beginning at 6:00 a.m. and running through the checkered flag and post-race interviews.
NOTABLE:
PRUETT SEEKS RECORD: Scott Pruett can become the winningest driver in Rolex 24 history with a win this weekend. He currently is tied for the all-time lead in class wins with six.
BACK-TO-BACK: Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon can become the first back-to-back winners in 20 years with a victory this weekend in their Lexus-Riley. It would mark the first repeat winners since Al Holbert, Derek Bell and Al Unser Jr. won in 1986 and 1987.
ROLEX WINNERS: Four Lexus-powered drivers have previously won the Rolex 24 overall title – Elliott Forbes-Robinson (1997 and 1999); Scott Pruett (1994), Scott Dixon (2006) and Dan Wheldon (2006)
500 WINNERS: The current Lexus stable includes the winners of five of the last seven Indianapolis 500s – Juan Montoya (2000), Helio Castroneves (2001/2002), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).
OPEN-WHEELING – No less than eight Lexus-powered drivers in tomorrow’s field have won an IRL or Champ Car race. Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon have won in the IRL, Scott Pruett, A.J. Allmendinger, Juan Montoya and Paul Tracy all won in CART, and Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves have won in each series.
AGE IS ALL IN THE MIND – The Southard Racing team will feature two drivers who are separated by 45 years in age. Rising young open-wheel star Graham Rahal just turned 18 earlier this month, while Hall of Fame racer Elliott Forbes-Robinson is 63.
Quotable:
Scott Pruett, driver #01 Telmex/Target Lexus-Riley: (Is the old adage true about the racing not beginning until the sun comes up?) I think the racing begins at the green flag. It’s going to be hard racing. Maybe I’ll be wrong in looking at it. But having driven these cars as long as I have, and having raced in this race as many times as I have – from coming here in times when you just sit back and cruise and other times pushing it 100 percent simply because that’s what the team wanted you to do - I see a hard, difficult race.
Mark Wilkins, driver #61 Exchange Traded Gold Lexus-Riley: "We have a very good race car for a 24-hour. We did what we wanted to accomplish, which was to qualify in the top 20, which means the guys have lots of time to get the other engine in the car tomorrow. That was our main focus. It's fantastic to come out and run with these guys – these are huge names, so to go out and get in the top 20 our first year, I'm really happy. I think the Riley-Lexus is the best package. Lexus gave us a great motor; we've got lots of power. I think it's going to be the engine to have in the 24-hour. The Lexus guys are great – they've given us tons of support and they're working on ways to make us go faster."
Michael Shank, Michael Shank Racing team owner: “We think we lost this race in the garage last year, not on the track, so we’ve done everything we can to be prepared for every eventuality. We are really excited to have the driver line-up that we do, Lexus power, and the team of guys we have in place to support this enormous effort. If we don’t win this race, we are definitely going down fighting.”
Steve Southard, Southard Racing team owner: “The crew worked incredibly hard to get the new car ready after the incident in testing. We have a lot of experience as a team, and I think it paid off in our being able to completely rebuild a car and make this race in just two weeks. The race is an endurance classic and we should be right there. We have a fantastic group of drivers ready to go, and a great team. It will be fun to get out there and show what we have.”
January 17, 2007
STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP HEADLINES SIX LEXUS-POWERED ENTRIES FOR ROLEX 24
With five 2006 Daytona Prototype race winners, four recently crowned auto racing All-Americans and four Indianapolis 500 winners, Lexus will sport a powerful line-up when six Lexus-powered Daytona Prototypes take the track for the 2007 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the season opener for the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
Last year’s race winners include series regulars Scott Pruett, Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson, along with defending Rolex 24 champions Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon. Yet, the talent extends far past Grand-Am success. In fact, the Lexus line-up alone might have the greatest line-up of open-wheel drivers seen in America in years with Sam Hornish Jr. (2006), Dan Wheldon (2005), Helio Castroneves (2001 and 2002) and Juan Montoya (2000) having combined to win five of the last seven Indianapolis 500s. They’re joined by fellow open-wheel stars A.J. Allmendinger, who registered five Champ Car wins a year ago, former Champ Car title-winner Paul Tracy, rising young stars Graham Rahal and Salvador Duran.
Leading the way will be a pair of established Lexus teams in Chip Ganassi Racing and Michael Shank Racing. Each will field a two-car team capable of winning the twice-around-the-clock extravaganza. They’ll be joined by two squads that will be new to the Lexus camp in 2007 in Southard Racing and AIM Autosport.
Chip Ganassi Racing is not only the winningest team in Daytona Prototype history, but also the defending champion at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This year’s two-car entry may be even stronger with the addition of former F1 and CART star Juan Montoya, who will team with Scott Pruett and Salvador Duran in the #01 Telmex/Target Lexus-Riley. Pruett was a first-team All-America selection after winning five races a year ago on his way to second-place overall in the series. After six seasons racing in Formula One that included a win at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, Montoya returns to the U.S. where he last dominated the CART series in 2000 while racing with the Ganassi Toyota. Duran is one of Mexico’s top young open-wheel racers and was victorious twice in A1GP competition last season.
The defending champion #02 Ganassi Lexus will feature Indy Racing League stars Wheldon and Dixon, along with Mexican open-wheeler Memo Rojas. Wheldon and Dixon helped give Lexus its first-ever Rolex 24 victory a year ago. Both are former IRL champions as Wheldon won the title in 2005, while Dixon drove his Target Toyota to the 2003 title.
Negri and Patterson hold the distinction of winning the most recent Rolex Series event when they co-drove to victory in last year’s season finale in Salt Lake City to clinch the Manufacturer’s Championship for Lexus. They also were part of the entry that finished second in last year’s 24-hour race. They will co-drive the #60 Flight Options Lexus-Riley for MSR along with reigning Indianapolis 500 champ Hornish Jr. and his Penske Racing teammate Castroneves, a two-time ‘500’ winner. Hornish is a first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Jerry Titus Award as “Driver of the Year.” Both drivers will be making their first start for MSR in Daytona Prototype competition, but it’s a homecoming of sorts for Hornish, who campaigned for the team in Toyota Atlantic competition.
The #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley is no less impressive with full-time drivers Ian James and Henri Zogaib being joined by Allmendinger, who was recently named a second-team All-American after winning five Champ Car events this past season and was in the MSR entry that finished second a year ago, as well as Tracy, who drove a number of Daytona Prototype events with the team last season.
While the Ganassi and Shank teams have been with Lexus since the manufacturer entered Grand-American competition in 2004, Southard Racing and AIM Autosport will be entering their first full seasons of competition with Lexus power.
After a pair of podium finishes in 2006, Southard Racing will be looking for its first Daytona Prototype victory this season. Shane Lewis and Randy Ruhlman are scheduled to drive the full season in the #3 Preformed Line Products Lexus-Riley. They will be joined by rising teen star Rahal, son of racing legend Bobby Rahal. The younger Rahal will move into the Champ Car ranks this season at just 18 years of age after winning a series-high five races in Atlantic competition last year.
AIM Autosport made one Grand-Am start in 2006, placing 21st at Daytona in their #61 Lexus-Riley. The Toronto-based team is back for the full season this year. Full-time pilot Mark Wilkins will lead the charge along with Burt and Brian Frisselle, both who have run with Lexus over the past two seasons, and two-time former Toyota Atlantic champion David Empringham. Wilkins has consistently run upfront in the open-wheel ladder series, while the Frisselle brothers, who will share the second seat in the car opposite Wilkins throughout the full 2007 campaign, earned a podium finish at last year’s season finale in an MSR Lexus-Riley.
Lexus earned seven victories including last season’s Rolex 24 on the way to its first-ever Manufacturer’s Championship in 2006. Overall, the luxury automaker has registered 15 wins and 21 pole positions in 40 Grand American Daytona Prototype events over the past three seasons. Lexus will focus its motorsports efforts exclusively on the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2007.
Toyota Moving Forward With Plans to Purchase Rowan County Land for NASCAR Support Facility
Toyota will proceed with plans to purchase an 89 acre parcel in Rowan County on which it will build its new NASCAR support facility, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today. The announcement follows the Rowan County Commission public hearing held Tuesday evening, Jan 16.
The land, situated about 35 miles north of Charlotte and easily accessible from Interstate 85, is pre-certified for development. Toyota plans are to build a 30,000 to 35,000 square foot facility that will house TRD (Toyota Racing Development) U.S.A., Inc.’s, NASCAR competition group, in addition to a chassis engineering operation. Pending final planning, construction is expected to begin this year with completion targeted for late 2008.
“We expect to finalize the purchase within the next 30 days,” said Jim Aust, president of TRD and vice president of motorsports for TMS, who attended the commission meeting. “Toyota has a philosophy of locating operations where it does business and as a result we have 15 manufacturing facilities in North America. When it comes to NASCAR, we wanted a location accessible to all our teams and the Rowan County property provides the best opportunity. Obviously we’re committed to a long-term relationship with the sport.”
The new facility will employ between 40 and 50 people when completed. Toyota plans to use less than half the land and will sell the remaining acreage. TRD currently operates out of two facilities in High Point, N.C. and another in Mooresville, N.C.
Toyota, which has been competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series the past three years and captured the 2006 NCTS manufacturer’s championship, will enter NEXTEL Cup and Busch series competition for the first time in 2007. Three teams and seven drivers will be competing with Toyota Camrys when the 2007 NEXTEL Cup season kicks-off in February at the Daytona 500. NEXTEL Cup series teams and drivers using the Toyota Camry in 2007 include Bill Davis Racing (Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield), Michael Waltrip Racing (Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip), and Team Red Bull (A.J. Allmendinger and Brian Vickers).
Toyota will also provide technical support in 2007 for two Busch series teams campaigning three Camrys and six teams in the Craftsman Truck Series running nine Tundra entries.
January 05, 2007
LEXUS BOLSTERS CHAMPIONSHIP LINE-UP FOR RUN AT TITLE REPEAT IN ‘07
After winning the 2006 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype Manufacturer’s Championship with just two teams and three cars, Lexus has bolstered its line-up to include four teams and five cars for the 2007 campaign as the manufacturer looks to repeat its title.
Returning for 2007 are Chip Ganassi Racing, the 2006 team champion, and Michael Shank Racing, which clinched the Manufacturer’s Championship for Lexus with its first victory in the 2006 finale at Salt Lake City. Both teams have been with Lexus since the manufacturer entered Daytona Prototype competition in 2004.
Ganassi Racing will field one full-time entry and a second entry for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. With a pair of team championships in the past three seasons, to go along with 13 victories and a triumph at the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2006, the team has established itself as one of the top teams in the series. Once again, veteran driver Scott Pruett will lead the way. Pruett is the all-time Daytona Prototype win leader with 12. Arguably the finest sports car racer of his generation, the northern California native has won six championships and two runner-up finishes in eight seasons of sports car competition since 1985 including a runner-up finish a year ago. He’ll be joined this season by Mexican open-wheel ace Memo Rojas in the #01 Telmex Lexus-Riley. Rojas will make his series debut at Daytona.
Michael Shank Racing will return with two entries once again this season. Oswaldo Negri and 2006 Jim Trueman Award winner Mark Patterson will be back in the #60 Flight Options Lexus-Riley. The duo won the final race of 2006 and will look to build upon that this season. Patterson placed sixth overall last season, while Negri finished eighth after missing one event. They’ll be joined by a pair of newcomers in the #6 Lexus Riley as Henri Zogaib and Ian James join the operation. While both are relative newcomers to the Daytona Prototype ranks, each has experience in the sports car ranks with James an accomplished pilot in both the U.S and Europe.
Two new teams join the ranks this season as Southard Racing moves over from the BMW camp, while AIM Autosport will campaign a full season after getting their feet wet with one race in 2006.
The Ohio-based Southard team earned a pair of podium finishes last season and will look to earn its first win in 2007 with team stalwart Shane Lewis joined by former Trans-Am runner-up Randy Ruhlman in their #3 Preformed Line Products Lexus-Riley. Lewis, a former bull-rider, is in his fifth season with the team and was in the car for both of the team’s third-place finishes last season.
AIM Autosport has established itself as one of the top young talent evaluators in the sport after enjoying success in a variety of open-wheel ladder series including Star Mazda and Formula BMW. Program graduate Mark Wilkins makes the move up the ladder with the team and will co-drive with brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle, who will alternate in the car on a race-by-race basis. The Frisselles showed well in a brief stint with Michael Shank Racing to close out 2006. AIM is one of the few Canadian-based teams in major American motorsports today.
Lexus earned seven victories including last season’s Rolex 24 on the way to its first-ever Manufacturer’s Championship in 2006. Overall, the luxury automaker has registered 15 wins and 21 pole positions in 40 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype events over the past three seasons. Lexus will focus its motorsports efforts exclusively on the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2007.
Lexus Grand-Am Daytona Prototype Highlights:
2004 Driver’s Champions – Scott Pruett/Max Papis
2004 Team Champions – Chip Ganassi Racing
2006 Manufacturer’s Champions - Lexus
2006 Team Champions – Ganassi Racing
2006 Jim Trueman Award – Mark Patterson