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| SunTrust Pontiac Second At Homestead |
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| Collins and Edwards Seventh In GXP.R GT |
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 The SunTrust Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype (DP)
finished second today in round three of the Grand-Am Rolex Series
Presented by Crown Royal Reserve Linder Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami at
Homestead-Miami Speedway. Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins held on to
finish seventh in their No. 07 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP.R in
GT.
Jan Magnussen started the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac from pole
position, the third pole for Pontiac in as many races. The Dane
turned the car over to teammate Max Angelleli early in the race so the
Italian could maximize track time for the finish. Angelleli was able
to lead much of the race, but seven caution periods and differing tire
strategies kept him from the top step of the podium.
"It was a
funny race with all of the caution periods," Angelleli said.
"Auberlen surprised me coming up on me in turn six. He had a strong
car at the end and we couldn't hold him off. We had a good strategy
and we once again have to settle for a podium finish. We look good
for the points, but we like to win."
Patrick Carpentier and
teammate Milka Duno were able to come from their 16th place starting
position to post a strong fourth place finish in DP.
"We had a
great car today," Carpentier said. "I was able to gain positions on
the restarts and the handling of the car was consistent all race.
This track is really hard on the rear tires so I tried to pace myself and
it paid off in the end. The team's strategy with all of the yellows
was right on and we were able to stay up with the lead
pack."
NASCAR driver Bill Lester was partnering Roger Schramm
behind the wheel of the number 12 RVO Motorsports Pontiac Riley.
Lester and Schramm were able to finish 17th.
"We had a pretty good
day," Lester said. "Roger went off early and that put us down a few
laps. We were a little loose at the entry to the turns, but we were
able to get the power down at the exits. The team needs to work on
the handling a little, but the pieces are there for a good car. I
like to turn right once in a while. Next weekend I will be in
Martinsville for the truck race."
The No. 07 Banner Racing
Pontiac GXP.R driven by Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards dealt with contact
all race. Collins was moved off line several times by other GT
competitors. Despite the contact and a track that is tough on tries,
Edwards was able to finish out the race with a seventh place
finish.
"All the yellows really mixed up the field," Edwards
said. "Cars were coming and going from the pits, with fresh tires,
which gave them a lot of confidence that really didn't pay off. This
track is really hard on our rear tires. We unfortunately got
shuffled back a few times in those caution periods, other than that I
think we had a top five car."
In the companion 06 Banner GXP.R,
Leighton Reese and Tim Lewis Jr. were also dealing with a lot of on-track
contact.
"I had some pretty hard contact in turn one, I was able to
drive through the sand box and not get stuck," said Reese. "In the
beginning of my stint, the car was really glued to the track. After
the first caution it never really came back. Usually when you cool
the tires down they respond for another few laps, it never really
happened. Not a bad finish for such a crazy race."
The Racers
Edge Motorsports crew brought their No. 30 Pontiac GXP.R home in
15th. Drivers Mark Pavan and Lawson Aschenbach soldiered through
what began as a difficult weekend.
"We missed a lot track time
early in the weekend," said Pavan. "As a result of limited laps we
really didn't have the handling we needed to run further up the
field. After about 12 laps I couldn't go through the high-bank flat,
that really affects your speed down the front straight. I also had
trouble getting the power down out of the slower corners. All in all
it was an encouraging run for the whole team."
Round four of the
Grand-Am series will be run at Virginia International Raceway on April
24th.
Grand-Am Top Ten Homestead Daytona Prototype
Finishers:
1. Auberlen, Alhadeff , BMW Riley
2. Taylor,
Angelelli, Magnussen, Pontiac Riley
3. Pruett, Rojas,
Lexus Riley
4. Carpentier, Duno, Pontiac Riley
5.
Haywood, France, Porsche Riley
6. Law, Donohue, Porsche
Riley
7. Valiante, Finlay, Ford Crawford
8.
Braun, Papis, Pontiac Riley
9. Bergmeister, Long, Porsche
Crawford
10. Wilkins, Frisselle, Lexus Riley
Top 10
Grand-Am GT Homestead Finishers:
1. Tremblay, Ham, Mazda
RX-8
2. Lally, Valentine, Porsche GT3
3. Werner,
Miller, Porsche GT3
4. Lux, Henzler, Porsche
GT3
5. Keen, Farnbacher, Porsche
GT3
6. de Quesada, Dumoulin, Porsche
GT3
7. Edwards, Collins, Pontiac
GXP.R
8. Huisman, Johnson, Porsche GT3
9. Lacey,
Wilkins, Porsche GT3
10. Lewis, Reese, Pontiac
GXP.R
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15. Aschenbach, Pavan, Pontiac
GXP.R
Pontiac Powered Grand-Am Teams Entered for
Homestead:
#06 GT, Banner Racing, Pontiac GXP.R, Reese, Lewis
#07
GT, Banner Racing, Pontiac GXP.R, Edwards, Collins
#10 DP, SunTrust,
Angelelli, Magnussen, Taylor
#11 DP, SAMAX, Duno, Carpentier
#12 DP,
RVO Motorsports, Schramm, Lester
#30 GT, Racers Edge Motorsports,
Lawson Aschenbach, Mark Pavan
#41 GT, Team Sahlen GTO, Baughman,
Sahlen, Nonnamaker
#75 DP, Krohn Racing, Braun, Papis
#76
DP, Krohn Racing, Krohn, Jonsson
#91 DP, Riley-Mathews
Motorsports, Mathews, Goosens
#99 DP, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing,
Gurney, Fogarty
The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series is offering
satellite race highlights feeds from all 2007 races, including this
Saturday's Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami from
Homestead-Miami Speedway. The feed will be up Saturday, March 25:
5:45 - 6:00 p.m. ET; Satellite Space: SBS6/02K; Uplink Freq: 14049.5
H; Downlink Freq: 11749.5 V; Bandwidth: 43 MHz; Data
Rate: 41.25; SR Rate: 30; FEC: 3 / 4;
Signal
Standard: Standard Def; Audio: Ch 1 - Stereo Left, Ch 2 - Stereo
Right, Ch 3 - Nats Only; Ch 4 Nats Only. Highlights and
interview package will run repeatedly in the 15-minute window.
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