ALEX GURNEY/No.99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley Daytona Prototype had another fastest session Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway for the Grand-Am Rolex Series Roar Before The 24. His Sunday lap was 1:41.319/126.492 mph/203.569 kph. The 2009 Rolex Series champion was also fastest Friday afternoon.
SPENCER PUMPELLY/No.71 TRG Porsche GT3 was the fastest GT car Sunday afternoon, at 1:39.700/116.828 mph/188.016 kph. His teammates are TIMO BERNHARD of Germany; ROMAIN DUMAS of Switzerland; TIM GEORGE Jr of NYC; and NASCAR 2000 Sprint Cup Champion, BOBBY LABONTE of NC.
Thirty-seven cars were on track in the 43 degree F/6.111 C weather. In the morning session, 34 cars braved the chill.
Fastest overall for the weekend was MAX ANGELELLI, aka Max The Ax, driving No.10 Sun Trust Ford Dallara DP. His 1:40.466 was set in the first session Friday morning. LEH KEEN/No.41 Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 was the fastest GT car all weekend at 1:49.214 in Saturday’s Night Practice.
JIM JORDAN, Mazda Alternative Marketing Manager, made it happen for two up and coming drivers. As part of the Mazda commitment to its Driver Development Ladder, two drivers from the Atlantic Series (Cooper Tires Present the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda) were on track in the final session Sunday. They drove No.40 Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8. Atlantic Champion, 18-year old JOHN EDWARDS of Cincinnati OH turned 20 laps to end the day. Prior to that, Swiss Miss, SIMONE De SILVESTRO drove the car. She was the only female driver all weekend.
Each young driver won four Atlantic races in 2009, with the other four of the 12-race series won by JONATHAN SUMMERTON of Florida. Edwards won the series and De Silvestro was third in the standings.
The Rolex test opportunity was put in motion a month ago. De Silvestro said this was her first time in a closed-cockpit car. She had a blast. The GT car was “bigger and lazier. It handled well. Mazda did a great job with the car and the Dempsey team prepped the car well.” With help from her sponsor, Stargate, she had a recent test with the HVM Indy Racing League team which went well and she has hopes of running the 2010 IRL season.
Edwards was all excited when he got out of the car. He said he’d been at Daytona all weekend just soaking it in. He and several other drivers – including JOEL MILLER – were making the rounds looking for Rolex rides. Dempsey Racing has a full roster already. Edwards said the sports car “was very different than an open wheel car. The brakes are harder to apply, but the GT had good grip and power.”
For 2010 Edwards is looking at the Indy Lights Series, and maybe other series – about which he cannot talk.
According to a Grand-Am official, it’s expected the Rolex 24 field will number approximately 44 cars. The race starts Saturday 30 January through Sunday 31 January 2010.