The sun came out in full force Sunday at Daytona International Speedway for the last day of the Grand-Am Rolex Series test session in preparation for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The day started out at 28 degrees F/2.222 C and reached 43 F/6.111 C for the final afternoon session.
MAX ANGELELLI/No.10 Sun Trust Racing Ford Dallara Daytona Prototype was again fastest Sunday morning, with a lap of 1:44.888/127.032 mph/204.438 kph. His fastest time Friday morning continues to be top overall time for the weekend.
A new name showed up in Practice Seven as top GT driver – MARTIN RAGGINGER of Germany drove No.23 Alex Job Racing Porsche GT3 at 1:49.627/116.906 mph/188.141 kph. His co-drivers are JACK BALDWIN, CLAUDIO BURTIN, DOMINIK FARNBACHER and MITCH PAGEREY.
LEH KEEN/No.41 Dempsey Racing Mazda Rx-8 continues to be the fastest overall GT driver, and he was the driver in the car setting the fastest GT time in Night Practice, not DON KITCH.
Speaking of Kitch, and ROSS BENTLEY/No.33 Bullet Porsche GT3…they both are at Daytona – with separate teams. They each are mentioned by name in GARTH STEINs’ lastest book, “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” The book came out in June 2009, and PATRICK DEMPSEY already has the movie rights and is moving forward. He is working with Universal Studios and has a meeting Monday with screen writers.
Dempsey will play the part of racer DENNY SWIFT. For those who haven’t had the good fortune to read the book, it’s the story of a racer as told by his dog, ENZO.