Marcos Ambrose and Carl Edwards both tested a Grand-Am prototype for the first time this week, after joining the Doran Racing team at Virginia International Raceway.

The pair, both frontrunners in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series, tested the #77 Dallara-Ford on the North Course at VIR, reaching competitive times aboard the 500-horsepower machine over the course of the day. Both drivers have strong Ford links in NASCAR, and were delighted to get the chance to follow other Cup series stars in sampling a DP.

“That was the first time I have driven one of these cars, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by what a terrific little race car it is,” Australian Ambrose reported, "You can really drive it and it responds to being muscled a bit.

“We had a really enjoyable day and we made some solid progress in a short amount of time. Carl was great to work with and I think we both really had a good time together today."

The #77 has competed in all nine rounds of the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series, with a best finish of fifth coming, ironically, at Virginia International Raceway in April, with Memo Gidley and Brad Jaeger at the wheel.