The latest news from around the world courtesy of Press Snoop Lynne Huntting...
ROOKIE GURNEY FASTEST AT LAGUNA SECA • LARGE FIELDS FOR US SPORTS CAR INVITATIONAL
It was a picture-perfect spring day at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Friday for young ALEX GURNEY making his Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series debut in the new #99 Gainsco Pontiac Riley
Daytona Prototype. He was fastest overall of 53 cars in afternoon practice for Sunday's Road & Track 250 Grand American Rolex Series race, with a time of 1:25.286/94.468 mph Gurney celebrated his first/fast time and his co-driver/team owner, BOB STALLINGS celebrated his birthday. It was the first time out for the shiny bright red DP with its brand new team and crew. Gurney is the son of American racing icon, DAN GURNEY.
Second fastest overall and in class was Michael Shank Racing driver, OSWALDO NEGRI of Brazil/#60 MatlinPatterson Lexus Riley. His co-driver is Rookie MARK PATTERSON of the Bronx.
There are 24 DP's entered this weekend, with one not yet on track.
Third and fourth fastest overall were two Chip Ganassi Racing drivers, STEFAN JOHANSSON of Sweden in #02 New Century Mortgage Lexus Riley and teammate SCOTT PRUETT of McMinnville OR in #01 CompUSA Lexus Riley. Johansson's co-driver is CORT WAGNER of Los Angeles CA, and Pruett co-drives with LUIS DIAZ of Mexico City.
MEMO GIDLEY of nearby Novato was fifth fastest in #19 Make A Wish/Air Force Reserve
BMW Riley, racing for Finlay Motorsports. His Rolex Series co-driver is MICHAEL McDOWELL of Charlotte NC. Team owner, ROB FINLAY has two cars in the Grand-Am Cup series also, and for this weekend only, Gidley is replacing the ailing Finlay for the Saturday afternoon Monterey 200 Grand-Am Cup race. Gidley's Cup co-driver in the #60 Commercial Defeasance LLC/Make a Wish BMW M3 is also McDowell.
