The latest news from around the world courtesy of Press Snoop Lynne Huntting...
NEGRI EARNS FIRST ROLEX DP POLE • COLLINS TAKES GT POLE
OSWALDO NEGRI of Brazil demonstrated Saturday afternoon that racing a Grand American
Daytona Prototype is like riding a bicycle. Once you learn you don't forget. The six month hiatus he had only served to focus him on driving, and he turned the pole-winning lap on his last laps during qualifying for Sunday's Grand American Rolex Series Road and Track 250 race as part of the U.S. Sports Car Invitational weekend. His time of 1:24.357/95.508 mph is a record because this is the first ever time that the Rolex Series has run at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Negri co-drives #60 MatlinPatterson Lexus Riley with MARK PATTERSON of Bronxville NY for Michael Shank Racing.
There are 24 Daytona Prototypes, and all will be up front for a split start, even though one of the ranks qualified behind some GT cars.
KELLY COLLINS of Newport Beach CA is on pole for the GT class of the Rolex Series, with a time of 1:32.556/87.049 mph. He drives #17
F1 Air
BMW M3 for PTG with RJ VALENTINE of Braintree MA. The four-car PTG team is now down to three cars after the Saturday morning crash of JOEY HAND in #2 BMW FinancialServices BMW M3. He was not injured, but the car was withdrawn. Hand moved over to the #22 car with IAN JAMES and CHRIS GLEASON, which starts third in GT. Hand's co-driver in #21, BILL AUBERLEN moved to the #16 car with young TOM MILNER and JUSTIN MARKS, starting tenth in class.
Starting second in GT is TRG Team Owner, KEVIN BUCKLER, with STEVE JOHNSON and ROBERT NEARN in #88 Comfort Systems USA Porsche GT3 Cup car.
One of two females racing in the Rolex Series this weekend is series regular, MILKA DUNO of Venezuela, who co-drives with Brit wit, ANDY WALLACE in #2 CITGO Pontiac Crawford for Howard-Boss Motorsports. They start eighth overall Sunday.
