Four drivers in four different cars led the race, and there were three lead changes among drivers and cars. Bergmeister led the most laps with 38. Pruett led the last 28, taking away from Leitzinger, who led 25 laps. Three cautions were for debris on track, two for stalled cars and one for two cars hitting at the start-finish line. Not good, boys.
The Rolex Series race was a blue flagger's dream - with the large field and the obvious speed differential between the DP and GT classes, there was much display of the 'passing flag'. By lap three the DPs were passing GTs in turn two.
DAN GURNEY was one 'proud pop' this weekend, watching son ALEX make his sportscar debut in the #99 Gainsco Insurance/Wells Fargo Pontiac Riley for Gainsco/Blackhawk. Gurney was fastest Friday afternoon of all 24
Daytona Prototypes. When I asked Dan if he had ever thought of co-driving with his son in a sportscar race, he joked that he had thought of it...but he won't do it. Gurney and co-driver/team owner BOB STALLINGS started 15th and finished sixth.
As with many circuits, crowd counts aren't released by the race track. GIL CAMPBELL, general manager/CEO of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca said "That was a spectacular way to open our 2005 season", while SCRAMP [Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula] officials said that the attendance "met or exceeded the track's goals for the first-time event."
The next Rolex Series round will be 19-21 May, at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Canada.
