Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas chalked up their fourth Grand-Am Rolex Series victory of the season at Watkins Glen International, capturing the 27th running of the Sahlen's Six Hours on Saturday afternoon.
Pruett, who ran the final three hours in the #01 TELMEX Ganassi/Sabates Riley-Lexus in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, took the lead from Ricardo Zonta with 45 minutes remaining as the Brazilian pitted for the final time. Once out front, Pruett held form, coming home with a 3.033secs margin over 2003 race winner David Donohue's #58 Brumos Racing Riley-Porsche.
Overall, Pruett led a race-high 39 of 179 laps, including the final 24, although 14 drivers traded the lead some 20 times during the event. The veteran will also gain confidence from the fact that three of the last four Sahlen's Six Hours winners have gone on to claim the championship. Pruett and Rojas – who started 16th after an abbreviated qualifying session on Friday – now have a 36-point advantage over Marc Goossens and Jim Matthews.
"It's a great day for our team - Memo did a great job, we just had a fast car today and we just did what we had to do," the former series champion commented, "I did about an hour and 15 minutes at the start, and three hours there at the end and, as the track rubbered up, it got a little tighter, but the Pirellis hung in great.
"Sure they call this a six-hour race, but this is a six-hour
sprint race. There was no relaxing - but that's what's impressive about these cars. They are so robust, you can just drive the wheels off these things. As far as it being hot, I guess I'm just old and don't know any better - it doesn't bother me a lot.”
Donohue and co-driver Darren Law finished a season-best second after starting from the fourth position, although Donohue, in particular, was disappointed not to claim the top step of the podium.
![Pruett/Franchitti/Montoya/Rojas - Chip Ganassi Racing Riley-Lexus [pic credit: grand-am.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/404259.jpg)
