Ozz Negri paced Thursday’s Prototype practice in advance of this weekend’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Photo by Scott R LePage LAT Photo USA
It was a good news, bad news scenario for Michael Shank Racing in Thursday’s opening preparations at Road Atlanta for Saturday’s Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, the final round of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season.
Again demonstrating the potential of the team’s No. 60 AERO Honda/Ligier JS P2, Ozz Negri had the fastest lap of the day in the dry opening session. Competitors then faced a variety of challenges during the next two sessions, with both afternoon and night practice run during the rain. The No. 60 car spun and hit the barrier on the front straight during the night practice with John Pew at the wheel, causing damage that may jeopardize its participation in the event.
Earlier in the day, Negri toured the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course in a time of 1:15.163 (121.656 mph) to lead Prototype (P) competitors. The Brazilian has led 18 sessions this season – including at least one at all nine permanent circuits on the schedule.
Thursday’s activities gave the TUDOR Championship competitors thorough preparation for the day-to-dark 10-hour endurance classic. While the opening session was held in dry conditions, the one-hour afternoon session was held in steady rain. Teams also were given a 90-minute night practice.
Scott Pruett was second-fastest on the day, running 1:15.627 (120.909 mph) in the No. 01 Ford EcoBoost/Riley that won its first race of the season two weeks ago at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas. Co-driver Joey Hand then led the wet afternoon session with a best lap of 1:16.937 (118.850 mph). IndyCar champion Scott Dixon will co-drive with the team this weekend.
Defending Petit Le Mans winner Jordan Taylor was fastest at night in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP for Wayne Taylor Racing with a lap of 1:29.369 (102.317 mph). Another car to watch is the No. 0 DeltaWing Racing Claro Video/TracFone DeltaWing DWC13, with Katherine Legge third fastest overall at 1:15.757 (120.702 mph).
After winning two weeks ago at Circuit of The Americas, Dirk Werner was fastest in GT Le Mans (GTLM), running 1:19.546 (114.952 mph) in the No. 25 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTLM. The points-leading No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR of Patrick Pilet was second with a lap of 1:19.619 (114.847 mph). Team Falken Tire, seeking its third consecutive class victory in the event, led night practice with Wolf Henzler running 1:31.573 (99.855 mph).
Prototype Challenge (PC) points leader Colin Braun was fastest in the class at 1:15.976 (120.354 mph) in the No. 54 CORE autosport Flex-Box/Composite Resources ORECA FLM09. In GT Daytona (GTD), Spencer Pumpelly led the session with a lap of 1:22.407 (110.961 mph) in the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America.
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Qualifying Rained Out, Point Leaders Out Front For Finale
Heavy rain led to the cancellation of Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge qualifying, with teams lining up according to the point standings for Friday’s finale.
Andrew Davis will lead the Grand Sport (GS) field in the No. 6 Stevenson Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R. He and co-driver Robin Liddell enter the finale with a 28-point lead, and will secure the title by satisfying drive-time requirements in the race.
Matt Plumb was fastest in both practice sessions in the No. 13 Billfish Foundation/Rum Bum Studios Porsche 911 co-driven by his brother, Hugh Plumb. They enter the finale second in the points, with a mathematical shot at the GS crown.
“Starting on the front row is about the best we can hope for,” Matt Plumb said. “Our car is good, and this track suits us well. Our team has a great baseline setup here that we keep going back to. Rain or shine, we should be good on Friday.”
Chad McCumbee and Stevan McAleer earned the Street Tuner (ST) pole in the No. 5 CJ Wilson Racing Mazda MX-5 by virtue of holding a one-point lead over Andrew Carbonell in the No. 26 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5.
“We’re on the pole, and I think we’re in a good spot,” McAleer said. “But so many things can go wrong in the rain. It would have been treacherous qualifying today. We have a slim lead, but we probably are the favorites. We just need to execute. We’ll have a fight on our hands, and I’m eager to get going. It’s been a long wait leading up to this weekend.”
Friday’s schedule includes the Continental Tire Challenge race at 12:15 p.m. ET and TUDOR Championship qualifying at 3:20 p.m.
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