Insight Racing Suffers Setback at Road America

Insight Racing Suffers Setback at Road America

Pole position and more laps lead before late race contact ends the day early

Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management

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Elkhart Lake, Wis. (24 June 2011) – The Road America 200 had a sudden, early, and disappointing conclusion for Insight Racing as Nico Rondet made significant contact with a barrier while running in podium position after suffering a mechanical failure. The incident caused the final yellow flag of the 2.5-hour GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race.

Tyler McQuarrie opened the race from the point after taking a record-setting pole position in qualifying Friday morning. McQuarrie held on to the lead at the start, and went on to lead 26 laps. Despite having radio issues, the Californian made the perfectly timed call for pit service as he turned the machine over to Rondet to take to the finish.

“We really thought this track would be a weak point for us,” said McQuarrie after his stint. “But the team worked really hard on turn three and turn five to have a car that handled well, and we certainly did that. We were strong enough for the pole. I knew I had to keep those guys behind me at the start and then I had an opportunity to create a gap. We lost the radio, so it was hard to tell when we needed to come in to pit but we figured it out.”

Rondet returned to the field and commenced a strong surge forward, originally set at 23rd overall but as the strategy played out, was in top five. That soon became the top three as Rondet was set for a final battle in the last 20 minutes of the race with the leader just ahead on track. Unfortunately, the BMW suffered a problem and Rondet was immediately off-course, suffering significant damage. Fortunately, the BMW build proved to be a life saver for Rondet as he emerged from the machine safely.

“The radio wasn’t working, but I knew I was third and I saw the two cars directly in front of me,” said Rondet after being evaluated and released from the infield medical center. “I was just biding my time, and I felt like they were going to burn through their tires so I was just right there. The handling was good, and it got better as the run went on. I was just watching in front of me. I am not sure what happened but I was right off into the wall, at a bad angle. I want to thank the guys for putting such a strong car together, because it was a very big hit.”

The damage to the 8,000 lbs. concrete barrier was significant enough that GRAND-AM elected not to return to green flag action.

Insight Racing will return at Mid-Ohio.

Additional information is available at: www.insightracing.com
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