Alberico Wins Again in Pro Mazda on the Streets of St. Pete

Series News
March 29, 2015

Alberico Wins Again in Pro Mazda on the Streets of St. Pete
California Racer Secures Second Mazda Road to Indy Win for Local Team

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Neil Alberico scored his second Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires victory in as many days as he led throughout this morning’s second stanza of the Allied Building Products Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The popular Californian started from the pole for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing and was never seriously threatened during the half-hour race.

Jose Gutierrez, from Monterrey, Mexico, finished second for defending champion team Juncos Racing, while Alberico’s teammate, Canadian rookie Daniel Burkett, secured his first podium finish with third.

Alberico lost no time in displaying his dominance after the first six laps were completed behind the Pace Car following a five-car incident in Turn Four on the opening lap. He led by a full 1.2 seconds at the completion of the first lap of green-flag racing, and even though his charge was halted by another caution which left time enough merely for a one-lap dash to the checkers, Alberico remained unflustered as he romped home the winner by a little less than one second.

Burkett provided one of the drives of the race as he made his way from sixth on the grid to third. Another strong run by the Canadian had ended early yesterday following an incident in Turn One, but Burkett showed no ill effects as he made up two positions at the start, then passed Saturday’s second-place finisher, Santiago Urrutia (Team Pelfrey) at the restart on Lap 7. The pass earned Burkett the Replay XD Move of the Race Award. He also slipped briefly into second place with a brave move past Gutierrez in Turn One on Lap 9, but was unable to cement the claim as Gutierrez regained the place almost immediately.

The Mexican and the Canadian continued their tussle to the flag at the final restart, with Burkett once again attempting a bold maneuver into Turn One. Gutierrez managed to maintain his advantage, leaving Burkett to fight off the advances of Urrutia, Kyle Connery (JDC MotorSports) and Garett Grist (Juncos Racing) at the line.

Brothers Dominic and Nicholas Cape took home the PFC Award as the winning car owners, while Gutierrez secured the Staubli Award. The Quartermaster Hard Charger Award went to Expert Class winner Jay Horak (M1 Racing), who gained eight positions from 17th place on the grid to finish ninth.

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will continue with another pair of races at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La., on April 10-12.

Neil Alberico (#3 Rising Star Racing/Mobe-Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing): "We didn’t get much testing in the off season, since the deal came together at the last minute. We were a little behind the eight-ball, since the other drivers had more time behind the wheel and more momentum. For me, just to be on the grid to start the season was going to be great. So to have this kind of result for everyone who has supported me was incredible. This is the best start to a season I’ve ever had; I’ve had misfortune here in the past but everything comes full circle. This is a great way to start the season, for me and for the team – we had two Cape cars on the podium both days. Now we’re looking forward to NOLA in two weeks."

###

About Pro Mazda: The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires debuted in 2013 as a new series, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system with the series’ champion awarded a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition the following year. For more information, visit www.promazdachampionship.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports, and MAZDASPEED: Mazda is a leading player in all aspects of sports car racing with an emphasis on endurance road racing. Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America among both club racers and professionals. Thousands of Mazda-powered grassroots racers compete in various classes with the SCCA and NASA highlighted by Spec Miata, the world’s largest spec class with over 2,500 cars built. Via the Mazda SportsCar Racing Academy and the Mazda Road to Indy, Mazda supports racers at all levels of the sport from club racing up to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship where it races with production SKYACTIV Technology.

Mazda remains the only Asian car company to score an overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1991). Mazda has had a naming rights agreement at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca since 2000.

Mazda Motorsports is managed by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). MNAO is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com, with press information at www.mazdausamedia.com. Racers and fans can follow the action on Facebook (Mazda Motorsports), Twitter (@mazdaracing), Instagram (MazdaMotorsport) and www.mazdamotorsports.com.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is the parent company of a global family of companies that specialize in the design, manufacture, marketing, and sales of passenger car and light truck tires. Cooper has joint ventures, affiliates and subsidiaries that also specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper’s headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 11 countries around the world. For more information on Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

Contact:
Tamy Valkosky, Public Relations
949.459.9172 Office
949.842.3946 Cellular
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Alberico Wins Again in Pro Mazda on the Streets of St. Pete.pdf
promazda-officialraceresults-r2.pdf

Eversley, Lewis and Fogg Win in GT, GTA and GT Cup Round 3 at St. Petersburg

Eversley, Lewis and Fogg Win in GT, GTA and GT Cup Round 3 at St. Petersburg March 28, 2015 / For Immediate Release St. Petersburg, FL – Ryan Eversley, of Atlanta, GA, Michael Lewis, of Laguna Beach, CA, and Phil Fogg, Jr., of Portland, OR, took home Round 3 wins in GT, GTA, and GT Cup presented by MOMO classes on the Streets of St. Petersburg, as part of the Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Off of the standing start, pole sitter Eversley, in the No. 43 RealTime/Acura Motorsports/HPD Acura TLX-GT got a tremendous launch to take the lead into turn 1 with Ryan Dalziel, of Windermere, FL in the No. 31 EFFORT Racing/World PMO Porsche 911 GT3R, who started third on the grid, tucked in behind. Second on the grid, Kevin Estre, of Lochau, Austria in the No. 9 K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S GT3, followed Dalziel in third through turn 1. Back in the field, Henrique Cisneros, of Miami, FL in the No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, who had started 19th on the grid stalled. A number of cars collided trying to avoid the No. 30 machine. Sloan Urry, of Salt Lake City, UT, in the No. 02 Engel & Volkers Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Drew Regitz, of Denver, CO, in the No. 19 WWW.IRACERCOACHING.COM Audi R8 LMS Ultra, Alec Udell, of The Woodlands, TX, in the No. 17 Amsource Capital, Panther Pipeline GMG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Maximilian Voelker, of Witten, Germany, in the No. 37 Blancpain Racing Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 FL2 were all collected and unable to continue. The incident brought out a full-course yellow. The No. 11 Porsche of Bucks County/Penn Valley Constructors/Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes/Austin Hatcher Foundation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of GT Cup class pole sitter and points leader Colin Thompson also sustained damage in the incident and he pulled off retiring further down the circuit. Fogg Jr. in the No. 18 Truspeed Autosport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup assumed the lead over Mitch Landry of Lake Charles, LA in the No. 97 Deep South/VersaCrane Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with Potomac, MD based Preston Calvert third in the No. 77 Calvert Dymanics/Phoenix American Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in third. In GTA, Marcelo Hahn, of Sao Paolo, Brazil, in the No. 0 Blau Blancpain Racing Lamborghini Gallardo R EX took the lead off of the standing start over class points leader Michael Lewis, of Laguna Beach, CA, in the No. 41 EFFORT Racing/Curb-Agajanian Porsche 911 GT3R and Fresno, CA based Bryan Heitkotter in the No. 05 AE Replay XD Nissan GT Academy Nissan GT-R GT3. On the lap 10 restart, Eversley led Dalziel in GT into turn 1. Johnny O’Connell, of Flowery Branch, GA, in the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 passed Estre into turn 1 to take third. Mike Skeen, Charlotte, NC, in the No. 2 CRP Racing DeVilbiss/Hawk Performance Audi R8 LMS Ultra tucked in behind Estre in fifth. Skeen then passed Estre to take over fourth and began pursuing O’Connell. By lap 12 Skeen had passed O’Connell to take over third. In GT Cup, Fogg Jr. was able to continue to pace the class. First Calvert and then Landry found themselves under pressure by the No. 13 ANSA Trefethen Vineyards Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of Lorenzo Trefethen from Napa, CA. In GTA, Hahn slowed due to a mechanical issue after the restart allowing Lewis to take over lead, with Heitkotter now in second and Henrik Hedman, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in the No. 10 DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3 vying for third with teammate Eric Lux in the No. 08 Rembrandt Charms/Monticello Motor Club DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3. Frank Montecalvo, of Highlands, NJ, in the No. 66 Bayshore Racing DragonSpeed Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3 sat in fifth. By Lap 14 it was Eversley, Dalziel, Skeen, O’Connell and Estre. In GTA, Lewis led Heitkotter and Montecalvo who had passed Lux and Hedman. In GT Cup, Fogg lead Landry and Trefethen. On Lap 16, Estre went deep under braking into turn 1 with a bobble and Nicky Catsburg, of Voorthuizen, Netherlands, in the No. 25 Blancpain Racing Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 FL2 grabbed fifth spot. Estre was awarded the Cadillac ATS-V Move of the Race for the deft move of avoiding contact with Catsburg into turn 1. On Lap 20, Heitkotter’s Nissan made contact with Lux’s Mercedes-Benz. Heitkotter’s GT-R backed into the concrete barrier bringing out a full course yellow. The Round 3 race ended under yellow with Eversley taking his first Pirelli World Challenge GT class win. Dalziel finished second with Skeen taking third. O’Connell and Estre rounded out the top five in GT. In GTA, Lewis claimed his third straight win, with Montecalvo taking second and Lux finishing third. In GT Cup presented by MOMO, Fogg Jr. recorded his first career Pirelli World Challenge win with Trefethen finishing second and Landry in third. "Today is the 29th anniversary of Acura in the luxury car market. Today!" said Eversley. "Yesterday was my dad’s birthday and I got pole. To win anywhere is awesome, but to win here in Pirelli World Challenge is awesome racing against factory drivers from so many manufacturers. I am racing against the best when you look at the top 10. To compete against those guys is amazing. I didn’t want to be any other kind of race car driver but a professional sports car driver and here I am. To be able to do it in the factory Acura team is literally a dream come true." "The Porsche 911 was really on rails and it really started with the grid position," said Lewis. "We were fortunate to have good grip off line as we got off the start. We got decent track position and then it was about managing track position. Thank you to the EFFORT crew for keeping me updated under the extended caution, it kept me calm. I was able to hold off a charging Montecalvo and I am happy to be here as a winner." "It was an interesting race today for me," said Fogg Jr. "I was able to avoid the incident at the start of the race, but unfortunately it affected my teammates. I just saw a number of cars get collected and it almost blocked the track. Once I got through, after that initial start it was really about holding the position. I saw Trefethen coming in my mirrors but we stayed out front. Thank you to my sponsor Zoro." Of note, Calvert won the Optima Batteries Best Standing Start Award gaining eight positions. The MOMO GT Cup Turning Point of the Race was the No. 11 of pole sitter and class points leader Thompson retiring after sustaining contact on the standing start. Chris Dyson, of Pleasant Valley, NY, in the No. 16 Bentley/Breitling/Mobil 1 Team Bentley Dyson Racing Bentley Continental GT3 won the Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award for moving up three positions on the lap 10 restart. Montecalvo was awarded the VP Racing Fuels Hard Charger Award for gaining 12 positions during the race. Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, FL, in the No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 set the fastest race lap (1:13.726) and will have the pole for Round 4. In GT Cup, Trefethen had the fastest lap with a 1:18.562 and will start on pole in GT Cup. Eversley’s win marks the eighth win from pole in the last 10 Pirelli World Challenge GT races at St. Petersburg between 2010-2015. Watch the GT, GTA, GT Cup Round 4 race live from St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 29 starting at 10:25 a.m. Eastern on www.world-challengetv.com or www.torque.tv. Round 3 and 4 races will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, April 5 at 5 p.m. Eastern ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Results from Sunday’s 26-lap 46.8 mile Pirelli World Challenge Championship GT/GTA/GT Cup Round 3 race, part of the Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at Streets of St. Petersburg, with finishing position, class, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any). 1. GT, (1), Ryan Eversley, Atlanta, Ga., Acura TLX-GT, 26. 2. GT, (3), Ryan Dalziel, Windermere, Fla., Porsche 911 GT3R, 26, -1.298. 3. GT, (7), Mike Skeen, Charlotte, N.C., Audi R8 LMS Ultra, 26, -1.975. 4. GT, (6), Johnny OConnell, Flowery Branch, Ga., Cadillac ATS-VR GT3, 26, -3.567. 5. GT, (2), Kevin Estre, Lochau Austria, , McLaren 650S GT3, 26, -4.817. 6. GT, (4), JD Davison, St Petersburg, Fla., Nissan GT-R GT3, 26, -5.788. 7. GT, (10), Andy Pilgrim, Boca Raton, Fla., Cadillac ATS-VR GT3, 26, -7.936. 8. GT, (8), Olivier Beretta, Monte Carlo, , Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, 26, -8.689. 9. GT, (12), Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, N.Y., Bentley Continental GT3, 26, -11.670. 10. GT, (16), Mike Hedlund, Woodside, Calif., Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, 26, -14.271. 11. GT, (14), Peter Cunningham, Milwaukee, Wis., Acura TLX-GT, 26, -15.334. 12. GT, (15), Michael Lewis(R)(A), Laguna Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3R, 26, -16.301. 13. GT, (20), James Sofronas, Pound Ridge, N.Y., Audi R8 LMS Ultra, 26, -17.413. 14. GT, (26), Frank Montecalvo(A), Highlands, N.J., Mercedes Benz AMG SLS GT3, 26, -18.011. 15. GT, (24), Eric Lux(A), Buffalo, N.Y., Mercedes Benz AMG SLS GT3, 26, -18.153. 16. GT, (22), Butch Leitzinger, Rebersburg, Pa., Bentley Continental GT3, 26, -19.658. 17. GT, (9), Nick Catsburg, Voorthuizen NLD, , Lamborghini GallardoGT3FL2, 26, -21.882. 18. GT, (17), Henrik Hedman(A), Ft Lauderdale, Fla., MercedesBenzAMG SLS GT3, 26, -23.268. 19. GT, (21), Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, Calif., Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, 26, -24.415. 20. GT, (19), Henrique Cisneros(A), Miami, Fla., Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, 26, -27.617. 21. GT, (28), Jeff Courtney(A), Milwaukee, Wis., Audi R8 LMS Ultra, 26, -29.104. 22. GT, (18), Martin Fuentes(A), Mexico City, MX, Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia, 26, -31.052. 23. GT, (29), Timothy Pappas(A), Boston, Mass., Mercedes Benz AMG SLS GT3, 26, -32.449. 24. GT, (5), Robert Thorne, Littleton, Colo., McLaren 650S GT3, 26, -34.405. 25. GT, (30), Dan Knox(A), Pilot Point, Texas, Dodge Viper GT3-R, 26, -37.038. 26. GT, (13), Marcelo Hahn(A), San Paulo Brazil, , Lamborghini R_EX, 26, -38.115. 27. GT, (32), Walt Bowlin(A), Tarpon Springs, Fla., Audi R8 LMS Ultra, 26, -39.779. 28. GT, (33), Bill Ziegler(A), Ponte Vedra, Fla., BMW E89 Z4 GT3, 26, -41.415. 29. GT, (23), Bret Curtis(A), Austin, Texas, BMW E89 Z4 GT3, 26, -42.766. 30. GT, (11), Bryan Heitkotter(A), Fresno, Calif., Nissan GT-R GT3, 20, Crash. 31. GT, (25), Christina Nielsen(R)(A), Aarhus Denmark, , Aston Martin Vantage GT3, 3, -23 laps. 32. GT, (27), Drew Regitz(A), Denver, Colo., Audi R8 LMS Ultra, 0, Mech. 33. GT, (31), Maximillian Voelker(A), Witten, Germany, Lamborghini Gallardo GT3, 0, Crash. 34. GTC, (35), Phil Fogg_Jr, Portland, Ore., Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 26, -44.023. 35. GTC, (41), Lorenzo Trefethen(R), Napa, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 26, -45.178. 36. GTC, (38), Mitch Landry, Lake Charles, La., Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 26, -46.886. 37. GTC, (39), Victor Gomez(R), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 25, -2:05.569. 38. GTC, (40), Preston Calvert(R), Potomac, Md., Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 25, -1 lap. 39. GTC, (37), Sloan Urry, Salt Lake City, Utah, Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 3, Mech. 40. GTC, (34), Colin Thompson, Doylestown, Pa., Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 0, Mech. 41. GTC, (36), Alec Udell, The Woodlands, Texas, Porsche 911 GT3 CUP, 0, Crash. Time of race: 51 minutes, 35.790 seconds. Average speed: 54.422 mph Margin of victory: 1.298 Seconds Lap leaders: Laps 1-26, #43 Ryan Eversley Fastest race lap: #8 Andy Pilgrim, 1:13.726 (87.893 mph) Fastest qualifier: #43 Ryan Eversley, 1:23.434 (77.666 mph)

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Turner BMW with strong Top-Ten at Sebring

Begin forwarded message:

Date: March 23, 2015 at 9:29:59 AM EDT

Reply-To: “Turner Motorsport Racing” <reply_brznhf_bopqcvb>

To: <media>

From: “Turner Motorsport Racing” <marketing>

Subject: Turner BMW with strong Top-Ten at Sebring

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Turner Motorsport is the leading source for parts and performance for BMWs. Visit our website at www.TurnerMotorsport.com

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

STRONG TOP TEN FINISH AT SEBRING FOR TURNER BMW.

Sebring, FL. March 22nd, 2015

Disappointment in Sebring for Burton Racing

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Disappointment in Sebring for Burton Racing Sebring, Fla. (20 March 2015) – After executing a perfect pit strategy that saw the No. 23 BMW Automotive Chemicals/Excelda BMW 128i run up the pack from their 26th starting position to fifth, Burton Racing faced disappointment in the Visual Studio 150 when the rear left wheel broke with just under 45 minutes remaining in the 2.5-hour race. The team opened the day playing host to a great group of BMW Club members, with the Burton Racing drivers hosting a Q and A session and letting the Roundel fans get an up close and personal look at the BMW 128i ahead of it taking to the track. In the close to 90 degree midday heat, Mike LaMarra took the green flag for the Visual Studio 150 focused and prepared to make his run up the pack. An excellent start saw him move up four positions within the first five laps of the race. He then settled into the BMW machine to maintain pace with the field through an opening stint that featured multiple caution periods. Unfortunately, contact from a pursuing competitor knocked LaMarra back during a longer green flag run which cost him a few positions. Without a competitor directly in front of him, LaMarra focused on running clean and consistent laps around the 3.74-mile challenging road course. However, three full-course caution periods in short succession slowed the team to make the most of the yellow to maximize their fuel strategy and when LaMarra pitted with just under an hour remaining to hand over the car over to co-driver Terry Borcheller, the team was able to take just a splash of fuel and cycle out ahead of the rest of the pack, still completely refueling. Perfect pit stops by the crew and excellent drives by both drivers positioned Borcheller in the top-five when issues with the rear end stemming from the previous contact began to appear. As the rest of the field sped on, Borcheller was forced off track and Burton Racing’s race day came to an early end with just under 45 minutes to go and settled for a 26th place finish. “It was a bit of a disappointing day, to be sure,” commented Team Manager, Keith Burton. “I have to congratulate the guys. After qualifications we sat down and worked everything out and we knew we were going to have to do something drastically different from what everyone else was going to do and for a while the race was really going our way and the guys and Mike (LaMarra) and Terry (Borcheller) all did a great job. But this is a track that is really unforgiving on equipment and you just can’t have contact like we had today. We will take what we have learned about the car here and apply it going forward and see what we can do.” The team will now utilize a short break in racing action to prepare their BMW machine before Round 3 of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge on May 2. Be sure to follow @Burton_Racing on Twitter for updates! Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend Copyright © 2015 Sunday Group Management, All rights reserved. Copyright © 2014 Sunday Group Management, All rights reserved. This email contains news from Sunday Group Management and is intended for media members, client associates, and team sponsor partners. If you feel you are receiving this email in error or wish to no longer do so, please unsubscribe at your earliest convenience by clicking below. Thank you-Sunday Group Management. Our mailing address is: Sunday Group Management 5655 Castle Creek Parkway Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46250 Our mailing address is: Sunday Group Management5655 Castle Creek Parkway Suite 240 Indianapolis, IN 46250 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Action Express Racing Corvette DP Captures Lead After First Segment In Tequila Patrón North Amer ican Endurance Cup At Sebring

Please see attached press release, below is a text-only version.

Action Express Racing Corvette DP Captures Lead After First Segment

In Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup At Sebring

· Team Falken Tire Gains On Corvettes In GTLM

· PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Closes To Within One Point of PC Lead

· TI Automotive Dodge Viper SRT Continues To Pace GTD

SEBRING, Fla. (March 21, 2015) – Action Express Racing captured the lead in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup team standings after running second in the opening four-hour segment of Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.

The four points for second place gives the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Corvette DP of Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais 17 points in the competition that covers the four endurance races in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ No. 02 Ford EcoBoost Riley entered the event with 16 points and the lead after winning the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, but is not competing at Sebring.

Scott Dixon, who co-drove the No. 02 car at Daytona and is currently with Scott Pruett and Joey Hand on the No. 01 entry, leads the Prototype driver standings with 19 points.

Mike Rockenfeller passed Fittipaldi only two minutes before Saturday’s race reached the four-hour mark, enabling the No. 90 VisitFlorida.com Corvette DP team to pick up five valuable points. Entering the race with a seven-point deficit, the Florida team closed to within three points of the lead. Ganassi Racing’s No. 01 Ford EcoBoost Riley and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP both have 15 points.

Points in the four-race Patrón Endurance Cup are awarded at specific intervals throughout each race – every four hours in the Twelve Hours of Sebring – with the leader at the end of each segment scoring five points, four points for second, three points for third and fourth-place on back receiving two points.

Team Falken Tire improved a position in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) standings after Wolf Henzler led the opening segment in the No. 17 Team Falken Tire Porsche RSR. Corvette Racing remains 1-2 in the standings, with the No. 3 Corvette C7.R with 20 points and the No. 4 Corvette C7.R with 19, while Team Falken Tire is third with 14 points.

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports closed to within one point in Prototype Challenge (PC) as Andrew Palmer led the opening segment in the No. 52 Cuttwood/Spyder ORECA FLM09. James Gue ran fourth at the four-hour mark in the No. 54 CORE autosport FLM09, giving the team 21 points.

Ben Keating led the opening segment in GT Daytona (GTD), driving the No. 33 TI Automotive Dodge Viper SRT. The team’s No. 93 Viper was running third to up its total to 22 points, leading the second-place Scuderia Corsa Robert Graham/Royal Purple Ferrari 458 Italia by three points.

The Patrón Endurance Cup continues with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, June 28, and concludes with the 10-hour Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Fans can follow today’s action on FOX Sports 2 through 7 p.m. IMSA.com takes over coverage from 7-10 p.m., with FOX Sports 2 returning from 10-11 p.m. A two-hour special highlights show will be aired on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, March 22, from 8-10 a.m.

NEWS AND NOTES

· Olivier Pla led early in the pole-winning No. 57 Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2/Judd, but lost four laps due to damage sustained on pit road when Tracy Krohn was hit on pit road by a car exiting his pit. Krohn nursed the car until the next caution, when the team replaced the nose and discovered a loose muffler, leading to an extended stop.

· The Action Express Racing No. 31 Whelen Engineering /Team Fox Corvette DP ran in second three hours, 30 minutes into the race, when Eric Curran lost his right-front wheel shortly after exiting the pits. That brought out the third caution, dropping the team two laps down.

· The No. 0 Claro Video/TracFone DeltaWing DWC13 brought out the third caution when Katherine Legge pulled off course with left-rear suspension damage. The team attempted repairs before calling it a day.

· The fourth-qualifying No. 60 Tire Kingdom Service Centers Ligier JS P2/Honda became the first contender to go to the garage when Ozz Negri clipped the curbing in Turn 14 and spun across the track into a tire barrier, causing rear-end damage.

QUOTEBOARD

Ozz Negri, Driver – No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Tire Kingdom Honda Ligier JS P2/Honda:

“I was just pushing very hard trying to stay on the lead lap. I got behind a GTLM car and I thought he let off and gave me the way, but then he started to turn into the corner and I thought I was going to hit him. So I tried to avoid it and went over the curb and when I hit the curb, that’s when the car took off and spun the other way. It’s one of those things. Maybe I should have been a little more patient and passed him elsewhere but in the heat of the moment, you have to push, push, push. I’m just bummed for the Michael Shank Racing team that worked so hard changing over to a new engine yesterday.”

Antonio Garcia, Driver – No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R

“The Porsches seem to be really strong. What they showed in qualifying they are still showing in race pace. Now we’re going into a different period of the race where the track will be completely different. So far the car is behaving how we expected. It feels like the car is slowly coming to us. We need to stay where we are and keep pushing but not do anything crazy out there. If we can find just a little bit more from the car, it will be great.”

Joey Hand, Driver – No. 01 Ford EcoBoost Corvette DP

“The car was really tough to drive in the first stint. I struggled just to keep it on the track. They made a lot of really big changes. We needed those yellows to be able to do that kind of stuff and we got them in just the nick of time, really. That’s why this program is so awesome. These guys are really good at making changes on the fly, like nobody I’ve ever seen. We’re definitely close. I could actually race the others on that last stint. Scott’s having a go at it right now. We can’t win the race right now with this car, but a couple more changes, we could definitely get ourselves a podium car.”

Contact:

Nate Siebens

Senior Manager, IMSA Communications

(386) 310-6568

nsiebens