Qualifying results:
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/schedule/results.cfm?eid=10&sid=225

Qualifying session notes:
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/news/index.cfm?cid=16587

Qualifying press release:
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/news/index.cfm?cid=16588

DP top three:
58 Donohue / Brumos Racing / Porsche Riley 1:19.843
99 Fogarty / GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing / Pontiac Riley 1:19.951
01 Rojas / Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley 1:20.270

Jimmy Vasser, co-driving with Cristiano da Matta, qualified the sister #98 back in P6 with a 1:20.679. It's not a total shock to see Brumos take the pole, as they have been quick over the past year, just without the results. Nice to see GAINSCO regaining some of their form from last year, as long as they don't return to spanking the field by a second.


GT top three:
70 Ham / SpeedSource / Mazda RX-8 1:27.014
87 Kaffer / Farnbacher Loles Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 1:27.215
07 Collins / Banner Racing / Pontiac GXP.R 1:27.292

Not too much between those. We may be able to transition away from the accusation that G-A is fixing the races in favor of Pontiac, returning to the previous accusation that they're fixing the races in favor of Mazda, depending on the results of the race (Edwards tends to be mighty quick in the Pontiac).

Laguna Seca seems to favor the characteristics of a Mazda over the grunt of the Pontiac.

On a rather unrelated note... I wonder how many cars the 01 will 'have contact' with.

I am excited to see this race. I love Laguna, and both the DP and GT fields are ultra competitive right now.

June is personal Grand-Am month for me. With Rolex weekends at The Glen and Mid-Ohio with a Koni Challenge headliner at Mosport in between.

Screw the price of gas. I'm gonna be at all three.

Heh, as usual the drivers have stories of how they could have gone faster in qualifying. Fogarty was on his best lap yet when he had a suspension failure in the corkscrew. Vasser was going good on the last lap when he got blocked by cars that had given up on a fast lap and were heading for the pits.

Sigh, I hope the Laguna quicksand traps don't swallow too many cars whole during the race.

Anyone watching/observing the race? Race is supposed to start about 8 minutes ago and t & s still shows 'waiting'.

Nevermind, here we go. woohooo!

Something just happened to the 99.. pit stategery perhaps.

No grand am 'tv' on the website this race. At least I can't find it. I liked that for VIR.

Durn it. Either there was a major fracas just now or several cars did the early stop bit again. Porsche power currently one-two, after the 99 and 01 fell off the map, either through incident or strategy.

Looks like the 01 76 and 99 pitted to me.

How about a gentlemen driver in 3rd (60)! Granted, he hasn't pitted and he'll get swallowed up by the big dogs in a bit but that's a darn good start.

And I'm guessing the gravel traps have embraced the 65 TRG Porsche.

BTW, the G-A web video is up.

Sweet thanks.

Technically da Matta leads! Might be an interesting battle with Pruett coming up.

Well, poo. Shorty got gobbled-up on the restart. Looking like a nice fight for the win coming up in the last half-hour, though.

Okay. They DO give penalties, as they were given out today. Explain how the 01 has not recieved a single stop and go despite hitting at least two cars a week.

PainterDude - 18 May 2008 07:29 PM

Okay. They DO give penalties, as they were given out today. Explain how the 01 has not recieved a single stop and go despite hitting at least two cars a week.

Because saying the words "hello to my family at home" has some kind of hypnotic affect with the officials??

kbeech - 18 May 2008 10:52 PM

PainterDude - 18 May 2008 07:29 PM

Okay. They DO give penalties, as they were given out today. Explain how the 01 has not recieved a single stop and go despite hitting at least two cars a week.

Because saying the words "hello to my family at home" has some kind of hypnotic affect with the officials??

Or is it because all the commentators keep reminding us of how much of a "legend", "clean racer" and all around nice guy Scott is. No matter how much you misinform, it doesn't become fact.