Bell Motorsports, winners of the 2003 North American Road Racing Championship, continued to prove that it will stay a powerhouse in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series duringpre-season testing at Daytona International Speedway. For the second day,the team's No. 54 Chevrolet-powered Doran JE-4 clocked the fastest lap timewith a 1:48.311 lap at 118.326 mph, nearly two seconds quicker than theDaytona Prototypes track record.
The No. 54 Chevy is piloted by 2003 driver champion Terry Borcheller, ForestBarber, Andy Pilgrim and Milka Duno this weekend.
The No. 58 Red Bull Porsche FABCAR of Brumos Racing once again turned thesecond-fastest lap of the day with its 1:48.635 lap at 118.973 mph. The RedBull machine's complete Rolex 24 At Daytona lineup is on hand for pre-seasontesting, including David Donohue, Darren Law, Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr.
The No. 01 Comp USA Lexus Riley of Chip Ganassi Racing was third on theleaderboard on Sunday with its 117.711 mph lap in 1:48.877. Drivers MaxPapis and Scott Pruett, who will serve as the team's primary drivers for theentire 2004 season, are testing the car this weekend.
The Howard-Boss Motorsports No. 2 Chevrolet Crawford, sporting an all-starlineup of sports car veteran Andy Wallace and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Seriesdrivers Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr., turned the fourth-fastest timewith a 117.537 mph lap in 1:48.877. Sunday's afternoon session was the firsttime that Stewart and Earnhardt Jr. had a chance to get behind the wheel ofthe No. 2 Chevy.
"We got a good race car. We've got to really study it to improve it and getit more comfortable for me. We seem to be right where we need to be - rightnear the top of the (time) sheet," said Earnhardt Jr. "I was really lookingforward to (racing in the Rolex 24). Driving for the Crawfords is a greathonor. I'm just trying to get those nerves out, and get comfortable with thecar and comfortable with the team, so I can really enjoy it. I'm still alittle nervous with it right now."
"Max and all these people did a great job building this car. For guys likeJunior, Jimmie Johnson and myself to get in there and, I don't know how manylaps I ran, but in about 10 laps I ran a 51 flat. To be able to get in a carand go that quick that soon in it shows how comfortable the car is,"remarked Stewart.
The Racer's Group, overall winners of the 2003 Rolex 24, recorded thefastest time in the GT class on Sunday. The team's No. 66 Porsche GT3 RS ofKevin Buckler, Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard and Patrick Long turned a1:54.785 lap at 111.652 mph, more than a full second better than their 2003qualifying time.
The AASCO Motorsports No. 16 Porsche GT3 Cup of Craig Stanton and DavidMurry clocked the quickest time in the Super Grand Sport (SGS) class with a1:57.074 lap at 109.469 mph.
In Grand-Am Cup Series testing, Istook/Aines Motorsports once again led thefield with its No. 04 Audi S4 recording a 2:06.299 lap at 101.473 mph, morethan a second faster than the Grand Sport track record. Drivers Don Istook,Anders Hainer and Blake Rosser are sharing driving duties in the Audi duringpre-season testing.
The No. 11 Mustang of Rehagen Racing had the second-fastest time with a100.167 mph lap in 2:07.946.
Last year's Sport Touring II championship winner, Bill Fenton Motorsports,showed that it will also be a top contender in the Sport Touring division byclocking the fastest time in the class on Sunday. The team's No. 27 AcuraRSX-S of Bill Fenton, Eric Curran and Bob Beeded turned a 2:14.437 lap at95.33 mph.
SpeedSource, which led the class on Saturday with its new No. 70 Mazda RX-8,was the second-fastest entry in the Sport Touring class, recording a2:14.321 lap at 95.413 mph.
Race fans can watch final testing sessions on Monday at DaytonaInternational Speedway from the Oldfield Tower grandstands. Admission isfree of charge and accessible through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.
The 42nd Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be run January 29 -February 1. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online atdaytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 386-253-RACE. The Rolex 24 will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED Channel.
