Oswaldo Negri Jr - News 2004

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The Inside Line: Oswaldo Negri Jr.

12/21/2004

Negri Oswaldo Negri Jr. jumped onto the Grand American radar this year with some great performances in the Michael Shank Racing Daytona Prototype. Some strong podium performances and some very strong drives made Negri recognized throughout the paddock as well as in the stands. Negri was voted as TheRaceSite.com Rising Star of the Year in the Daytona Prototype class. Voters included team owners, Grand Am officials, and members of the media. Negri shared the award with Max Angelelli.
Recently Negri took a short break from off season work to converse with us about topics from Daytona Prototypes to an all star go-kart race.

TheRaceSite.com: The Grand Am Rolex Series has really given a new birth to your career. Fellow teams, officials, and members of the media named you TheRaceSite.com Daytona Prototype Rising Star. The DP class is blossoming into a premiere class in racing. What are your thoughts on the formula and the racing?

Oswaldo Negri, Jr.: I think the series is just fantastic, I had great fun racing this year, it was one of the best years of my career. The Grand American Rolex Series has all the ingredients to be one of the best in the United States. It has top drivers, top chassis manufacturers, great engines and if you mix it all up you see what we saw this year, great fights during the 2:45 minutes of racing.

The cars handle pretty well and are quick, it is not high tech and the manufacturers are not as heavily involved as in other series, making the Rolex series more like a drivers series. The braking zone is not short, permitting great overtaking maneuvers done by the drivers. To finalize, the Rolex series is supposed to be an endurance type of racing, but I don't feel this way. It is flat out from green flag to the end, it is just so cool.

TheRaceSite.com: The 2005 season could be a strong follow up to the success you had in 2004. Do you have any firm plans yet?

Oswaldo Negri, Jr.: Unfortunatly not. I am talking to three good teams, I wished I had a deal already, so I could start concentrating on my driving. This is harder then driving, I mean the waiting.............

TheRaceSite.com: You got a chance recently to compete in the 500 Miles of Granja Viana with Helio Castro Neves and Gil De Ferren. What was that event like?

Oswaldo Negri, Jr.: It was great, we were like three 15 year old kids jumping up and down cheering each other. It is a very big event here in Brazil, we had top drivers from almost every category in the world, F-1. Rubens, Montoya, Massa and Zonta , IRL we had JUST the Champion Tony that is quick in anything he seats on, in my Team alone, we had three Indy 500 wins, with Helio and Gil. Plus other great talents like Marco Adretti, Dan Wheldon and Felipe Giaffone. Now imagine all that with the best of the local talents, you are racing against another 78 Go-Karts and they are all good. It is so hard to explain, you just have to be there to realize what it is.

TheRaceSite.com: What did you learn from your 2004 season in DP's that you will be able to take into 2005 to elevate your success?

Oswaldo Negri, Jr.: I think I had a lot of pressure in 2004, we had to make it happen to keep going, it was almost a race by race deal. I could not have done it without my teammate Burt and the great Mike Shank Team that always gave me the support.

I think that in racing there is always room for improvement, and I am always looking for one. I took a lot of chances that sometimes worked and some did not, maybe if I had a secure ride for the whole year, it could have been a little better, I always drove from my heart.

TheRaceSite.com: The Michael Shank Racing effort surprised quite a few people I think. They came in and were stunningly fast, despite no real sportscar background. What, besides your driving of course, helped give them an edge in their first season?

Oswaldo Negri, Jr.: I Always say that the thing that I most liked about the team, is that Mike has the same desire to win that I have. It doesn't matter how many hours, or what it takes. I could only imagine if we had a budget, what it would have been.

The chemistry was fantastic between me and Dale, my engineer, the mechanics are first class. MSR is an all around professional team that will do well in anything they enter. I really hope that I can announce to your readers soon with good news about 2005, I want to drive in the Series so much, that hurts.

I would like to wish everyone, Happy Holidays and an outstanding 2005.

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Michael Shank Racing’s Oswaldo Negri Named “Rising Star”

12/17/2004

2004 Michael Shank Racing driver Oswaldo Negri was recently named as the “Grand American Daytona Prototype Rising Star” in a survey of Grand American teams and officials, as well as a panel of media members. Negri shares the award with Max Angelelli, who also had a stand out 2004 season. Negri co-drove the Lexus-powered Doran with young Burt Frisselle, and the driver pairing proved potent, netting two podium finishes during the season and taking the MSR car to sixth in the team championship.

“I am quite honored to have been named for this award,” said Negri. “This season was one of my best ever. Even though it was the team’s first year in the series going against some bigger teams, we always had a competitive chance, and it was very rewarding. I have to thank the Frisselles and whole Michael Shank Racing team for the faith that they showed in me, and all the hard work that they do, because if they hadn’t done such a good job all season, Burt and I would have never been able to show our speed.”

Negri, who took championships in his native Brazil and went on to race in England against guys with names like Barrichello, Coulthard, and de Ferran, brought speed and experience in the Daytona Prototype to the team, having contested a limited schedule of races in 2003. He also brought a wealth of experience developing race cars, as his time in F3 and Indy Lights had led to him being tapped by Barber Dodge and Formula BMW USA to develop their cars as a test driver.

Eager to show they were well-placed in the category, and working to make the most of the opportunity, Negri and Frisselle scored a coup in just their first race together, hustling their way to third place in qualifying and backing that up with a scrappy run to third in the race behind a Michael Shank Racing crew that was adapting quickly to the special challenge of pit stops in sprint-format endurance racing.

After a series of setbacks in the mid season that saw the team fall in the championship order, Negri and Frisselle kept their heads and their positive attitude, fighting all the way to close the season out with yet another top-ten at California Speedway.

“This is a great thing for Os to get the recognition we feel he deserves,” said team owner Mike Shank. “He played a big part in our first season as we learned the nuances of the car and of the endurance category. We are hoping we will be able to include him in our 2005 plans, because he has shown us, and everyone in the Rolex paddock, that he deserves to be here.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317.908.2975

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TheRaceSite.com Announces 2004 Award Winners

12/13/2004

Award TheRaceSite.com asked all season long teams, all officials, and a long list of members of the media to vote on the 2004 TheRaceSite.com awards. The results have been tabulated and the final awards have been announced. The award categories included Rising Star Awards in all classes of Grand American Rolex and Grand Am Cup, Crew Chief of the Year Awards in all classes of Grand American Rolex and Grand Am Cup, and Paint Scheme of the Year in Grand American Rolex and Grand Am Cup.
These awards have been given out in the past from TheRaceSite.com for the Grand Am Cup series, but in 2004 the awards have expanded to the Rolex Series.

The Rising Star Award is voted on upon the basis that these drivers are on their way to becoming stars in the sportscar racing world. Past champions of a professional North American series and past winners of a TheRaceSite.com Rising Star Award were not eligible.

Grand American Rolex Daytona Prototype Rising Star (Tie):
Max Angelelli (SunTrust) and Oswaldo Negri, Jr. (Michael Shank Racing)
Max Angelelli helped lead the SunTrust Racing effort to a second place finish in the Grand Am Rolex points. Italian born, Angelelli has enjoyed success across the Atlantic but the 2004 season was a breakout season for him in the states. Three wins in the Grand Am Rolex Daytona Prototypes as well as success in the World Challenge GT class gave Angelelli recognition for his talents in the states. The 2005 season looks to be strong for the aggressive Italian as he will be back with SunTrust Racing in a new DP in their bid for the 2005 title.

Oswaldo Negri Jr. didn't score a win in 2004 but proved very talented with two podium finishes in the Michael Shank Racing Doran. Paired with Burt Frisselle, Negri also drove with ferociousness to place himself and Frisselle twelfth in the Driver's Championship. Silly season movements have seen Frisselle move to Synergy Racing to pair with his brother in a DP leaving Negri temporarily without a ride, a situation that probably won't last for this talented Brazilian.

Grand American Rolex GT Rising Star:
Justin Marks (Team PTG)
Driving for Team PTG, Justin Marks scored four wins and took third place in the Championship. Marks started out the season paired with fellow rookie Joey Hand. Midseason he got the opportunity to pair with veteran Bill Auberlen. Marks found success in both the GT class and the World Challenge Touring class. The future looks bright for this young American as he looks to be back with PTG next season and his efforts with Turner may expand next year to other opportunities.

Grand American Rolex Super Grand Sport Rising Star:
Craig Stanton (AASCO, Planet Earth, G&W Motorsports)
Driving for various teams through the 2004 season, Criag Stanton had a break out season. Stanton found success in the Rolex Series, the Grand Am Cup series, and the GT class of ALMS. Early in the Rolex season Stanton won a race and scored a second place finish with the AASCO effort. Later in the season Stanton took on the role of driving instructor for the young driver Mae Van Wijk scoring her a season high fourth place finish as her co-driver.

Grand Am Cup Grand Sport Rising Star:
Craig Stanton (TheRaceSite.com Racing)
Voters proved that they thought Stanton is a star on the rise as they named him the Rising Star in two different classes. Driving for TheRaceSite.com Racing in Grand Am Cup, Craig Stanton had a career season. Stanton started the season out with Terry Borcheller and the duo won the first three races together. In the fourth race Stanton found himself paired with long time teammate David Murry and the duo went on to win three more races. The total of six wins and two poles scored Stanton the Driver Championship, his first professional title.

Grand Am Cup Sport Touring Rising Star:
Will Turner (Turner Motorsports)
With the dual role of both Team Owner and Driver, Will Turner had very busy weekends. In addition Turner also ran a World Challenge Touring effort that scored Bill Auberlen the Driver's Championship. In Grand Am Cup Turner and his co-driver Don Salama missed out on the Drivers title by the slimmest of margins to the SpeedSource effort. Turner's performances in his BMW didn't go unnoticed as his peers named him the Rising Star in the Sport Touring class.

Crew Chief of the Year Award
The Crew Chief of the Year award doesn't necessarily go to the team with the most success, but rather to the Crew Chief that utilized the resources available to their team to get the most success out of the vehicle package they had to work with.

Grand Am Rolex Daytona Prototype Crew Chief of the Year:
Kent Holden (#01 CompUSA)
When the 2004 season started everyone expected CompUSA to be a force in the Grand Am Rolex Series. With ownership shared by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates, it seemed as if the team would be a sure thing to win races. However even with the right budget and equipment, no team can have success without the right people behind the project. Coming into a new situation with no previous Daytona Prototype experience for the team, Kent helped Scott Pruett and Max Papis win eleven pole positions, three wins, and the DP Championship in the CompUSA Riley and Scott Lexus.

Grand Am Rolex GT Crew Chief of the Year:
Pascal Bussy (Orbit Racing)
The Crew Chief award is supposed to go to the person who utilized their resources to secure the highest level of performance from their team. Orbit Racing certainly didn't have the largest budget, but they certainly scored success on the track. The 2000 Porsche Cup Champion, Mike Fitzgerald, led the driving lineup that included the progressing talents of Jay Policastro and Joe Policastro. Bussy helped lead the team to a GT class win at the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, three podiums, and five top fives. In a season dominated by the factory backed BMW effort, the results from Orbit Racing were enough to earn Pascal Bussy the Rolex GT Crew Chief of the Year from his peers.

Grand Am Rolex Super Grand Sport Crew Chief of the Year:
Tom Chan (TPC Racing)
TPC Racing had a banner year in Super Grand Sport this season. The team ran three Porsche GT3 Cups all season long (except for the 24 Hours). Every one of the three cars won and the team ended up with seven wins, twenty three podiums, and the Team, Driver, and Manufacturer Championship. The success of the TPC Racing effort was recognized by their peers as the team earned the Super Grand Sport Crew Chief of the Year Award for Tom Chan.

Grand Am Cup Grand Sport Crew Chief of the Year:
Mike Thomas (TheRaceSite.com Racing)
The Phoenix ProMotions effort ran the Grand Am Cup TheRaceSite.com Racing Porsche effort as well as the Grand Am Rolex Orison Planet Earth Motorsports Porsche effort. By season end the team had racked up sixty seven entries in the two series and their Grand Am Cup effort scored the Driver, Team, and Manufacturer Championship. Thomas has been with the team since 1993 and has helped lead the team to five of the team's seven professional Team Championships since the team inception in 1984.

Grand Am Cup Sport Touring Crew Chief of the Year:
Bobby Khavidi (SpeedSource Race Engineering)
SpeedSource Race Engineering entered the 2004 season with thoughts of winning races and visions of a Championship. With a brand new Mazda RX-8 that needed developing, the Florida based effort embarked upon a season long venture that saw them wrap up the Driver Championship in the last race of the season. Four wins and a reputation of reliability in their first year with the rotary Renesis engine helped earn Khavadi the Sport Touring Crew Chief of the Year.

Best Paint Scheme
The Best Paint Scheme of the Year Award was voted on by teams, members of the media, and series officials as well. The voting was very tight in this category as the Rolex winner had only one vote more than the three way tie for second and in Grand Am Cup the winner only had two more votes than second.

Grand Am Rolex Best Paint Scheme:
Orison Planet Earth Motorsports
Sporting the earth on the Porsche silhouette, the Orison Planet Earth Motorsports effort's Porsche GT3 Cup won the Grand Am Rolex Best Paint Scheme Award. The effort finished in first only one vote ahead of a three way tie for second that included Brumos Racing, CompUSA, and TPC Racing. The scheme was the brainchild of Will Nonnamaker and has been in the sportscar racing world since 1996 when it debuted on the team's Mazda MX-6.

Grand Am Cup Best Paint Scheme:
TheRaceSite.com Racing
With a distinctive Black and Red car combined with a lightening bolt on the side of the car, TheRaceSite.com Racing took home the Grand Am Cup Best Paint Scheme. With only two more votes than past winner of the award, SpeedSource Race Engineering, the voting was tight in the Grand Am Cup series as well.

With the 2005 season coming less than six weeks from now the coming season will be an exciting and challenging one for teams and drivers. Increased competition in every class of the two series will force teams to double their development efforts in the off season if they want to stay on top. The Grand American Rolex and Grand Am Cup season get kicked off at the newly renovated Daytona International Speedway on February 4th through the 6th.

Presented by HRPWorld.com

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Oswaldo Negri teams with de Ferran, Carrapatoso and Castroneves for all-star karting enduro in Brazil

11/16/2004

(Miami, FL)-Michael Shank Racing’s Oswaldo Negri teamed with Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, and World Karting champion Rubens Carrapatoso in the Granja Viana 500 in Brazil this weekend, storming from fifty-third on the grid of seventy to take second place just fifteen seconds behind 2004 Indy Racing League Champion Tony Kanaan after a late-race pit miscue cost Negri’s squad the win in the nearly eleven-hour event.

Negri proved quick in practice, so the team selected him to qualify the kart but a problem with the fuel pump kept him from producing any fast times, leaving the team to fight from mid-field. But the Brazilian squad was more than up to the task, as Carrapatoso took the helm for the start, and hauled the kart up to the lead in his first stint.

“It was amazing, Carrapatoso turns the kart over to me in the lead, and it doesn’t have a single scratch on it after passing all those karts!” said Negri.

Negri then took the wheel, keeping the car competitive during a brutal two-hour and forty-five minute stint, even lapping Rubens Barrichello (part of the winning squad that included Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, and Philippe Giaffone) before turning the car over to countryman Castroneves, who was also able to keep the car in the lead.

Castroneves in turn passed the driving duties over to former Penske teammate de Ferran, who had to turn the kart back over to Carrapatoso after he injured his ribs on the rough circuit. Carrapatoso did everything he could to take the win, but a line of karts waiting in the pits for fuel in the closing laps of the enduro kept the team from taking the victory.

“We all went down for some fun-see some old friends, have a good time in the karts for the race, but in those closing laps, those guys were fighting for that win like it was the last race in the world, and there was no joking around,” said Negri. “With a field of drivers as talented as this-probably the most skilled collection of drivers in any race-its not too surprising that it was so competitive.”

Negri, who is hoping to return to the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2005 and build on the positive momentum he generated with the Michael Shank Racing team, was nursing some sore ribs upon his return to the States.

“It hurts a little bit, but that will go away,” said Negri. “It was very special to be racing there, to have the exceptional teammates that I did, and to come so close to winning. I really had a good time, and of course, we can start thinking now about how to make sure we win next year…”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications
matt@cleary.net
317.722.1838

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Corrida emocionante de Negri/ Gil/ Helinho e Carrapatoso nas 500 Milhas

15/11/2004

Equipe largou na 53ª posição e terminou em segundo lugar na 8ª edição das 500 Milhas da Granja Viana

São Paulo - O quarteto formado pelos pilotos Oswaldo Negri Jr., Ruben Carrapatoso, Helio Castroneves e Gil de Ferran deu um show de pilotagem, que não será esquecido, no Kartódromo Internacional da Granja Viana. No treino de classificação a equipe sofreu com vários problemas de acerto, e os relegou a uma distante 53ª posição no grid, que abrigou 72 karts.

Negri A largada foi dada pontualmente às 0:00 do domingo, para as 644 voltas no circuito de 1.200 metros. Ruben Carrapatoso, que na última semana venceu as 500 Milhas de Milão, foi o encarregado de largar. Rapidamente a equipe foi galgando várias posições, e ao final da terceira hora de prova, a equipe já ocupava a liderança da prova.

Negri assumiu a condução do kart substituindo Carrapatoso, e manteve o mesmo ritmo avassalador e continuo impondo-se aos adversários, chegando a abrir uma volta de vantagem para os demais. Em segundo lugar se alternavam os karts das equipes de Barrichello, que havia tido um problema de freios ainda na primeira hora, e de Christian Fittipaldi, que vencerá a última edição da prova.

Negri As últimas 200 voltas da corrida acabaram se transformando em uma batalha quase titânica, deixando o público e as equipes em grande suspense. Gil de Ferran havia assumido a condução do kart nº 73, substituindo Hélio Castroneves, mas após 10 voltas passou a sentir fortes dores nas costelas. No kart 72 era conduzido por Tony Kanaan, que havia substituido Felipe Giaffone.

Carrapatoso foi chamado as pressas, e quando Gil entrou nos boxes sua equipe liderava, e quando Carrapatoso voltou, estava em segundo, com vinte segundos de desvantagem. A pilotagem extremamente agressiva de Carrapatoso não somente empolgava, mas o fazia diminuir volta a volta a diferença para Kanaan.

Kanaan & Carapatoso Faltando duas horas para o final, Tony e Carrapatoso estavam disputando os décimos de segundo pela liderança, e após alguns ataques Carrapatoso reassumiu a liderança. Neste momento todos entenderam que salvo algum imprevisto a vitória seria decidida nos reabastecimentos.

Foi exatamente o que aconteceu. Na última parada de Carrapatoso, a balança estava desimpedida, mas na sua frente dois outros karts eram reabastecidos, e com isso a sua vantagem de quase 50 segundos, se transformou em 20 segundos de desvantagem. Kanaan sabendo que seu adversário conseguiu um ritmo fortíssimo, e que as quarenta voltas finais seriam decisivas, se aproveitou brilhantemente de um trabalho de "equipe", ora sendo puxado pelo vácuo de Renato Russo, ora sendo empurrado pelo amigo.

Carrapatoso não encontrava quem pudesse fazer o mesmo com ele, principalmente por que a carenagem do seu kart já estava muito danificada, e um toque mais forte poderia arrancá-la por inteiro, forçando-o a uma parada extra. Faltando 15 voltas, Carrapatoso passou a utilizar Juliano Moro, como seu batedor, lhe abrindo caminho, e lhe proporcionando vácuo.

Na bandeirada a distância que separava o kart de Tony Kanaan/ Rubens Barrichello/ Felipe Giaffone e Dan Weldon, do kart de Negri/ Carrapatoso, Gil e Helinho era de somente 15 segundos, isso após mais de 10 horas e meia de competição.

"Claro que todos queríamos vencer, mas estamos muito felizes. Viemos para brincar, e terminamos com o segundo lugar, após termos largado em 53º", disse Negri. "Nos perdemos a corrida na última parada, ao darmos o azar de pegarmos dois karts ainda sendo reabastecidos, mas não tem nada, ano que vem nos estaremos de volta", falou Negri, que deve disputar novamente a Grand-Am, em 2005.

Granja Na terceira colocação com sete voltas de desvantagem aparecem os campeões do ano passado, Christian Fittipaldi, Mario Haberfeld e Charlie Fonseca. Completaram o pódio Clemente Faria/ Felipe Guimarães/ Rodrigo Piquet com o kart 888, Wagner Ebrahim/ Nathan Silva/ Bruno Barri (kart 116) e Roberto Moreno /Allan Helmeister /Nonô Figueiredo /Matt Jakso l/ Renato Jader David .

Após a bandeirada Helinho, Gil e Negri foram parabenizar Carrapatoso pela belíssima e lícita disputa com Kanaan. Em seguida se juntaram aos amigos que venceram a prova, se cumprimentaram efusivamente e juntos todos posaram para fotos no kart vencedor.

"Foi antes de tudo uma grande festa, e uma competição em altíssimo nível. Adorei correr aqui, mas agora quero dormir até segunda-feira", brincava Gil de Ferran.

Prova válida pela 5.ª e última etapa do Brasileiro de Endurance:

1 Kart 72 - Rubens Barrichello/ Tony Kanaan/ Felipe Giaffone/ Dan Wheldon
2 Kart 73 – Helio Castroneves/ Gil de Ferran/ Osvaldo Negri/ Ruben Carrapatoso
3 Kart 1 - Christian Fittipaldi/ Mário Haberfeld/ Charlie Fonseca
4 Kart 888 - Clemente Faria /Felipe Guimarães /Rodrigo Piquet
5 Kart 116 – Wagner Ebrahim /Nathan Silva /Bruno Bari
6 Kart 91 – Roberto Moreno /Allan Helmeister /Nonô Figueiredo /Matt Jakso l/ Renato Jader David
7 Kart 8 – Pedro Serrano /Luiz Matarazzo /Carlos Araújo /Guiliano Salzano
8 Kart 121 – Marcelo Dias /Rafael Daniel /Thiago Camilo /Norberto Gresse
9 Kart 99 - José França /Renan Goffredo / Hermes Moreira/ José Raul Girondi
10 Kart 511 – Osvaldo Badula/ Mário Maia/ Rogério Garcia/ Eduardo Abrantes/ Bruno Miloni/ Rafael Frigeri
11 Kart 57 – Jorge Borelli/ Felipe Ferreira/ Eduardo Cândio/ Rodrigo Marcheschi
12 Kart 128 – Daniel Landi/ Dennis Dirani/ Alberto Valério
13 Kart 18 – Vítor Meira/ Juliano Moro/ Felipe Maluhy
14 Kart 10 – Guido Palenga/ Jorge Thompson/ Eduardo Corrêa da Fonseca/ Rogério Secco/ Ricardo Bigliazzi/ Roberto Palenga
15 Kart 41 – Roberto Gomes/ Pedro Gomes/ Fernando Wortmann/ Juliano Moro/ Lucas Rodrigues
16 Kart 204 - Tommy Muth/ Wagner Rossi/ Demian Borba/ Sergio Lobo/ Carlos Teixeira/Sergio Slaviero
17 Kart 2 – Eduardo Martins/ André Martins/ Mário Haberfeld/ Charlie Fonseca
18 Kart 4 – Guilherme/ Pedro Biachini/ André Gouveia
19 Kart 102 – Carlos Iaconelli/ Galid Osman/ Felipe Polehtto
20 Kart 142 – Patrik/ João Preto/ Nelson Rangel

JV5Racing
Crédito das fotos: João Vasconcelos
João Vasconcelos

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Negri's team gave a show in the 500 Miles of Granja Viana

11/15/2004

Negri The team formed by Oswaldo Negri Jr., Ruben Carrapatoso, Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran had a race that will not be forgotten soon in the traditional 500 Miles of Granja Viana, in Brazil.
In Qualifying the team had problems that caused them to start in 53rd out of 72 karts. The start of the race was at midnight, from saturday to sunday and the race had 644 laps in the 1.2 km track 25 km from the center of Sao Paulo.

After three hours the team of Negri was already leading the race, when Negri assumed the kart and kept the strong pace. Negri even managed to lap the second placed, Rubens Barrichello. But the best was still to come, as Gil assumed the kart with less than 200 laps to go, but had to come back after only 10 laps, with strong back pains.

Negri So, the team of Tony Kanaan and Rubens Barrichello assumed the lead, working together with his team mate Renato Russo to open the way through the crowded track lap after lap. In a very tight battle, that was decided at the last pit-stop, the team of Barrichello had the advantage and won the race, but the show the spectators will not forget was from kart 73, driven by Negri, Carrapatoso, Castroneves and de Ferran.

"Of course a win was our goal, but we came here to have fun and finishing 2nd after having started in 53rd was great" said Negri, that plans to race in Grand-Am again in 2005. "It was first of all a great party and fun. I loved to race here, but now I want to sleep until monday" said de Ferran.
Kanaan & Carapatoso

Race results of the 500 Miles of Granja Viana

1 Kart 72 - Rubens Barrichello/ Tony Kanaan/ Felipe Giaffone/ Dan Wheldon
2 Kart 73 - Helio Castroneves/ Gil de Ferran/ Osvaldo Negri/ Ruben Carrapatoso
3 Kart 1 - Christian Fittipaldi/ Mário Haberfeld/ Charlie Fonseca
4 Kart 888 - Clemente Faria /Felipe Guimarães /Rodrigo Piquet
5 Kart 116 - Wagner Ebrahim /Nathan Silva /Bruno Bari
6 Kart 91 - Roberto Moreno /Allan Helmeister /Nonô Figueiredo /Matt Jakso l/ Renato Jader David
7 Kart 8 - Pedro Serrano /Luiz Matarazzo /Carlos Araújo /Guiliano Salzano
8 Kart 121 - Marcelo Dias /Rafael Daniel /Thiago Camilo /Norberto Gresse
9 Kart 99 - José França /Renan Goffredo / Hermes Moreira/ José Raul Girondi
10 Kart 511 - Osvaldo Badula/ Mário Maia/ Rogério Garcia/ Eduardo Abrantes/ Bruno Miloni/ Rafael Frigeri
11 Kart 57 - Jorge Borelli/ Felipe Ferreira/ Eduardo Cândio/ Rodrigo Marcheschi
12 Kart 128 - Daniel Landi/ Dennis Dirani/ Alberto Valério
13 Kart 18 - Vítor Meira/ Juliano Moro/ Felipe Maluhy
14 Kart 10 - Guido Palenga/ Jorge Thompson/ Eduardo Corrêa da Fonseca/ Rogério Secco/ Ricardo Bigliazzi/ Roberto Palenga
15 Kart 41 - Roberto Gomes/ Pedro Gomes/ Fernando Wortmann/ Juliano Moro/ Lucas Rodrigues
16 Kart 204 - Tommy Muth/ Wagner Rossi/ Demian Borba/ Sergio Lobo/ Carlos Teixeira/Sergio Slaviero
17 Kart 2 - Eduardo Martins/ André Martins/ Mário Haberfeld/ Charlie Fonseca
18 Kart 4 - Guilherme/ Pedro Biachini/ André Gouveia
19 Kart 102 - Carlos Iaconelli/ Galid Osman/ Felipe Polehtto
20 Kart 142 - Patrik/ João Preto/ Nelson Rangel

Granja

João Clemente Vasconcelos
55 11 9736-2398
Pictures by João Vasconcelos

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Negri termina em sétimo na Califórnia

01/11/2004

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, que compete na Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series, terminou a última etapa da temporada 2004 da categoria, na sétima colocação. O piloto da equipe Michael Shank Racing (MSR) deu uma grande largada, pulando da sétima colocação para o terceiro lugar, mas para evitar uma batida na primeira curva saiu do trilho e perdeu várias posições.

7th in Fontana Antes mesmo de fecharem a primeira volta, a corrida já estava sob bandeira amarela, com Negri completanto a volta na 12ª colocação. Na relargada o brasileiro partiu em busca do tempo perdido, e evoluiu na prova até o terceiro lugar, quando entregou o carro ao companheiro de equipe, o norte americano Burt Frisselle.

Frisselle voltou a corrida na oitava colocação, e com um ritmo tão forte quanto o de Negri, já ocupava o quarto lugar. O norte-americano travou uma espetacular batalha com o ex-piloto de F-1, Jan Magnussen, e só cedeu a muito custa a posição.

"Lutei o que podia para manter o Jan atrás. Infelizmente um carro GT me atrapalhou, e para não bater no muro deixei o Jan passar", contou Frisselle.

Após a nova rodada de pit-stops, Negri retomou a direção voltando no oitavo lugar. O brasileiro passou a imprimir um ritmo tão forte quando o da classificação, mas não foi possivel evoluir além do sétimo posto.

"Fizemos uma bela corrida nas fases iniciais. No final o carro começou a apresentar uma forte vibração, que acabou impedindo de conseguirmos chegar nos que iam à nossa frente", comentou Negri. "Foi uma pena, porque estavamos muito motivados a dar um bom resultado a MSR", disse ainda Negri.

"Esta foi uma grande temporada, não somente para mim, mas para toda equipe. Tivemos grandes momentos, e também passamos por maus bocados, mas nosso time nunca perdeu o enfoque", falou o brasileiro. "Acho que mostramos o quão forte é este pequeno grupo", continuou Negri.

"Espero que nós possamos trabalhar juntos novamente no futuro, porque esta foi uma das melhores equipes pela qual competi em toda minha carreira", completou Negri.

O dono da equipe, Mike Shank também estava desapontado com o resultado, mas ficou muito contente pelo fato de conseguirem terminar sem se envolver em acidentes com outros carros.

Negri, que ainda não revelou seus planos para 2005, viaja para o Brasil onde disputará as 500 Milhas da Granja Viana junto com Hélio Castroneves e Gil de Ferran. A vitória ficou com a dupla Max Papis/ Scott Pruet, que também conquistaram o título de 2004 da Grand-Am.

Wayne Forbes Robinson/ Butch Leitzinger terminaram em segundo lugar e Darren Manning/ Scott Dixon completaram o pódio.

Resultado final da Lexus Grand American 400

1 - Papis-Pruett (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - 89 voltas
2 - Forbes Robinson-Leitzinger (Crawford-Pontiac) - Howard Boss - 89
3 - Manning-Dixon (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - 89
4 - Angelelli-Taylor (Riley-Pontiac) - Suntrust - a 1 volta
5 - Theys-Magnussen (Doran-Lexus) - Doran - a 1 volta
6 - Morales-Diaz (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - a 1 volta
7 - Negri-Frisselle (Doran-Lexus) - Shank - a 1 volta
8 - France-Haywood (Fabcar-Porsche) - Brumos - a 2 voltas
9 - Duno-Wallace (Crawford-Pontiac) - Howard Boss - a 2 voltas
10 - Martini-Wagner (Doran-Bmw) - G&W - a 3 voltas
11 - Lewis-Rice (Fabcar-Bmw) - Southard - a 3 voltas
12 - Borkowski-Nolte (Riley-Pontiac) - Margraf - a 5 voltas
13 - Milner-Collins (Bmw M3) - PTG - a 5 voltas
14 - Said-Hand (Bmw M3) - PTG - a 5 voltas
15 - Valentine-James-Gleason (Porsche 911) - Racers - a 6 voltas

JV5Racing – 01/11/2004
Foto crédito: Motorsport
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing finishes 7th in Fontana Finale

10/31/2004

Fontana, California - The Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran finished seventh in the season-ending Lexus Grand American Champions Weekend at California Speedway after running as high as third in the early stages of the eighty-nine lap event. Oswaldo Negri took the green flag from seventh on the grid, but was shuffled down the order after going off-track to avoid a spinning car on the first lap, falling to twelfth in the ensuing yellow flag period.

7th in Fontana On the restart, Negri put his head down and made a charge towards the front, passing car after car on his way up to third before handing the car over to Burt Frisselle, who rejoined the field in eighth after the pit stop. Frisselle made some moves of his own, moving up to take fifth place before holding off former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen for several laps before finally ceding the position.

“I held him off as long as I could, but a GT car chopped down on me in the banking, and I had a big loose moment but was able to catch the car and keep it off the wall but Jan was able to get by me,” said Frisselle.

Frisselle held on to sixth as he turned the car back over to Negri, who rejoined in eighth in the closing stages of the race. Negri fought back again, but the car just didn’t have the pace in the closing laps, preventing him from moving up beyond the seventh position.

“We did pretty well in the early stages, but we had a vibration develop in the car, and in the end, I was just hanging on to it,” said Negri. “It’s a shame because we were hungry to get Mike further up in the championship, but at least we were able to get to the finish today.”

“This has been a great season for me and this team-we have had some huge highs, and some tough races, but the team never lost focus and I think we showed how strong this little group is all season,” continued Negri. “I hope that we are able to work together in the future, because this has been one of the best experiences I have had in my career.”

Team owner Mike Shank was also disappointed with the result, but was happy that the car made it to the finish without suffering from contact with any other cars.

“It’s a disappointing result given how fast we were early in the race,” said team owner Mike Shank. “But it’s a finish, and after the last two races we’ve had, its pretty good to get to the finish and still be fighting for it at the end.”

Shank still considered the season a success, and is looking forward to the future with his team.

“It’s really been a banner year for Michael Shank Racing, and I want to thank our drivers Burt and Oswaldo, and everyone who supported us this season, especially Kevin Doran, the Frisselles, TRD and Lexus, and of course my guys, who really made this happen all season.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Negri larga em sétimo na Califórnia

31/10/2004

Negri e Frisselle querem bom resultado para premiar o trabalho da MSR nesta temporada

A equipe Michael Shank Racing (MSR) parte da sétima posição no grid para última etapa da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, que terá neste domingo a prova Lexus Grand American 400, no autódromo do California Speedway. A equipe do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, que corre com um Lexus-Doran conseguiu deixar o carro bastante competitivo, apesar do traçado não favorecer a este chassis.

Fontana Negri estabeleceu na melhor volta, no circuito baseado no traçado oval, o tempo de 1m32s598. Este tempo está a somente 0s4 do terceiro colocado no grid. A prova terá 89 voltas, com Negri sendo o encarregado da primeira parte da corrida, e depois cedendo o carro ao seu companheiro de equipe, o norte-americano Burt Frisselle.

"O carro estava realmente muito bom. Infelizmente o (Darin) Manning decidiu tentar sua volta rápida no mesmo momento que nós, e acabou me atrapalhando um pouco", contou Negri. "Nós melhoramos muito desde o início dos treinos, e estamos bastante otimistas para esta corrida. Queremos dar ao Mike e aos mecânicos um belo presente de final de temporada", comentou o brasileiro.

Mike Shank, que ontem anunciou seus planos para temporada 2005, viu seus mecânicos trabalharem muito neste final de temporada para prepararem o carro, e agora está bastante confiante para esta última corrida do ano.

"Somos somente alguns décimos mais lento que o terceiro. Fizemos um progresso gigantesco neste final de semana, se formos olhar para os primeiros treinos", falou Shank. "Nossa equipe trabalhou duro nesta últimas provas, por alguns acidentes de pista. Mas agora está tudo bem, e esperamos sair daqui com mais alguns pontos, e uma boa posição no campeonato", completou Shank.

A pole position ficou com Lexus-Riley de Max Papis, que corre em dupla com o norte-americano Scott Pruett, e estabeleceu o novo recorde para o circuito, com o tempo de 1m 30s962. Ao seu lado na primeira fila aparece o Riley-Lexus de Darren Manning/ Scott Dixon. A largada para prova acontece às 15:00 (horário de Brasília).

Veja o grid para a Lexus Grand American 400

1 Papis-Pruett (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - 1m30s962
2 Manning-Dixon (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - 1m31s820
3 Morales-Diaz (Riley-Lexus) - Ganassi - 1m32s160
4 ForbesRobinson-Leitzinger (Crawford-Pontiac) - Howard Boss - 1m32s306
5 Angelelli-Taylor (Riley-Pontiac) - Suntrust - 1m32s486
6 Borcheller-Fittipaldi-Barber (Doran-Pontiac) - Bell - 1m32s531
7 Negri-Frisselle (Doran-Lexus) - Shank - 1m32s598
8 Gregoire-Goad (Crawford-Pontiac) - Spirit of Daytona - 1m32s823
9 Law-Donohue (Fabcar-Porsche) - Brumos - 1m33s445
10 Theys-Magnussen (Doran-Lexus) - Doran - 1m33s886
11 Borkowski-Nolte (Riley-Pontiac) - Margraf - 1m34s109
12 France-Haywood (Fabcar-Porsche) - Brumos - 1m35s249
13 Lewis-Rice (Fabcar-Bmw) - Southard - 1m35s269
14 Duno-Wallace (Crawford-Pontiac) - Howard Boss - 1m35s314
15 Guenette-Miller (Chevrolet-Chase) - Chase - 1m35s711
16 Martini-Wagner (Doran-Bmw) - G&W - 1m35s845
17 Milner-Collins (Bmw M3) - PTG - 1m37s819
18 Said-Hand (Bmw M3) - PTG - 1m37s878
19 Auberlen-Marks (Bmw M3) - PTG - 1m38s092
20 Buckler-Flanagan (Porsche 911) - Racers - 1m38s577
21 Assentato-Earle (Maserati Light) - Washington - 1m39s137
22 Cicero-McQueen-Vance (Porsche 911) - Stevenson - 1m39s891
23 Segal-Buchwald (Maserati Light) - Washington - 1m40s413
24 Greenberg-Pumpelly (Porsche 911) - G&W - 1m41s046
25 Valentine-James-Gleason (Porsche 911) - Racers - 1m42s256
26 Bunting-Lally (Porsche 911) - TPC - 1m42s836
27 Escalette-Plumb (Porsche 911) - Stuttgart - 1m43s123
28 West-Faieta (Ferrari 360) - Washington - 1m43s212
29 Alfonso-Traver (Porsche 911) - Grease - 1m43s339
30 Sigal-Brix (Porsche 911) - Grease - 1m43s638
31 Schmitt-Halsmer (Honda Nsx) - Honda America - 1m44s324
32 Del Vecchio-Espenlaub-McKenz (Pontiac) - Horizon - 1m44s517
33 Littlechild-Dumoulin (Porsche 911) - TPC - 1m45s611
34 Ward-Baughman (Porsche 911) - Baughman - 1m45s821
35 Hanson-Yeakle (Corvette) - Baughman - 1m46s045
36 Davis-Bell (Mustang) - ACS - 1m47s177
37 Van Wijk-Stanton (Porsche 911) - G&W - 1m48s704
38 Levitas-Pobst (Porsche 911) - TPC - sem tempo
39 Nonnamaker-Nonnamaker (Porsche 911) - Planet Earth - sem tempo

JV5Racing
foto Crédito: Motorsport
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing takes 7th on the grid for Fontana finale

10/30/2004

Fontana, California - The Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran took seventh on the grid for the season finale Lexus Grand American Champions weekend at California Speedway. The team is feeling competitive after their best lap time of 1:32.598 seconds on the oval-based road course was just .4 of a second behind the best time of the third-place car. Sunday’s 89-lap race is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 local time and will be televised live on Speed Channel.

Oswaldo Negri took the wheel for the qualifying session, and will start Sunday’s race before turning the driving duties over to teammate Burt Frisselle.

“The car was quite good, actually,” said Negri. “Unfortunately, (Darin) Manning decided to give himself a gap in traffic on my fastest lap and blocked me. We have improved a lot since the beginning of the weekend, and should be pretty competitive tomorrow. We just want to give Mike and the guys a strong finish to the season.”

Team owner Mike Shank, who announced plans today for the 2005 season, has seen his guys put in some late nights this season preparing the 6 car, and is feeling much better about the team’s chances after the improvements made during the weekend.

“We are just a couple of tenths from being in the top three, so we’ve made a ton of progress already this weekend, considering where we started out,” said Shank. “We are back in the ball park now, and should be good for the race. The guys have been working hard to fix some niggling problems, but have got everything sorted and are hoping we can get some good points tomorrow for the championship.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Mears and Borkowski join Michael Shank Racing for 2005

10/30/2004

Fontana, California (30 October 2004)--Mike Shank announced today that his team will campaign the Mears Motor Coach-liveried Pontiac-Riley with drivers Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr. for the 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series season.

“We are excited to be announcing that we will be competing the full 2005 season with Mike and Paul,” said Shank. “The Riley-Pontiac combination has shown itself to be a strong package this season, and we are looking forward to getting familiar with the Riley chassis and beginning to prepare for next season.”

Michael Shank Racing made the transition from the sprint format of Toyota Atlantic competition into the endurance racing format of the Rolex Sports Car Series look easy this season, scoring a podium with drivers Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri in just the teams second start in the category and going on to regularly compete in the top five.

Having seen first-hand the effort and results that the MSR team has produced this season, the decision about which team to work with for 2005 was not a difficult one for Mears and Borkowski.

“Mike and his guys do a great job, and have shown that week in and week out this season,” said Mears. “It’s going to be an exciting partnership, and I look forward to seeing the results that it yields.”

With one round yet remaining, the Riley chassis has scored a total of eleven pole positions and six wins during the 2004 season, with three of those victories utilizing Pontiac power. Shank is looking forward to getting the most out of the combination, but is also working to keep his Lexus-Doran active next season as well.

“My long-standing relationship with Toyota and Lexus is important to me, and Kevin (Doran) has built an excellent race car and provided phenomenal support all season, so I am working on keeping that side of our program together for next season. Hopefully we will have something positive to announce about that in the near future, as we would like to continue our Lexus-Doran program as well.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Michael Shank Racing looks for strong finish to debut season

10/28/2004

The little team that can looking to reverse their own curse after a tough October…

Michael Shank Racing is looking forward to the season-finale Lexus Grand American Champions Weekend at California Speedway this weekend as they hope to overcome two consecutive tough finishes in the last two races and work their way back up the standings in an ultra-competitive championship battle. The Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran has been near the sharp end of the team championship standings all season, but two consecutive 14th place finishes in October, spurred on by contact from other cars, have left the team fighting for fourth in the championship.

The championship battle is close indeed, with the sister Lexus-powered Doran of Doran/Lista Racing holding on to fourth just three points ahead of the MSR car, with the Barber Motorsports Park-round winners in the 4 car two points back in sixth, and the 2004 Rolex 24-winning 54 car just six markers behind in seventh.

The Michael Shank Racing team has been impressive in their first season of Rolex Sports Car competition, running consistently in the top five all season long, with highlight podium finishes at Homestead and Watkins Glen. The team has adapted quickly to the endurance format of the Rolex Sports Car Series after several successful seasons in the sprint-format of the Toyota Atlantic Championship.

While the team has performed quick pitstops and prepared well-engineered cars all season, drivers Oswaldo Negri and Burt Frisselle have also both held up their end of the deal, showing good speed, feedback, and consistency all season long. The opportunity to race with Mike Shank has been one that Negri has grabbed hold of, providing an important element of the development of the car, as well as serving as a key part of teammate Frisselle’s own progress.

Frisselle, who is one of the youngest drivers in the series, has blossomed in the category, bringing his cut-throat mindset from the open wheel ranks to the closely competitive racing that Rolex provides. Frisselle has had some outstanding drives this season, including his run to the podium at Watkins Glen, where he moved from seventh to second in the closing stages of the race.

Negri and Frisselle will be fighting to make their way into the top ten in the driver championship, which is impressive given that the two were not even entered in the season-opening Rolex 24 race at Daytona.

“I just want to help Mike finish as high up in the championship as possible,” said Negri, who made his Grand American debut at the California facility last season, scoring a podium finish in the GTS class. “The track doesn’t have much grip, but there a couple of good overtaking spots and so hopefully that will help with the slower traffic. This has been a great season for me personally, professionally, and as a team member with these guys, so hopefully we can get a result to go with all the effort that the guys have put in this season.”

Team owner Mike Shank has kept a close eye on the championship battle all season, and knows that if any team can fight back strong, it’s his.

“For us the most important thing is to do as well as we can in the championship at this point,” said Shank. “This has been a tremendous season, with lots of ups and downs, and I am proud of the group of guys who work on this team. Our goal at the outset was to run in the top five all season, and while we haven’t had the finishes we wanted, we have absolutely shown that we are competitive everywhere we go. Hopefully this track will help us get the most out of our Lexus engine, which loves to run fast.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Negri viaja para Fontana para última etapa da Grand-Am

27/10/2004

Oswaldo Negri testa nesta quinta os pneus que irão equipar a categoria em 2005

O piloto brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, viajou nesta quarta-feira para Fontana, onde neste domingo acontece a última etapa da temporada da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, com a Lexus Grand American 400, no autódromo do California Speedway.

Negri Porém, antes do início dos treinos livres, o piloto da Michael Shank Racing (MSR) irá testar os pneus da Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation, que será o fornecedor oficial da categoria na próxima temporada. Negri foi um dos pilotos escolhidos pela companhia para o desenvolvimento dos pneus, em um claro reconhecimento do brilhante desempenho do piloto nesta temporada.

O piloto da MSR teve seu carro totalmente reconstruído para esta última etapa do campeonato, já que na prova de Birmingham o carro sofreu outro acidente. O Lexus-Doran de Negri e Burt Frisselle, já havia sofrido um violento acidente na prova da Virginia, exigindo que a equipe trabalhasse exaustivamente para recuperá-lo a tempo da prova em Birmingham, quando um retardatário acabou batendo na traseira do protótipo nº 6, quando já vinha lutando pelas primeiras posições.

"O carro foi totalmente reconstruído, ao contrário da última corrida, onde andamos com o carro apenas montado sem os detalhes que tinhamos antes, devido ao acidente de VIR (Virginia International Raceway)", contou Negri. "Apesar da pista não favorecer os chassis Doran, estou confiante que a equipe vai poder me dar um carro competitivo", declarou Negri.

A Lexus está brigando pelo campeonato de construtores, e Negri prometeu fazer todo possível para ajudar na conquista. Negri, que retorna ao Brasil para as festas de final de ano e para as 500 Milhas da Granja Viana, está perto de assinar contrato para próxima temporada da Grand-Am.

"Ainda estamos negociando, mas em breve devo ter boas notícias. Espero terminar a temporada já de contrato assinado, e assim vou receber meu presente de natal antecipado", comentou o brasileiro, que terá Hélio Castroneves e Gil de Ferran como companheiros nas 500 Milhas da Granja.

Programação da Lexus Grand American 400:

Sexta-feira (29/10)

12:40 às 13:20 Treino Livre - (somente para classe Daytona Prototype)
16:10 às 16:55 Treino Livre - Rolex Series

Sábado (30/10)

12:00 às 13:00 Treino Livre - Rolex Series
13:30 às 14:30 Sessão de autógrafos
14:55 às 15:10 Treino de Classificação (classes GT e SGS)
15:20 às 15:35 Treino de Classificação (somente para classe Daytona Prototype)

Domingo (31/10)

12:00 às 12:15 Warmup
15:00 Largada para a Rolex Series California Speedway 400 (400km (89 voltas) ou 2h e 45 minutos de prova)

* (horários de Brasília)

JV5Racing
foto Crédito: João Vasconcelos
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Granja 500

10/27/2004

November 13th is the 8th 500 Miles of Granja Viana. The 500 Miles of Granja Viana race is already a tradition in the international calendar, atracting every year more worldwide motoracing stars.

Granja 2004 This year is no different. F1 drivers Rubens Barrichelo, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa, and Antonio Pizzonia are already confirmed.

From Champ Car Mario Haberfeld, driving with Christian Fittipaldi. From IRL the champion Tony Kanaan. One of the teams considered to be a runner up has 4 Brazilian drivers.

Oswaldo Negri Jr., Helio Castro Neves, Gil de Ferran and Rubens Carrapatozo are also confirmed to race and should give everybody a lot of work to do.

"It will be a big party. We will be in Brazil, see our friends & family and try to be in the podium", said Negri Jr.

The 500 Miles of Granja Viana race at Kartodromo Internacional da Granja Viana, in Cotia-Sao Paulo, in 1997 was just a big end of the year party, but now it has transformed in a big motoracing meeting.

Drivers from different categories like F1, Formula Cart, Indy Racing League, F3000 domestic, Formula Renault, Stock Car, and Copa Clio will be racing against the best go kart drivers and tens of anonymous Brazilian drivers from local championships from Granja Viana.

Something new this year will be the qualifyng session on Friday, one day before race day. Since 1997 the qualifyng session used to be hours before the start of the race.

Oswaldo Negri Jr.

500 Milhas da Granja: Negri, Castroneves e De Ferran disputarão as 500 Milhas

27/10/2004

No próximo dia 13 de novembro acontece a 8ª edição das 500 Milhas da Granja Viana. A prova já se tornou uma tradição no calendário internacional, atraindo a cada ano mais estrelas do automobilismo mundial.

Granja 2004 Este ano não será diferente, uma vez que já confirmaram presença na prova, os pilotos Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa e Antonio Pizzonia da Fórmula 1.

Da Champ Car virá o brasileiro Mario Haberfeld, que mais uma vez fará parceria com Christian Fittipaldi. Da IRL o campeoníssimo Tony Kanaan. Uma das equipes que já pode ser considerada forte candidata as primeiras posições, é composta por três brasileiros.

Oswaldo Negri Jr., Hélio Castroneves e Gil de Ferran já confirmaram a participação, e prometem dar muito trabalho aos concorrentes.

"Vai ser com certeza uma grande festa. Vamos matar a saudades do Brasil, rever os amigos e tentar um lugar no pódio", disse Negri.

A prova que é anualmente disputada no Kartódromo Internacional da Granja Viana, em Cotia, na região metropolitana de São Paulo, chega a sua oitava edição, e aquilo que em 1997 era somente uma festa de confraternização de fim de ano, se transformou em um grande encontro do automobilismo.

Pilotos das mais conhecidas categorias internacionais – como Fórmula 1, Fórmula CART, Indy Racing League, Fórmula 3000 – e domésticas – Fórmula Renault, Stock Car, Copa Clio – medem forças contra os melhores kartistas do ranking brasileiro e dezenas de anônimos que competem regularmente nos campeonatos internos da Granja Viana.

Uma novidade deste ano será a realização das tomadas classificatórias na sexta-feira que antecede a prova, e não mais horas antes da largada, como vinha ocorrendo desde a criação do evento em 1997.

JV5Racing
foto Crédito: João Vasconcelos
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Mike Shank says thank you

10/14/2004

A message from Mike Shank

I just wanted to thank everyone who was responsible for getting our car repaired in time for the race at Barber Motorsports Park. Last week was one of the toughest weeks I have ever experienced in racing, and it was only because of everyone’s dedication, sacrifice, and hard work that we even had the chance to get the car back together and go racing.

The race didn’t end up like we wanted it to, but that didn’t take anything away from the effort everyone put in to get us there. I wanted to thank my guys and also those who have been rooting for and supporting us all season.

I am still overwhelmed when I think of all the support we got from not just our team, but also the teams we go head to head against on the track, and I feel as though my team and I have found a home here in Grand American.

Thanks, and see you in Fontana!

Sincerely,

Mike Shank

Mike thanks-

Dale Wise, Darin Pigg, David Kanning, John Hedges, Ralph Lohr, Bob Lohr, Scott Manno, Dave Metz, Kevin Doran, Reggie Schmeiss, Chris Funderburk, Jeff Graves, Eric Rankine, George Morrison, Brad Nelson, Coleen Delvecchio,Kathy Jammal, and the entire Grand American community.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Retardatário tirou Negri da prova em Barber Park

12/10/2004

Acidente tirou Negri e Frisselle da corrida em Birmingham.

Após a Michael Shank Racing (MSR), equipe do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e do norte-americano Burt Frisselle, ter reconstruído em tempo recorde o Lexus Doran, da escuderia, um novo acidente acabou com a ótima prova da dupla no último final de semana em Birmingham. Negri havia conquistado o oitavo tempo para a Porsche 250, em Barber Park, 11ª e penúltima etapa da temporada, e estavam muito otimistas para corrida.

Na corrida a equipe vinha fazendo uma corrida fantástica, graças as mudanças efetuadas no warm-up.

Barber Park "Mexemos no set-up no warm-up e o carro ficou excelente. As condições estavam muito difíceis, porque estava garoando, mas todos estavamos de pneus slick", contou Negri. "Comecei a passar um a um, até chegar em terceiro. Pouco antes da primeira bandeira amarela o Wayne Taylor me passou, e fiquei em quarto", disse o brasileiro.

A equipe foi para o primeiro pit-stop, e alguns carros optaram por uma estratégia diferente, assim quando o carro da MSR voltou a pista, ocupava a 11ª posição. Negri, que continuou ao volante, novamente começou a passar um a um os adversários, inclusive superando com grande facilidade os líderes do campeonato, Papis e Pruett, e logo estava em quinto.

"Senti que estava muito mais rapido que os da frente, e apenas esperando uma oportunidade para continuar a passá-los.
De repente, em uma curva fechada para direita, senti uma batida forte atrás. Pensei que havia sido o Papis, pois sabia que era um dos carros da Chip Ganassi atrás de mim", contou. "Na verdade fui atropelado pelo Luiz Dias, que estava uma volta atrás.
Ele me bateu com tamanha força, que saiu rodando, e foi parar somente no guard-rail", comentou Negri, profundamente chateado.

"Foi muito frustrante, pois realmente senti que estava muito mais rápido que os líderes, e já estava pintando aquele gostinho de podium outra vez. Lamentei ainda mais pela equipe, que virou duas noites em claro para reconstruir o carro e deixá-lo competitivo", finalizou o brasileiro.

A vitória ficou com a dupla Wayne Robinson/ Butch Leitzinger, que venceu pela primeira vez nesta temporada. A próxima etapa da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, será no dia 31 de Outubro, em Fontana, na California.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing knocked from strong run at Barber Motorsports Park

10/10/2004

The little team that can got knocked off-track by lapped car for second consecutive race, ending potential run to podium.

Michael Shank Racing finished 14th in class in the Porsche 250 after the lapped 02 Ganassi entry punted the number 6 MSR Lexus-Doran off-track from its fifth position midway through the race, causing significant damage to the rear suspension and derailing a probable podium finish. The incident is the second time in as many weeks that a lapped car has taken the MSR team out of contention. The team had fought all week to get the car repaired in time for the eleventh round of the Rolex Sports Car Championship.

“I’m really upset about the race,” said driver Oswaldo Negri. “It’s just incredible-I was in the lead pack, just biding my time to see what was going to happen with the weather, and I go to turn in, and bang! I’m off and into the barriers—that’s how hard he hit me—it sent me all the way off track and into the wall!”

Negri started the race from eighth, and was up to fourth by just the second lap. Negri stayed in the car during the teams first pit stop, and rejoined the field from tenth position before moving back up the order, passing every car that finished the race on the podium including the race winning 4 car, before the incident with the 02 car put paid to any podium hopes for the small team.

“It’s just so disappointing for the team because we were the leading Lexus at the time, and the guys worked so hard to get the car fixed and ready to race again here at Barber,” said Negri.

Team owner Mike Shank had been hoping for more after all the effort his team put in to get the car ready, and after seeing how fast the car was come race time.

“It’s a huge disappointment,” said Shank. “After putting in the effort we did all week to get back on track, and then to run so strong in the race—Oz had a great stint before he got crashed out, and then to have a car that’s a lap behind us take us out, its just hard to describe how frustrating that is. We are going to have a word with the Grand-Am officials, because this kind of driving can’t be tolerated.”

The team will pack up and return to the shop in Columbus, Ohio for some much-deserved rest before preparing for the season finale Lexus Grand American Champions weekend at Fontana at the end of the month.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Negri coloca seu carro na quarta fila em Barber Park

09/10/2004

Negri se classifica em oitavo no grid para a Porsche 250, em Birmingham

Oswaldo Negri classificou seu Lexus Doran, da escuderia Michael Shank Racing, que foi reconstruido para esta prova em Barber Park no domingo, na oitava posição do grid. O brasileiro marcou na sua melhor volta o tempo de 1m22s665, depois de passar por grandes dificuldades ontem com a pista úmida, e o grande tráfego dos carros da classe GT.

Barber Qualify Ontem a equipe só havia conseguido o 10º tempo nos treinos livres, mas agora com o carro reconstruído, a MSR vai brigar para manter sua quarta posição no Campeonato de equipes do Rolex Sports Car Series. Negri irá largar na prova deste domingo, ficando o segundo turno da corrida para seu companheiro de equipe, o norte americano Burt Frisselle.

Negri na tomada de classificação adotou uma estratégia de risco, já que foi à pista somente quando faltavam 15 minutos, para poder tentar uma boa volta com pista limpa. A primeira volta a tática deu certo, e o brasileiro registrou o tempo que lhe deu um lugar na quarta fila.

Na segunda passagem entretanto, o trafégo voltou a atrapalhar o brasileiro, que poderia ter conseguido um lugar entre os cinco primeiros.

“A equipe trabalhou muito bem, conseguindo recuperar nosso carro a tempo para esta prova, e a eles juntou-se a Doran (fabricante do chassis), que nos ajudou muito. O carro ficou muito bom, mas ainda continua com pouco grip na traseira", comentou Negri.

“Espero que tenhamos sorte neste fim de semana. Uma boa colocação seria a melhor forma de premiar o trabalho dos rapazes, que se esforçaram muito para reparar o carro, e deixá-lo competitivo”, disse ainda Negri.

A pole position ficou com o italiano Max Papis (Lexus Riley), que corre juntamente com Butch Leitzinger e James Weaver. Papis marcou a pole, estabelecendo um novo recorde para pista de Barber Park, com o tempo de 1m20s613. Esta foi a 10ª pole de Papis nesta temporada.

A corrida, de 250 milhas (109 voltas ou 2 horas e meia de duração), tem sua largada programada para às 12:00 (horário local).

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing takes eighth on grid at Barber Motorsports Park

10/09/2004

Note---The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 PM EST

The little team that can returns to action with repaired car

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Oswaldo Negri qualified the Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran eighth on the grid with a fast lap time of 1:22.665 seconds at Barber Motorsports Park for Sunday’s Porsche 250. The team, which was fifth-quickest in the wet/dry morning practice session, is fighting to secure forth in the Rolex Sports Car Series team championship and has had to pull several all-nighters to repair the damage from an accident in the last round race at Virginia International Raceway. Negri will start the race and turn over the driving duties to teammate Burt Frisselle during the teams first pitstop on Sunday.

Barber Qualify Negri waited in the pit lane at the start of the fifteen-minute session to try and find a clear lap of traffic, and bolted to second on the charts with just his second flying lap early in the session. Despite the strategy employed at the beginning of the session, Negri caught traffic on his two fastest laps, keeping the team from continuing its’ streak of top-five starts.

“The car just didn’t have enough grip this afternoon,” said Negri. “I just feel lucky to be racing this weekend. The guys have put in one of the toughest weeks ever to get this car repaired and competitive, so we are just going to try and make the most of the race tomorrow. We had a good car in the difficult conditions this morning, so we will see what tomorrow brings us as far as weather.”

Team owner Mike Shank had also been hoping for more in the session, but knows how much fight his small team has in them.

“It’s obviously not where we wanted to be on the grid, but given everything this team has gone through this week to even get here, we’ll take it and concentrate on the race tomorrow. It’s the teams first time at the track, and the first time Burt and Oz have run here, so we have been just playing catch up this weekend. We were fast in the wet this morning, so we’ll just have to see what the weather looks like tomorrow.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Michael Shank Racing working late nights

10/06/2004

The little team that can fights through major setback to get their Doran repaired and ready to race

Don’t be surprised if the Michael Shank Racing crew looks a little tired this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park-they are.

Grandam After a serious accident during last weekend’s VIR 400 caused significant damage to their Lexus-powered Doran, the team has had little time for sleep in an all-out effort to repair the car and prepare for this weekends race.

The car was packed into the transporter and left Virginia International Raceway last Sunday immediately after the race, and the team drove through the night to the Doran factory in Cincinnati, Ohio, arriving at six in the morning on Monday. No rest for the weary, the team immediately began to make repairs to the car, tearing the Doran JE-4 to its bare chassis to remove damaged sections as replacement parts were being fabricated in the Doran shop. By late Wednesday afternoon, the car had been completely repaired and reassembled, ready to be packed back into the transporter for the trip down to Alabama.

“We never slept once we got to Dorans shop, and worked until midnight on Monday, and then worked until midnight again on Tuesday, and will be driving until midnight Wednesday to get down to Barber,” said Mike Shank. “We got massive help from Kevin (Doran) and his guys, and all the guys on my team have been here at the shop helping to make this happen as well.”

While the accident was a setback for the small team, the experience has left Shank with little doubt that he is racing in the right series.

“I got calls from suppliers, rivals, and people from all over, offering help and support, and its been just amazing,” said Shank. “I have never experienced anything like this at all. I think it shows the strength of the Rolex series, and it’s been very much appreciated by me and my guys. This paddock is extremely competitive, but its been overwhelming how much support everyone showed us.”

The team is hoping for a return to the podium this weekend in a car that Shank describes as being as good as new, although there wasn’t enough time for everything.

“We didn’t have time to get her repainted, but that’s the last thing we were worried about for this weekend…”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Doran ajuda a Mike Shank Racing a reconstruir o carro de Negri para etapa em Barber Park

06/10/2004

Fabricante de chassis prestigia sua melhor equipe, e reconstrói carro

A equipe Mike Shank Racing (MSR), do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e do norte-americano, Burt Frisselle, é de longe a melhor equipe da Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, que corre com o chassis construído pela Doran. Por este motivo o fabricante se sensibilizou com o problema da equipe após o fortíssimo acidente no VIR 4000, que destruíu completamente a parte traseira do carro, e impediria a equipe de disputar neste final de semana a Porsche 250, no circuito Barber Motorsports Park, em Atlanta.

Grandam Na prova disputada no último domingo em Virginia, Negri largou muito bem, e durante algumas voltas ocupou a segunda posição, até ser superado pelo vencedor da corrida, Wayne Taylor.

"Nosso motor é menos potente que os Pontiac, mas consegui nos manter em terceiro até o pit-stop, quando começamos a ter problemas. Primeiro foi o segundo carro da Chip Ganassi que bloqueou a saida dos nosso Pit, e o Burt não pode sair e perdemos alí quatro posições", contou Negri. "No meu segundo turno de pilotagem estava descontando o tempo que perdemos, e quando fui passar um retardatário fui tocado, e saí da pista. Quando estava voltando um outro carro não conseguiu desviar e bateu violentamente atrás de mim", falou Negri, lembrando o acidente com Cort Wagner.

Os danos na traseira do Doran Lexus foram muito extensos, a ponto de Mike Shank, dono da MSR, declarar que não conseguiriam recuperar o carro a tempo da prova em Barber Park. Kevin Doran, dono da fábrica de chassis Doran, saiu em socorro da equipe que melhor tem representado sua empresa, e está ajudando na recuperação do carro.

"O susto foi muito grande, mas tanto eu quanto o Cort Wagner estamos bem e prontos para a prova em Barber Park. Vamos perder os treinos da quinta-feira, mas na sexta nosso carro estará pronto", falou o brasileiro.

A Porsche 250, 11ª etapa da temporada 2004 da Grand-Am, tem suas atividades se iniciando na quinta-feira (07/10) com os treinos livres promovidos pelos organizadores. Na sexta-feira (08/10) serão realizadas mais três sessões de treinos livres, sendo uma exclusivamente para os carros da Daytona Prototipe, classe onde competem Oswaldo Negri Jr, e Christian Fittipaldi, o outro brasileiro da categoria.

No sábado o treino de classificação acontece das 13:15 às 13:30 (horário local). A corrida, de 250 milhas (109 voltas ou 2 horas e meia de duração), tem sua largada programada para às 12:00 (horário local).

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Lapped car ends Negri's race

10/03/2004

Underdog team suffers setback after contact from lapped car sends the 6 car into harms way

The Michael Shank Racing number 6 Lexus-Doran finished a disappointing 14th in class in the VIR 400 after being sent off-track late in the race while passing a Daytona Prototype that was two laps down as the MSR machine chased down its third consecutive top-five finish. The car suffered significant damage when another DP made contact with the 6 car as it rejoined the track, ending the day for the MSR squad.

Oswaldo Negri moved up immediately at the start of the 77-lap race to slot into second place from third on the grid and turned the car over in third place to co-driver Burt Frisselle on the first pit stop eighteen laps into the race. Frisselle had to drive hard and regain some lost ground after the 02 car blocked him from leaving his pit owing to the tight pit boxes at VIR.

Frisselle stayed in the lead pack, staging a fierce battle for fourth as the lead eight cars in the race ran nose to tail for over twenty laps. Frisselle had an outstanding stint, turning the car back over to Negri in third position for the final segment of the race.

“My stint was absolutely wild-I wish we had an in-car camera during the race-it’s the only way people will believe me about how crazy it was out there with everyone running so close and fighting all over this track,” said Frisselle, one of the youngest drivers in the field. “But the car was very strong-the tires went off a bit during my stint, but we were still pretty consistent and quick at the end.”

Negri was once again in the thick of battle as he worked to pass a lapped car, but was balked several times before he was sent off course by the lapped car in a fast section off the track. Negri regained control of the car, and worked his way back onto the track, but was hit as he was doing so by a car that hadn’t seen him going onto the track, ending the fight for the day.

“Its really disappointing,” said Negri. “To struggle like we have to even get here to go racing, and then to have a lapped driver knock us off track like that and have the car so damaged, its disheartening, for sure. But this team is made up entirely of fighters, and we are going to do everything we can to get to Barber.”

Despite the setback, Negri focused on the positives from the difficult race.

“The car was awesome all day-we got up to second at the start, and Burt had a fantastic stint and turned the car back over to me in third before we had the problem, so we should be proud of what this little team was able to accomplish today.”

Team owner Mike Shank had been hoping for yet another top-five result for the team, and seeing his drivers run so competitively during the race made the result that much more disappointing.

“We will get the car to the Doran factory as fast as we can, and hopefully we can get it fixed in time to race next week,” said Shank. “We had a lot of good momentum going into this race, so it’s a big blow to the team, but at least Oswaldo and Cort were able to get out of their cars unhurt and hopefully we can go from here.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Negri larga em 3º na VIR 400

10/03/2004

Mike Shank Racing ocupa lugar na segunda fila para prova em Virginia

Oswaldo Negri Jr, da equipe Mike Shank Racing (MSR), conquistou o terceiro melhor tempo para a VIR 400, que será disputada hoje (domingo) no Virginia International Raceway. A prova é válida pela décima etapa da temporada 2004, da Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Negri marcou na sua melhor volta o tempo de 1m46s701 mesmo com o intenso tráfego no momento da sua volta rápida. A pole foi otida por Max Papis com um Lexus Riley, em 1m45s447.

"Tudo correu muito bem na classificação. A pista é muito difícil e rápida, mas mesmo sem nunca termos treinado aqui, já de cara consegui ficar entre os três mais rápidos", contou Negri. "Fizemos algumas mudanças no set-up, e melhorou em algumas partes da pista e piorou em outras, já que o traçado do VIR tem curvas de mais 150 mph (241 km/h) e outras de menos de 50 mph (80 km/h). Estamos bastante confiantes para corrida deste domingo", completou Negri.

O brasileiro já foi contatado oficialmente por duas grandes equipes para próxima temporada, e na próxima semana terá reuniões para definir seu futuro. Christian Fittipaldi, que também está competindo na Grand-Am, vai largar da quarta posição, ao lado de Oswaldo Negri. A VIR 400 será disputada neste domingo à partir da 13:00 (horário de Brasília).

Veja os seis melhores no grid para VIR 400:

1 Pruett/Papis – Lexus Riley, 1min45s447
2 Taylor/Angelelli – Pontiac Riley, 1min46s210
3 Negri Jr/Frissele– Lexus Doran, 1min46s701
4 Fittipaldi/Barber/Borcheller – Pontiac Doran, 1min46s807
5 Law/Donohue – Porsche Fabcar, 1min46s958
6 Forbes-Robinson/Leitzinger – Pontiac Crawford, 1min47s031

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing takes 3rd in VIR qualifying

10/02/2004

Note---The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel Sunday, October 3rd at 12:00 PM EST

Oswaldo Negri drove the number 6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Doran to third on the forty-car grid for Sunday’s VIR 400 with a fast lap time of 1:46.701 seconds, despite not getting a clean run in traffic at Virginia International Raceway today. Negri once again was able to step it up in qualifying, netting the team’s fastest lap of the weekend so far. The MSR squad will line up on the second row behind championship protagonists Max Papis on pole in another Lexus-powered machine and Wayne Taylor.

The race weekend is the first time drivers Negri and Burt Frisselle have run a Daytona Prototype at the track, and the team has fared well given that most of the other teams tested at VIR just last month.

“This is a good demonstration of how strong this team is-we didn’t test here, so we have been playing some catch up this weekend, but obviously the Michael Shank Racing guys have done a great job to get us to third in qualifying,” said Oswaldo Negri. “I was hoping we could have made a front row start-I think our car was strong enough to do that--but I just didn’t get the breaks in traffic during the session that I needed, but we are looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

Team owner Mike Shank was pleased with how much progress the team has made during the weekend so far, but he also knows that Sunday’s race will be extremely competitive.

“Our top speed is pretty good around here, and we have made a ton of progress so far this weekend, so while I know Os was a bit frustrated with the traffic, we have to be pretty happy with the result,” said Shank. “There are a lot of strong cars around us, so we will have to see how things develop during the race.”

Frisselle, who will take the controls of the MSR Lexus-Doran during the first pit stop of the race, has also been in action this weekend, and has enjoyed running on the twisty natural terrain circuit.

“This is an intense experience-running through these fast corners, just trying to manage the weight of the car through the transitions is a constant challenge, but driving this thing at these speeds is an absolute blast!” said Frisselle. “Like Oz mentioned, we have really come along during the weekend, so hopefully we can put in a competitive run tomorrow and keep up the good momentum we have in the second part of this season.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Michael Shank Racing gears up for VIR 400

09/30/2004

Note---The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel Sunday, October 3rd at 12:00 PM EST

The fan favorite number 6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Doran will return to action this weekend for round ten of the 2004 Rolex Sports Car Series in the VIR 400 presented by SunTrust at Virginia International Raceway near Alton, Virginia. The Michael Shank Racing squad is coming off a strong fifth place finish in the last round at Homestead earlier this month, and is looking to move up from fourth position in the team championship battle with drivers Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri, Jr.

The Homestead result netted the team’s sixth top-six finish of the season thus far, with the small team just thirty-four points from the championship-leading Ganassi squad, with thirty-five points going to the race winner. The team is hoping that the series’ return to a natural road course, with VIR’s fast corners and long straights will play into their hands.

“It’s an absolutely awesome track, with a little bit of everything,” said driver Burt Frisselle. “It’s really nice to race at a natural terrain track like VIR, and to give our Lexus engine a chance to stretch its legs a bit! I think the car should be well suited to the track-the car is so well engineered by Dale Wise and the guys, that hopefully we can get another good result.”

Award-winning team owner Mike Shank, who has seen his team rebound from a disappointing finish at the teams home race at Mid-Ohio to score a season-high second place finish at Watkins Glen and go on to score the Homestead top-five, is also hoping that the Lexus-Doran combination will be well suited to the track.

“We have got a good bit of momentum coming from the Glen and then Homestead, so hopefully we can keep that going this weekend at VIR and work our way up in the championship,” said Shank. “This team keeps improving, every race, and Burt and Oz continue to impress in the car, so we’ll just keep at it and look for a good finish this weekend.”

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Mike Shank Racing segue otimista para VIR 400

09/29/2004

Negri motivado para o desafio em Virginia, após visita de De Ferran e Castroneves

A equipe Mike Shank Racing (MSR), do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e do norte-americano, Burt Frisselle, disputam neste fim de semana a décima etapa da temporada 2004, da Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, no Virginia International Raceway. A dupla ocupa a quarta colocação no campeonato, e o objetivo e tentar subir ainda mais na classificação. "Estamos vivendo uma situação meio estranha. Estamos em quarto no campeonato, temos andado constantemente entre os cinco primeiros, estivemos duas vezes no pódio, e no momento nossa maior luta é conseguir um patrocinador para garantir nossa participação até o final da temporada", comentou Negri.

Oz, Gil and Helio O brasileiro no entanto, está em alta na categoria, tendo sido sondado por algumas equipes. "Realmente recebi alguns convites, mas no momento quero me concentrar em manter as boas performances. Além disso nossa equipe está dando o máximo de si, já que estamos conseguindo testar somente nos finais de semana de corrida, e graças a Deus temos conseguido fazer nosso carro competitivo", lembrou o brasileiro. "Em Miami, erramos na estratégia, caso contrário com certeza teríamos conquistado um pódio", disse Negri. Para a VIR 400, Negri alertou que a dificuldade será ainda maior, já que todas outras equipes testaram recentemente no traçado. A pista é de altíssima velocidade, com subidas e decidas, e uma reta bastante longa.

"Confio na capacidade do meu parceiro Burt, e da equipe, por isso estamos bastante confiante", completou o brasileiro. Na etapa de Miami, a Mike Shank Racing e Oswaldo Negri, convidaram os brasileiros Gil de Ferran e Hélio Castroneves para acompanharem a prova, junto com a equipe. O bicampeão de Indianápolis (Castroneves) e o bicampeão da CART (De Ferran), prontamente atenderam o convite do amigo e rival das pistas.

Negri, competiu com De Ferran no Brasil, na F-Ford, e depois foram vizinhos na Inglaterra, quando disputaram a Fórmula 3 Inglesa. Com Castroneves, Negri criou uma grande amizade, quando o piloto veio da Europa para competir na Indy Lights, e passou a residir em Miami. Os três ainda se encontram sempre que possível para animados "pegas" de kart, já que Negri é importador oficial dos chassis Mini para os Estados Unidos. A dupla comemorou bastante a quinta posição de Negri e Frisselle no final da prova.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Castroneves and De Ferran visit Michael Shank Racing at Homestead

09/22/2004

IndyCar stars Helio Castroneves and Gil De Ferran visited the Rolex Sports Car race at Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend as guests of Michael Shank Racing’s Oswaldo Negri. Negri has competed against, and been friends with, the two for several years. The two Indianapolis 500 Champions spent some time with Michael Shank Racing team members before the race talking shop and getting an up-close look at the number 6 Lexus-powered Doran.

Oz, Gil and Helio Negri, who has made the most of the opportunity he has had this season with Michael Shank Racing, first met De Ferran in their native Brazil when they both competed in Formula Ford. The two were then neighbors in England when they were trying to make names for themselves in British Formula 3, where they battled each other for the championship.

“There was a lot of competition between us, but also too a good friendship, and we have always kept in touch,” said Negri. “It was great that they were both able to come out and watch the race.”

Negri became friends with Castroneves when they raced each other in the Indy Lights ranks, and the fellow Miami residents still find themselves racing each other from time to time, although its just for fun in Kart Mini’s, a karting chassis which Negri imports to the States.

Negri’s teammate Burt Frisselle also spent some time with Castroneves and De Ferran before the start of the Miami 250, and the talk naturally drifted to racing, as Frisselle talked about the challenges of racing with three different classes on the track at the same time, as is the nature of Rolex Sports Car racing.

“Its basically as if you guys ran an IRL race at the same time as they had the Infiniti Pro Series racing—it keeps you busy!” said Frisselle.

Mike Castroneves and De Ferran, two of the friendliest guys in any paddock, enjoyed watching Negri race, and learning more about the Rolex Series firsthand. Castroneves teased De Ferran, who retired at the end of 2003, about getting back into racing in the Rolex ranks.

“Maybe he is getting a little tired of being retired and wants to try one of these!” joked Castroneves.

Negri and Frisselle ran well during the Miami 250, and finished fifth to retain fourth in the team championship. The team is hoping that the strong finish will help the team develop the funding to race the next round at Virginia International Raceway on October 3rd.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Negri foi quinto em Homestead

09/20/2004

Oswaldo Negri terminou em quinto na nona etapa da Grand-Am, em Miami

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr. e seu companheiro de equipe, Burt Frisselle, levaram o Doran Lexus da equipe Mike Shank Racing (MSR) à quinta colocação na nona etapa da temporada 2004 da Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, que foi disputada neste domingo no circuito de Homestead, em Miami, na Flórida (Estados Unidos).

Homestead Na largada Negri, que largou na mesma posição que ocupa no campeonato (4º), já que por causa dos furacões que atingiram os Estados Unidos nos últimos dias não houve treinos, manteve sua posição. Negri conseguiu superar a venezuelana Milka Duno, mas foi superado por Terry Borcheler, companheiro de equipe de Christian Fittipaldi.

O calor se mostrou o maior adversário do motor Toyota, do carro de Negri, que sobre muito com a alta temperatura. O brasileiro inclusive relatou que por este motivo ficou difícil fazer ultrapassagens, já que precisava constantemente controlar a temperatura do motor.

“O calor era tão forte, que quatro pilotos passaram muito mal ao saírem do carro, e foram atendidos pelos paramédicos”, relatou Negri.

Negri após algum tempo superou Borcheller e assumiu o terceiro lugar. Quando aconteceu um acidente, que causou a primeira bandeira amarela, o brasileiro pulou para segundo, arriscando uma estratégia diferente.

A estratégia da MSR era até muito boa, já que o carro estava excelente de chão, contou Burt Frisselle, mas o calor atrapalhou muito o rendimento do motor.

“Estou muito feliz por termos conseguido completar a prova entre os cinco primeiros novamente”, disse o norte-americano. “Esta é uma das pistas que não é favorável ao nosso carro, mas conseguimos um ótimo resultado”, completou o piloto.

A Mike Shank Racing, correu em Miami com um novo patrocinador, a ZETA, empresa também de Miami, que ficou felicíssima com o retorno obtido. Negri havia convidado para prova seus amigos Gil de Ferran, e Helio Castroneves, que foram prestigiar o brasileiro, e fizeram uma grande festa com o quinto posto obtido.

A vitória no final ficou com a dupla Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace, que venceram pela segunda vez nesta temporada. Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelleli foram segundo, e Butch Leitzinger/ Wayne Forbes-Robinson completaram o pódio. A próxima etapa da Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, será VIR 400, no dia 03 de Outubro, no Virginia International Raceway.

Resultado da Homestead Miami 250:

1 Duno/ Wallace - Pontiac Crawford, 104 voltas
2 Taylor/ Angelelli - Pontiac Riley, 104
3 Forbes-Robinson/ Leitzinger - Pontiac Crawford, 104
4 Morales/ Diaz - Lexus Riley, 104
5 Negri Jr/ Frisselle- Lexus Doran, 104
6 Maxwell/ Gue - Ford Multimatic, 104
7 Collins/ Theys - Lexus Doran, 104
8 Wagner/ Martini - BMW Doran, 103
9 Borcheller/ Fittipaldi - Pontiac Doran, 103
10 Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley, 102

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing takes fifth at Homestead

09/19/2004

Michael Shank Racing finished fifth in the Miami 250 at the Homestead Miami Speedway after starting from fourth on the grid and running as high as second during the two-hour and forty-five minute event. The strong finish helped the team reduce the gap to the championship leaders, and kept the team fourth in the overall standings.

After the team posted the fastest time in morning practice, Oswaldo Negri started the race from fourth position, and moved up to third at the start. Negri fought amongst the top five throughout his first stint before turning the car over to Burt Frisselle on lap 21 during a full course yellow.

Frisselle kept the car in the top five, and fought his way to second spot by lap 40, holding back the charge from several championship contenders before the Michael Shank Racing squad made the most of another full course caution on lap 50 to change tires, add fuel, and get Negri back behind the wheel.

The race, which saw some extreme heat in the humid Florida conditions as well as a total of five full course yellow periods keep the lead pack in close touch, had the final restart with fifteen minutes remaining as Negri fought to keep the car in contact with the leaders after the balance on the car went away in the closing laps of the race, but he was able to hold on to fifth at the checkered flag.

“We are learning every race we run, and we just keep improving,” said Oswaldo Negri. “I am so proud of this team-of all my years in racing, this is a great opportunity for me to be working with some of the best people in the sport. I also want to thank Clear Channel for teaming up with us for the race so we could even get a chance to take the green flag here today.”

Frisselle had a strong stint at the wheel and showed how much he has learned this season, performing well on the restarts and holding off the charge from eventual podium finishers to keep position. Frisselle is optimistic about the MSR answering the bell in the upcoming events, and knows that a top-five finish can help make that happen.

“I am happy to finish in the top five again,” said Burt Frisselle. “We fought all weekend to get the car better, since the track layout isn’t the best for us, but I am thrilled to get the points, and to have a good result for our sponsor ZETA here in Miami.”

Award-winning team owner Mike Shank is never satisfied unless he is in victory circle, but knows that the small team did everything they could today to try and make that happen.

“This isn’t really our kind of track, but we did the best we could today,” said Shank. “Our guys did a flawless job in the pits, and Burt and Oswaldo got everything out of the car, so we’ll put the points in the bank and go from here. I have been saying all season that if we can finish in the top five every race, we will be good for the championship, so we accomplished that today, but of course after being fastest in the warm up this morning, we were hoping for more.”

The small team is hoping that the strong finish will help in the effort to secure the necessary funding to keep racing to the end of the championship.

“It didn’t help us that the guys we are chasing in the championship won, but this was a solid effort all around for us, and we moved closer to the lead guys in the championship, so hopefully we can get the kind of help we got from ZETA this weekend in the next events, as we know we have what it takes to win and just have to keep fighting for it.’

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Michael Shank Racing partners with 94.9 ZETA for Miami 250

09/15/2004

MSR Zeta Michael Shank Racing will fly the colors of Miami-based Clear Channel Communications radio station 94.9 ZETA for the Miami 250 Rolex Sports Car Series event on September 10-12 at the new Homestead Miami Speedway. The partnership will see the 94.9 ZETA FM #6 Lexus-Doran utilized in a number of promotional activities in advance of the race weekend, as well as a race day ‘meet and greet’ with the team and drivers Oswaldo Negri Jr, and Burt Frisselle.

The small team, hot off a season-best second place finish at Watkins Glen in August, is looking forward to returning to the Homestead complex, which hosted round two of the Rolex Sports Car Series, and saw the Negri Jr. and Frisselle pairing score a podium finish with third place in just their first outing with MSR.

“We are excited about the opportunity that this partnership creates for both parties,” team owner Mike Shank said. “After the strong finish we had at the Glen, we were that much more devoted to getting the chance to race again and go for the podium again at Homestead, so we can’t wait to make the most of this opportunity.”

Despite a series of bad-luck finishes in the middle rounds of the season, the MSR squad has managed to fight its way to fourth in the team championship, and is now just five points from third, and thirty-nine points from the powerhouse Ganassi squad in first.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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Michael Shank Racing has high hopes for Homestead

09/13/2004

Columbus, OH - Michael Shank Racing is looking forward to racing in the rescheduled Miami 250 at Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend and continuing to fight for positions in the Rolex Sports Car Series championship with their Lexus-powered Doran. The small team, hot off a season-best second place finish at Watkins Glen in August, is eager to return to the Homestead complex, which hosted round two of the Rolex Sports Car Series in April, and saw drivers Oswald Negri Jr. and Burt Frisselle score a podium finish in just their first outing with MSR.

“I just hope we get to go racing this weekend,” said Burt Frisselle. “It was a smart decision for Grand American to postpone the race for a week, and hopefully Ivan will stay well clear of Florida! The car was obviously really good at the Glen, and now we get to race on a track that we have some experience on, and hopefully we can put that to our advantage this weekend.”

While both Michael Shank Racing drivers hail from different parts of the world, Frisselle from Hawaii and Negri from Brazil, they both have found a new home in Miami, and are looking forward to the race weekend.

“It’s kind of a home race for us, and we qualified well (P3) and were on the podium here in April , so we are pretty confident about the race,” said Negri. “We have got some good momentum coming off of the Glen, so we hope we can do well at Homestead and keep fighting for Michael Shank Racing in the championship. There will be a lot of family and friends here for the race as well, and that always makes it special.”

Despite a series of bad-luck finishes in the middle rounds of the season, the MSR squad has managed to fight its way to fourth in the team championship, and is now just five points from third, and thirty-nine points from the powerhouse Ganassi squad in first. The event has been rescheduled to be a two-day event, and will see the grid lined up by team championship points.

The race is scheduled to be aired live on Speed Channel at 11:00 am EST on Sunday, September 19th.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317.908.2975

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Negri testa pneus Hoosier

20/08/2004

Oswaldo Negri testa os pneus que irão equipar a categoria em 2005

Após o anúncio na última sexta-feira de que a Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation será o fornecedor exclusive de pneus para a Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series na próxima temporada, três equipes da Daytona Prototype participaram de testes com os novos pneus no circuito de Watkins Glen, nesta última quarta e quinta-feira.

Hoosier O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, que no ultimo final de semana conquistou junto com Burt Frisselle um belíssimo segundo lugar na Sahlen's 200 at the Glen, foi um dos pilotos escolhidos para o teste. O piloto da Michael Shank Racing, testou com seu Lexus Doran os pneus da Hoosier.

Além de Negri testaram os pneus da fábrica norte-americana, Kelly Collins com o BMW Doran, da G&W Motorsports; e Scott Maxwell com um Multimatic Ford. Os carros giraram um total de 1.100 milhas no teste, marcando a primeira apresentação dos carros da Grand-Am com os pneus Hoosier.

"Tivemos a grata surpresa de perceber que estamos bem mais avançados do que supúnhamos”, disse o gerente de produto da Hoosier, Mike Kraemer, "Basicamente, pulamos uma fase inteira no processo de produção, e poderemos trazer um lote menor de pneus para o próximo teste”, disse ainda Kraemer.

O gerente da Hoosier elogiou muito o trabalho dos pilotos, que lhes forneceu uma quantidade gigante de informações, que ajudará muito no desenvolvimento dos pneus.

"Foram testes muito proveitosos. Posso adiantar que estes pneus tornam a pilotagem mais fácil, principalmente pelo excelente grip que apresentam”, falou Negri. “Para o primeiro teste realmente fiquei impressionado com o desempenho”, disse ainda o brasileiro.

Burt Frisselle, companheiro de Negri na MSR, endossou as palavras do companheiro.

“Estou feliz por ter sido convidado para este teste, e fiquei impressionado com o desempenho destes pneus, que me permitiram imprimir um forte ritmo, já desde as primeiras voltas”, comentou o jovem norte-americano.

Segundo Kraemer, a Hoosier planeja outro teste com seis equipes, desta vez na pista de Miami. O teste acontecerá na segunda-feira após a prova marcada para o dia 12 de setembro. Kraemer disse ainda que as equipes chegaram a torcer por chuva em Watkins Glen, para avaliar os pneus de chuva da companhia, mas contrariando as informações da meteorologia, a chuva não veio.

"Estamos todos sentados esperando por chuva, mas caprichosamente ela não veio. Vamos ter de torcer por chuva em alguma outra pista, para testar nossos compostos para pista molhada”. Disse Kraemer sorrindo.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing scores second place at the Glen

08/14/2004

The little team that can, does, and scores their second podium of the season.

“What I love about racing in this category is that if you have clever engineers, good drivers, and a solid team working on the car, you can be competitive week in and week out no matter what your budget is.”

Award-winning team owner Mike Shank’s comment to a journalist just before the Sahlen’s 200 at the Glen proved prescient, as the underdog Michael Shank Racing team put all three things to work to earn their best finish of the season with a strong second-place run to the podium to the delight of the team and the Grand Am paddock, which has developed an enormous amount of respect for what the team has been able to do with a limited budget in just their first season of Rolex competition.

The second visit of the season for the Rolex Sports Car Series to the famed Watkins Glen International facility brought plenty of highs and lows for the MSR squad as the weather bounced between heavy rains and dry conditions in the practice sessions in advance of the race. Drivers Burt Frisselle of Kihei, Hawaii and Brazilian-born Miami resident Oswaldo Negri, Jr., had found the sweet spot in the MSR Lexus-powered Doran in wet conditions, but were less confident about the dry handling of the car. The qualifying session was cancelled due to heavy rains, setting the field by team championship points, giving the 6 car fourth on the grid.

The race started in dry conditions, and despite uncertainty about the cars dry set-up, Oswald Negri had a very strong first stint, keeping the car within just seconds of the leaders while fending off several charges from NASCAR’s Tony Stewart for fourth place. Heavy rains came on lap 34, and Negri was able to get the car safely back to the pits for a driver change and a switch to wet tires as several other competitors went off track in the difficult conditions, bringing out a timely full course yellow.

Frisselle took the wheel of the 6 car during the pitstop, which was quick enough to move the 6 car into third position. On the restart, he held position and staged a monster battle with former Formula One star and eventual winner Jan Magnussen before finally ceding fourth place on lap 50. Frisselle kept in touch with the leaders, but felt as though he might have over-worked his rain tires in the drying conditions.

“I keep learning more every lap I am in the car, and I definitely learned a lot today!” said Frisselle. “I worked the rain tires too hard on the first part of my stint and overheated them and began to go backwards a little bit. But I was fighting with the Ganassi car, and followed his lead to change my line and keep the tires cool.”

The changing conditions proved to be a challenge for the entire field, and a full course yellow on lap 59 for a stranded car provided the team with a perfect opportunity to make the brave move to slick tires. Frisselle rejoined the field in seventh place on lap 63 and on the restart was some thirteen seconds back to the leader.

Frisselle quickly to put his advantage to work, dispensing with the Porsche traffic on his way to reeling off some of the quickest laps of the field at that point in the race, reducing the gap to the leader by up to three seconds a lap and at one point going three wide to make a double pass for position. Frisselle kept his cool, streaking by everyone to move into second place behind Magnussen, but ran out of laps in his pursuit of the lead to score the best finish of the season to date for the small Ohio-based team.

“The last laps were really exciting-we went from seventh to second in ten minutes, running on a drying track in the dark making passes everywhere! Its just an unbelievable result for the team-which has worked so incredibly hard to give us the best car possible, and so its great to be able to get it to the podium for them and for Mike.”

The victory podium celebrations were a happy release for the team, which has seen its fair share of luck go someone else’s way this season. Frisselle, Negri, and Shank were bombarded by congratulations from fellow competitors.

“Unbelievable!” said a smiling Mike Shank with the teams trophy in his hands. “This result finally shows the gains we have been making all season. Our engineers-Dale Wise and Dale Kanning-made a great decision with Burt to go to slicks-we took a big gamble, and it paid off big time! This is the first race since Homestead that the luck has gone our way and that we haven’t been knocked off track. Burt and Oswaldo once again did a great job in the car, and getting second is fantastic for all my guys who work so hard to make this happen on a very limited budget.”

Negri was also excited about the result, and felt like it finally matched the hard work the team has done all season.

“I am so happy and proud to drive for this team-we put so much effort into every session, and we just haven’t had the results to show for it, so this is absolutely fantastic,” said Negri. “The car was much better in the dry than I thought it was going to be, so it was a nice surprise! Every race we are more and more competitive, and it showed here tonight.”

The team is hoping to use the strong result to help develop the budget to keep racing this season, and will be doing everything possible to get to the next round at Homestead Miami Speedway in September.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317.908.2975

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Negri conquista brilhante segundo lugar em Watkins Glen

14/08/2004

Negri e Frisselle deram um show em Watkins Glen e subiram ao pódio

Debaixo de condições diluvianas Oswaldo Negri Jr., e Burt Frisselle, conquistaram o melhor resultado da Michael Shank Racing nesta temporada. A dupla, que largou da quarta posição no grid, terminou em segundo lugar a Sahlen’s 200 at The Glen, disputada na noite de ontem no circuito nova-iorquino, na oitava etapa da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.

A prova mais uma vez fez a preliminar da NASCAR, que volta a competir em circuitos mistos. A chuva foi a grande vilã no dia de ontem, já que após os treinos livres, castigou o circuito nova-iorquino, impedindo que se fossem disputados os treinos de classificação, e o grid foi formado segundo a classificação do campeonato.

Negri e seu companheiro na MSR (Michael Shank Racing), o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, largaram da segunda fila do grid (4ª posição). Na largada, o Lexus Riley de Pruett pulou na frente, com Negri conservando sua quarta posição.

“Mudamos o carro para o seco, e mais algumas coisas que aprendemos na última corrida em Mid Ohio. Tudo funcionou muito bem; larguei em quarto e me mantive grudado com os três primeiros”, falou o brasileiro. “Éramos um trenzinho passando pelos GT e SGS”, contou Negri.

Os quatro primeiros (Pruett, Borcheller, Angelelli e Negri) seguiam em um ritmo fortíssimo até que na volta de nº 33 a chuva começou a cair de maneira muito intensa, e os quatro entram juntos nos boxes.

“Fizemos um ótimo pit-stop e o Burt passou para terceiro. A chuva ficou ainda mais forte, e Burt perdeu algumas posições”, disse Negri.

A corrida começou a se definir nas dez voltas finais, quando Jan Magnussen, que venceu a prova, e Burt Frisselle resolveram arriscar tudo, e instalaram pneus slicks nos seus carros.

“Quando estavam faltando 10 voltas para o final, o Magnussem entrou nos boxes e colocou slicks e o Burt teve a mesma idéia uma volta depois. Foi uma decisão perfeita. Eles passaram todos os outros competidores em 5 voltas”, disse Negri. “Nas últimas voltas eu estava com o coração na boca, pois sabia o quanto às condições estavam difíceis para o Burt, e que o mínimo erro seria fatal. Porém ele foi demais e chegamos ao pódio”, comentou exultante Negri.

A comemoração da equipe de Mike Shank, dos engenheiros da Lexus e dos técnicos do chassis Doran foi muito grande. A vitória ficou com Jan Magnussen/ Didier Theys, com Negri e Frisselle em segundo e Max Angelelli/ Wayne Taylor completando o pódio.

A vitória na classe GT foi da dupla Boris Said/ Joey Hand com o BMW M3, com a nona posição na classificação geral. Na SGCS vitória de John Littlechild/ Spencer Pumpelly com um Porsche GT3 Cup.

A próxima etapa da Grand-Am será no dia 12 de setembro, em Homestead (Miami), com a Homestead – Miami 250.

Resultado da Sahlen’s 200 at The Glen:

1 (DP) Theys/ Magnussen - Lexus Doran
2 (DP) Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Lexus Doran
3 (DP) Taylor/ Angelelli - Pontiac Riley
4 (DP) Gavin/ Barber/ Borcheller - Pontiac Doran
5 (DP) Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley
6 (DP) Martini/ Wagner - BMW Doran
7 (DP) Donohue/ Law - Porsche Fabcar
8 (DP) Stewart/ Wallace - Pontiac Crawford
9 (GT) Hand/ Said - BMW M3
10 (GT) Auberlen/ Marks - BMW M3

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri larga em quarto em Watkins Glen

13/08/2004

Chuva impediu treinos de classificação e ordem do grid segue classificação do campeonato

O paulista Oswaldo Negri Jr., único brasileiro disputando o Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, vai largar da segunda fila do grid para oitava etapa do campeonato, que acontece nesta sexta-feira no circuito de Watkins Glen, com a Sahlen’s 200 at The Glen. O circuito já recebeu este ano uma etapa da Grand-Am, muito embora tenha sido utilizado o traçado longo de 3.4 milhas (5.471 metros), e agora a prova de 200 milhas será no traçado de 2.45 milhas (3.942 metros).

A prova mais uma vez fará a preliminar da NASCAR, que volta a competir em circuitos mistos. A chuva foi a grande vilã no dia de ontem, já que após os treinos livres, castigou o circuito nova-iorquino, impedindo que se fossem disputados os treinos de classificação, e o grid será formado segundo a classificação do campeonato.

Negri e seu companheiro na MSR (Michael Shank Racing), o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, largam da segunda fila do grid (4ª posição).

“Ontem choveu o dia todo e embora tivessem treinos livres, não tivemos classificação.
Na hora da classificação, caiu uma chuva tremenda, e o grid foi determinado pela posição do campeonato; assim largaremos em quarto lugar”, contou Negri.

”Os outros treinos também foram no molhado, e o nosso carro estava com um acerto ótimo para pista molhada. No último treino, quando todos estavam na pista, eu tinha o melhor tempo, sendo 1 segundo mais rápido que o Papis”, disse o brasileiro. “No final do treino a pista começou a secar rapidamente, com a diminuição da intensidade da chuva, mas ninguém queria queimar os pneus de chuva, já que a previsão para corrida é de mais chuva”, disse ainda Negri.

“No único treino que rodamos com pista seca, o carro não está nem perto de estar bom. Fizemos uma modificação aerodinâmica no ‘chão’ do carro na parte dianteira, para atingir um balanço razoável, mas ainda precisamos de mais tempo”, falou o piloto. “Fizemos esta mudança porque necessitamos de mais pressão aerodinâmica, e com isto nosso carro acaba consumindo muito mais pneus que os demais. Os Crawford e o Reiley que tem mais downforce que a gente”, completou Negri.

A pole position para a Sahlen’s 200 at The Glen, ficou com a dupla Max Papis/ Scott Pruet da CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing, com seu Lexus Riley. Em segundo no grid largaram a dupla Wayne Taylor/ Max Angeleli. A prova será disputada hoje (sexta-feira) com largada programada para as 17:30 (horário de Brasília).

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Roda atrapalha corrida de Negri e Frisselle em Ohio

09/08/2004

Uma roda solta roubou sete voltas da Michael Shank Racing na EMCO Gears Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic.

Mid Ohio A Michael Shank Racing Doran-Lexus vinha na terceira colocação na EMCO Gears Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic, sétima etapa do Campeonato de 2004 da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Negri largou em quarto, e imediatamente assumiu a terceira posição, conseguindo segurar os carros mais potentes que o perseguiam.

Os carros de Taylor/Angelelli e Pruet/ Papis fugiam à frente. O problema para MSR (Michael Shank Racing) começou depois da parada para troca de pneus e reabastecimento.

O companheiro de equipe de Negri, o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, assumiu o volante e conseguiu manter a terceira colocação, mas ainda muito ameaçado pelos carros que vinham atrás. Na 44ª volta, seis após o pit-stop, na Curva 1, a roda traseira direita caiu. Burt saiu da pista e danificou a traseira do protótipo.

O carro voltou rebocado aos boxes, e com isso a equipe perdeu sete voltas, e a chance de um lugar no pódio.

"O final de semana prometia bastante, mas infelizmente não conseguimos o resultado que precisávamos. Melhoramos muito nosso carro, mas ainda não conseguimos chegar no nível da Ganassi e da SunTrust", contou Negri. "Neste fim de semana vamos correr em Watkings Glen, na preliminar da Nascar. Vamos ver se desta vez a gente se acerta, só que lá, a pista é de alta, e isso será ainda mais difícil, já que ainda sofremos com uma potência menor de motor", completou o brasileiro.

A vitória ficou com a dupla Max Papis/ Scott Pruett, com a venezuelana Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace em segundo. A dupla mexicana Morales/ Diaz completou o pódio.

Resultado das 250 Milhas de Mid-Ohio (EMCO Gears Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic ):

1 (DP) Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley 96 voltas
2 (DP) Duno/ Wallace - Pontiac Crawford
3 (DP) Morales/ Diaz - Lexus Riley
4 (DP) Law/ Donohue - Porsche Fabcar
5 (DP) Hall/ Huang - Pontiac Crawford
6 (DP) Gregoire/ Goad - Pontiac Crawford
7 (DP) Theys/ Leuenberger - Lexus Doran
8 (DP) Taylor/ Collard/ Angelelli - Pontiac Riley + 1 volta
9 (DP) France/ Haywood - Porsche Fabcar + 1 volta
10 (GT) Auberlen/ Marks - BMW M3 + 1 volta
28 (DP) Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Lexus Doran + 8 voltas

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Mid-Ohio: Michael Shank Racing race report

08/08/2004

Michael Shank Racing finishes 12th in Daytona Prototype class at Mid Ohio

Lexington, OH -The Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran finished 12th in class in the EMCO Gears Road Racing Classic at Mid Ohio after a wheel fell of at speed and sent the 6 car into the sandtrap, putting paid to the podium hopes for the home town team after a strong start of the nearly three hour event with drivers Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Burt Frisselle.

Negri started the race at the controls of the Lexus-Doran, and stayed with the lead pack in the early laps, threatening for second place before bringing the car in to pit during a well-timed yellow flag period. Hawaiian native Frisselle took over the driving duties, and was in the top five at the restart when on his second flying lap, the right rear tire separated from the car, and sending Frisselle off the track.

"It was scary-I turned into the corner, and the car started to wiggle, and then, it just went around, and I heard a large explosion at the back, and the next thing I knew, I was spinning and I could see the rear tire going by me," said a wide-eyed Frisselle. "I just tried to get out of harms way at that point-we were lucky there to not lose the car and only have the damage we did, since there were three other prototypes right behind me."

The team lost several laps waiting for the car to be towed back to the pits, as the loss of the wheel made moving the car difficult for the recovery crew. The team pulled off the damaged bodywork and reattached a new wheel, and an undaunted Frisselle strapped himself back into the car and re-entered the fray some eight laps down in thirty-second place. Frisselle ran the entire second half of the race in the damaged car, hauling it up to finish 12th in the points, and demonstrating both his speed and bravery every lap.

"Well, obviously its disappointing to have something like this take us out of such a strong position at our home track, but to focus on the positive, Burt's last stint was really amazing-for him to get back into the car and crank out those lap times lap after lap shows that he's really growing up, and taking some big steps inside the car," said Shank. "We will fix the car and head on up to the Glen."

Despite the setback, Negri was also focusing on the positive after the race.

"We had the car going so well, but you know, that's racing, and these kind of things happen," said Negri. "The team did a great job all weekend, and we were running so strong that it's a bit disappointing to have this happen, but at least we have the chance to race again at the Glen next weekend. We'll just have to regroup and go to the next one and get back to the podium."

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Mid-Ohio: Michael Shank Racing qualifying report

08/06/2004

Michael Shank Racing rockets to fourth in qualifying at Mid-Ohio
The little team that can will start from second row in home race

Lexington, OH -The Michael Shank Racing Lexus-powered Doran will start the EMCO Gears Road Racing Classic at Mid Ohio from fourth on the grid after driver Oswaldo Negri dug deep late in the qualifying session with a 1:20.772-second lap for Saturday's race. Columbus-based MSR is currently in fourth in the team championship, and is looking to make the most of the home track weekend for points.

Negri and fellow pilot Burt Frisselle of Kiheii, Hawaii, were second fastest in the morning practice session, but some slower traffic during the qualifying prevented the team from showing their true speed.

"I am so proud of the guys on the team-we test the least of anyone, and still we show up every race and are consistently in the top-five, so hats off to the crew" said Negri. "It took some time to get the car up to temperature, but we were fast once it did! The result is a little frustrating since I got blocked by traffic on my fastest lap, but the car is quick and consistent, so we are focused on doing well in the race."

Award winning team owner Mike Shank was also hoping to be closer to the front in qualifying, but he knows the team has prepared a quick car, and that his drivers are up to the task.

"Os did a really good job-there is a couple lap window with the tires to get the optimum out of them, and he was able to set his fastest lap well after that, so he's impressed us again," Shank said. "We have been targeting being in the top-five in qualifying every race, so we were able to do that and we should be very competitive tomorrow. We have a lot of friends, family, and sponsors on hand for the event, so we are very excited about the race."

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Negri larga da segunda fila em Mid-Ohio

06/08/2004

Negri coloca carro da Michael Shank Racing na quarta posição para 7ª etapa da Grand-Am em Mid-Ohio

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr larga da segunda fila do grid na Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic, com o Lexus-Doran JE4, da Michael Shank Racing, nesta sétima etapa do Campeonato de 2004 da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Negri estabeleceu o tempo de 1m20s772 (média de 161,962 km/m) para os 3.633 metros do circuito.

"As modificações na parte aerodinâmica melhoraram um pouco o comportamento do carro, assim como o motor também melhorou no torque. As outras equipes, porém também se prepararam muito bem nos testes antes desta prova", contou Negri.

"Em relação às duas grandes (Chip Ganassi e Sun Trust) ainda não conseguimos reduzir a diferença", disse o brasileiro. "Vamos largar em quarto, daria para ter largado em terceiro, pois peguei trafego na volta nais rapida. Tudo está tranquilo, o carro está muito melhor na parte de desgaste de pneus, melhoramos bastante mas não o sufuciente ainda. O Burt está também andando bem, ele já conhecia a pista, a primeira que ele corre este ano já tendo andado na pista outras vezes. Vamos ver o que dá", completou Negri.

Max Papis conquistou a pole position ficou com o Lexus Riley da equipe Ganassi, além de estabelecer um novo recorde para o circuito, com o tempo de 1m19s496. Esta foi a sexta pole da equipe nesta temporada.

Em segundo larga outro chassi Riley, este da equipe SunTrust equipado com motor Pontiac, e pilotado por Wayne Taylor, que nesta etapa fará dupla com o francês Emanuel Collard.

Mike Borkowski com outro Pontiac Riley (Mears Motorcoach/SpeedSource) abre a segunda fila, e a dupla Oswaldo Negri Jr./ Burt Frisselle defendem a Doran frente os poderosos Riley. Na classe GT a pole ficou com Bill Auberlen (BMW M3). A prova de 250 milhas (1101 voltas ou 2 horas e 45 minutos) acontece neste sábado, a partir das 19:30 (horário de Brasília).

Veja os 20 primeiros do grid da EMCO Gears Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

1 (DP) Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley 1m19s496
2 (DP)Taylor/ Collard/ Angelelli - Pontiac Riley 1m19s733
3 (DP) Borkowski/ Mears Jr - Pontiac Riley 1m20s656
4 (DP) Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Lexus Doran 1m20s772
5 (DP) Morales/ Diaz - Lexus Riley 1m20s785
6 (DP) Law/ Donohue - Porsche Fabcar 1m21s332
7 (DP) Forbes-Robinson/ Leitzinger Howard - Pontiac Crawford 1m21s758
8 (DP) Theys/ Leuenberger - Lexus Doran 1m21s949
9 (DP) Gregoire - Pontiac Crawford 1m21s976
10 (DP) Hall/ Huang - Pontiac Crawford 1m22s299
11 (DP) Martini/ Wagner - BMW Doran 1m22s955
12 (DP) Duno/ Wallace - Pontiac Crawford 1m22s976
13 (DP) Lewis/ Rice - BMW Fabcar 1m23s310
14 (DP) France/ Haywood - Porsche Fabcar 1m23s384
15 (GT) Auberlen/ Marks - BMW M3 1m26s196
16 (DP) Barber/ Borcheller - Pontiac Doran 1m26s228
17 (GT) Policastro/ Policastro/ Fitzge - Porsche GT3 RS 1m27s250
18 (GT) Said/ Hand- BMW M3 1m27s579
19 (GT) Gleason/ James/ Valentine - Porsche GT3 RS 1m28s145
20 (GT) Halsmer/ Curran - Acura NSX 1m28s193

Classes:

DP = Daytona Prototipe
GT = Gran Turismo

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing Midseason Review

07/27/2004

Columbus, OH - Award-winning team owner Mike Shank of Columbus, Ohio took a big gamble during the off-season, making the bold decision to buy a new Daytona Prototype race car and compete in a completely new format, changing gears from the sprint racing format of Atlantic competition that the team had so much success in, to the endurance racing that is the hallmark of the Rolex series.

MSR The decision has paid off, as the team has been in the top five in points the entire season despite not having any experience in the category and working with a limited budget.

The season has provided the team with its share of highs and lows-from the grueling 18-hours of rain in the teams debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where the team led the first lap of Rolex competition for engine supplier Lexus and came home fourth in class after fighting back through the night when mechanical problems caused by the non stop rain crept up early in the event.

The team didn't skip a beat when drivers Burt Frisselle of Hawaii and Oswaldo Negri of Miami joined the squad and were fast right away. Frisselle joined the Rolex ranks as one of the youngest drivers in the field, in just his second season of professional racing after competing in the ultra-competitive Barber Dodge Pro series against drivers like A.J. Allmendinger and Colin Fleming.

He was joined by Brazilian ace Oswaldo Negri Jr., who had finally earned the opportunity his career had been lacking to that point. Negri, who took championships in his native Brazil and on into England racing against guys with names like Barrichello, Coulthard, and de Ferran, brought speed and experience in the Daytona Prototype to the team, having contested a limited schedule of races in 2003. He also brought a wealth of experience developing race cars, as his time in F3 and Indy Lights had led to him being tapped by Barber Dodge and Formula BMW to develop their cars as a test driver.

Eager to show they were well-placed in the category, and working to make the most of the opportunity, the duo scored a coup in just their second race, hustling their way to third place in qualifying and backing that up with a scrappy run to third in the race behind a Michael Shank Racing crew that was adapting quickly to the special challenge of pit stops in sprint-format endurance racing.

The next race in Phoenix didn't deliver the fortune the team had been hoping for, as the team was again quick in qualifying but suffered from contact with another car, which damaged the right rear suspension and prevented the tire from being changed during the subsequent pit stop. This severely compromised Frisselle's last stint and the team had to settle for sixth place.

The MSR crew regrouped for the Mt. Tremblant round, held in the beautiful mountain region north of Montreal, where the team was again quick in qualifying but suffered during the seasons first six-hour event when Frisselle was knocked clear of the track when another competitor made an overly adventurous move to pass, taking the team out of contention for a top-five finish for the second race.

The Glen brought a similar result, with the team once again getting knocked out of contention when a competitor made an ill-advised attempt at a pass, and again thwarted a potential podium finish with the damage in the six-hour enduro.

The Daytona round saw the team once again show strength in the late night race, leaping up to second at the start and running in the lead pack all night until the teams final pit stop, where a balky airgun left the 6 car sitting still just long enough to fall off the lead lap, despite the teams best efforts.

But despite these setbacks, Shank and his crew are firmly confident not only about what the team can do, but also about the decision to go Grand Am.

"Every race we go to, we have what it takes to win, and we know that," says Shank. "When we decided that we wanted to racing Daytona Protypes, that's all we were looking for-a chance to win, and racing here gives us that. We have shown that the guys in the car can bring the speed, and my guys going over the wall do a great job, and we have a great partner powering us in Lexus, so its really just a matter of getting the breaks to go our way.

"It was a big risk I took with my wife when we decided to race here in Rolex, but we are really happy we did," said Shank. "We feel that we can win any race we enter, and that is saying a lot, as the competition here is fierce, and there are some big-budget teams with a lot of experience in this kind of racing, so we are proud of how quickly we have been able to be competitive."

The EMCO Gears Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic marks the return of Michael Shank Racing to the legendary track for the Columbus-based team.

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Equipe de Negri brilhou em Daytona

Negri fez uma grande corrida, e a Michael Shank Racing terminou em 8º na Paul Revere 250

A Michael Shank Racing Doran-Lexus completou a Paul Revere 250, disputada ontem (Quinta-feira) no Daytona International Speedway, em um excelente oitavo lugar, graças ao brilhante trabalho dos seus pilotos, o brasileiro Oswaldo Negri, e o norte-americano Burt Frisselle.

Paul Revere Oswaldo Negri, que largou da quinta posição no grid, mais uma vez fez uma largada estupenda, e ao final da primeira volta já ocupava a secunda colocação.

“Eu deixei um pequeno espaço para os que iam a minha frente, na certeza que iriam frear mais cedo, e foi exatamente o que aconteceu. Chegamos na primeira curva todos juntos, e a contornamos com três carros lado a lado, acabei completando a volta na segunda posição”, contou Negri.

Na quarta volta o protótipo da Ganassi, muito mais potente que o carro de Negri, o superou. Mesmo assim o experiente piloto brasileiro, se manteve perto dos três que lideravam. O ritmo imposto pelo três que iam a frente se tornou muito agressivo, para os pneus macios que equipavam o doran Lexus do brasileiro, mas ainda assim Negri conseguiu entregar o carro ao seu companheiro na terceira posição.

A equipe MSR alterou a combinação de pneus durante o pit-stop, e Frisselle pode voltar a imprimir um ritmo mais forte. O americano conseguiu manter o carro entre os top 5 durante grande parte da noite.

“Foi até estranho, já que não encontrei muito tráfego, a não ser de algumas Porsches aqui e ali. O carro estava satisfatório, e estava conseguindo diminuir a desvantagem para o quarto colocado”, contou Frisselle.

No pit-stop final, um parafuso de roda teimou em não sair, e tornou a parada mais lenta que o previsto, fazendo a dupla perder um volta em relação ao líder. Para completar, na parada da MSR aconteceu uma bandeira amarela, permitindo que os demais que iam a sua frente pudessem parar sob esta condição de corrida.

Negri ainda lutou muito, mas terminou em oitavo lugar. O resultado desapontou um pouco a equipe MSR, que luta contra as poderosas Ganassi e SunTrust, com um orçamento bem mais modesto.

“Os rapazes fizeram um trabalho fantástico, e só estou triste porque este resultado não mostra o quanto eles se esforçaram, e o quão fortes estávamos”, disse o dono da equipe, Mike Shank. “Tivemos um pequeno problema na última parada, e não fosse a bandeira amarela, teríamos terminado outra vez no pódio, mas estou muito orgulhoso de nossos pilotos, e de toda equipe”, falou Shank.

Negri fez coro ao ditos de Shank, e elogiou o trabalho de toda equipe.

“Tenho que agradecer aos nossos mecânicos, que é a equipe mais unida e esforçada que eu já vi nos meus vinte anos de competição. Tenho um imenso prazer em trabalhar com eles”, falou Negri. “Espero que possamos nas próximas provas ter melhores resultados, que serão a melhor recompensa ao excelente trabalho que eles vem fazendo”, completou Negri.

A vitória nesta sexta etapa da Grand Am Rolex Sport Car Series, ficou com a dupla Wayne Taylor e Max Angelelli, com Riley Pontiac. A dupla travou um espetacular duelo com o Riley Lexus de Scott Pruett e Max Papis, que perderam a segunda posição na última volta para Tony Stewart e Andy Wallace ( Pontiac Crawford).

Resultado das 250 Milhas de Daytona

1 - Taylor/ Angelelli - SunTrust Racing / Pontiac Riley 70 voltas em 2h26m00s485
2 - Pruett/ Papis - CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley a 7s311
3 - Stewart/ Wallace - CITGO - Howard - Boss Motorsports / Pontiac Crawford a 16s635
4 - Forbes-Robinson/ Leitzinger - Howard - Boss Motorsports / Pontiac Crawford a 16s753
5 - Donohue/ Law - Red Bull Brumos Goodyear Kendall / Porsche Fabcar a 16s954
6 - Duno/ Lammers - CITGO Howard Boss Motorsports / Pontiac Crawford a 30s227
7 - Morales/ Diaz - CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley a 1 volta
8 - Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Michael Shank Racing / Lexus Doran a 1 volta
9 - Tremblay/ Mears Jr/ Borkowski - Mears Motorcoach/ SpeedSource / Pontiac Riley a 1volta
10 - Leuenberger/ Theys - Doran Lista Racing / Lexus Doran a 2 voltas

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri larga em 5º na pista de Daytona

01/07/2004

Michael Shank Racing pronta para o desafio de Daytona, na Paul Revere 250

Oswaldo Negri Jr, classificou seu Doran Lexus na quinta posição, terceira fila, para a Paul Revere 250, que será disputada hoje no circuito de Daytona. A prova é válida pela sexta etapa do Campeonato da Rolex Sports Car Series, sendo preliminar da NASCAR.

“Mais uma vez vamos largar da quinta posição, e é exatamente a posição que esperávamos estar. Nosso carro está muito bom com pneus novos, mas o desgaste está muito acentuado, fazendo com que o carro se torne complicado de pilotar”, disse o brasileiro.

A equipe Michael Shank Racing trabalhou com vários compostos de pneus, e alterou a pressão dos mesmos, buscando uma melhora e desgaste mais uniforme.

“Trabalhamos muito com diferentes compostos, e pressão de pneus. Melhoramos um pouco, porém não sei se isso será o suficiente”, disse o piloto. “De toda maneira estou muito otimista, e espero que desta vez ninguém bote a gente para fora, como aconteceu nas duas últimas corridas”, disse ainda Negri.

O companheiro de Negri, o americano Burt Frisselle, está fazendo sua estréia em um protótipo nesta pista, e toda equipe ficou muito satisfeita com seu desempenho. Hoje antes da corrida, que tem largada programada para as 12:00 (horário de Brasília), Negri, Frisselle e vários outros pilotos, farão uma visita a crianças com doenças terminais.

A pole position para Paul Revere 250 ficou com a dupla Scott Pruett/ Max Papis (CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley), com o tempo de 1m49s906. David Donohue/ Darren Law (Bull-Brumos Racing Porsche Fabcar) completam a primeira fila do grid.

Programação:

01/06 Quinta-feria

12:00 Largada para as 250 Milhas de Daytona (Paul Revere 250)

Grid de largada para as 250 Milhas de Daytona

1 Pruett/ Papis (Lexus Riley - DP) 1m46s906
2 Donohue/ Law (Porsche Fabcar - DP) 1m47s579
3 Morales/ Diaz (Lexus Riley - DP) 1m47s683
4 Tremblay/ Mears Jr/ Borkowski (Pontiac Riley - DP) 1m48s067
5 Negri Jr/ Frisselle (Lexus Doran - DP) 1m48s372
6 Stewart/ Wallace (Pontiac Crawford - DP) 1m48s473
7 Taylor/ Angelelli (Pontiac Riley - DP) 1m48s643
8 Forbes-Robinson/ Leitzinger (Pontiac Crawford - DP) 1m50s073
9 Martini/ Wagner/ Collins (BMW Doran - DP) 1m50s649
10 France/ Haywood (Porsche Fabcar - DP) 1m51s596
11 Gregoire/ Goad (Pontiac Crawford - DP) 1m51s852
12 Leuenberger/ Theys (Lexus Doran - DP) 1m51s968
13 Duno/ Lammers (Pontiac Crawford - DP) 1m52s513
14 Hall/ Huang (Pontiac Crawford - DP) 1m52s783
15 Barber/ Borcheller (Pontiac Doran - DP) 1m53s594
16 Rice/ Lewis (BMW Fabcar - DP) 1m53s614
17 Buckler/ Halliday (Porsche GT3 RS - GT) 1m55s352
18 Fitzgerald/ Ja Policastro (Porsche GT3 RS - GT) 1m55s659
19 Hand/ Said (BMW M3 - GT) 1m56s188
20 Gleason/ James/ Valentine (Porsche GT3 RS - GT) 1m56s306
21 Marks/ Auberlen (BMW M3 - GT) 1m57s034
22 Vance/ Stevenson (Porsche GT3 RS - GT) 1m58s354
23 Wa Nonnamaker/ Wi Nonnamaker (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m00s262
24 Halsmer/ Schmitt (Acura NSX - GT) 2m00s557
25 Earle/ Barbosa/ Assentato (Maserati Light GT - GT) 2m00s765
26 Bunting/ Lally (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m01s205
27 Levitas/ Pobst (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m01s459
28 Friedman/ Keen (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m01s658
29 J Nonnamaker/ Wa Nonnamaker (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m01s907
30 Espenlaub/ Quarterley (Pontiac GTO - GT) 2m01s980
31 Baughman/ Ward/ Yeakle (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m01s998
32 Littlechild/ Pumpelly (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m02s690
33 Tafel/ Baldwin (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m05s669
34 Sigal/ Castillo (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m05s836
35 Van Wijk/ Culver (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS) 2m09s672
36 Kelleners/ Lazzaro (Ferrari 360GT - GT) 2m11s487
37 Ju Pruskowski/ Jo Pruskowski (Ford Multimatic - DP) 6m10s145
38 S Marshall/ D Marshall (BMW Picchio - DP) Sem tempo

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Nesta quinta Negri disputa a Paul Revere 250 em Daytona

06/21/2004

Michael Shank Racing volta a Daytona para a Paul Revere 250

A equipe Michael Shank Racing (MSR), onde compete o brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, volta este final de semana a ação, no Daytona International Speedway, para sexta etapa do Campeonato da Rolex Sports Car Series, com a realização da Paul Revere 250. A equipe de Michael Shank estreou na Grand-Am nesta temporada, exatamente na pista de Daytona, com a prova de 24 Horas.

Nesta ocasião a equipe terminou na quarta posição, embora a dupla não era formada ainda por Oswaldo Negri e Burt Frisselle. Nas quatro provas seguintes, a dupla sempre terminou entre os seis primeiros, e ocupa no momento o quinto lugar no campeonato de Construtores.

“Estou indo hoje para Daytona onde correremos a preliminar da Nascar. Este será um dos melhores eventos para nós, pela popularidade da Nascar”, contou Negri. “O Scott Pruett correu de Nascar na semana passada pela Ganassi, e terminou em terceiro (Sonoma) e deve ter um buxixo muito grande ao redor disto. O Tony Stewart também vai correr dividindo o carro com o Andy Wallace, e isso vai gerar ainda mais interesse para o público”, contou o brasileiro.

A equipe MSR está bastante otimista para esta prova, onde contará com um novo sistema de escape, desenvolvido pela TRD (Toyota Racing Development). A equipe utiliza o chassis Doran, equipado com os motores Lexus (divisão da Toyota).

“Este novo sistema nos dará uns 9,075 kgfm (20 libras) a mais de torque. É exatamente isto que estamos precisando, pois nosso motor por ser menor que os Chevrolet e os BMW, sofre muito em pista de altíssima como Daytona”, contou Negri.

A equipe ainda garantiu a verba para as provas subseqüentes, de Mid-Ohio e Watkins Glen.

“Estamos buscando urgentemente patrocínio para completar o budget desta temporada. Nossa verba não é suficiente para todo campeonato, o que é uma pena, porque estamos fazendo um papel excelente dentro da nossa capacidade financeira”, completou Negri.

Negri e Frisselle estão em quinto no campeonato de Construtores, atrás somente das poderosas equipes Ganassi e Sun Trust. No campeonato de pilotos a dupla tem 103 pontos (11ª colocação), 48 menos que os líderes.

Programação da Paul Revere 250:

30/06 Quarta-feira

15:00 às 16:15 – 1º treino livre

16:30 às 18:00 – 2º treino livre

19:20 às 19:35 – Classificação DP (Daytona Prototipe)

01/06 Quinta-feira

12:00 Largada para as 250 Milhas de Daytona (Paul Revere 250)

Classificação da Grand-Am no Campeonato de Pilotos (Classe DP)

1 Max Papis/ Scott Pruett, 151 pontos
2 Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelelli, 137
3 Andy Wallace, 134
4 Kelly Collins, 133
5 Cort Wagner, 132
6 Milka Duno, 126
7 Didier Theys, 124
8 Jimmy Morales, 120
9 JC France/ Hurley Haywood, 108
10 Elliot Forbers-Hobbinson/ Butch Leitzinger, 105
11 Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle, 103

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing finishes a battered eighth at the Glen

06/21/2004

Watkins Glen, NY--Michael Shank Racing (MSR) finished a hard-fought eighth in the Sahlen's 6 Hours at the Glen for round five of the Rolex Sports Car Championship after contact from another car once again hampered the team's efforts for a return visit to the podium.

Watkins Glen The team, which is still working on developing the budget to continue racing and make a return to the track when the series races at the Glen again in August, knows it has all the ingredients for success, but just needs to get the luck to go their way sometime soon.

"The guys did another fantastic job today, but we were just too banged up the second part of the race to be fast in the end," Mike Shank said. "We know that we can get some results with these drivers and with the Lexus-Doran, but we just have to get through a race without anyone hitting us!"

Oswaldo Negri started the race from fifth position and shot up to third on the first lap as the six hour enduro got underway. Negri was involved in a number of battles for position, and ran as high as second position before handing the driving duties over to Burt Frisselle.

"It was awesome out there, racing wheel to wheel with Jan (Magnussen) like that," said Negri. "We were well matched-both in Lexus/Dorans, so it was like being back in Formula 3 again, with me overtaking him on one section of the track before he would get me back the next time around, and we would go back and forth lap after lap. It was a blast."

Negri was quick to praise the crew for keeping the car on track, despite the all the damage to the car.

"The guys did a fantastic job, keeping this car alive when it was so banged up--I got hit on the side as well after Burt got hit-so the fact this car was still doing fast laps at the end is a testament to the effort and preparation that Michael Shank Racing puts into the car. We had a top five car for sure, however, someone hit Burt (Frisselle) in the back and that was the story."

Frisselle put in two strong stints, and ran consistently quick laps despite feeling a bit under the weather before the event. Frisselle was at the wheel when he was hit from behind as he made his way through the section of the track known as the boot.

"I don't know what exactly the guy was thinking-I was already down at the apex and I just felt this "bang" from the rear corner, and the next thing I know, I'm going backwards."

Frisselle was unhurt in the accident, and returned to battle the final stages of the race, as the team fought to regain positions lost from the contact.

"It's a disappointing result-eighth is certainly not what we were looking for when we came out here, but on the other hand, it was encouraging how competitive we were and that we were able to stay on the lead lap until I got hit, and that's crucial in these kind of events," Frisselle said. "I learned a lot today-the guys we are racing against are some of the best drivers anywhere, so even though the result wasn't what we were looking for, there is a lot of good to come out of this weekend, and are really looking forward to racing again at Daytona!"

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Negri chegou em 8º nas 6 Horas de Watkins Glen

21/06/2004

Chassi estava excelente, mas acidente nos custou chance de pódio contou Negri

Watkins Glen Oswaldo Negri Jr, e Burt Frisselle terminaram na oitava colocação na Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen, quinta etapa da Grand-Am. A dupla realizou uma grande apresentação, mas o motor menos potente não lhes permitiu lutar por um lugar no pódio.

“Bem, a corrida foi demais. Logo na largada eu pulei da quinta para terceira colocação. Infelizmente o nosso motor não é a mesma coisa que os demais, porém o chassi estava ótimo”, disse Negri. “Tive um duelo com o Magnusen que foi fantástico. A gente ficou brigando por mais de dez voltas, com ultrapassagens milimétricas, e não nos tocamos nenhuma vez. Acabei levando a melhor, pois o meu carro começou a melhorar e o dele piorar, e parti em busca do carro #81 RX.com motor BMW”, falou o brasileiro.

Negri pilotou por 2 horas e 45 minutos antes de passar o carro para seu companheiro. Quando Frisselle ia assumir o volante, a dupla estava na segunda posição, mas um problema no reabastecimento fez com que perdessem muito tempo nos boxes, e voltaram à pista em quarto lugar.

Algumas voltas depois Frisselle recebeu uma batida por trás de Sacha Maassen, rodou, saiu da pista e bateu no muro. No choque a traseira do carro foi danificada, quebrando o escapamento. A equipe trabalhou rápido, trocando toda parte traseira, inclusive o escapamento.

“Voltei ao carro, recuperei uma volta, porém ficou tarde demais e chegamos em oitavo. Fiquei contente que o carro estava bom na corrida do inicio ao fim do stint”, disse Negri. “Ainda vamos conseguir outro pódio, mas está ficando cada vez mais difícil alcançar os carros da Chip Ganassi e a SunTrust”, comentou Negri.

A vitória ficou com a dupla Max Papis/ Scott Pruett, que haviam largado na pole position. Em segundo ficaram Max Angelelli e Wayne Taylor, e os mexicanos Diaz e Morales completaram o pódio. A próxima etapa da Grand-Am será a Paul Revere 250, dia 01 de julho, em Daytona, na Flórida.

Resultado da corrida em Watkins Glen:

1 Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley (DP) 164 voltas
2 Angelelli/ Taylor - Pontiac Riley (DP), 164
3 Diaz/ Morales - Lexus Riley (DP), 164
4 Leitzinger/ Forbes-Robinson Pontiac Crawford (DP), 164
5 Magnussen/ Theys/ Lienhard - Lexus Doran (DP), 163
6 Law/ Donohue/ Maassen - Porsche Fabcar (DP), 163
7 Duno/ Wallace/ Lammers - Pontiac Crawford (DP), 162
8 Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Lexus Doran (DP), 162
9 Barber/ Borcheller/ Pilgrim - Pontiac Doran (DP), 162
10 Haywood/ France/ Luhr - Porsche Fabcar (DP), 161

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri larga em 5º nas 6 Horas de Watkins Glen

19/06/2004

Negri cumpre o previsto e larga da 3ª fila para a 5ª etapa da Grand-Am

Oswaldo Negri Jr, cumpriu o previsto e marcou o quinto melhor tempo para a Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen, com seu Doran-Lexus. O brasileiro estabeleceu o tempo de 1m46s700 para os 5.435 metros do legendário circuito, que fica nas proximidades de New York.

A expectativa da equipe Michael Shank Racing é muito grande, já que ocupa o terceiro lugar no Campeonato de Equipes, somente oito pontos dos líderes, e espera se aproximar mais ainda, na prova de amanhã.

“Esta é uma pista incrível. Quando era pequeno ficava encantado em ler a respeito dela, nos textos que falavam das corridas do Emerson Fittipaldi, e agora tenho a oportunidade de estar aqui”, disse Negri. “Nossa equipe é pequena em comparação com a Ganassi e a SunTrust, mas estamos motivados e esperamos repetir o desempenho da classificação na corrida”, falou o brasileiro.

O otimismo de Negri é compartilhado por seu companheiro de equipe, o havaino Burt Frisselle, e pelo dono da equipe, Mike Shank.

“Os rapazes fizeram um trabalho maravilhoso na classificação, e espero que possamos repetir o brilhante desempenho apresentado nos pits em Mont-Tremblant. Estamos aprendendo muito sobre o carro este ano, e esperamos continuar com o aprendizado amanhã na corrida”, disse Shank.

A corrida tem a largada prevista para as 10:00 deste domingo.

Grid de largada (Categoria Daytona Prototipos)

1 Angelelli/ Taylor - Pontiac Riley 1m43s602
2 Wagner/ Martini/ Collins - BMW Doran 1m45s821
3 Diaz/ Morales - Lexus Riley 1m45s833
4 Law/ Donohue/ Maassen – Porsche Fabcar 1m46s694
5 Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Lexus Doran 1m46s770
6 Borkowski/ Mears Jr – Pontiac Riley 1m46s867
7 Magnussen/ Theys/ Lienhard - Lexus Doran 1m47s268
8 Leitzinger/ Forbes-Robinson – Pontiac Crawford 1m47s510
9 Haywood/ France/ Luhr - Porsche Fabcar 1m48s280
10 Goad/ Gregoire - Pontiac Crawford 1m48s431
11 Papis/ Pruett - Lexus Riley 1m48s671
12 Duno/ Wallace/ Lammers – Pontiac Crawford 1m48s710
13 Hall/ Huang/ Davis - Pontiac Crawford 1m50s207
14 Lewis/ Rice/ Southard - BMW Fabcar 1m50s303
15 Pruskowski/ Pruskowski/ Bentle - Ford Multimatic 1m50s797
16 Barber/ Borcheller/ Pilgrim - Pontiac Doran1m54s705

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri espera largar entre os 5 primeiros em Watkins Glen

19/06/2004

Mesmo com tráfego Shank Racing foi uma das mais rápidas no 1º dia em Glen

Oswaldo Negri Jr, e Burt Frisselle da Mike Shank Racing, reclamaram bastante do tráfego no primeiro dia de treinos para as 6 Horas de Watkins Glen, que acontece neste domingo. A prova é válida pela quinta etapa da Grand-Am, onde o brasileiro ocupa a nona posição no campeonato, tendo disputado somente três etapas.

“O primeiro dia foi bastante complicado, não consegui dar uma volta limpa. São ao todo 16 protótipos e 29 GTs”, contou o brasileiro. “No início do treino ainda consegui me manter em primeiro, mas depois com o tráfego não achei mais nenhuma volta limpa, e os carros da SunTrust nos passaram. O Burt teve a mesma dificuldade no segundo treino livre”, falou Negri.

“A minha Rolling lap no computador me colocaria em segundo no grid. Acho que vamos conseguir um lugar nas três primeiras filas do grid”, disse. “Nossa diferença de motor para os BMW e Chevrolet são muito grandes aqui”, confessou Negri.

No final do dia Negri estava com a sétima melhor marca nas folhas de tempos, e a equipe está bastante otimista para a classificação, que será disputada hoje em 15 minuto, a partir das 12:25.

“O carro tem um bom equilíbrio, porém temos que fazer algo para compensar o motor.
Se você olhar os tempos vai ver que estão todos muito fora, alguns muito rápidos e alguns muito lentos, e isto e por causa do trânsito. Hoje teremos uma hora de treinos livres antes da classificação, e vamos fazer algumas mudanças na suspensão. Espero que o carro fique mais rápido”, finalizou o brasileiro.

Neste sábado acontece o 3º treino livre das 9:00 às 10:00, e a classificação da Classe DP (Daytona Prototipe) onde compete o brasileiro, acontece das 12:25 às 14:40. A corrida tem a largada prevista para as 10:00 do domingo.

Classificação da Grand-Am no Campeonato de Pilotos (Classe DP)

1 Max Papis/ Scott Pruett, 116 pontos
2 Kelly Collins/ Cort Wagner, 114
3 Andy Wallace/ Terry Borcheller, 110
4 Wayne Taylor/ Max Andglelli, 105
5 Milka Duno, 102
6 Didier Theys, 98
7 Jimmy Morales, 90
8 JC France/ Hurley Haywood, 87
9 Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle, 80
10 Forest Barber/ Joe Prukowski, 80
11 Larry Huang/ Stephan Gregoire/ Chris Hall, 79

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri confiante para as 6 Horas de Watkins Glen

16/06/2004

Shank Racing vai em busca de pódio na 2004 Shalen’s Six Hours of The Glen

Oswaldo Negri Jr, e Burt Frisselle da Mike Shank Racing, disputam neste final de semana, a 5ª etapa da Grand American Rolex Sport Car Series. Negri, único brasileiro na categoria, corre em dupla com o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, e são conhecidos como “The boys” (os garotos), pela imprensa especializada norte-americana.

A equipe de Michael Shank chega a Watkins Glen com bastante otimismo, e espera conquistar mais um pódio nesta temporada. No mês de maio passado Negri testou com o Doran-Lexus da equipe, na pista localizada a 418 km de Nova York, e bateu o recorde do circuito de 5.435 metros.

“Estou muito confiante para o final de semana, pois treinamos lá e batemos o recorde da pista. Acredito que não tenhamos a mesma velocidade dos carros da SunTrust e da Chip Ganassi, que tem um chassis mais bem adaptado a pista”, falou Negri. “Mesmo assim estamos confiantes. Vamos imprimir nosso ritmo, e pressionar do início ao fim”, comentou o brasileiro.

O Doran-Lexus da equipe Shank Racing, vem se mostrando um dos carros mais confiáveis do campeonato, não tendo registrado nenhum abandono na temporada, que já teve mais de 35 horas de corrida, e sempre esteve andando entre os seis primeiros. A dupla Negri/ Frissellle só não disputou a primeira etapa do campeonato, mas nas três etapas que disputaram, conquistaram um 3º lugar em Miami, um 6º em Phoenix e outra sexta colocação em Mont-Tremblant.

A dupla ocupa a nona colocação entre as 80 participantes, com 80 pontos conquistados em três provas, e a 26 pontos dos líderes. Esta será a segunda etapa consecutiva com 6 horas de duração. Quarenta e cinco carros estão inscritos nas quatro categorias, para a batalha de quase 1.000 Km.

Os treinos em Watkins Glen começam nesta sexta-feira, com duas sessões de treinos livres. Das 9:00 às 10:00 (horários de Brasília), e das 13:10 às 13:50. No sábado acontece o 3º treino livre das 9:00 às 10:00, e a classificação da Classe DP (Daytona Prototipe) onde compete o brasileiro, acontece das 12:25 às 14:40. A corrida tem a largada prevista para as 10:00 do domingo.

Classificação da Grand-Am no Campeonato de Pilotos (Classe DP)

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João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Negri e Frissele terminaram em 6º Mont-Tremblant, no Canadá

24/05/2004

Negri terminou na sexta posição na 4ª etapa da Grand-Am

Mont Tremblant O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, que competem com um Doran Lexus da equipe Mike Shank Racing, conquistaram um excelente sexto lugar na prova da Grand American Rolex Sport Car Series, ou mais simplesmente Grand-Am, disputada neste domingo em Mont-Tremblant, no Canadá.

A dupla, que havia largado da oitava posição no grid, teve uma prova muito dura, com intensas disputas com o pelotão que ia a sua frente. Negri pilotou da largada até a 35ª volta, quando foi realizar o primeiro pit-stop.

“Aproveitamos a bandeira amarela por um acidente entre um Porsche da (SGS) e um dos Pontiac da DP (Daytona Prototipe). Completamos o combustível e o Burt assumiu a direção, neste momento já estávamos em sexto na corrida”, lembrou Negri.

Quatro voltas depois foi dada a relargada, com a liderança do Lexus nº 27 de Jan Magnussen/Didier Theys, seguidos por Scott Pruett. Burt Frisselle voltou à pista na oitava posição. O ritmo da prova continuou muito intenso, com diversas brigas por posição, até a 72ª volta, quando novamente foi dada bandeira amarela, e Negri novamente assumiu o volante após o pitstop.

“A bandeira amarela durou só duas voltas, mas na relargada um concorrente bateu no muro, e causou bandeira amarela em todo circuito”, falou o brasileiro.

A relargada aconteceu na 79ª volta, e duas voltas depois Negri, que ocupava o sexto lugar, subia para quinto na classificação geral, e quatro voltas depois já era o quarto na corrida. Com quase três horas de corrida Negri ocupava o terceiro lugar na prova, 49 segundos atrás do líder, que era Max Papis, companheiro de Scott Pruet.

Com 146 voltas completadas Papis liderava, a Shank Racing subia para o segundo lugar na prova. Com cinco horas de prova, Frisselle já estava na vice-liderança da prova, atrás do Porsche de Dononhue. Pruett vinha atrás em ritmo alucinante, e voltas depois passava por Frisselle, e partia rumo a liderança novamente.

Na volta 173 Frisselle se aproveitou da parada dos concorrentes que estavam à sua frente, indo logo em seguida realizar sua parada, e Negri voltava ao volante do Doran Lexus. O brasileiro retornou a pista em sétimo lugar, e logo reassumiu o sexto posto, posição onde cruzou a linha de chegada.

“Foi uma corrida muito disputada, e chegamos até a liderá-la. O equilíbrio entre os seis primeiros foi muito grande, tanto que a nossa diferença para o vencedor foi inferior a 30 segundos”, finalizou Negri.

A vitória ficou com o Lexus Riley de Scott Pruett/ Max Papis, que completaram 200 voltas nas 6 horas de competição. Jan Magnussen/ Didier Theys foram os segundos, e Terry Borcheler/ Forest Barber e Andy Pilgrim completaram o pódio.

A próxima etapa do Grand American Rolex Sport Car Series, será dia 20 de junho, com as seis horas de Watkins Glen.

Veja os 10 primeiros da prova em Mont-Tremblant:

1- Scott Pruett/ Max Papis - Lexus Riley (DP), 200 voltas
2- Jan Magnussen/ Didier Theys- Lexus Doran (DP), 200
3- Terry Borcheller/ Forest Barber/ Andy Pilgrim - Pontiac Doran (DP), 200
4- Butch Leitzinger/ Elliott Forbes-Robinson/ Paul Edwards - Pontiac Crawford (DP), 200
5- Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace/ Jan Lammers - Pontiac Crawford (DP), 200
6- Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle - Lexus Doran (DP), 200
7- Cort Wagner/ Brent Martini/ Kelly Collins - BMW Doran (DP), 199
8- David Donohue/ Darren Law/ Sascha Maassen - Porsche Fabcar (DP), 198
9- Chris Hall/ Larry Huang/ Andrew Davis - Pontiac Crawford (DP), 197
10- Jimmy Morales/ Luis Diaz - Lexus Riley (DP), 196

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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MSR Drivers Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri Jr. Race for a Cause

May 03, 2004

Burtozahlg DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri Jr., drivers for Michael Shank Racing (MSR), are thrilled to announce their new partnership with American Humane (AH), the only national non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the welfare of both children and animals. Frisselle's mother, Terrye Frisselle, sits on the AH board and passed her passion for its cause onto her son, who in turn generated support among the entire MSR team.

The mission of AH, as a network of individuals and organizations, is to prevent the cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children and animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively, and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society. AH envisions a nation where no child or animal will ever be a victim of willful abuse or neglect. As a recognized leader in professional education, training and advocacy, and research and evaluation, AH joins with other similarly missioned individuals and organizations to make this vision a reality.

Frisselle and Negri Jr. believe strongly in the mission of AH, and have therefore committed to raise awareness about the organization and the importance of protecting children and animals from abuse. In order to achieve this goal, Frisselle and Negri Jr. plan on visiting local shelters at as many race venues as possible. In addition, MSR will provide a donation box at each race weekend for fans to make a contribution to American Humane. Finally, Frisselle and Negri Jr. have pledged that a portion of their future earnings will be donated to American Humane.

"I really believe in the work that American Humane does to prevent violence against children and animals," Frisselle said. "Generating public awareness of these issues is so important. I want to do what I can to help American Humane achieve its goals and deliver its message."

"When you are in a position to reach people, to generate interest in a cause, you have a responsibility to use that opportunity in the best possible way," Negri Jr. said.

"I am personally very pleased to see these young stars involved in the fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves," director of the AH board John Nobil said. "We can all learn from their example of building public awareness for American Humane's cause to protect millions of children and animal from cruelty, abuse and neglect in America."

Based in Columbus, Ohio, MSR was formed in 1989 when Michael Shank first began driving race cars professionally, taking the award as SCCA-Ohio Valley Region's Novice Driver of the Year. Shank retired from the cockpit in 1997 after moving up the motorsports ladder to focus his efforts on running the team, which quickly found success in the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship, with several race wins leading Shank to be named as Team Owner of the Year twice in four years. MSR has campaigned drivers including Johnny Rutherford Jr., Kenny Wilden, and 2001 and 2002 Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish, Jr. MSR is making the transition to the Rolex Series from open-wheel competition for the 2004 season in the Rolex Sports Car Series, campaigning a Lexus-powered Doran JE4.

The Michael Shank Racing No. 6 Lexus Doran can next be seen in the Rolex Series 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant, May 21-23. Tickets to the race can be purchased by calling 800-517-5725.

Negri foi 6º na Food City 250 em Phoenix

11/04/2004

Shank Racing brilha mesmo com problemas após um choque na pista.

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr. e Burt Frisselle da Mike Shank Racing, conquistaram um brilhante sexto lugar na Food City 250, que aconteceu na noite do último sábado no Phoenix International Raceway.
No warm-up para corrida, a equipe testou novas molas e o problema de desgate acentuado dos pneus dianteiros, foi minimizado. Na largada, Negri perdeu a posição para Cort Wagner, que havia largado da quinta posição, mas queimara a largada. Duas voltas depois Negri superou Wagner, e reassumiu a terceira colocação. “Teve muitas bandeiras amarelas, e como a pista é apertada e curta, ficou muito difícil passar os carros da classe GT.

Phoenix Quando começou escurecer, ficou mais difícil ainda”, comentou Negri. O brasileiro se manteve durante muito tempo em terceiro, evitando forçar, e economizando seus pneus dianteiros. A equipe controlava a diferença de Negri para Papis, que liderava, e algum tempo depois o desgaste começou a aumentar os tempos de volta. “Depois de uma bandeira amarela, tive um contato com o Fabcar-BMW do Shawn Lewis, e o carro perdeu um pouco o rendimento. Pilotei por duas horas ininterruptas, mas tivemos azar no momento de realizar o pistop”, falou Negri. “Assim que entrei no box, apareceu uma bandeira amarela, mas o pior foi que ao tentarem trocar os pneus, a roda traseira direita teve o eixou entortado na batida com o Shawn, e não saiu. O Burt, que assumiu o stint, teve de voltar a pista com somente três pneus novos”, falou Negri.

Com o problema, a equipe perdeu uma volta nos boxes. Burt Frisselle, companheiro de Negri, mais uma vez fez um trabalho excelente, e mesmo com o grande desequilíbrio por causa do pneu gasto, conseguiu levar o carro a sexta colocação. “No final da corrida os nossos mecânicos descobriram que corremos todo tempo após a batida, com o triangulo da suspensão traseira torto. Ficamos muito orgulhosos do resultados, e já subimos para terceiro no campeonato”, completou Negri.

A Michael Shank Racing foi a única das equipes, que não treinou após a prova de Homestead, e agora tem um teste agendado para o início de maio, no circuito de Watkins Glen. "The Boys", como estão sendo chamados Negri e Burt pela imprensa especializada norte-americana, vem fazendo frente a milionária equipe de Chip Ganassi, e promete mais para próxima etapa do Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, que acontece no dia 23 de maio, em Mont Tremblant, no Canadá. Negri viaja nesta segunda-feira, para Sebring, onde estará supervisionando os treinos oficiais da F-BMW.

A vitória na Food City 250 ficou com Max Angelelli e Wayne Taylor, com um Pontiac Riley. A dupla completou as 133 voltas da prova em 1h45m46s811. Em segundo lugar ficaram os pole positions, Max Papis e Scott Pruet. O pódio foi completado por Cort Wagner/ Kelly Collins, que colidiram com o carro de Negri durante a prova. Na classe GT a vitória foi de Bill Auberlen/ Boris Said, com um BMW M3.

Resultado da Food City 250 (Phoenix):

1- Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelelli - Pontiac Riley (DP) 133 voltas em 2h45m46s811
2- Max Papis/ Scott Pruett - Lexus Riley (DP), 133 voltas
3- Cort Wagner/ Kelly Collins - BMW Doran (DP), 133 voltas
4- Luis Diaz/ Jimmy Morales - Lexus Riley (DP), 133 voltas
5- Elliott Forbes-Robinson/ Butch Leitzinger/ David Brule Sr - Pontiac Crawford (DP) a 1 volta
6- Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle - Lexus Doran (DP) a 1 volta
7- Stephan Gregoire/ Doug Goad - Pontiac Crawford (DP) a 1 volta
8- Joe Pruskowski/ Justin Pruskowski - Ford Multimatic (DP) a 2 voltas
9- JC France/ Hurley Haywood - Brumos - Porsche Fabcar (DP), a 2 voltas
10- Bill Auberlen/ Boris Said - BMW M3 (GT), a 4 voltas
11- Gunnar Jeannette/ Kyle Petty - Porsche GT3 RS (GT), a 5 voltas
12- John Lloyd/ Darius Graia – Lexus Fabcar (DP). A 5 voltas
13- Forest Barber/ Terry Borcheller - Pontiac Doran (DP), a 6 voltas
14- Michael Levitas/ Randy Pobst - Porsche GT3 Cup (SGSC), a 7 voltas
15- Craig Stanton/ David Murry - Porsche GT3 Cup (SGSC), a 7 voltas
16- Marc Bunting/ Andy Lally - Porsche GT3 Cup (SGSC), a 7 voltas
17- Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace - Pontiac Crawford (DP), a 8 voltas
18- RJ Valentine/ Ian James/ Chris Gleason - Porsche GT3 Cup (SGS), a 8 voltas
19- Robert Julien/ Jean François - Porsche GT3 Cup (SGS), a 9 voltas
20- Gary St Amour/ Mike Yeakle – Corvette (SGS), a 9 voltas

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing Finishes Sixth at Phoenix International Raceway

04/11/2004

Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Burt Frisselle, drivers of the #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus powered Doran Daytona Prototype, finished sixth in the Food City 250 Saturday night. Oswaldo Negri Jr. took the green flag from third position and kept the car close to the front, running in the top five for the first eighty laps of the race. Unfortunately, Negri suffered contact when the #7 car turned down on him while Negri made a pass on the inside of the slower BMW Fabcar. While Negri was able to maintain his position on the track, the contact caused damage to the right rear tire of the #6 machine, which later led to a lengthy pit stop that knocked the MSR team out of front-running contention.

Phoenix Disaster struck when Negri Jr. brought the Lexus powered Doran into the pits for the team's first stop, as the right rear tire would not come off the car due to the damaged suspension. The team quickly identified the problem and completed the driver change, sending Burt Frisselle onto the track to battle from the twelfth position.

Frisselle put his head down and despite being knocked off track twice, managed to power the car through the field to claim an impressive sixth place finish, nearly claiming fifth on his final lap. It was a strong stint for the twenty-two year old driver in just his second race in the Rolex Series. Frisselle's performance was made even more impressive given the fact that he had to finish the race with a damaged rear, which severely compromised his race pace.

Team owner Mike Shank was hoping to have reached the podium, given the teams strong qualifying performance and good pace in the first part of the race, but knows the team has what it takes to get back on top. "We had a podium car tonight, no question, but we just didn't catch the breaks in this race," Shank stated. "We got a bit unlucky with the pit call, and then the damage to the rear was a big problem, which delayed our stop. But my crew did a great job on the car, and Oswaldo and Burt both raced really well. From here we will focus on our up-coming test and get ready to race again at Mt. Tremblant."

"We were just cruising at the beginning, keeping the leaders in sight, but when that car hit me, it really affected our race, unfortunately," lamented Negri. "But it was still a solid finish and we know we have the package to be competitive, so we have to just be happy with the points we earned here and move on to the next race."

Burt Frisselle continues to improve in the car and was glad to emerge relatively unscathed from the tight confines of the Phoenix track, and is looking forward to getting back in the car as soon as he can. "I really got knocked around a lot out there, and that part of the race really wasn't that much fun," said Frisselle. "But chasing down those cars in the closing laps was very exciting and pretty satisfying. I feel more confident every time I am in the car, and this race was certainly a big test for me to deal with all the traffic. The crew did a great job all weekend, we should be happy with this result, but we are of course hungry for success, so we will keep working toward it."

The team will now return to the shop in Columbus, Ohio, and prepare for the upcoming test in advance of the next round of Rolex competition at Mount Tremblant in Canada on the weekend of May 21-23.

Stephanie Frisselle
310.968.1558
stephanie@frisselleracing.com

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Negri larga da 3ª posição em Phoenix

10/04/2004

Negri e Frisselle são candidatos ao pódio hoje em Phoenix.

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e Burt Frisselle da Mike Shank Racing, vão largar da segunda fila do grid para a Food City 250, que acontece na tarde hoje no Phoenix International Raceway. Esta será a terceira etapa do Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, e a dupla está muito otimista, após o excelente resultado da corrida passada, quando após um toque de um concorrente tiveram o sistema de refrigeração danificado, mas conseguiram levar o carro ao pódio.

“A classificação foi excelente, muito acima até do esperado. O carro não estava tão rápido quanto ontem, e continua saindo de frente”, disse Negri. “O consumo de pneus dianteiros continuava muito acentuado, e não havia nenhuma solução imediata para o problema. Nossa regulagem era para temperatura mais baixa, exatamente o que iremos encontrar na corrida, que será noturna”, disse o brasileiro.

Phoenix A prova da Food City 250, no Phoenix International Raceway, será disputada à partir da 18:00 (horário local). “O tempo esfriou um pouco, e nossa estratégia se mostrou perfeita. Como entraram 19 protótipos juntos na pista, sabíamos que o tráfego seria um fator crítico”, falou Negri.

Por este motivo a equipe utilizou a mesma estratégia que varias equipes utilizam na NASCAR, para evitar ficar presa por um carro mais lento, e perder tempo na sua volta ideal.

”O Brad Frisselle, pai do meu companheiro, foi fazer o papel de 'spoter', e com um rádio foi para a parte alta das arquibancadas, e nos deu a dica da melhor hora para acelerar”, contou Negri. “O trabalho foi perfeito, consegui dar duas voltas livres, e na segunda forcei ao máximo, e consegui fazer as três parciais perfeitamente”, disse alegre o piloto.

Mais uma vez a Michael Shank Racing vai partir da terceira posição no grid, atrás somente dos dois carros da Chip Ganassi. Negri e toda equipe ficaram felicíssimos, com o trabalho excelente realizado

“Estou contente demais, e para o warm-up hoje, vamos tentar um novo acerto, para minimizar o desgaste dos pneus dianteiros. Queremos manter um bom ritmo na prova, e tentar um novo pódio”, disse alegremente Negri.

A pole position para a prova em Phoenix ficou com o italiano Max Papis, e o norte-americano Scott Pruett, com um Lexus Riley, que marcou o tempo de 56s005. Em segundo vai Luis Diaz e Jimmy Morales largam ao lado dos companheiros de equipe, com um tempo 0s449 mais lento.

Na classe GT a pole ficou com Bill Auberlen e Boris Said, com um BMW M3.

Veja os 20 primeiros do Grid para a Food City 250 (Phoenix):

1- Max Papis/ Scott Pruett - Lexus Riley 56s005 (DP)
2- Luis Diaz/ Jimmy Morales - Lexus Riley 56s452 (DP)
3- Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle - Lexus Doran 57s038 (DP)
4- Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelelli - Pontiac Riley 57s065 (DP)
5- Cort Wagner/ Kelly Collins - BMW Doran 57s791 (DP)
6- Elliott Forbes-Robinson/ Butch Leitzinger/ David Brule Sr - Pontiac Crawford 57s945 (DP)
7- Stephan Gregoire/ Doug Goad - Pontiac Crawford 58s234 (DP)
8- Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace - Pontiac Crawford 58s331 (DP)
9- Shane Lewis/ Vic Rice - BMW Fabcar 58s401 (DP)
10- Chris Hall/ Larry Huang - Pontiac Crawford 59s059 (DP)
11- JC France/ Hurley Haywood - Brumos - Porsche Fabcar 59s347 (DP)
12- Forest Barber/ Terry Borcheller - Pontiac Doran 59s846 (DP)
13- Joe Pruskowski/ Justin Pruskowski - Ford Multimatic 1m00s219 (DP)
14- Fredy Lienhard Sr/ Didier Theys - Lexus Doran 1m00s341 (DP)
15- Selby Wellman/ Sylvain Tremblay - Ford Multimatic 1m00s650 (DP)
16- Bill Auberlen/ Boris Said - BMW M3 1m01s639 (GT)
17- Gunnar Jeannette/ Kyle Petty - Porsche (GT)3 RS 1m01s686 (GT)
18- Joao Barbosa/ Emil Assentato/ Stephen Earle - Maserati (GT) 1m01s801 (GT)
19- Justin Marks/ Joey Hand - BMW M3 1m02s077 (GT)
20- Kevin Buckler/ Liz Halliday - Porsche (GT)3 RS 1m02s362 (GT)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Equipe Mike Shank Racing, treinou em duas sessões nesta quinta em Phoenix

09/04/2004

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, treinou em duas sessões nesta quinta-feira no Phoenix International Raceway, onde neste sábado será disputada a terceira etapa do Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.

O piloto da Mike Shank Racing gostou muito do rendimento do carro, tendo terminado como o quarto mais rápido na primeira sessão.“O primeiro dia começou muito bem. O carro se mostrou rápido logo de saída, embora ainda saia um pouco de frente nas curvas de alta, e nas reacelerações em saídas de baixa”, contou Negri.
Phoenix A segunda sessão de treinos livres foi disputada à noite, e a equipe procedeu algumas modificações, para tentar corrigir a tendência do carro. “Fizemos alguns ajustes para a segunda sessão, que foi noturna. O carro ficou um pouco melhor, porém não consegui dar nenhuma volta sem pegar trânsito, a pista é pequena, e com tantos carros ficou difícil fazer uma volta limpa”, comentou o piloto. “Acredito que estamos entre os quatro primeiros.

Ainda temos de fazer algo no tocante ao desgaste de pneus. O carro começa a sair de frente, e aí o desempenho piora rápidamente”, falou Negri. Negri e seu companheiro de equipe, o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, estão confiantes de um bom resultado na classificação, que será disputada hoje.

A Michael Shank Racing está em terceiro no Campeonato com 58 pontos, atrás da Bell Motorsports que tem 60, e da Howard-Boss Motorsport que lidera com 65 pontos.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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EUA: Negri pronto para o desafio em Phoenix

06/04/2004

A última etapa do Campeonato de 2004 da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, aconteceu no último dia 28 de fevereiro, em Miami. A equipe Mike Shank Racing, onde compete o brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, aproveitou o intervalo de mais de um mês, para dar prosseguimento no desenvolvimento do Doran Toyota, que terminou em terceiro lugar na corrida de Miami.

“Estamos trabalhando intensamente no desenvolvimento do carro. O nosso engenheiro esteve trabalhando arduamente para tirar peso do carro”, contou Negri. “Foram fabricadas novas barras ajustáveis, já que o projeto original do Doran, não previa ajuste de barras de dentro do cockpit. Também foram feitos novos ajustes de válvulas e pistões nos amortecedores, com a finalidade de MSR diminuir o consumo de pneus”, disse o brasileiro.

Na prova de Miami (250 Milhas) a grande reclamação de Negri, e seu companheiro de equipe, Burt Frisselle, era quando ao consumo dos pneus.

“Em Miami nosso carro era muito rápido, porém após poucas voltas tínhamos de diminuir o ritmo, devido à perda de aderência pelo elevado desgaste. Agora para esta corrida em Phoenix, acreditamos que o problema já estará resolvido”, completou Negri.

Negri viaja nesta quarta-feira para Phoenix, onde no sábado acontece as 250 Milhas de Phoenix , no Phoenix International Raceway, terceira etapa do campeonato. Negri e Frisselle não disputaram a etapa de abertura da temporada, mas a Michael Shank Racing já aparece em terceiro no Campeonato com 58 pontos, atrás da Bell Motorsports que tem 60, e da Howard-Boss Motorsport que lidera com 65 pontos.

Calendário da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series:

29 de Janeiro - 24 Horas de Daytona (Daytona International Speedway)
28 de Fevereiro - 250 Milhas de Miami (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
10 de Abril - 250 Milhas de Phoenix (Phoenix International Raceway)
23 de Maio - 6 Horas de Mont-Tremblant (Le Circuito Mont-Tremblant)
20 de Junho - 6 Horas de Watkins Glen (Watkins Glen International)
03 de Julho - 250 Milhas de Daytona (Daytona International Speedway)
08 de Agosto - 250 Milhas de Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course)
14 de Agosto - 200 Milhas de Watkins Glen (Watkins Glen International)
12 de Setembro - 250 Milhas de Miami (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
03 de Outubro - 400 Km da Virginia (Virginia International Raceway)
10 de Outubro - 250 Milhas de Barber (Barber Motorsports Park)
31 de Outubro - 400 Km da Califórnia (California Speedway)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing Moves up in Championship Battle

03/01/2004

Michael Shank Racing improved in the Rolex Sports Car Series Team Owner Championship after posting a strong podium finish at Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend to move up to third in the overall championship standings.
Oswaldo Negri and Burt Frisselle had a fantastic weekend in just their first start together in the #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Powered Doran, converting third starting position into a hard-fought third place finish.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Frisselle, who like Negri, suffered from car contact on multiple occasions during the 250-mile event. “To get on the podium in just our first start with the team after such a tough battle is so fantastic. The guys did a great job, and we learned a lot this weekend, so we are looking forward to the battle at Phoenix next month.”

Michael Shank Racing was fourth in the points battle heading into the Homestead weekend after making a strong run in the closing hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the teams first start in Grand-Am competition. The podium result moved the #6 entry up to third in the standings, and the MSR entry kept the points difference to the lead the same with just seven markers separating MSR and the current championship leaders, Howard-Boss Motorsports.

The exciting Homestead race, which saw the MSR entry launch from seventh position in the late going up into third place, will air on Speed Channel on Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm. ET. The Michael Shank Racing crew will be in action again on the weekend of April 8-10 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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EUA: Negri conquista pódio em Miami

29/02/2004

Oswaldo Negri e Burt Frisselle conquistaram ontem (sábado) o terceiro lugar na 2ª etapa da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, disputada no Homestead Miami Speedway. A corrida de 250 Milhas, foi um verdadeiro jogo de xadrez, com várias equipes se alternando na liderança, até a bandeirada final, que coube a Andy Wallace e a venezuelana Milka Duno.

Homestead Logo na largada, Negri, que partiu no comando do Lexus-powered Doran JE4, assumiu o segundo lugar, atrás de Scott Pruett, que buscava fugir da perseguição do brasileiro. Negri conseguiu superar Pruett no tráfego dos retardatários, e entregou o carro na liderança para Frisselle no primeiro pitstop.

Frisselle conseguiu manter o carro no pelotão da frente, e escapou brilhantemente de um incidente, quando Max Papis e Jan Magnussen, que vinham na liderança da corrida, rodaram à sua frente. Papis no retorno a pista ainda bateu no carro de Frisselle, danificando um dos radiadores. A temperatura se elevou bastante, com o alarme do motor se acendendo durante várias vezes na prova, contou Frisselle.

Homestead Na bandeirada Frisselle se sentiu aliviado e feliz por conseguir levar o carro até o final, já que toda sua família saiu do Hawai até Miami, para assistir a prova. Oswaldo Negri, que classificou o carro em terceiro para a prova, e pilotou na primeira metade da corrida, declarou que estava muito contente com o resultado, que foi um prêmio para sua estréia e de Frisselle na Mike Shank Racing.

“Aprendemos muito este fim de semana. O início da corrida foi realmente ‘violento’, e vi quão agressivos podem ser estes pilotos durante a corrida”, disse Negri. “No final fomos muito bem, e serviu a experiência. Conquistamos um pódio, o que definitivamente é um excelente lugar para se começar a temporada”, comentou o brasileiro.

O dono da equipe, Mike Shank, estava radiante, e com o troféu do terceiro posto nas mãos, declarou que está ansioso para levantar o troféu de vencedor em breve.

“Tivemos a infelicidade de chocar com um carro que rodou a nossa frente, mas felizmente tudo terminou bem para nós”, disse Shank. “Esse foi só o começo, muito mais está por vir. Estes dois sujeitos (Frisselle e Negri) mostraram o quão rápidos são, e com certeza querem muito mais”, comentou exultante Shank.

Shank lembrou ainda que a sua equipe, foi a que deu o melhor resultado à Lexus, e que em breve espera conquistar o lugar mais alto do pódio. Milka Duno e Andy Wallace (Pontiac Crawford) completaram as 109 voltas da prova em 2h33m20s509.
Em segundo terminou o trio Cort Wagner, Brent Martini e Kelly Colin com um Doran-BMW, com Negri e Frisselle completando o pódio.

Resultado da Toyota 300 (Grand Prix de Miami):

1 - Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace (Pontiac Crawford - DP), 109 voltas
2 - Cort Wagner/ Brent Martini/ Kelly Collins (BMW Doran - DP), 109
3 - Oswaldo Negri Jr/ Burt Frisselle (Lexus Doran - DP), 109
4 - JC France/ Hurley Haywood (Porsche Fabcar - DP), 109
5 - Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelelli (Pontiac Riley - DP), 109
6 - Forest Barber/ Terry Borcheller/ Andy Pilgrim (Pontiac Doran - DP), 108
7 - Scott Pruett/ Max Papis (Lexus Riley - DP), 108
8 - Justin Pruskowski/ Joe Pruskowski/ Ross Bentley (Ford Multimatic - DP), 107
9 - Shane Lewis/ Jack Baldwin (BMW Fabcar - DP), 106
10- Chris Hall/ Larry Huang (Pontiac Crawford - DP), 105
11- Mike Borkowski/ Paul Mears Jr (Ford Multimatic - DP), 105
12- Boris Said/ Bill Auberlen (BMW M3 - GT), 105
13- Selby Wellman/ Sylvain Tremblay (Ford Multimatic - DP), 104
14- Justin Marks/ Joey Hand (BMW M3 - GT), 104
15- David Murry/ Craig Stanton (Porsche GT3 Cup - SGS), 103

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Michael Shank Racing Scores Podium Finish at Homestead

02/28/2004

Oswaldo Negri of Miami, Florida, and Burt Frisselle of Kihei, Hawaii, delivered a third place finish in the Rolex Sports Car Series race at the Toyota Grand Prix at Homestead Miami Speedway Saturday for Michael Shank Racing in just the first race for the driver combination in the Lexus-powered Doran JE4.

MSR The 250-mile sprint event produced plenty of excitement from green flag to checker, with the lead changing hands several times. The race got off to a fast start, as Negri took the green flag from third position, and quickly jumped to second place behind pole sitter Scott Pruett as the two quickly broke free from the field and built up a gap before beginning to lap cars in the slower classes.

Negri battled back from being spun by another car early on, and eventually moved the car into the lead before handing the car over to Frisselle on the first pitstop. Frisselle adapted quickly in his first Rolex Series start, staying cool in the heavy traffic, even taking his first corner with cars on both sides of him in a hectic restart.

Frisselle kept the car in the lead group, which saw the two cars of Max Papis and Jan Magnussen eliminated from the front when late-race contact between the two caused Magnussen to suffer a cut tire, sending him spinning in the very fast first corner, and taking Papis with him. Frisselle bravely held his line as Papis re-entered the track and made contact with Frisselle, causing even more damage to the Lexus-Doran machine. Frisselle was eager for the race to end after the contact, as it had caused damage to the radiator, and was sending the engine temperatures soaring.

“I was actually praying in the last few laps that the car would make it to the end after Max hit me,” said Frisselle. “We had so many alarms going off on the car for all the temperatures, the race couldn’t have ended any sooner for me!”

Frisselle was well relieved to make it past the checkered flag, and was excited to share the strong result with his whole family, many of whom had traveled from Hawaii to be on hand for the event.

“This is an awesome way to start our season! Taking a podium in our first race with the team, it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Frisselle. “I’m just thrilled with the whole team. Dale (Dale Wise—Team Engineer) gave us a great car, and Lexus gave us a great engine, and we were able to be in the right spot at the right time to get on the podium.”

Award-winning team owner Michael Shank was happy to get his hands on the third-place trophy, and is looking forward to picking up a winners trophy in the future.

“We got behind early when another car spun us, but it was a good finish for us,” said Shank. “At the end, everybody but the pace car was hitting us! Now we have a fourth place finish from Daytona and a third place finish here in just our first two starts, and I think there is a lot more to come. These guys (Frisselle and Negri) showed they can run with the fastest guys out there, so we are looking for more. We are also proud to be the highest finishing Lexus, and hopefully we can get them to the top step of the podium soon.”

Oswaldo Negri, who had qualified the car a strong third, and went for the lead in the early laps of the race, was initially frustrated not to have been able to be more competitive early owing to the contact from the other cars, but was truly excited to score a strong podium finish in his first race with the Michael Shank Racing crew.

“We learned a lot this weekend,” said Negri. “I saw how aggressive the guys were during the race, and then I got spun, so it was a tough start, but it was a good finish and a good experience for us, and getting a podium is definitely a good place to start the season for us.”

The race will air on Speed Channel on Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm. ET. The Michael Shank Racing crew will be in action again on the weekend of April 8-10 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, MSR was formed in 1989 when Michael Shank first began driving racing cars professionally, taking the award as SCCA-Ohio Valley Region's Novice Driver of the Year. Shank retired from the cockpit in 1997 after moving up the motorsports ladder to focus his efforts on running the team, which quickly found success in the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship, with several race wins leading Shank to be named as Team Owner of the Year twice in four years. MSR has campaigned drivers including Johnny Rutherford Jr., Kenny Wilden, and 2001 and 2002 Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish, Jr. MSR is making the transition to the Rolex Series from open-wheel competition for the 2004 season in the Rolex Sports Car Series, campaigning a Lexus-powered Doran JE4.

For additional information:

Michael Shank Racing:
www.michaelshankracing.com

Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series:
www.grandamerican.com

Burt Frisselle:
www.frisselleracing.com

{note—Frisselle was chasing Kelly Collins in the closing laps; Collins was a driving instructor for Burt (at Skip Barber) as he worked his way up the ladder. Burt thinks that will be the last time he will be finishing behind Collins…}

Matt Cleary
Matt Cleary Communications, L.L.C
matt@cleary.net
317-908-2975

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EUA: Negri foi 3º no primeiro treino em Miami

27/02/2004

Nesta quinta-feira, o brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr., foi o terceiro mais rápido no primeiro treino livre para a Toyota 300, que será realizada neste final de semana, no Homestead Miami Speedway. O piloto corre em dupla com o norte-americano Burt Frisselle, em um Doran–Lexus.

“Não poderia ter sido melhor. Ficamos em primeiro durante quase todo treino, até que um problema elétrico nos forçou a ficar nos boxes por um bom tempo”, contou Negri. “Como o Angelleli e o Papis melhoraram meu tempo, ficamos em terceiro”, disse o piloto.

O dono da equipe, Mike Shank, estava radiante com o desempenho dos seus novos pilotos, e está extremamente otimista para prova deste sábado.

"Nós estamos esperando ansiosamente pela corrida deste final de semana. Já tínhamos tido um teste excelente com o Oswaldo e o Burt na semana passada, e nos treinos de ontem, já pudemos ver que estamos realmente na briga”, disse Shank.

O treino teve a duração de quarenta e cinco minutos, e a melhor marca acabou nas mãos de Max Angelleli, com o tempo de 1m15s262. Angelleli baixou o recorde da classificação da pista, que havia sido estabelecido ano passado por David, em 1s720.

Max Papis foi o segundo mais rápido, com um tempo 0s326 mais lento. Negri veio logo a seguir com seu Doran-Lexus.
“O acerto estava funcionando bem desde o início, e ainda podemos melhorar bem o carro. A equipe vai trabalhar nos amortecedores, e esperamos melhorar ainda mais”, disse Negri, exultante com o desempenho do carro.

O treino que definirá o grid de largada para o Grand Prix de Miami (Toyota 300) acontece nesta sexta-feira.

Resultado dos treinos livres da Grand-Am nesta quinta:

1 - Taylor / Angelelli - Pontiac Riley 1m15s262 (DP)
2 - Pruett / Papis - Lexus Riley 1m15s588 (DP)
3 - Negri Jr / Frisselle - Lexus-Doran 1m15s705 (DP)
4 - Theys / Magnussen - Lexus-Doran 1m16s179 (DP)
5 - Morales / Diaz - Lexus Riley 1m17s316 (DP)
6 - Wallace / Duno - Howard - Pontiac Crawford 1m17s404 (DP)
7 - Donohue / Law - Red Bull - Porsche Fabcar 1m17s422 (DP)
8 - Haywood / France - Porsche Fabcar 1m17s554 (DP)
9 - Hall / Huang - Pontiac Crawford 1m17s626 (DP)
10-Borkowski / Mears Jr - Ford Multimatic 1m18s171 (DP)
11-Pruskowski / Pruskowski / Bentley - Ford Multimatic 1m18s676 (DP)
12-Tremblay / Wellman - Ford Multimatic 1m18s815 (DP)
13-Wagner / Martini / Collins - BMW Doran 1m18s935 (DP)
14-Leavy / Miller - Pontiac Chase 1m19s007 (DP)
15-Lewis / Baldwin - BMW Fabcar 1m19s336 (DP)
16-Auberlen / Said - BMW M3 1m20s278 (GT)
17-Marks / Hand - BMW M3 1m20s425 (GT)
18-Policastro / Policastro / Fitzgerald - Porsche GT3 RS 1m21s770 (GT)
19-James / Valentine / Gleason - Porsche GT3 RS 1m22s350 (GT)
20-Barber / Borcheller / Pilgrim - Pontiac Doran 1m22s40854 (DP)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Saturday, February 28, 2004

Grand Prix of Miami

At the Homestead Miami Speedway.

Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Race stars at 3:00 pm.

Come and join us support our drivers Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Burt Frisselle, car # 6.

For more information go to www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or www.grandamerican.com.

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Michael Shank Racing Drivers Frisselle and Negri Jr. Complete First Test in Daytona Prototype

Savannah, Georgia (Feb. 18-19, 2004) Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri Jr., new drivers for Michael Shank Racing (MSR), completed their first test in the Lexus powered Doran Daytona Prototype car in Savannah, Georgia this past week. The test, held at Roebling Road, went extremely well, as both Frisselle and Negri were able to take to the car quickly.

Savanah "I really enjoyed driving the car for the first time. It was different from any car that I have driven before, but I had a great time," Frisselle stated. "I am definitely pleased with my performance, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Michael Shank Racing. They are a first rate team, and I look forward to working with them this season." Teammate Oswaldo Negri Jr. had this to say, "I feel very confident in the car and I am so happy to be racing with Michael Shank Racing. I look forward to our first race at Homestead next weekend; I believe that we will be able to be competitive."

Team owner Michael Shank was very pleased with his drivers, stating, "The test went even better than I had hoped. Both drivers came right up to speed and were able to help our engineer make some significant gains in the chassis area. Looking forward to Homestead, I feel that we have a talented combination that can run consistently in the top five all weekend. I am very excited."

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Negri realiza primeiro teste com o Doran-Toyota

20/02/2004

Piloto brasileiro realizou o primeiro teste com seu novo carro na pista de Savannah

Nesta quinta-feira, o brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr., realizou o seu primeiro teste com o Daytona Prototype, da equipe Mike Shank Racing. Negri foi contratado pela equipe, juntamente com o americano Burt Frisselle para disputar as três primeiras etapas do Campeonato de 2004 da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, que terá sua segunda prova da temporada no próximo dia 28 de fevereiro, em Miami.

Savanah “Foi meu primeiro teste com o Doran-Toyota, e também meu primeiro contato com a nova equipe. A equipe é extremamente profissional, sem dúvida é uma das melhores oportunidades que tenho desde de quando vim da Europa", falou Negri. A equipe trabalhou bastante com acertos de suspensão, amortecedores e testou um novo pacote aerodinâmico.

Os tempos obtidos por Negri foram excelentes, surpreendendo até o próprio piloto. “Já deu para sentir que o Doran-Toyota é muito rápido, e nos acostumamos rapidamente às reações do carro.

O Burt (Frisselle), meu companheiro de equipe, tem mostrado uma adaptação fantástica a qualquer tipo de carro, e isso nos deixa muito otimistas”, completou o brasileiro. "Estou muito contente com esta oportunidade que me apareceu, e vou trabalhar duro para conquistar um bom resultado na Toyota Indy 300, que acontece no Homestead Miami Speedway", disse Negri.

O brasileiro testa novamente nesta sexta-feira em Savannah, onde a equipe irá dar especial atenção na avaliação de molas e amortecedores.

Calendário da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series:

29 de Janeiro - 24 Horas de Daytona (Daytona International Speedway)
28 de Fevereiro - 250 Milhas de Miami (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
08 de Abril - 250 Milhas de Phoenix (Phoenix International Raceway)
23 de Maio - 6 Horas de Mont-Tremblant (Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant)
20 de Junho - 6 Horas de Watkins Glen (Watkins Glen International)
01 de Julho - 250 Milhas de Daytona (Daytona International Speedway)
08 de Agosto - 250 Milhas de Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course)
13 de Agosto - 200 Milhas de Watkins Glen (Watkins Glen International)
12 de Setembro - 250 Milhas de Miami (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
03 de Outubro - 400 Km da Virginia (Virginia International Raceway)
10 de Outubro - 250 Milhas de Barber (Barber Motorsports Park)
31 de Outobro - 400 Km da Califórnia (California Speedway)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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02/19/2004

Savanah The second day of testing, today, could not have been better, we made a lot of changes and were able to improve the car further.

It was great to getting to know and working with the team some more, so we all have a better understanding of each other.

The TRD guys did a fantastic job giving us the best of what the Lexus engine has to offer.

Finishing the two days of testing on such a strong note was encouraging and excitng for the team as we all now look forward to our first race together at Homestead.

Ciao,

Ozz

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02/18/2004

Hello everyone,

Today I had my first test with the Daytona Prototype at Savannah. It was a great day where I got to know my new Team, Mike Shank Racing.

The Team worked fantastically, and it was easy to get to a good fast pace. We tried a few set up changes and we got a good direction where to go with it. The Doran-Toyota powered, felt pretty quick by the end of the day.

Savanah Burt Frisselle, my team mate did a fantastic job getting used to the car and also set a quick pace.

We are very excited about the opportunity and we will work hard on getting the best out of it.

Regards,

Negri

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Read it in English

Negri assina com a Shank Racing na Grand-Am

05/02/2004

Negri e Frisselle farão dupla na Grand-Am, com a Shank Racing

MSR A Michael Shank Racing anunciou ontem (quarta-feira), a contratação dos pilotos Oswaldo Negri Jr. e Burt Frisselle, para disputarem as três próximas etapas da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr., que reside em Miami, e Burt Frisselle, pilotarão um Doran JE4 equipado com motor Lexus. A dupla que já disputou junta as últimas etapas da ALMS (American Le Mans Series), fará sua estréia no dia 28 de fevereiro, no GP de Miami.

O dono da equipe, Michael Shank, está ansioso pela seqüência do campeonato da Grand-Am, para comprovar que tem uma equipe forte. Na prova das 24 Horas de Daytona, sua equipe terminou em quarto na classe, após uma brilhante recuperação no terço final da prova.

"Minha prioridade era encontrar dois pilotos que se adaptassem a este tipo de prova de curta distância, onde se é necessário manter um forte ritmo o tempo todo", disse Shank.
"A maneira como as regras foram criadas, nos obriga a ter um pacote resistente e veloz o tempo todo. Tenho certeza que estes pilotos nos ajudarão a atingir este objetivo", continuou. "Um exemplo, embora a corrida de Mont-Tremblant em maio seja de seis horas, é necessitamos de uma dupla que consiga virar sempre muito rápido em todas as voltas, e estes sujeitos são capazes disto", falou Shank.

O grande trunfo da equipe, é a combinação do talento e experiência de Negri, que já testou centenas de milhas com os Daytona Prototype nas últimas temporadas, e com a juventude e talento de Frisselle.

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, é muitíssimo conceituado nos Estados Unidos, onde exerce a função de consultor técnico da Barber Dodge Pro Series, além de ajudar no desenvolvimento do monoposto. Negri tem no seu currículo o título da Pan-american Indy Lights de 1998, além de diversos outros títulos. Negri também defendeu em várias corridas a JMB Racing, que é a equipe oficial da Ferrari nos Estados Unidos.

Frisselle por sua vez conseguiu destaque na última temporada, onde conquistou o título de Rookie of Year, da Barber Dodge Pro Series, e terminou em sexto no campeonato.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398

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Leia em Português

Michael Shank Racing Names New Drivers for Rolex Series

02/05/2004

MSR Reynoldsburg, Ohio (February 04, 2004) Michael Shank Racing announced that it has signed two drivers for the next three events in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
Burt Frisselle of Kihei, Hawaii, and Oswaldo Negri Jr, of Miami, Fla. will share driving duties in the No. 6 Lexus-powered Doran JE4 beginning with the Grand Prix of Miami, a 250-mile sprint event which will take place on February 28 as part of the Toyota INDY 300 weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Team owner Michael Shank is looking forward to the upcoming races to show that his team"s strong finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, where the team made a late-race charge to finish fourth in class, was just the beginning to a strong first season in the Rolex Series.

"My priority was to find two guys that are used to the sprint-type format where every lap is driven as hard as possible," said Shank. "The way that the rules are set up, the competition is so close that you have to bring the best package to every race, and we feel that these guys will help us do just that. For example, even though the race at Mont-Tremblant in May is a six-hour event, we are still going to have to be running flat out every lap, and these guys can deliver in those conditions."

The pairing is a strong combination of talent and experience. Negri has logged hundreds of miles in the Daytona Prototype class doing development work last season ,third in the Britsh F-3 championship, Brazilian and South American F-3 Champion. He was the Pan-American Indy Lights Champion in 1998 and has also raced in for JMB Racing, an official Ferrari team and Inline Racing in ALMS 2003. In addition to his racing activities, Negri has also worked with the Barber Dodge Pro Series for the past five seasons as the development test driver and driver coach.

Frisselle spent the 2003 season contesting his rookie campaign in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, where he showed impressive speed against a deeply talented field after winning a Barber-Champ Car Scholarship to compete. Frisselle had a strong season, scoring second in the rookie standings and sixth in the overall championship standings.

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