The 2005 Season

Nov 05, 2005: Negri assina por dois anos com a Michael Shank Racing
Nov 01, 2005: Mexico City weekend a homecoming of sorts for Oswaldo Negri
Oct 09, 2005: Michael Shank Racing takes top ten despite tough day at VIR
Oct 08, 2005: Rain prevents Michael Shank Racing  from qualifying chance at VIR
Sep 25, 2005: Negri termina em terceiro na Crown Royal 250 em Watkins Glen
Sep 24, 2005: Michael Shank Racing takes podium at Watkins Glen
Sep 23, 2005: Negri volta a correr em dupla com Mark Patterson
Sep 11, 2005: Negri é quinto em Phoenix
Sep 10, 2005: Questionable calls cost Michael Shank Racing victory in Phoenix
Sep 10, 2005: Negri larga na primeira fila em Phoenix
Sep 09, 2005: Negri foi o melhor no 1º dia em Phoenix
Sep 07, 2005: Negri convidado para competir com Borkowski
Aug 29, 2005: Negri Fast at Mid-Ohio
Aug 29, 2005: Equipe mostrou alto nível, e Negri fez corrida soberba
Aug 24, 2005: Brasileiro volta à ação com a Michael Shank Racing na Grand Am
Aug 25, 2005: Negri fast in Rolex Return
July 20, 2005: Michael Shank Racing expands to two-car effort
July 01, 2005: Negri acerta com a MSR para o restante da temporada da Grand-Am
Apr 30, 2005: Michael Shank Racing takes popular pole position at Laguna Seca
Apr 30, 2005: Negri é pole em Laguna Seca
Apr 20, 2005: Negri testa exaustivamente antes da prova em Laguna Seca
Apr 20, 2005: Michael Shank Racing moves up in Rolex point standings
Apr 18, 2005: Michael Shank Racing tests with Patterson and Negri for Laguna
Mar 06, 2005: Michael Shank Racing Announces Second Daytona Prototype Entry for Laguna Seca
Jan 10, 2005: Negri testou com a SunTrust e Spirit of Daytona
Jan 10, 2005: Oswaldo Negri tests with SunTrust Racing
Jan 08, 2005: Oswaldo Negri tests with Spirit of Daytona

Negri assina por dois anos com a Michael Shank Racing

05/11/2005

A equipe da Grand American Rolex Series, Michael Shank Racing, anunciou ontem (sexta-feira) a contratação da dupla Oswaldo Negri Jr. e Mark Patterson para um programa de dois anos, competindo na Classe Daytona Protótipo da série.
Negri e Patterson vem disputando parcialmente a temporada de 2005 com a MSR, e já na sua estréia em Laguna Seca, largaram da pole position. Na terceira prova que disputaram, já terminaram no pódio (3º lugar) em Watkins Glen.
"Nós estamos realmente muito contentes em poder contar com o Oswaldo e Mark em tempo integral na próxima temporada", disse o dono da equipe, Mike Shank. "Embora eles tenham disputado somente alguma provas nesta temporada, é impressionante o seu desempenho nos fins de semana, e sei que seremos realmente fortes candidatos ao título no próximo ano", disse ainda.

Negri e Patterson continuarão a utilizar a combinação Lexus/Riley no próximo ano, e estão certos que novamente contaram com um pacote altamente competitivo. Negri, que somou dois pódios para equipe MSR em 2004, quando competiu com Burt Frisselle, está muito feliz em mais uma vez ter a oportunidade de competir com a equipe que o ajudou se estabelecer como o mais veloz e aguerrido piloto da categoria, inclusive lhe valendo o título de Rising Star no ano passado. "Dirigir novamente para o Mike, na companhia do Mark (Patterson) é uma oportunidade absolutamente fantástica. Nem posso esperar para mostrar o quão contente estou", falou Negri. "Digo isso porque nunca trabalhei com um grupo de pessoas tão bem preparadas, motivadas e bem entrosadas. Eles realmente amam o que fazem, e se entregam de corpo e alma para nos darem um carro sempre competitivo", disse o brasileiro.

A dupla disputa neste final de semana a última prova da temporada 2005 da Grand Am Rolex Series, que acontece no circuito Hermanos Rodrigues, no México. Na sessão de qualificação Patterson ficou com o 13º tempo para o grid de largada, já que não conseguiu uma volta limpa, devido ao tráfego na pista. A corrida será disputada neste sábado, à partir das 15:00 (horário local).

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553
foto crédito: Linda Rydell/ Motorsport

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Mexico City weekend a homecoming of sorts for Oswaldo Negri

10/01/2005

(Mexico City, Mexico) For many in the Rolex Sports Car Series paddock, this weekend’s season finale in Mexico City represents the first time for them to be racing south of the border, but for Michael Shank Racing’s Oswaldo Negri it’s more like a homecoming. Negri gained several years of experience racing in Mexico under his belt as he worked his way up the racing ladder in open wheel cars.
 
Negri not only raced in Mexico, but he did so for several prominent Mexican figures, including Filiberto Jimenez, Mexican soap opera actor Juan Ferrara, and Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez.
 
But his performance was no joke, as he first took wins in International F-3 before winning the 1998 Pan American Indy Lights Championship, and backed that performance up with two more top-three championship runs in the category.
 
“I love racing in Mexico,” smiled Negri. “I have a lot of good memories from my time racing there, and this weekend is going to be like a reunion with so many old friends from that experience, and I am really looking forward to the weekend.”
 
The race weekend is the debut for the Rolex Sports Car Series, which has enjoyed significant growth in the last two seasons with its trademark close racing fueling interest from new fans across the continent, and Negri believes that the Rolex Series is likely to garner a new group of fans this weekend.
 
“I think that they are going to love it,” said Negri. “This is a fast track, and there are a lot of good places for us to be making passes, so I know that we are going to once again put on a great show for these Mexican fans, who really love their racing.”
 
Negri first raced in Mexico in 1993, winning the first F-3 International race he ever entered in Mexico, the Chihuhuahua round late in the 1993 season. The performance impressed the paddock, and he was picked up to run the full season the following year, taking third in the overall championship. He continued his winning ways in International F-3, winning in both 1995 and 1996 before running a limited schedule of events in the Dayton Indy Lights series in 1997.
 
Negri returned to Mexico in 1998 to drive for Mexican soap opera actor Juan Ferrara, and won the championship with three race wins. He continued to be a podium visitor in 1999, taking second in the championship and following that up with a run to third the following season, despite also taking on the test driver duties with the Barber Dodge Pro Series. Negri earned the Racesite.com “Rising Star” award for his run in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004 with Michael Shank Racing, and has scored a pole position and podium in 2005 despite running a limited schedule of events.

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com   
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Michael Shank Racing takes top ten despite tough day at VIR

10/09/2005

(Alton, VA) – Michael Shank Racing’s two Daytona Prototypes finished tenth and sixteenth in class in the VIR 400 in round thirteen of the Rolex Sports Car Series.  The results weren’t what the team had been hoping for as two separate incidents arising from avoiding contact with other spinning cars put both the Mears Motor Coach Pontiac-Riley of Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears and the Flight Options Lexus-Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri several laps down.
 
However, the finishing result was impressive given that both cars were at one point several laps down, and showed the true speed of the cars as they rallied to storm back up through the order.
 
Mears started in the Pontiac-Riley combination from eighth on the grid, and was fighting his way forward in the opening laps when he came upon two spinning Daytona Prototypes and had to take to the grass to avoid making contact. Unfortunately, there has been heavy rain every day for the last four days on the natural terrain road course, making the grass nearly impossible to navigate with the slick Hoosier tires.
 
“There was just nothing I could do,” said a disappointed Mears. “It was hit them, or go off in the grass, and once I was off the track, I couldn’t get enough grip to get back on track. I couldn’t believe it took them so long to throw the yellow and get me towed out of there.”
 
After several frustrating laps of trying to make it back onto the track, Grand American called a full course caution to recover the car and bring it back to the asphalt. Mears was able to get back going again, but the damage was done as the car fell to 44th place in the order and Borkowski climbed in to get to work.
 
An unfortunately similar incident befell the sister Flight Options car of Negri and Patterson, as Patterson had started from nineteenth position and had moved up into the top ten before he turned the car over to Negri during a full-course caution period. On the restart, two Porsches spun directly in front of Negri and he was forced into the grass to avoid making contact. The fast Brazilian had similar luck as Mears finding traction on the wet grass, and the team lost two laps in the process and fell to 27th in the order.
 
“I didn’t have any option,” said Negri. “There were cars spinning right in front of me and I had to go in the grass. It’s such a shame because we were very fast today and had been having a very good weekend. But we were able to at least make up some places and get back into the top-ten.”
 
Disappointed but no less determined, Borkowski and Negri both set off to make up the laps and work their way up the order. Borkowski made big progress, running as lap times close to those of the leaders, including running well in front of the eventual race winner for several laps before turning the car back over to Mears in the closing laps.
 
“Thank you guys,” Borkowski said on the radio as he brought the car in for Mears to take over in the closing stages of the race. “We had a great car again and it was just a shame that we couldn’t run up front, because the car certainly had the speed to do it. This team is simply excellent, and we had another race-winning car today but it just wasn’t our day.”
 
Mears kept up the charge and finished sixteenth in class, as Negri stayed in the Flight Options car to the checkered flag, making up all but one lap to the leader, and was running with the lead pack as he scored the team’s ninth top-ten finish of the season.
 
“Both cars went really well today, but we just caught a couple of bad breaks that put us way behind,” said Shank.  “We were really fast and made up some laps, but we just had so much ground to make up. So it was it was a tough day at the office. But overall, it was a good weekend for us because we were on the pace in every session, and the guys did a great job in the car and we ran without any problems all weekend, so those things were positive for us and we’ll be looking to do well in Mexico next month.”
 
Michael Shank Racing will race again in the season-ending Mexico City event on November 5th.

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com   
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Rain prevents Michael Shank Racing  from qualifying chance at VIR

10/08/2005

(Alton, VA) – Michael Shank Racing’s two Daytona Prototypes will start Sunday’s VIR 400 from eighth and nineteenth on the grid after the qualifying session was cancelled due to the rainy weather conditions which have persisted at Virginia International Raceway in advance of round thirteen of the Rolex Sports Car Series.
 
The announcement was received with disappointment by the team, which was hoping to get the chance to show their speed in the qualifying session after both cars  posted times in the top five in the morning session.
 
“I understand why they (Grand American) made this decision, but we would have of course had the chance to qualify because both of our cars are really good,” said team owner Mike Shank “Starting by points also really penalizes Mark (Patterson) and Oswaldo (Negri) because they have only entered a few events, so there are a lot of slow cars that they are going to have to start behind tomorrow.”
 
The Mears Motor Coach Machine of Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr. was fourth quickest in the morning practice session with a fast lap time of 2:03.842-seconds on the 3.27-mile circuit, and the sister Flight Options Lexus-Riley of Patterson and Negri were just a shade behind in fifth with a best lap of 2:03.107-second.
 
“It’s a shame that we didn’t get a chance to qualify today,” said Negri. “We know we could have been in the top-ten or even better, so we will have some work to do tomorrow. But the Flight Options car is great and it’s a long track so hopefully Mark can make up some ground early and we can finish well like we did at the Glen (where Patterson and Negri scored their debut Rolex podium in just their third Rolex start together).”
 
 
VIR 400 Schedule:
Sunday, October 9th             

Race--Live 1:00 Pm ET on Speed Channel

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com   
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Negri termina em terceiro na Crown Royal 250 em Watkins Glen

25/09/2005

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e o americano Mark Patterson fizeram a alegria de Michael Shank, dono da Michael Shank Racing, ao levar a equipe ao terceiro lugar na Crown Royal At The Glen, disputada na
noite do último sábado no circuito de Watkins Glen, em Nova York.

A dupla fez uma corrida soberba, digna de elogios por parte de toda imprensa especializada, uma vez que largaram da 14ª colocação.

"O Mark foi quem classificou o carro, e como nunca tinha andado em Watkins Glen fez um excelente trabalho. Eu já havia andado com o carro no treino da manhã, e as mudanças que fizemos no carro estavam excelentes", contou Negri pouco antes da largada.

A corrida foi dominada por Wayne Taylor e Max Angelelli, que deram um enorme passo rumo ao título desta temporada. A grande atração no entanto foi a batalha travada entre Oswaldo Negri e Alex Gurney pela terceira posição.

A largada foi feita pelo companheiro de Negri, Patterson, que conseguiu recuperar diversas posições, entregando o carro a Negri em condições de avançar ainda mais.

"Foi ótimo, o Mark largou e andou muito bem, fez tudo exatamente como a equipe pediu, e me entregou o carro perfeito. A responsabilidade de recuperar posições e tentar uma boa colocação estava nas minhas mãos", contou Negri.

O brasileiro foi à pista e impôs um ritmo alucinante ganhando posições a cada volta, e sendo ainda mais feliz nas relargadas. Quando alcançou a quarta posição Negri declarou que chegou a ficar apreensivo, já que acabou tendo um leve toque com o sueco Nick Jonsson.

"Como fui punido na prova passada quando assumi a liderança, fiquei um pouco preocupado", confessou o piloto.

Depois disso a batalha entre Negri e Gurney foi extremamente intensa, com os dois andando praticamente grudados, e bem próximos aos líderes. A decisão acabou acontecendo a três voltas do final, quando o carro de Gurney apresentou um problema de alimentação.

"Foi um final de semana meio conturbado. No primeiro dia não pude andar por um problema de motor, e no segundo dia dei somente seis voltas, antes que um fortíssimo nevoeiro baixasse sobre a pista",
lembrou o brasileiro. "Esta foi a terceira prova da categoria em Watkins Glen este ano, e as outras equipes estavam muito bem preparadas, mas isto mostrou o quanto a Mike Shank Racing e competente", comentou Negr, extremamente contente.

A vitória ficou nas mãos de Wayne Taylor/ Max Angelelli, com a dupla Luis Diaz Scott Pruett em segundo lugar. A próxima etapa da Grand American Rolex Séries, será no dia 09/10 com a VIR400, no Virginia International Raceway.

Classificação final da Crown Royal 250 em Watkins Glen, (12ª etapa da temporada):

1 Taylor/ Angelelli (Pontiac Riley)
2 Diaz/ Pruett (Lexus Riley)
3 Patterson/ Negri Jr (Lexus Riley)
4 H Guenette/ Borcheller (Pontiac Riley)
5 Valiante/ Gidley (BMW Riley)
6 Wagner/ Johansson (Lexus Riley)
7 Mears Jr/ Borkowski (Pontiac Riley)
8 Tuttle/ Leinders (Pontiac Riley)
9 Flanagan/ Long (Ford Crawford)
10 Krohn/ Jonsson (Pontiac Riley)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Foto Crédito: Grand - Am

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Michael Shank Racing takes podium at Watkins Glen

09/24/2005

(Watkins Glen, NY) 24 September 05—Michael Shank Racing returned to the Wakins Glen podium once again, as Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri powered the Flight Options Lexus-Riley to third in the Crown Royal 250 on Saturday.

The sister Mears Motor Coach Pontiac-Riley of Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr. finished seventh to take the eighth top-ten result of the season for the team.

Mears and Patterson started the race from eleventh and thirteenth respectively, and were racy right from the drop of the green flag, moving up to the top-ten in tandem before staging a dramatic intra-squad battle for sixth position, with both cars holding the spot at different times.

“That was the best race car I have ever driven,” enthused Mears. “I have never had as much fun in a race car as I did today, and the battle I had with Mark (Patterson) was just great-we trusted each other and raced clean but were going at it like it was for the win-it was just outstanding.”

Mears and Patterson both turned over the controls to their co-drivers Borkowski and Negri on lap twenty-five, with the pit lap shuffle giving both drivers plenty of work as the cars rejoined in eighteenth (Mears Motor Coach car) and sixteenth (Flight Options car).

Borkowski and Negri are among the top talents in the Rolex series, and put their skills on display as they fought through the order, but a long yellow flag period kept them from making up as much ground as they could.

“It was a shame that we didn’t get more green flag time in, because Mike (Borkowski) really didn’t get a chance to move up running all that time under a yellow,” said Mears. “But he certainly made hay when he got the chance and moved us up into the top-ten.”

A late-race restart set the stage for a sprint to the finish, as Borkowski and Negri continued to click off the positions. As a fierce battle for the lead raged ahead, Negri was able to move into third in the closing laps, taking his third career Rolex podium, and his first with co-driver Patterson.

“This is just so fantastic,” beamed Negri. “We really didn’t get off to a fast start this weekend and didn’t get as much track time as we wanted before the race, but Mark (Patterson) and these guys on the Michael Shank Racing team did such a fantastic job today. The effort I put in the car doesn’t come close to repaying their efforts this weekend, but its great we got on the podium and I can’t wait for VIR!”

Patterson, who improved his times dramatically through the weekend and during the race, was pleased not only with the race result, but also his choice of team and co-driver.

“This Mike Shank team is simply exceptional, and of course what can I say about Oswaldo?” said Patterson. “I had a great battle with Paul (Mears) early in the race, and the car was just fantastic. I am really excited to be working with Oswaldo and Mike Shank’s team, and getting to the podium is fantastic for just our third start!”

For team owner Mike Shank, the podium and double-top ten finish was a direct result of Mears and Patterson stepping up when it counted.

“It’s great to be on the podium again,” smiled Shank. “Paul and Mark did a fantastic job today, just amazing. They did everything we had hoped they would and more-to get the cars up into the top ten and then be fighting for sixth-that was great to watch. Of course Mike and Oz did a great job today to move the cars so far up the field in as few green flag laps as we had. So we’ll take this momentum with us and get ready for VIR in two weeks time.”

In addition to a champagne shower and a Crown Royal trophy, the Flight Options car also collected a cash award with the “Suntrust Improve Your Position Award” after moving up ten positions from the race start to finish.

Michael Shank Racing 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 joined the Rolex ranks in 2004, leading the first race it entered and making two podium appearances with drivers Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri, Jr.


Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Negri volta a correr em dupla com Mark Patterson

23/09/2005

Após a magnífica apresentação do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr com Mike Borkowski na Phoenix 250, o piloto volta a competir com Mark Patterson este final de semana em Watkins Glen.

Negri vai disputar a 12ª etapa da Grand American Rolex Series, denominada Crown Royal 250, retornando à formação com Patterson no Riley Lexus.

"Fiquei muito feliz em correr com o Borkowski na última prova, e por pouco não conquistamos uma vitória. Agora vou voltar a correr com o Patterson e vamos usar nosso Riley Lexus, que na minha opinão não fica em nada a dever ao Riley Pontiac", falou Negri.

Negri, que foi Rising Star em 2004, é sem dúvidas um dos pilotos mais conceituados nos Estados Unidos, e vem perseguindo desde o ano passado a vitória na Grand-Am, e segundo o chefe da sua equipe, Mike Shank, isto está cada vez mais próximo.

No ano passado correndo em dupla com Burt Frisselle, sob condições diluvianas Oswaldo Negri Jr largou em quarto lugar, e conquistou um fantástico 2º lugar para equipe Michael Shank Racing, em Watkins Glen.

A Crown Royal 250 será disputada no traçado longo do Watkins Glen International (3.4 milhas - 5.471 metros) neste sábado à tarde em 74 voltas, ou no máximo de duas horas e quarenta e cinco minutos. A Grand-Am irá compartilhar do traçado com a IndyCar Series (IRL), que fará sua segunda apresentação da temporada em um traçado misto.

Programação para a Crown Royal 250 (Watkins Glen):

Sexta-feira - 23/09
07:00 às 07:45 - Treinos Livres (Rolex Series)
11:00 às 11:30 - Treinos Livres (Rolex Series)
14:40 às 14:45 - Treino Classificatório (Rolex Series - Daytona Prototype)

Sábado - 24/09
13:00 - Largada

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Foto Crédito: Motorsport.com

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Negri é quinto em Phoenix

11/09/2005

A Phoenix 250, disputada na noite de ontem no Phoenix International Raceway foi vencida pelo brasileiro Christian Fittipaldi e seu companheiro de equipe Jorg Bergemeister, com um Riley Pontiac da equipe Krohn/ TRG. A vitória de Fittipaldi/ Bergmeister veio em uma prova de recuperação após um toque no início da corrida com Wayne Taylor.

Para Oswaldo Negri e seu parceiro Mike Borkowski (Riley Pontiac) a corrida foi marcada por altos e baixos, e por duas punições bastante duvidosas, tomadas pelos comissários da prova.

Na largada Mike Borkowski, que largava em segundo, acabou se tocando com o pole, Terry Borcheller, na primeira curva. Ambos seguiram na prova sem problemas, com Borkowski em primeiro. Algum tempo depois a equipe (Mike Shank Racing), foi avisada que os comissários haviam punido a equipe com um time penalty de 1 minuto.

Borkowski cumpriu a punição, e com isso perdeu uma volta em relação aos líderes, já que a volta em Phoenix é completada em pouco mais de 58 segundos. Na 60ª volta aconteu uma bandeira amarela e todos optaram pelo pit-stop, menos Borkowski que com isso recuperou a volta.

Negri logo depois assumiu os comandos do carro, e foi ganhando várias posições até conquistar a segunda colocação.

"Entrei no carro em e vim ganhando posições. Passei o Pruet, os italianos do carro 77 (Fabrizio Gollin/ Matteo Bobbi), passei o Angelleli e fiquei em segundo atrás do Butch (Leitzinger). Eu estava muito mais rápido que ele, e percebi que ele deu uma balançada ao sair de uma das curvas", contou Negri. "Acelerei um pouco antes que ele, e meti por dentro no Hairpin. Ele freou tarde e entrou na curva, porém eu já estava lá", disse o brasileiro.

"Nós tocamos e ele rodou. Fiquei na liderança com o Angelleli em segundo e Christian em terceiro", falou o piloto.

Deste momento em diante foram mais de trinta minutos de um pega emocionante entre Negri e Christian que passou para segundo, lembrando os duelos entre os dois na Fórmula 3 Sul-Americana. Faltando menos de 20 minutos para o final da corrida os comissários decidiram em punir novamente a Mike Shank Racing com mais um minuto de time penalty.

Negri entrou para pagar a penalidade, apesar das insistentes reclamações de Mike Shank, e restando apenas 15 minutos para o final, só foi possível terminar em quinto.

"Foi uma decisão bastante injusta, já que eu já estava no contorno da curva e o Butch foi quem atingiu meu carro. O Mike ainda tentou brigar bastante com os comissários, mas depois que eles anunciam a punição não tem jeito", lamentou Negri. "Foi uma pena, o carro estava uma bala", copletou o brasileiro.

Em segundo terminou a dupla Max Angelelli/ Wayne Taylor (Riley Pontiac), que com isso abriu 36 pontos de vantagem sobre Luiz Diaz/ Scott Pruet no campeonato. Butch Leitzinger/ Elliott Forbes-Robinson (Crawford Pontiac) completaram o pódio.

A próxima etapa da Grand American Rolex Series será no dia 24 de setembro com a Crown Royal 250 at the Glen, no circuito de Watkins Glen, em New York.

Resultado da Phoenix 250:

1 Christian Fittipaldi/ Jorg Bergmeister (Riley-Pontiac)
2 Max Angelelli/ Wayne Taylor (Riley-Pontiac)
3 Butch Leitzinger/ Elliot Forbes Robinson (Crawford-Pontiac)
4 Cort Wagner/ Stefan Johansson (Riley-Lexus)
5 Oswaldo Negri/ Mike Borkowski (Riley-Pontiac)
6 Memo Gidley/ Michael McDowell (Riley-Bmw)
7 Hugo Guenette/ Chris Bingham (Riley-Pontiac)
8 David Donohue/ Darren Law (Fabcar-Porsche)
9 Milka Duno/ Andy Wallace (Crawford-Pontiac)
10 Hurley Haywood/ JC France (Fabcar-Porsche)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Fotos Crédito: Divulgação

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Questionable calls cost Michael Shank Racing victory in Phoenix

09/10/2005

(Phoenix, AZ) –Michael Shank Racing took their fifth top-five finish of the season, but the result was a severe disappointment for the Ohio-based team after leading nearly thirty laps but being penalized twice during the 166-lap Racetickets.com 250 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday night with Mike Borkowski and Oswaldo Negri combining for what otherwise would have been a race-winning effort.

The Mears Motor Coach Machine started from the front row with Borkowski at the wheel, and as the field took the green flag, the polesitters car got loose entering the first corner, and Borkowski was unable to avoid making contact with the leader’s car. The team was forced to serve a one-minute stop and hold penalty despite the fact that the contact was unintentional and unavoidable.

“There was no grip on the track at the start of the race, and he just got loose going into the first corner and it slowed him down enough that I hit him,” said Borkowski. “There was nothing I could do. The penalty did not fit the crime at all, and there was no consistency to the calls they made tonight.”

But Borkowski, who was the 2003 Daytona Prototype Championship runner-up, was undeterred as he rejoined the field one lap down in twentieth position and began his charge up the order, effectively working his way through the field twice and getting back on the lead lap before turning the car over to Negri.

Negri, who took a record-setting pole position at Laguna Seca with the team earlier this year, made several bold passes to move himself up into the lead pack. Negri then stalked the race leader and made an inside pass for the lead, but the two cars made contact and the other car was unable to recover as it made a slow lazy spin.

“I had a good run on him, and I was fully committed to the inside-just like I had done on Angelelli with no problems, but he saw me and still turned in on me,” said Negri. “The only mistake I guess that I made was that I tried to avoid the contact, and slowed down even more. If I hadn’t, we would have hit side to side, and it would have no big deal. It’s a real shame because we would have won today, no question. I want to thank Paul Mears Jr. and Mike Shank for this opportunity this weekend. I drove as hard as I could, and it’s just a shame that we weren’t able to get the win that we should have.”

Rolex Series officials ruled that the car had to stop once again from the lead, with less than fifteen minutes remaining in the race, to serve yet another one-minute penalty in the pits. Rejoining the field with a significant deficit, Negri was able to claw back into the top five, but ran out of time to improve further as the laps wound down to close out the race.

“To have a sure victory taken from us like that-I don’t know-other than someone getting hurt, there just isn’t anything worse,” lamented Shank. “I am really frustrated by how inconsistent the calls were tonight, and the fact that we had a win taken from us as a result of that is a huge disappointment for me and for every guy on this team that works his butt off week in and week out to be in a position to win like we were tonight. We did everything right this weekend and were running up front and had the pace to win, but just got the short end of the stick tonight.”

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Negri larga na primeira fila em Phoenix

10/09/2005

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, e seu companheiro de equipe Mike Borkowski irão largar da primeira fila para a Phoenix 250, 11ª etapa da Grand American Rolex Series, que acontece hoje à noite no Phoenix
International Raceway.

A dupla que defende a Mears Motor Coach, e tem seu Pontiac Riley preparado pela Mike Shank Racing, estabeleceu o tempo de 57s640 para o traçado de 2.430 metros do Arizona.

"Os rapazes da Mike Shank's são incríveis. O carro foi praticamente totalmente refeito após a prova de Mid-Ohio, concertaram todos problemas e me entregaram um carro ainda melhor", falou Borkoswki, que
foi o encarregado de classificar o carro.

"Eu realmente queria muito a pole, para mostrar a todos o trabalho deles, mas vamos tentar recompensá-los na corrida", disse ainda o piloto.

Borkowski que corre normalmente com Paul Mears, que cedeu sua vaga para Negri nesta prova, também teceu muito elogias para o brasileiro.

"O Oswaldo (Negri) se adaptou muito rapidamente ao carro, e é até mais rápido do que eu. Espero que possamos ficar longe de problemas, e levarmos o carro ao pódio esta noite", completou Borkowski.

A pole position ficou com Terry Borcheller, que conquistou sua primeira pole position desde 2003. A marca de Borcheller para largar na posição de honra foi de 57s540, somente 0s100 mais rápido que Borkoswki.

O outro brasileiro na prova, Christian Fittipaldi larga da sexta posição no grid.

Veja os 10 primeiros para o grid da Phoenix 250:

1 Borcheller/ Kelleners (Pontiac Doran) 57s540
2 Borkowski/ Negri Jr (Pontiac Riley) 57s640
3 Diaz/ Pruett (Lexus Riley) 57s941
4 Papis/ Jonsson (Pontiac Riley) 58s029
5 Taylor/ Angelelli (Pontiac Riley) 58s118
6 Bergmeister/ Fittipaldi (Pontiac Riley) 58s168
7 McDowell/ Gidley (BMW Riley) 58s221
8 Wagner/ Johansson (Lexus Riley) 58s243
9 Gollin/ Bobbi (Ford Doran) 58s443
10 Goad/ Camirand (Pontiac Crawford) 58s742

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

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Negri foi o melhor no 1º dia em Phoenix

09/09/2005

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, que disputa a Phoenix 250, 11ª etapa da temporada 2005 da Grand American Rolex Series, foi o mais rápido nesta quinta-feira, nos primeiros treinos livres para prova deste sábado.

Negri disputa esta prova com o norte-americano Mike Borkowski, com o carro da Mears Motor Coach, que é preparado pela Michael Shank Racing. O piloto que conquistou no último ano o título de "Rising Star" estabeleceu o tempo de 57s302 (média de 152,672 km/h) para os 2.430 metros do Phoenix International Raceway.

"O carro parece ser muito bom, tanto que conseguimos terminar o dia no topo", disse Negri, que no último ano classificou o carro na terceira posição. "Nós fizemos algumas melhorias depois da primeira sessão, e tenho tentado me acostumar ao carro porque é diferente daquele que vinha pilotando", falou o piloto.

"Estou muito feliz pela oportunidade de correr ao lado do Mike (Borkowski) e em trabalhar com o Mike Shank e seu pessoal. Espero poder contribuir com o esforço que todos vem fazendo, e que possamos conquistar uma boa posição no grid de largada na classificação hoje", completou OZ, como é chamado Negri pela equipe.

Veja os dez melhores do primeiro dia em Phoenix:

1 Negri Jr/ Borkowski (Pontiac Riley) 57s302
2 Taylor/ Angelelli (Pontiac Riley) 57s602
3 Stallings/ Gurney (Pontiac Riley) 57s793
4 Leitzinger/ Forbes-Robinson (Pontiac Crawford) 57s816
5 Bergmeister/ Fittipaldi (Pontiac Riley) 58s007
6 McDowell/ Gidley (BMW Riley) 58s015
7 Bu Frisselle/ Br Frisselle (BMW Doran) 58s120
8 Diaz/ Pruett (Lexus Riley) 58s165
9 Papis/ Jonsson (Pontiac Riley) 58s244
10 Wagner/ Johansson (Lexus Riley) 58s518

Programação da Phoenix 250:
09/09 (sexta-feira)
12:45 à 13:00 Classificação 1ª sessão
14:45 à 15:00 Classificação 2ª sessão

10/09 (sábado)
15:00 - Largada para 250 Milhas de Phoenix (166 voltas ou 2 horas e 45
minutos de prova)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Fotos Crédito: João Vasconcelos

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Negri convidado para competir com Borkowski

07/09/2005

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri, Jr, Rising Star em 2004, que vem disputando a temporada 2005 da Grand American Rolex Series, com Mike Patterson terá um novo companheiro neste final de semana, na Phoenix 250, em Phoenix no Arizona. Patterson não iria poder competir nesta 11ª etapa da Grand Am, e o brasileiro ficaria de fora, até surgir o convite de Paul Mears, que também compete utilizando a estrutura da Michael Shank Racing.

Mears convidou Negri para substituí-lo e fazer dupla com Mike Borkowski no traçado de 1,51 milhas (2.430 metros) do Phoenix International Raceway. Mears/ Borkowski (Mears Motor Coach/ Graydon Elliott Capital) colocaram a Michael Shank Racing na 11ª posição no torneio de Equipes, e Paul Mears confia que com Negri a possibilidade de subirem mais ainda na tabela é muito grande.

"Foi realmente uma surpresa ser chamado para correr com o Mike Borkowski. Estou muito contente com o convite, espero me adaptar rapidamente ao carro, e com isso lutar por um bom resultado", disse Negri. "O nosso carro será um Riley-Pontiac, considerado um dos conjuntos mais equilibrados da categoria, e com o motor mais potente segundo alguns", disse ainda o piloto, que utiliza um Riley-Lexus.

Os treinos para Phoenix 250 (Somente da classe DP - Daytona Prototype):

08/09 (quinta-feira)
15:25 à 16:10 primeira sessão
17:15 à 18:00 segunda sessão

09/09 (sexta-feira)
12:45 à 13:00 Classificação 1ª sessão
14:45 à 15:00 Classificação 2ª sessão

10/09 (sábado)
15:00 - Largada para 250 Milhas de Phoenix (166 voltas ou 2 horas e 45
minutos de prova)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Fotos Crédito: João Vasconcelos

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Negri Fast at Mid-Ohio

08/29/2005

(Lexington, OH) – Oswaldo Negri was feeling at home again this weekend as he rejoined Michael Shank Racing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Emco Gears Classic. Negri has teamed with Mark Patterson to race four of the five final Rolex Sports Car Series races to close out the 2005 season after having made a big debut in April, taking a record-setting pole in qualifying for the Laguna Seca round.

“Racing with this team is just a pleasure,” said Negri. “Everybody works so hard, and pays close attention to the details that matter. I feel like I am spending time with an old friend again, and I just can’t describe how much I am enjoying this.”

The race weekend started with a promoter test day, which ended with Negri and Patterson near the top of the charts. The first two practice sessions also brought promise as the bright colors of the Flight Options machine were taken to the top of the timing sheets during both sessions, ending just an eyeblink behind the fastest time of the day.

“It feels good to not have raced in so long, and still be able to just show up and take the car right to the top of the timing sheets,” smiled Negri. “The other guys have tested here and have been racing all season, so they are right on their game, so to be out of the car for so long but still be able to be fast right away, really makes me feel good.”

Negri’s teammate Patterson qualified the car 13th, which was a disappointment for the South African after he’d posted times firmly in the top-ten during the practice sessions, but the qualifying session was cut short early and only allowed him to make three laps at speed.

“I am really proud of Mark this weekend,” said Negri. “He’s really taking the car and getting the most out of it, and it was a shame that qualifying ended early because he was on a lap that would have definitely put him into the top ten.”

Having Negri back at work again with the team was something that a lot of Rolex fans had been looking forward to seeing, and the Brazilian hotshoe showed again why he was selected as the “Rising Star” of 2004.

“Oz was unbelievable—it was just an awesome display of talent for him to be putting in those laps like he did,” said team owner Mike Shank. “It was like he was just in another zone from all the other drivers. I think his drive today was even better than anything he did last season, just incredible.”

Negri and Patterson will race again at Watkins Glen International on September 24.

Contact: Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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29/08/2005

Tudo estava pronto para equipe Michael Shank Racing comemorar mais um excelente resultado do brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr. O carro (Riley Lexus) conduzido por Negri e Mark Patterson, já havia ficado entre os três melhores em todos os treinos livres, e apesar de partir da 13ª colocação por um acidente de Wayne Taylor ter encerrado antes a classificação, a equipe estava confiante de poder lutar por um pódio.

Foi exatamente isso que Negri e Patterson vinham fazendo. Brigando pelas primeiras posições a dupla já trabalhava para guardar reservas para a parte final da prova, mas um retardatário estragou a festa.

"Infelizmente o Mark tocado por um outro competidor e foi parar na brita. Perdemos 3 voltas até que o carro de serviço tirasse nosso carro do lugar", contou Negri.

O carro carinhosamente chamado pelos pilotos de "The beast" estava realmente muito bem preparado, tanto que Negri voltou ao volante na 36ª volta, alcançou o pelotão da frente, ultrapassou todos um a um, descontando uma volta de desvantagem.

"O carro estava demais, alcancei todo o pelotão de frente e passei todos. A equipe é demais, eles estão num nível muito superior ao do ano passado", comentou ainda Negri.

A vitória acabou nas mãos de Butch Leitzinger e Elliot Forbes Robinson, com o Crawford-Pontiac do team Howard Boss. A dupla Luiz Diaz/ Scott Pruet (Riley Lexux) ficou em segundo, e Max Angelelli/ Wayne Taylor (Riley Pontiac) completou o pódio.

Na Classe GT a vitória foi de Collins/ Valentine/ Milner com uma BMW M3.

Resultado da EMCO Gear Classic:

1 Leitzinger/ Forbes Robinson (Crawford-Pontiac)
2 Diaz/ Pruett (Riley-Lexus)
3 Angelelli/ Taylor (Riley-Pontiac)
4 McDowell/ Gidley (Riley-Bmw)
5 Papis/ Bergmeister (Riley-Pontiac)
6 Krohn/ Jonsson (Riley-Pontiac)
7 Frisselle/ Frisselle (Doran-Bmw)
8 Bobbi/ Gollin (Doran-Pontiac)
9 Cochet/ Tuttle (Riley-Pontiac)
10 Graia/ Lewis (Riley-Bmw)
17 Negri/ Patterson (Riley-Lexus

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Fotos Crédito: João Vasconcelos


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Brasileiro volta à ação com a Michael Shank Racing na Grand Am

24/08/2005

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri, Jr., Rising Star em 2004, disputa neste final de semana a 10ª etapa da temporada 2005 da Grand American Rolex Series, em Mid-Ohio. A prova deste sábado (EMCO Gears Classic), que será disputada no circuito de 3.633 metros, localizado em Lexington, Ohio, terá a duração de 250 milhas, cerca de 2 horas e 45 minutos de competição.

Negri viaja nesta manhã para Mid-Ohio, onde se encontra com sua equipe, a Michael Shank Racing, e com seu companehro de equipe, o norte-americano Mark Patterson. A dupla estreou nesta temporada no GP de Laguna Seca, com a pole position obtida por Negri, e acabou em nono
lugar na corrida.

"Fizemos o shakedown do carro novo, um Riley-Lexus na quarta passada. O tempo obtido foi excelente, tendo nos deixado com uma excelente expectativa para corrida em Mid-Ohio", comentou Negri. "Tudo correu muito bem, o carro não apresentou nenhum problema. Estou muito satisfeito em voltar a pilotar para o Mike Shank, uma pessoa maravilhosa, e que acredita no meu potencial", completou Negri.

A equipe MSR terá ainda um segundo carro, para os pilotos Mike Borkowski e Paul Mears Jr.

Programação para a EMCO Gears Classic:
Quinta-Feira (25/08)
Testes coletivos - Das 08:00 às 18:00

Sexta-Feira (26/08)
Treinos Livres - Das 11:00 às 11:30
Treino de Classificação - Das 16:55 às 17:10

Sábado (27/08)
Sessão de Autógrafos - Das 12:00 às 13:00
Largada - 17:30 (111 voltas ou 2horas e 45 minutos de prova)

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

Fotos Crédito: João Vasconcelos

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Negri fast in Rolex Return

25/08/2005

Columbus, OH – Oswaldo Negri, winner of the 2004 “Rising Star” award for his breakout season with Michael Shank Racing, was back in action on Thursday in the #60 Flight Options Riley-Lexus at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Even though it had been several months since he’d last raced, he was back up to speed right away, taking the third fastest time of the day as he and co-driver Mark Patterson got familiar with their new race car.
“It was a really good day for us,” smiled team owner Mike Shank. “Everyone has put in so much work to be prepared for the two-car effort, and we were strong in both sessions with both cars. Mark and Oz got up to speed right away, and Paul and Mike are right there with them so this was absolutely the right way to get the weekend started.”

For Negri, the fast lap time is a reflection of how grateful he is for the opportunity to race again after taking the pole earlier this season in a record-setting run at Laguna Seca.

“What can I say?” smiled Negri. “I am just so pleased to be able to get in the car after being away for so many months, and be competitive right away. I didn’t get a clean lap in, but we know that this car is very fast and we can keep improving. Mark did a fantastic job in the car once again today and I think he is going to be very strong in the race. I know I say this all the time-but it’s true, this team is incredible, and we all are just looking forward to the race.”

The team will be back to work on Friday for practice and qualifying sessions, with Saturday’s race scheduled to get underway at 5:30 PM EST. The race will be shown on a tape delayed basis on Speed Channel, 12:00 pm ET, Sunday, August 28th.

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Michael Shank Racing expands to two-car effort

07/20/2005

(Columbus, OH)- Michael Shank Racing announced today that the team will expand to a two-car effort for four races during the second half of the 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series season, with drivers Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson rejoining MSR after making a successful debut with the team at Laguna Seca.

The Columbus, Ohio-based team will become a two-car effort starting with their home race in the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio in August, and will also race in the Watkins Glen 250 in September before racing in the final two Rolex events of the season at Virginia International Raceway and in Mexico City.

Michael Shank Racing will be adding staff to run the program in tandem with the full-season effort Mears Motor Coach Pontiac-Riley of Paul Mears Jr. and Mike Borkowski as the team continues to grow.

“This is really very exciting for us,” said Shank. “Since first getting started racing in Rolex, we have been working hard to grow our program to be able to support a two-car effort, and these races with Oswaldo and Mark are an important part of that process. I’m really pleased that we have taken this path and that it has created opportunity like this for the team. Mark and Oswaldo did a great job for us at Laguna Seca and, and we hope that this is the first step towards a full-time two car effort in 2006.”

Negri and Patterson, who combined to take a record-setting pole position at Laguna Seca before going on to finish on the lead lap in ninth position in a trial Daytona Prototype entry with Michael Shank Racing in May, will be utilizing a Riley-Lexus package.

Negri, who raced to two podium finishes with Michael Shank Racing last season, is excited about the opportunity to race once again with the team that helped him establish himself as one of the quickest and most aggressive drivers in the Rolex ranks.

“I just love working with these guys,” smiled Negri. “They showed last season how much dedication they have and how good they are at preparing the car. I have been to some of the Rolex events this season, and these guys always blow me away with how well they have their act together as a team. So driving for Mike again with Mark (Patterson) is just an absolutely fantastic opportunity and I can’t wait to get back to racing and show what we can do.”

Patterson, who has been racing in the Star Mazda series this season, was impressed with what he saw from the Michael Shank Racing organization during the Laguna weekend, and is looking forward to continuing to build the relationship this season.

“Michael Shank Racing is professional, dedicated, hard working team with a proven record of success at putting cars on the track with top-five prospects repetitively,” said Patterson. “Oswaldo has been working with me in the Star Mazda Series, and when we started talking about exploring the Daytona Prototype possibilities, there was no question for him about who we should talk to-Oz has some high standards, and he respects these guys and their winning attitude, and that was more than good enough for me.”

Patterson isn’t just looking forward to working with the team, as the Daytona Prototype effort is an extension of his racing relationship with Negri, who serves as a coach for him in the Star Mazda series.

“Oswaldo is fanatically committed to extracting set up perfection at every test day, every practice session, each qualifying run, and each and every race,” said Patterson. “With his patience, knowledge, and dedicated work ethic, he is an ideal driving partner for me, and of course it doesn’t hurt that he’s shown how lightning-quick he is in these cars. His style is quiet and marginally self-deprecating, but don't be fooled, Oswaldo's need to win is matched by few I've met before in any sport, and I couldn't be happier to be his teammate.”

The team will race next in the Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant with the Mears Motor Coach machine at Barber Motorsports Park.

Michael Shank Racing 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 joined the Rolex ranks in 2004, leading the first race it entered and making two podium appearances with drivers Burt Frisselle and Oswaldo Negri, Jr.

Canadian based Investment Banking and Securities firm Graydon Elliott Capital specializes in a wide range of financial advisory services and products. The rapidly expanding company will be utilizing its connection with the Michael Shank Racing team to continue its expansion into the US. Visit www.graydonelliott.com for more information.

Michael Shank Racing benefits from the support of team partners including the Mears Transportation Group (www.mearstransportation.com) and Graydon Elliot Capital (www.graydonelliott.com)

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Negri acerta com a MSR para o restante da temporada da Grand-Am

01/07/2005

Negri e Mark Patterson irão competir nas provas restantes da temporada 2005 da Grand Am.

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri Jr, após conquistar o título de Rising Star em 2004 na Grand American Rolex Series, não teve o aporte financeiro necessário para disputar toda temporada da categoria como esperava. Ainda assim o brasileiro, que ano passado defendeu brilhantemente a Michael Shank Racing (MSR), retornou a categoria em maio último, na pista de Laguna Seca, competindo em parceria com o norte-americano Mark Patterson.

Negri simplesmente voltou a correr na Grand-Am, mostrando que nunca deveria ter saído do grid, ao estabelecer a pole position para a Road & Track 250 (quarta etapa da temporada 2005 da Grand American Rolex Series). O brasileiro a bordo de um Lexus-Riley da MSR (MSR) liderou a prova por dez voltas, e só deixou a ponta quando alcançou os retardatários.

No final o tráfego influiu diretamente no resultado da prova, e Negri e Patterson terminaram em nono na prova. Agora a dupla acertou com a MSR para disputar as etapas restantes do campeonato.

"Eu e o Mark já acertamos que iremos disputar as corridas de Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen, VIR e do México", contou Negri. "Vamos retornar em Mid Ohio, já com intenção de brigar por um lugar entre os dez melhores. Na prova de Laguna Seca conseguimos provar que a equipe tem um potencial imenso, e isso nos deixa muito confiantes", comentou o brasileiro.

Negri já irá treinar na próxima terça-feira em Mid Ohio, onde será disputada a 10ª etapa da Grand-Am, com a Emco Gears Classic, no dia 27 de agosto.

"Continuo com a agenda cheia, uma vez que estou trabalhando com a F-BMW aqui nos Estados Unidos. Vamos testar na semana que vem em Mid-Ohio, já buscando acertar o carro para prova de agosto. Será uma oportunidade do Mark também ganhar mais experiência com o carro, e conhecer o traçado", disse o piloto.

A MSR , que ocupa a 10ª colocação entre está as equipes, disputa neste final de semana a Brumos Porsche 250 em Daytona, com a dupla Mike Borkowski e Paul Mears Jr.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

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Michael Shank Racing takes popular pole position at Laguna Seca

04/30/2005

(Monterey, CA) – Oswaldo Negri Jr. has worked hard to make the most of every opportunity he has had in racing, and today was no different, as the Brazilian ace scored pole position for Sunday’s Road & Track 250 with a fast lap time of 1:24.357-seconds to enter his name in the record books as the first-ever Daytona Prototype pole winner at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the #60 MatlinPatterson Asset Management Lexus-Riley for Michael Shank Racing.

The #6 Mears Motor Coach Pontiac-Riley also put in a strong performance, as Kenny Wilden overcame a technical problem to power the car into the top ten with a fast lap time of 1:25.794 seconds netting him ninth on the grid. Wilden is standing in for full-season driver Paul Mears Jr., who was unable to make the race weekend due to conflicting business commitments.

The pole position is the first in Rolex Sports Car Series competition for the Michael Shank Racing team, which joined the series at the beginning of 2004.

Despite a break-out 2004 season with the MSR squad, Negri has been unable to land a ride, forcing to watch the racing instead of take part in it so far this season, but has partnered with Star Mazda Pro Series Mark Patterson driver for the weekend. The pole was greeted with universal enthusiasm not only by the team, but also by the Grand Am paddock, as rival teams and drivers recognize the speed and talent that Negri possesses, and were quick to congratulate him on his accomplishment.

“It was great that everyone was clearly so excited for me and the team to take pole,” said Negri. ““I have to say thank you to Lexus and to Mike Shank and his guys for working as hard as they do to prepare a car that was capable of taking the pole today. I knew right when we got on track here this weekend that we had a great combination and being second quick in practice yesterday was another confidence boost for me and the team.”

Despite not being in a race car for nearly six months, Negri was up to speed right away this weekend.

“To be out of the car for so long and take the pole the first time back is really just fantastic for me and shows what I have been saying about how absolutely incredible this Michael Shank Racing team is,” said Negri. “This is also my engineer Dave Kanning’s first time being the lead engineer on a Daytona Prototype, and he obviously did a fantastic job. I am just so thankful for the opportunity that Mark Patterson and the team have created for me this weekend, and I am really looking forward to the race.”

Team owner Mike Shank was excited to have both his cars perform so well, and proud of his teams accomplishment so far this weekend.

“What can I say about Oswaldo?” said Shank. “That guy is all heart. He did a great job today and the whole team is glad to have him back with us. Hopefully I can hold onto him for the season.”

The #6 Mears Motor Coach Pontiac-Riley has been quick in every session this weekend, but a sensor failed during the session and significantly effected the performance of the car.

“Kenny did a great job to get that time even though he had the problem with the car,” said Shank. “We know what went wrong, and it will be no problem to get the car set for tomorrow. It’s a shame because we could have had both cars in the top five, but the #6 car is very strong and they should be able to move up during the race tomorrow.”

Starting at the front for a race that boasts the most cars ever in a sprint-format Grand Am race, Negri knows he has the best seat in the house, but also that its not going to be easy.

“It’s great to be starting up front for the race with how many cars there are in the race and how really tight the track is, but we are all going to have to deal with traffic all day long, so hopefully being up front will help with that and we can get a clean start to the race tomorrow.”

The U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be shown live May 1st on Speed Channel at 3:00 PM EST.

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (mobile)

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Negri é pole em Laguna Seca

30/04/2005

Negri marca seu retorno à Grand Am estabelecendo a pole para a Road & Track 250.


Oswaldo Negri Jr. não despediçou a oportunidade neste seu retorno à Grand American Rolex Series, e conquistou a pole positon para a Road & Track 250, que acontece neste domingo em Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Negri estabeleceu a pole com o tempo de 1m24s357, colocando definitivamente seu nome no livro dos recordes de Laguna Seca.

Negri irá disputar a prova ao lado do norte-americano Mark Patterson, com um Lexus-Riley da Michael Shank Racing. O resultado do treino de classificação foi a confirmação do que já se esperava, pois Negri foi o mais rápido em todas sessões de treinos para esta prova.

Mark Patterson, é uma das grandes revelações da Star Mazda Pro Series. A pole do brasileiro foi recebida com entusiasmo por todo paddock, mostrando por parte das equipes rivais o reconhecimento ao talento de Negri, que foi cumprimentado por todos.

“Eu realmente estou muito feliz com esta pole. Eu quero agradecer à Lexus, ao Mike Shank e a todos rapazes (mecânicos) pelo excelente trabalho, me proporcionando um carro excepcional", disse Negri. "Nós conhecemos bem este circuito, e desde o segundo treino de sábado já tinhamos esperanças de um bom resultado", comentou Negri.

Ao lado do brasileiro, na primeira fila, aparece o Pontiac-Riley da Krohn Racing, com a dupla Jorg Bergemeister/ Max Papis. O mexicano Luis Dias, que corre em dupla com Scott Pruet (Lexus-Riley) larga da terceira posição.

O outro carro da Mike Shank Racing larga da nona posição do grid. Cinquenta e dois carros estão inscritos para esta que é a quarta etapa da temporada 2005 da Grand Am.

Veja os 10 primeiros do grid para Road & Track 250:

1 Negri Jr/ Patterson (Michael Shank Racing / Lexus Riley) 1m24s357
2 Bergmeister/ Papis (Krohn Racing/ TRG / Pontiac Riley) 1m24s466
3 Diaz/ Pruett (CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley) 1m24s649
4 Johansson/ Wagner (New Century Mtg/ Chip Ganassi w/Sabates / Lexus Riley) 1m24s719
5 Gidley/ McDowell (Finlay Motorsports / BMW Riley) 1m24s787
6 Kelleners/ Borcheller/ Barber (Kodak - Bell Motorsports / Pontiac Doran) 1m25s073
7 Frisselle/ Bu Frisselle (Rx.com/ Synergy Racing / BMW Doran) 1m25s504
8 Bobbi/ Gollin (Doran Racing / Lexus Doran) 1m25s695
9 Wilden/ Borkowski (Michael Shank Racing / Pontiac Riley) 1m25s794
10 Taylor/ Angelelli (SunTrust Racing / Pontiac Riley) 1m25s850

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553


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20/04/2005

Negri tem agenda lotada com testes antes da prova da Grand Am.

O brasileiro Oswaldo Negri, Jr, Rising Star em 2004, está com sua agenda super lotada, desde o anúncio em que irá disputar a etapa de Laguna Seca, da Grand American Rolex Series, marcada para o próximo dia 01 de maio. Negri esteve em Virginia, no Virginia International Raceway, trabalhando com a F-BMW nos dias 09 e 10.

Logo em seguida foi para Carolina do Norte, onde na segunda, terça e quarta, trabalhou com a F-Mazda, testando em Road Atlanta, com uma equipe que o contratou, além de fazer as funções de "coaching" com os pilotos, na corrida do sábado. No domingo o brasileiro retornou para California para realizar seu primeiro teste com o carro da Michael Shank Racig, que irá utilizar na prova de Laguna Seca.

"O teste foi muito bom. O carro e equipe que eu já considerava muito boa ano passado, estão ainda melhores", falou Negri. "É uma pena que estou começando apenas no campeonato somente agora. Estamos muito atrasados em relação aos demais, que já estão na sua quarta corrida, e embalados desde Daytona", contou o brasileiro.

"Eu rapidamente peguei a mão do novo carro. O chassis Riley tem caracteristicas diferentes do Doran, sendo muito melhor no contorno das curvas, e responde muito mais as mudanças na suspensão", comentou Negri.

Mark Patterson, que irá ser o companheiro de equipe de Negri, teve também seu primeiro contato com o carro, e no segundo dia de testes mostrou uma evolução muito grande.

"Vamos para Laguna Seca com a expectativa de brigar por um lugar entre os dez melhores. O campeonato está muito mais competitivo que o do ano passado, e para brigarmos pela vitória, teremos que fazer mais testes, para que o Mark tenha um maior contato com o carro", finalizou o brasileiro.

A equipe MSR está muito otimista para a U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, principalmente depois do pódio conquistado por Mike Borkowski e Paul Mears Jr, na última etapa.

JV5Racing
João Vasconcelos – (011) 9736-2398
MTB:38553

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Michael Shank Racing tests with Patterson and Negri for Laguna

04/18/2005

Columbus, OH — Michael Shank Racing was back in action last week, preparing their second Daytona Prototype entry (MatlinPatterson-sponsored # 60) for the next round of the Rolex Sports Car Series at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with drivers Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri getting familiar with their Lexus-powered Riley during two days of testing in South Carolina. Despite battling inclement weather, the team made a lot of progress, working through several stages of development work and establishing some all-important chemistry between the crew and the drivers.

It was a bit of a reunion for the team and Negri, who partnered with Burt Frisselle during the 2004 season and scored two podium finishes on the way to taking sixth in the championship standings for the Michael Shank Racing squad. For Patterson, the test was a chance to get to know the team and become more familiar with the Riley-Lexus package after having raced in this year’s Rolex 24 in a FABCAR-Lexus.

“These test days knocked a lot of needed chemistry, mechanical steps and basics out of the way,” said Patterson. “Oz sets an incredibl