Negri nabs third on the grid for Granja Viana 500

12/02/2006

(Sao Paulo, Brazil)-Oswaldo Negri will start the Granja Viana 500 karting event  from third on the grid after posting a 57:081-second lap at the Kartódromo Da Granja Viana near Sao Paolo, Brazil. Ferrari Formula 1 pilot Felipe Massa secured the pole position with a 56:784-second lap on the 1.2-kilometer track. Negri will share the driving duties with Pedro and Paulo Gomes.
 
The “Super Qualifying” session featured a one-lap format for the large and enthusiastic crowd,  as some of the biggest names in the sport have convened to compete in the twelve-hour event. The Granja Viana event first ran in 1997 with Felipe Massa, Tony Kanaan, Rubins Barrichello, and Dan Wheldon among the list of winning drivers.
 
Negri has made several starts in the Granja Viana 500, with a career best-finish of second place in 2004 when he partnered with countrymen Vitor Meira, Gil De Ferran and Helio Castroneves. Negri will partner with Castroneves in two months’ time for the 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona in the Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley.
 
“I must say that I am having a blast!” said Negri. “The qualifying was so intense and such a thrill because we each had the track to ourselves, and the crowd was really pumping everybody up. This is just a fantastic event and it gets better every year.”
 
Unofficial Qualifying Top Six, Granja Viana 500:
 
1-Massa                         56:784
2-Eduardo Ventre             57:029  
3-Oswaldo Negri               57:081
4-Felipe Leite                  57:137
5-Victor Meira                 57:236
6-Tonny Kanaan              57:260
 
Other notable entries
 
12-Luciano Burti             57:618
14-R. Barrichello             57:808
16-Felipe Giaffone          57:923
17-Nelson Piquet Jr.        58:135
20-Ricardo Zonta           58:788

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com

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Michael Shank Racing wins Discount Tire Sunchaser 9-Hour

09/03/2006

Win powers Lexus to Manufacturer Championship title as Patterson secures Jim Trueman Award
  
(Tooele, UT)—Michael Shank Racing won the Discount Tire Sunchaser at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday as Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson took the No. 60 Flight Options Lexus/Riley to a 2.94-second victory to close out the 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series season.
 
The win is the first in Rolex Sports Car Series competition for the Columbus, Ohio-based team and secured the Manufacturer Championship for Michael Shank Racing engine partner Lexus.
 
The sister Michael Shank Racing entry of Mike Borkowski, Burt, and Brian Frisselle capped off a strong team performance as the Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach Lexus/Riley finished in fifth position, less than one minute behind the Negri/Patterson machine after nine hours of battle in the Utah desert.
 
The win provided a podium-bookend on the season for the Flight Options entry, which opened  2006 with a second-place finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
 
“Many thanks to Lexus, Flight Options and to Mike Shank, he runs an absolutely fabulous team,” said Patterson. “It’s amazing to be on the podium and in this press conference surrounded by so much driving talent. The realization that we won this race hasn’t even begun to sink in. Oz did an amazing job today and all season, and all credit goes to him and Mike Shank. We started the season off on the podium, and its great to go one better to finish the season.”
 
Negri was at the controls as the 4.5-mile track was enveloped in darkness after the sun set, but the desire to win overcame any problem presented by the limited visibility as he clicked off fast lap after fast lap to charge to the checkers.
 
“We wanted to get Mike (Shank) his first win, to help Lexus win the championship, and to make sure Mark won the Trueman Award, and we did all three tonight so it’s absolutely fantastic,” said Negri. “Mark did a great job to keep us in contention up front during his stints, and we had a great last pit stop. Mike Shank has put together an unbelievable team and the support we get from Lexus is fantastic. I just want to thank my wife and kids and everyone who has had to put up with all the sacrifices we have to make to do this, but winning a race like this makes everything worth it. I’m just so happy I can’t believe it.”
 
The nine-hour event set a frantic pace, as the race was slowed by but one caution period near the middle point of the event.
 
Two key pit stops helped to parlay the pace of Patterson and Negri into a victory. The first came three hours into the race, as team owner Mike Shank played a hands-on role and repaired a broken cool suit in the Flight Options car during a pit stop. The repair cost just ten extra seconds in the pits, but allowed both Patterson and Negri to make the most of the impressive fuel mileage provided by the Lexus motor by keeping them cool enough in the car to stretch out their stints to the maximum mileage between pit stops.
 
The second key pit stop came late in the race, as Negri came in for a perfectly-timed stop to take on just enough fuel to make it to the finish, as the Michael Shank Racing crew got the speedy Brazilian back on course and into the lead, which he refused to relinquish despite immense pressure from behind.
 
Shank has made the most of his switch to the Rolex Series after a successful start campaigning cars in the formula car ranks, taking a fourth place in the teams first-ever start in the Rolex category in 2004 and following that up with a podium performance in the very next race. The team has grown into a thriving two-car entry and despite the ever-increasing competitive nature of Rolex racing, has been a threat every weekend, but the Utah event was the first time everything came together for the team.
 
“This is absolutely the best possible way for us to finish the season,” said Shank. “Oz did a phenomenal job in that last stint, and we had some great pit stops to help him get up front. The Playboy car also had a great run and I just can’t say how proud I am of all my guys, and how fortunate I feel to be racing in this series. It’s so competitive and you have to have everything possible go right for you to even hope for a podium, and obviously to get a win, every aspect of what you do has to be flawless, and that’s what we did tonight.”
 
The win also helped protect Patterson’s lead in the Jim Trueman award, a recognition of the drivers who do not derive their income from driving race cars, as Patterson wrapped up the title with his strong performance in Utah.
 
“We’re very cognizant of the fact that we are a team with one pro driver and one amateur driver, racing against all these teams with all-pro drivers, and we love the challenge,” said Patterson. “Especially when we come out on top like we did tonight!”

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

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Michael Shank Racing fast in the flats

08/31/2006
  
(Salt Lake City, UT)—Well it’s not exactly the Bonneville Salt Flats, but the 4.5-mile Miller Motorsports Park outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, has plenty of room for the Rolex Sports Car Series field to stretch their legs.
 
Michael Shank Racing got the season-ending Discount Tire Sunchaser 9-hour race weekend off to a quick start as Oswaldo Negri posted the third fastest time of the day in the Flight Options Lexus/Riley that he will be sharing with Mark Patterson on Saturday. The team tested at the track earlier this summer, and arrived armed with a strong set-up for the Series’ debut at the impressive facility.
 
"The car was great right off the truck and having tested here really prepared us for that," said Negri. "We've only been making little changes to the car so far, and Mark did a great job today even when he was running on old tires, so we are pretty optimistic about the race. The last few laps we ran tonight, though, I think it is too dangerous out there in the dark on this track. If someone drops a wheel and blows up a dust cloud, it's just impossible to see through it, very dangerous."
 
The sister Michael Shank Racing entry of Mike Borkowski, Burt, and Brian Frisselle was also a quick starter, as the Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach machine posted the tenth fastest time in the final night session, which closed out after the sun set behind the surrounding mountains, blanketing the track in darkness.  
 
The Rolex Sports Car Series races frequently in night conditions, but usually on an oval-based track configuration that provides plenty of stadium lighting. The Miller layout, which is devoid of elevation changes and distinctive sight pictures for the drivers, proved to provide a worrying challenge for the field as it got a taste of running at night on the track on Thursday evening as a precursor to running the closing laps of the race, scheduled to end at 9:00 PM local time on Saturday.
 
While the team’s strong performance had team owner Mike Shank feeling positive about the race weekend, his first concern following the evening session was the situation with the lighting.
 
“All of the drivers are concerned about running out there in the dark,” said Shank. “If a car spins and kicks up dust and stalls out, killing their lights, there is just no way for the guy behind to see them. It’s dangerous but hopefully they will sort something out for the race.”
 
The grid will be set for the finale-enduro at 2:00 PM local time on Friday. The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel September 2nd at 2:00 PM (ET) for part one, and follow to the finish in part two starting at 6:00 PM (ET).

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

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Michael Shank Racing hangs tough at Infineon

(Sonoma, CA)—Halfway through the Sonoma 250 at Infineon Raceway, Michael Shank Racing was well-placed to keep a run of team double-top ten team finishes going, but the racing gods had another plan as the team had to fight back and overcome some bad racing luck.
 
The Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach entry of Brian Frisselle and Mike Borkowski finished eleventh as the Flight Options Lexus/Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri came home thirteenth in the two-hour and forty-five minute Infineon Raceway debut for the Rolex Sports Car Series.
 
Patterson started the race from twentieth on the grid, and hadn’t a moment to relax as he staged a thrilling three-way battle in the opening twenty-five laps of the 100-lap event. The highlight reel for Patterson’s stint would no doubt include his bold outside move in the final corner, as he nearly lost a position under braking, but refused to cede the spot and re-passed on the outside of the hairpin corner to reclaim the position.
 
The South African, who led the Jim Trueman Award points leading into the event, had a busy day in the office on Saturday afternoon.
 
“This is a great flowing race track but there just isn’t anywhere to even take a moment in the car and get ready for the next section-it’s just non-stop,” said Patterson. “And when you are right in someone’s tailpipes with someone else in yours for twenty-five laps, there is even less of a chance to relax or even take a drink of water. This series is very intense, but this was the absolutely most intense race I’ve ever had in this car. But I had a ball out there-the guys were going for it absolutely 100%, but there wasn’t a single bit of contact between the three of us the entire time, so just some fantastic racing.”
 
The Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach Lexus/Riley of Mike Borkowski and Brian Frisselle got a good launch at the start as Frisselle emerged from the first lap in twelfth after starting from sixteenth on the grid. Frisselle kept up the pace, and continued to move the Playboy Racing machine up the order before turning the car over to Borkowski, who rejoined the field in seventh position.
 
However, it was more than just the other cars and the busy track that Borkoski had to battle with, as the Miami resident had to switch off a number of systems to cope with a dying battery.
 
“This is one of the most physical tracks we race on,” said Borkowski. “So to be running with the power steering, helmet blower, and cool suit all turned off made for a really tough stint. There isn’t any place to rest on this track, and when it’s 140 degrees inside the car, it just made for a tough run out there.”
 
Borkowski turned the controls back over to Frisselle at the two-thirds distance as the Michael Shank Racing crew made a fast stop to address the electronic issues and sent Frisselle on his way to fight back in the top ten, although the youngster just ran out of laps and came home eleventh.
 
Meanwhile, Negri was in form and on pace, moving the Flight Options car up to as high as sixth. However, contact with a GT class entry hampered progress as the Brazilian was called in for a stop-and-go penalty, which put Negri one lap down from the leaders.
 
“It’s too bad what happened with the GT car-I thought he saw that I was inside but we were both already committed to the corner, so we made contact as I tried to pass him,” said Negri. “He is a great racer (Tommy Kendall) and I really like the guy, but it was just some bad racing luck for us today. I’m really looking forward to the race at Miller next weekend-obviously we’ve shown a lot of strength in the endurance races (2nd/Rolex 24 At Daytona, 4th/Watkins Glen 6 Hour) this season, and it would be great to finish the year out like we started—with a podium.”
 
After netting four consecutive top-ten finishes with both team entries heading into the Infineon round, the Sonoma 250 proved to have a disappointing conclusion, but team owner Mike Shank is looking forward to the season-ending Labor Day race weekend and the challenge that the endurance races bring to the team.
 
“It was just not our day today,” said team owner Mike Shank. “But at least we only have to wait a few days to get back out there and keep going for it next weekend at Miller. We’ve had some good runs this season in the endurance races and we’d like to close out the season on a strong note in the nine-hour.”
 
The team will stay out West and begin preparations for the season-ending Sunchaser 250 at Miller Motorsports Park next Saturday. The race will be broadcast live on Speed Channel September 2nd at 2:00 PM (ET) for part one, and follow to the finish in part two starting at 6:00 PM (ET).

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

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Michael Shank Racing ready for Infineon Debut

08/25/2006

(Sonoma, CA)—Michael Shank Racing will be looking to extend the team’s impressive streak of double-top ten finishes this weekend as the two-car entry prepares for the Sonoma 250 on Saturday afternoon and round thirteen of the Rolex Sports Car Series 2006 season.
 
The grid for Saturday’s two-hour event was set in qualifying on Friday, as the No. 6 Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach Lexus/Riley of Mike Borkowski and Brian Frisselle scored sixteenth on the grid, and the No. 60 Flight Options Lexus/Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri took twentieth.
 
The team has shown with both the Flight Options and the Playboy Racing machines that the qualifying results can bear little meaning to the finishing order. The last two races have seen both cars qualifying out of the top-fifteen, yet teamwork and precision driving have helped both sides of the Columbus, Ohio-based team score top-ten results in the last four Rolex events, with the Flight Options entry taking two fourth place finishes in the last five races.
 
“That was Mark’s (Patterson) best lap of the weekend, and he showed at the Glen that he can really move up well once the race starts,” said team owner Mike Shank. “We are a little disappointed with the results in qualifying for the Playboy Racing car because we just went the wrong way with the set-up.  Brian did a good job, but the result doesn’t really show what he can do. But we know what we need to do to move up, and plan on doing exactly that tomorrow.”
 
The Sonoma 250 will be broadcast August 27th on Speed Channel at 3:00 PM ET.

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

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Sexta-feira (25/09)
09:00 às 06:45 - Treino livre 2 - Rolex Series
10:15 às 11:00 - Treino livre 3 - Rolex Series
14:15 às 14:30 - Classificação Rolex Series (Daytona Prototipe)

Sábado (26/09)
05:45 às 05:30 - Warmup Rolex Series 
12:00 Largada Rolex Series Race (250- milhas - 100 voltas ou 2 horas e 45 minutos de prova)

Michael Shank Racing continues to deliver

08/11/2006
   
(Watkins Glen, NY)—Michael Shank Racing continued to deliver strong results in Rolex Sports Car Series competition as both team entries finished in the top ten in the Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen on Friday night.
 
The No. 60 Flight Options Lexus-Riley of Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson led the MSR charge with a run to fourth at the finish after starting from sixteenth on the grid, with the No. 6 Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach Lexus Riley of Mike Borkowski and Burt Frisselle coming home tenth despite a clutch problem throughout the race.
 
The result marks the fourth consecutive double-top ten finish for the Columbus, Ohio-based organization and the fifth straight top ten for Patterson and Negri. Patterson was a podium participant after the race to collect a medal as the highest-finishing driver in the Jim Trueman award battle.
 
The team welcomed a group of Flight Options customers and employees on hand for the race, and the crowd was thrilled to see their car make an impressive charge through the field on race day as Patterson moved up to ninth before turning the car over to Negri, who resumed from eleventh to take fourth at the end of the two-hour race.
 
“That’s as well as I have seen Mark and Oz drive, just outstanding,” enthused team owner Mike Shank. “I am really proud of the job they did and of the work that everyone on this team has done. This great run of top-tens is only happening because of the work my guys, Lexus, and the drivers do to be 100% ready every time we go out. Rolex is so competitive, you have to absolutely be on your game to even be in the top ten, and to do that week in and week out is really satisfying for everybody here. Hopefully we can keep it going at Infineon.”
 
The distinctive black Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach entry started nineteenth in the field with Frisselle at the wheel, and he was able to move the car up to eleventh before turning it over to Borkowski midway through the race. The race was the first outing for Frisselle with MSR since scoring a podium in this race in 2004 with the team.
 
“I’m just bummed I wasn’t able to do more with the car because it was really good, but the clutch problem meant that I was losing out under braking because it was just taking longer to get the downshifts done,” said Frisselle. “But I’m happy to get a top ten here and it’s been great to be back with these guys, and I am really looking forward to racing this car again at Miller.”
 
The strong result was particularly pleasing for Negri, who has always excelled at the high-speed upstate New York facility, having scored a podium with Frisselle in 2004 and with current co-driver Patterson in 2005.
 
“This is awesome,” said Negri. “Mark did another fantastic job at the start, and the car was strong enough to make some moves forward, so I’m really pleased with the result. Plus, it’s my daughter Nahalia’s birthday, so it was already a great day for me even before the race started.”
 
The race is the second event for the new configuration Lexus motor, and the team has worked to quickly adapt to the new specification V-8 powerplant.
 
“The car was fantastic, and compared to where we were at Barber just starting out with the new Lexus, we have already moved well ahead,” said Patterson. “The car just got better as the laps went on, and I was really able to make up ground and fight and defend when I needed to, and Oz just did the rest of the work from there. A real credit to this team I think for the job they do, and it was quite a treat I think for our guests from Flight Options.”
 
The Rolex Series will reconvene in two weeks’ time for the Series debut at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

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

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Michael Shank Racing gunning for Glen success

08/08/2006

(Columbus, OH)—Michael Shank Racing will be back in action this week, campaigning a two-car effort in the Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen. The race will  run  Friday evening as part of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series visit to the upstate New York 2.45-mile natural terrain road course.
 
Michael Shank Racing enters the race weekend riding a wave, having scored three straight top-tens with both team entries in the last three rounds of Rolex Sports Car Series competition. With a strong track record at the Glen, the team is eager to put their proven set-ups at the track to work with the new specification Lexus motor, which debuted at Barber Motorsports park and delivered instant results as the mount proved both powerful and miserly with fuel.
 
The team’s chances are further bolstered by the fact that all four team drivers have appeared on the Watkins Glen podium in Daytona Prototype competition.
 
Burt Frisselle, who scored a podium in this event racing with the team in 2004, will be re-joining Michael Shank Racing, teaming with Mike Borkowski in the No. 6 Playboy Racing/Mears Motor Coach Lexus Riley. Borkowski savored victory in Daytona Prototype competition at the track in 2003 and also held the track record in the class.
 
The No. 60 Flight Options Lexus-Riley of Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson took a podium at Watkins Glen last year in just the third start together for the duo.
 
The two-hour Glen event is the second shortest of the 2006 Rolex season, and the short-course configuration will see the Daytona Prototypes carry an average speed  of nearly 120 mph in qualifying.
 
“Things can happen quickly at the Glen, and especially in this race,” said team owner Mike Shank. “This is a track where we have traditionally had some good speed right off the truck, and hopefully that will be the case again this weekend. W