Problemas no sistema de cronometragem encerraram a prova antecipadamente

A dupla Oswaldo Negri Jr e Rafael Mattos conduziram o kart nº 41 da equipe Targh Racing ao quarto lugar na 11ª edição da 500 Milhas Granja Viana. A prova acabou após mais de 10 horas e meia de competição devido a problemas no sistema de cronometragem que forçou a paralização da prova por cerca de 50 minutos, e a vitória ficou pela 7ª vez com Rubens Barrichello e Tony Kanaan, que tiveram ainda na sua formação Lucas Di Grassi e Renato Russo.

 

Rafa Mattos largou da segunda posição e manteve um ritmo muito forte nas primeiras horas de prova, grudado no kart de Felipe Massa que liderava. Nas paradas para reabastecimento e troca de pilotos a equipe chegou a perder quatro voltas em relação aos líderes, mas com uma tocada muito rápida e segura Negri e Mattos logo voltavam a figurar entre os primeiros.

 

Faltando 113 voltas para o final da competição aconteceu a primeira pane no sistema de cronometragem, e todos pilotos foram alinhados na pista. Neste momento Negri conduzia o kart e ocupava a quarta colocação; dada a relargada o piloto paulista, que compete na Grand Am nos Estados Unidos, pulou para o segundo lugar e tinha tudo para assumir a liderança, mas um novo pane forçou nova paralização e conseqüentemente o encerramento da prova com as posições de antes do problema.

 

"De nenhuma maneira estamos tristes com o resultado, muito pelo contrário. Toda equipe é extremamente profissional e fez um trabalho fantástico, nos dando um kart com condições de lutar pela vitória", falou Negri depois da bandeirada. "Gostei muito de receber novamente o convite para correr mais uma vez a 500 Milhas, que é primeiramente uma prova de confraternização entre os pilotos brasileiros. Só tenho motivos para elogiar a organização do evento, e principalmente a coragem em fazer este evento com motores sorteados e preparados por um único profissional", disse o piloto.

 

Negri elogiou muito aos proprietarios da Targh 400 (Beto e Pedro Gomes) ao preparador Neco, a todos mecânicos que trabalharam incansávelmente durante toda noite e também ao piloto Raphael Mattos, com quem dividiu a condução. A dupla promete voltar no próximo ano para mais uma vez brigar pela vitória. Negri viaja ainda hoje para os Estados Unidos, chegando amanhã às 5:00 em Miami e de lá pega uma conexão para Vírginia.

 

O piloto que renovou juntamente com Mark Patterson para defender a Michael Shank Racing na temporada 2008 da Grand American Rolex Sport Car Séries, treina na próxima terça e quarta-feira no Autódromo de VIR.

 

Resultado da 500 Milhas Granja Viana 2007:

1 Rubens Barrichello, Tony Kanaan, Felipe Giaffone, Lucas di Grassi e Renato Russo, 581 voltas em 10h35m41s829
2 Rubens Barrichello, Tony Kanaan, Antonio Pizzonia, Lucas di Grassi e Thiago Camilo, a 3s179
3 Luciano Burti, Denis Dirani, Gabriel Dias e Felipe Guimarães, a 5s635
4 Oswaldo Negri Jr. Rafael Mattos, a 43s195
5 Nelsinho Piquet, Rodrigo Piquet, Clemente Faria Jr., Felipe Nars, Geraldo Piquet e Tuka Rocha, a duas voltas
6 Tuka Rocha, Lucas Foresti, Geraldo Piquet e Tiago Azalin, a duas voltas
7 Alexandre Ruiz, João Preto, Glauco Alex, Bruno Neves, Felipe Lobo e Pedro Barbosa, a três voltas
8 Alexandre Rosário, André Rosário e Rafael Daniel, a três voltas
9 Sérgio Jimenez, André Nicastro, Mário Romancini, Felipe Lapenna, Pedro Rodrigues, Beto Monteiro e Osman Galid, a três voltas
10 Emílio Padron, Mário Maia, Osvaldo Badula e Leonardo Valois, a cinco voltas

Negri does it again with front row start for Granja

12/01/2007

Michael Shank Racing pilot Oswaldo Negri made his annual trek to his native Brazil for the 500 Milhas de Granja Viana, and duly reminded the motorsports world of both his immense talent and his big heart as he scored a front row start in a nerve-racking “Super Pole” qualifying session.
 
With champions from the worlds of Formula 1, IndyCar, and karting from across the globe, the 500-mile Milhas de Granja Viana is a charity karting race unlike any other. The event attracts a huge crowd, and generates national coverage by all of Brazil’s major television stations covering over ten hours of live action.
 
Negri posted the seventh quickest lap among the seventy-car field in the initial qualifying session, which was paced by 2008 Formula 1 rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. as the top twenty drivers moved on to the final “Super Pole” qualifying. Negri stepped it up in the Super qualifying, scoring a front row start on the twenty-turn 7/8-mile circuit.
 
“It’s an amazing feeling in the super qualifying-you only have one lap and your tires are cold, and you have to get it just perfect in every corner and in every braking zone for a good lap,” said Negri. “But this crowd is huge and everybody is so excited you get completely pumped up. It’s a great feeling to be racing at home like this with so many fans and for me as a driver to be going up against the best in the world one on one and getting this qualifying result is such a great feeling.”
 
It’s not just Negri’s pace that is a weapon for his Targh 400 team, as karting hotshoe Joao Vasconcelos  will share the driving duties, as well as 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Champion Raffa Matos, who will take the green flag for the team after Negri graciously decided to allow the up and comer to experience the manic start of the race. The two are racers and friends, as Negri has worked with "Raffa" for years and he is anxious to not just share his tricks for speed, but also the maturity, experience, and exposure that comes with pacing this kind of field.
 
“I am going to let Raffa (Matos) start, because to be up front of this field, with the crowd so excited for the first laps, that’s an unbelievable feeling and I want him to experience that,” said Negri. “He’s an amazing talent and not enough people know that, so I want him to show everyone here how good he is. I can’t wait.”
  
Starting grid:

1- 77 ˆ Win Brasil ˆ 56s915 ˆ André Nicastro
2- 41 ˆ Targh 400/Dolly ˆ 57s129 ˆ Oswaldo Negri`
3- 19 ˆ GTP/Massa ˆ 57s246 ˆ Felipe Massa
4- 110 ˆ MG Pneus ˆ 57s248 ˆ Dudu Ventre
5- 40 ˆ Targh 400/Dolly ˆ 57s282 ˆ Douglas Hiar
6- 04 ˆ Piquet Sports ˆ 57s315 ˆ Clemente Júnior
7- 29 ˆ Petrobras/Carcasci ˆ 57s403 ˆ Luciano Burti
8- 03 ˆ Piquet Sports ˆ 57s446 ˆ Nelson Piquet Jr
9- 63 ˆ Sabiá/Studio W ˆ 57s465 ˆ Sérgio Jimenez
10- 23 ˆ NOS/Enigma ˆ 57s468 ˆ Nicolas Costa
11- 777 ˆ Win Brasil ˆ 57s518 ˆ Beto Monteiro
12- 01 ˆ Fittipaldi ˆ 57s563 ˆ Vítor Meira
13- 72 ˆ HSBC/Caras ˆ 57s600 ˆ Rubens Barrichello
14- 28 ˆ Piquet Sports ˆ 57s618 ˆ Tuka Rocha
15- 71 ˆ HSBC/Caras ˆ 57s694 ˆ Tony Kanaan
16- 87 ˆ GTP ˆ 57s729 ˆ Dudu Massa
17- 92 ˆ Loctite ˆ 57s943 ˆ Nonô Figueiredo
18- 34 ˆ Bomix ˆ 57s954 ˆ Rafael Daniel
19- 108 ˆ MG Tyres ˆ 57s992 ˆ Connor De Phillips
20- 74 ˆ Loctite Henkei ˆ 58s096 ˆ Antonio Urbano
21- 971 ˆ Speed 500 ˆ 58s502 ˆ Aloísio Coelho
22- 177 ˆ WebMotors ˆ 58s659 ˆ Felipe Giaffone
23- 13 ˆ Spirit Sports ˆ 58s897 ˆ Denis Navarro
24- 38 ˆ Tejofran ˆ 58s969 ˆ Bruno Miloni
25- 45 ˆ MV Marba/Qualy ˆ 59s269 ˆ Paulo Freire
 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

Photo Courtesy : Miguel Costa Jr.

 

<< back to top

---

 

Equipe Targh 400 dominou até segundos do final da tomada

O kart nº 41 da equipe Targh 400/ Doly, pilotado por Oswaldo Negri Jr, Raphael Mattos e João Vasconcelos vai largar da segunda posição na 11ª edição da 500 Milhas Granja Viana, que tem sua largada programada para as 0:00 do domingo, no Kartódromo Internacional da Granja Viana. Negri, uma das estrelas da Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, foi mais uma vez convidado por Pedro Gomes e Beto Gomes da Targh 400 e mostrou que conserva a alma de kartista.

 

Negri, que fez a tomada de tempos, registrou o tempo de 57s129 sendo batido somente por André Nicastro que foi o último a entrar na pista para tomada de tempo. Este é o segundo ano que o piloto compete na estrutura da Targh 400 que considera uma das mais profissionais e eficientes do kartismo de endurance.

 

"Estou muito contente por ter mais uma vez sido convidado pelo Pedro e pelo Neco. O kart que nos entregaram é excepcional, e o trabalho do Neco Fornari é indubitávelmente fantástico", disse Negri. "Ano passado conquistei o terceiro tempo para largada, e este ano vamos largar em segundo. É sem dúvida uma prova longa, mas nossa equipe tem amplas condições de brigar pela vitória", completou Negri.

 

Ao lado de Negri estarão o brasileiro Raphael Mattos, que conquistou o título desta temporada da Fórmula Atlantic e foi finalista no Capacete de Ouro, e o piloto de kart João Vasconcelos. Este ano a 500 Milhas da Granja Viana terá a participação de 68 equipes, na prova com 600 voltas.

Pos. – Número – Equipe – Tempo - Chassi

1- 77 – Win Brasil – 56s915 – Birel Sudam
2- 41 – Targh 400/Dolly – 57s129 – Kart Mini
3- 19 – GTP/Massa – 57s246 – Birel Sudam
4- 110 – MG Pneus – 57s248 – Kart Mini
5- 40 – Targh 400/Dolly – 57s282 – Kart Mini
6- 04 – Piquet Sports – 57s315 – Metalmoro
7- 29 – Petrobras/Carcasci – 57s403 – Birel Sudam
8- 03 – Piquet Sports – 57s446 – Birel Sudam
9- 63 – Sabiá/Studio W – 57s465 – Kart Mini
10- 23 – NOS/Enigma – 57s468 – Birel Sudam
11- 777 – Win Brasil – 57s518 – Birel Sudam
12- 01 – Fittipaldi – 57s563 – Kart Mini
13- 72 – HSBC/Caras – 57s600 – Birel Sudam
14- 28 – Piquet Sports – 57s618 – Birel Sudam
15- 71 – HSBC/Caras – 57s694 – Kart Mini
16- 87 – GTP – 57s729 – Birel Sudam
17- 92 – Loctite – 57s943 – Kart Mini
18- 34 – Bomix – 57s954 – Birel Sudam
19- 108 – MG Tyres – 57s992 – Kart Mini
20- 74 – Loctite Henkei – 58s096 – Kart Mini
21- 971 – Speed 500 – 58s502 – Kart Mini
22- 177 – WebMotors – 58s659 – Kart Mini
23- 13 – Spirit Sports – 58s897 – Kart Mini
24- 38 – Tejofran – 58s969 – Kart Mini
25- 45 – MV Marba/Qualy – 59s269 – Kart Mini
26- 115 – LP Kart Performance – 56s685 – Kart Mini
27- 101 – Foz Iguaçu/Girotto Racing – 56s722 – Birel Sudam
28- 02 – Jonas Kart – 56s723 – Birel Sudam
29- 24 – Rio Kart 500 – 56s775 – Birel Sudam
30- 35 – CKS/Yes – 56s779 – Kart Mini
31- 170 – Massoni Racing – 56s794 – Birel Sudam
32- 11 – Loctite/Henkel – 56s871 – Kart Mini
33- 10 – CPDB Star Team – 56s895 – Birel Sudam
34- 109 – MG Pneus/Cabot – 56s920 – Kart Mini
35- 977 – Clube de Saúde – 56s929 – Kart Mini
36- 25 – Massoni Racing – 56s931 – Birel Sudam
37- 05 – TR3 Motorsport – 56s937 – Birel Sudam
38- 100 – Stop Aço Racing – 56s967 – Kart Mini
39- 53 – CMKG/Ferrari Kart – 57s003 – Birel Sudam
40- 06 – TR3 Motorsport – 57s006 – Birel Sudam
41- 99 – Enigma Racing – 57s006 – Kart Mini
42- 90 – Wal Racing – 57s019 – Birel Sudam
43- 48 – Kart Store/Gordinho Racing – 57s035 – Kart Mini
44- 18 – Acument By/Ygor – 57s040 – Kart Mini
45- 12 – Digi System – 57s041 – Kart Mini
46- 07 – MS Team – 57s042 – Kart Mini
47- 09 – M Riberi Motorsport – 57s051 – Kart Mini
48- 75 – Power Kart Motorsport – 57s058 – Birel Sudam
49- 333 – Margeon/Randon – 57s075 – Kart Mini
50- 334 – Nitrogeni Racing Team – 57s077 – Kart Mini
51- 135 – Spirit Sports – 57s118 – Kart Mini
52- 112 – Feminina 500 Milhas – 57s126 – Kart Mini
53- 42 – Lofty C&C – 57s167 – Birel Sudam
54- 111 – LC Racing – 57s178 – Kart Mini
55- 142 – Lofty C&C – 57s186 – Birel Sudam
56- 107 – BSRKC – 57s226 – Kart Mini
57- 26 – VKR – 57s279 – Kart Mini
58- 69 – Bomix 2 – 57s282 – Birel Sudam
59- 22 – Stop Aço Racing – 57s336 – Kart Mini
60- 80 – Fernando Meira – 57s421 – Kart Mini
61- 33 – Kartzoom/Dolly – 57s528 – Kart Mini
62- 08 – Aboissa Racing Team – 57s538 – Kart Mini
63- 500 – Cisão Motorsport – 57s655 – Kart Mini
64- 286 – Cinho Racing – 57s727 – Birel Sudam
65- 88 – Red Bulletin Racing – 57s756 – Kart Mini
66- 32 – Filomena Zsa Zsa – 58s293 – Kart Mini
67- 97 – Speed 500 Racing – s/ tempo –
68- 27 – Atrade Forwarding Racing – 56s817 – Kart Mini

 

Michael Shank Racing announces 2008 driver line up

11/28/2007

Continuity key as Shank signs Patterson, Negri, Pew, and James for 08
 
(Columbus, OH)—With the Rolex Sports Car Series moving to Pirelli tires and Michael Shank Racing joining forces with Ford Racing Technology powered by Roush Yates Engines, there will be a lot of new elements to the 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season, but for the Columbus-based team, one thing will remain the same.   Actually, four.
 
Mike Shank announced today that he has retained the same full-season driver line up from the 2007 season as his team prepares to contest the full 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series calendar with a two-car effort in the Daytona Prototype class.
 
Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri closed out the 2006 Rolex season with a win at Miller Motorsports Park, which was deemed to be the “Rolex Moment of the Year” before the two scored eleven top tens and one podium in 2007. The two first raced together for Michael Shank Racing in 2005 with a pole and podium-scoring partial season before kicking off a full-time 2006 campaign with a Rolex 24 At Daytona podium run to second place overall. 2008 will see the two combine for a third full season together in the No. 60 Ford-powered Riley.  
 
John Pew and Ian James joined forces in May and developed a chemistry quickly, taking six straight top tens including two fourth place finishes. Despite sporting Rolex rookie stripes, Pew impressed with his qualifying runs as he and James closed out the season with a run to eighth in the Rolex Team Championship.
 
“I’m really excited to be able to keep this line-up heading into next year,” said Shank. “Obviously we’ve shown a lot of consistency and speed with these guys, and being able to continue our relationships with them is going to pay dividends for us moving forward. We’re lucky to be a two-car team that really operates like one big team, with great communication and teamwork between the two cars-from the drivers to the engineers to the guys setting up the pits.”
 
The team already has a firm foot forward on the 2008 season, coming off a highly successful Pirelli tire test earlier this month which saw the team set some impressive times in their first exposure to the new PZero Rolex Sports Car Series tire.
 
“This new tire is great, and we’re confident that we’ll be more competitive this season,” said Shank. “We are working flat out with the new cars and the new tires, but we are really excited about next year. We have also put a great line-up together for the 24 and are looking forward to making some announcements soon.”
 
While the new motor partner and race tire will have the team looking for champagne glory, there will be another contest to keep an eye on all season as both Mark Patterson and John Pew will be eligible for the prestigious Jim Trueman Award. Patterson won the award in 2006, and both he and Pew are expected to be lead challenges for the honor in 2008.
 
“Mark set a great benchmark for me to follow in my rookie season last year and I’m looking forward to competing with him for that Trueman trophy,” said Pew. “He still has a lot more experience than I do in these cars, but we were nipping at his heels a couple times last year, so hopefully we can keep improving and being competitive. I’m happy that Ian will be with us again this year to help make that happen because he’s a tremendous asset to this team both in and out of the car.”
 
“This is a great environment for me and to have everything in place with our driver line up and communication we’ve established already is a huge advantage,” said James. “Even though there are a lot of new things going on with the motor and the tires, the whole team can hit the ground running like we did at the test. I’m really looking forward to the season.”
 
The Pirelli test provided a shot of excitement for the team not just because of the fast times that were set, but also because the tire suited the styles of MSR pilots on the long runs.
 
“This team is really strong and this Pirelli test was further evidence of that,” said Patterson. “We were quick right off the truck and we will look to carry that pace all the way to the last lap of the 24 this year. We know this team is tremendously capable, and we are hungry to get back on the podium as often as possible this year and with our new Ford power and a tire that is going to make everyone a lot faster, we think we have what we need to do that.”
 
Negri, who backed up his record setting run to pole at Laguna in 05 with a podium performance there two years later, is anxious to get the season going after a taste of the Pirelli performance.
 
“This new tire is great and I know we’re going to be much stronger with it,” said Negri. “Mark gets faster every year-he really works hard at it and shows up at every track with great focus and it pays off with his times lap after lap. I think he’s going to be even stronger this season and we’re really looking forward to the potential we have with our drivers, the Ford power, and this new tire.”
 
-www.michaelshankracing.com

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

<< back to top

---

 

Negri baixa em dois segundos o recorde de Daytona

Grand Am estréia pneus Pirelli

 

 

 

Hard-fought finish for Michael Shank Racing at Miller

09/15/2007

Alternator problem spoils possible podium for No. 60 entry as No. 6 returns to top ten form yet again
 
(Tooele, UT)— As it became clear that driver Oswaldo Negri would have to pit yet again, team owner Mike Shank could only shake his head in frustration after nearly seven hours of racing in the SunChaser 1000K at Miller Motorsports Park for the Rolex Sports Car Series season finale.  
 
The No. 60 Lexus-Riley of Negri, Mark Patterson, and Justin Wilson, was hoping to race into the Millers winners circle for the second year in a row, but after an alternator belt became dislodged early in the race, the team was forced to stop to make five battery changes to keep the car moving forward.
 
The motor issue was particularly frustrating given the great pace shown by the driving threesome.   Making matters worse was that it had happened multiple times during the season, including once when it took the 60 out of the lead at Daytona and then again from the lead at Watkins Glen. On Saturday, the problem cost the team one position in the team championship standings to close out the season.
 
“I’m just really disappointed,” said Negri. ”I put in a mega effort and we were quick today, quick enough to be on the podium but it just didn’t work out, really disappointing. It’s one thing to have a problem when you are running back in the pack, but to have such a good car but have to spend so much time in the pits, it was a frustrating way to end out the season. I have to thank the team because they put so much effort into the car all season, they should be really proud of themselves.”
 
Patterson demonstrated this weekend that he ought to be eligible for some form of ironman award to go with his Trueman Award from last year after recovering from a serious bicycle accident and putting in a strong performance behind the wheel of the distinctive orange and black Riley.
 
“I am just glad the team let me drive this weekend!” said Patterson. “I loved being out there and just getting into a good rhythm and keeping a good pace. Very satisfying. It’s a shame what happened with the battery problem because we could have been on the podium again here no question. But at least Oz was able to work back to tenth after a great fight today, and it was great to see the 6 car finish the season so well.”
  
The Miller event also marked the return of Justin Wilson to the team, and Champ Car’s most recent winner clearly enjoyed himself during the weekend, even though the alternator problem muted the outcome somewhat.
 
“I had a lot of fun racing these cars again,” said Wilson, who took a podium in his one previous Rolex start with the team in 2006. “I enjoy racing with this team and hopefully we can do this again.”
 
The sister Playboy-liveried machine of Henri Zogaib, John Pew, and Ian James finished a fighting seventh after 139 laps of racing as James scorched his final stint to bring home the tenth top ten of the season for the No. 6.
 
“I couldn’t be happier-Michael Shank Racing is always on their game,” said Zogaib, who returned to action with the team for the first time since March. “Ian (James) is the best coach I could ask for and obviously he had a flawless drive today. This was a great way to close out the year.”
 
The Miller event was not the first time on the 4.5-mile circuit for Pew, who raced in Utah previously in formula car competition. The Florida resident put in two strong stints to help bring the No. 6 into top ten contention once again.
 
“I had fun out there-the car wasn’t perfect the whole time, but it was good to get some long runs in today,” said Pew. “Ian did another great job today even though the conditions were pretty tough out there by the end.  It’s been great racing with this team and working with Ian. I was looking forward to making the move up to the Daytona Prototypes and I really have enjoyed  the season so I want to thank the team for all their efforts.”
 
“The car was moving around a lot under braking out there because there was so much debris on the track,” said James. “It was a bit hard to manage, but I was just licking my chops when we had that last restart and we were able to pick up some positions to close out the race and the season.”
 
The 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season takes the green flag on January 26, but for Michael Shank Racing, the next season starts tomorrow.

“After the way the race ended up here last year, we obviously had some high hopes for today,” said Shank. “And our cars I think showed the kind of pace that would have put us in a strong position if we didn’t have the problem that we did. I’m proud of my guys and the effort and attention to detail that they all put in this year. We wanted more than we got today, but we’ll get a good night sleep tonight and then start thinking about how to do better next year.”
 
Michael Shank Racing would like to thank all the team sponsors, suppliers, fans,  competitors, and  Rolex Sports Car Series staff, for a remarkable 2007 season and looks forward to being even stronger again in 2008. Thank you for your support.

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

<< back to top

---

 

 

Justin Wilson rejoins Michael Shank Racing for Miller Finale

09/10/2007

Champ Car’s most recent winner joins Patterson and Negri in Utah

(Columbus, OH)—Team owner Mike Shank announced today that Champ Car championship contender Justin Wilson has signed on to race the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley in Saturdays SunChaser 1000 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.  The affable Briton will share the driving duties with 2006 defending race winners Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri. The Rolex Sports Car Series event marks the second Rolex start for Wilson, who scored a strong 2nd place with Michael Shank Racing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2006 when he teamed with Patterson, Negri, and AJ Allemendinger.
 
Wilson arrives with Formula 1  and Champ Car experience and has shown great speed in the Daytona Prototypes;  he’s also bringing a little bit of momentum with him out West, having won the most recent round of the Champ Car World Series at Zolder in the Netherlands.
 
“I’m really happy about the opportunity to race with this team again,” said Wilson. “We had a great race together at Daytona last year and I’ve been keeping tabs on them ever since. I have never run at Miller before, but it sounds like an very interesting track. These cars are a lot of fun to race, and really, who better to team up with than the guys who won the race last year? I’m really looking forward to it.”
 
The team is hoping to create another positive “Rolex Moment” again this weekend as the two-car squad looks to defend an excellent team performance at Miller last season, taking fifth place as well as the win with the two team Lexus-Riley entries. The performance has been selected as one of the top “Rolex Moments in Time,” and fans can pledge their support at this address:
 
http://www.grand-am.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9066
 
The Sunchaser event will open with a live broadcast on Speed Channel starting at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 15.

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

<< back to top

---

 

Michael Shank Racing’s Miller victory selected as one of top “Rolex Moments of the Year”

09/08/2007
 
Fans can go online and vote for popular race win at www.Grand-am.com  

(Columbus, OH)—After nine hours and nearly 200 laps of the 4.5-mile Miller Motorsports Park circuit, the 2.94-second victory by Michael Shank Racing’s Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri in the final race of the 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series season was quite a moment for the Columbus-based squad.
 
But it wasn’t just the team that thought so, as Grand Am has selected the breakthrough victory for fan voting for the 2007 “Rolex Moment of the Year.” Even though the race win was in 2006, the thrilling finish has been included in the 2007 contest as it took place after the voting was complete for the 2006 “Moment.”
 
Fans can vote as many times as they wish until Saturday, September 15 at 6 p.m. ET by visiting this link:
 
http://www.grand-am.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9066

“That there were three cars within just three seconds of each other after nine hours of racing I think shows how competitive this Rolex Series can be,” said Patterson, who sealed the 2006 Jim Trueman Award with the win. “Obviously it was a thrill for us, but  judging by everyone’s reaction to it, there was a lot of nail biting going on for the fans as well! Hopefully we can create that kind of excitement again next weekend.”
 
The winner will be announced at the 2007 Rolex Series Champions Banquet at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Monday, September 17.
 
“That win was obviously a big moment for us, but of course it’s even better that the fans and the rest of the paddock also thought so to,” said team owner Mike Shank about the victory that pushed Lexus into the Championship Circle for Manufacturer laurels. “This entire organization has grown since deciding to race in the Rolex Series and that win is our proudest moment-so far. Hopefully we can do it again soon.”
 
The 2007 Sunchaser event will open with a live broadcast on Speed Channel starting at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 15.

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

<< back to top

---

 

26/08/2007

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Shank Racing returns to double top-ten form at Infineon

08/25/2007

(Sonoma, CA)—Michael Shank Racing finished eighth and tenth in the Armed Forces 250 at Infineon Raceway on Saturday evening in the penultimate round of the 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season. The result marks yet another double top ten finish for both team Lexus-Riley entries.  Michael Shank Racing now looks forward to returning to defend last years race win at the season-ending Miller Motorsports event.
  
The Rolex Series’ second visit to Wine Country ran under green conditions for nearly the entire race distance, with one yellow flag period setting the stage for a final run to the checkered flag. On the restart,  Ian James improved into the top ten and teammate Oswaldo Negri also took advantage of the opportunity as he made a bold move to pass on the outside of the final hairpin to move up one position at the finish.
 
“I saw that he (Brian Frisselle) got into the marbles, so he was going to have a hard time under braking and I just put a little bit of pressure on him,” said Negri. “I was able to get around him on the outside. He is a great guy and gave me the racing room I needed. He could have raced me dirty, but he didn’t and I will repay the favor some day. We were hoping to gain some ground in the championship, but we’ll take this result and get ready for Miller in a few weeks.”
 
The two-hour and forty-five minute race got off to a flying start as Mark Patterson sliced his way into the top ten early in the race.
 
“I was pleasantly surprised by how well behaved everyone was at the start,” said Patterson. “The car was great for me-when it was heavy with fuel on cold tires, or  light on fuel with worn tires-it didn’t matter. The car was great. I didn’t get into the same rhythm as the 23 car did so he was able to run in front, but it sure was nice to keep a Pontiac behind us there at the start, and Oz made things interesting once again at the end!”
 
John Pew, however, had a different experience as a possible bad set of tires threw the balance of the Playboy-liveried machine as he had to fight with some unpleasant handling characteristics.
 
“It was frustrating not to be able to do more in those opening laps,” said Pew. “I was working with the bars inside the car and trying everything I could, but the car was completely different from how it’s been all weekend. It was frustrating, but Ian did a great job to move us into the top ten there at the end and now I’m looking forward to getting back into the endurance mindset for Miller.”
 
The movement up the order was a tough one for James, who had to fight for every position as he positioned the Playboy machine to take yet another top-ten finish.
 
“That was a tough run out there but I got a good restart and we got back up into the top ten,” said James. “The car was a bit of a handful, but we had some good stops and kept working with the car. We were hoping for more, but we’ll take these points and get ready for Miller.”

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

Photo Courtesy : Motorsport/ Eric Gilbert

<< back to top

---

Michael Shank Racing gains big ground in qualifying

08/24/2007

Fastest laps of the weekend come at the right time out West

(Sonoma, CA)—Mark Patterson continued to find time at Infineon Raceway as he set the fastest lap of his Rolex career at the track on Friday with a flying 1:30.977-second tour of the 2.52-mile natural terrain circuit. The time secured eleventh on the grid for Patterson in the No. 60 Lexus-Riley in Saturday’s Armed Forces 250.
 
John Pew has also been making significant improvement in his first Rolex race weekend at the track, slashing seconds off his time to score a spot on the seventh row with a 1:31.213-second lap during the fifteen minute session, which was cut short due to an on-track incident with nearly five minutes remaining.
 
“John made a big gain today, and Mark just keeps getting better no matter where we are,” said team owner Mike Shank. “We’ll just have to avoid any problems at the start and hopefully we can catch a break with the timing if we have any yellows. We’re really hoping to gain a little more ground in the championship with both cars before Miller and this is a good way to start on that.”

Pew has previous race experience at Infineon in a formula car, and has been working to translate that knowledge into the Daytona Prototypes.

“The car felt good-as grippy as it has been all weekend,” said Pew. “We’ve been getting faster and I was pushing pretty hard out there. I think we could have gone a little better if we had the full session, but I’m pretty happy with how much progress we’ve already made so far and tomorrow should be good.”

Patterson has had some outstanding race starts so far this season and will look to get another good jump at the green on Saturday afternoon.
 
“We’ve made a lot of progress and there were some sections where the car was just perfect,” said Patterson. “I think we could have gone even a little bit better if the session hadn’t stopped early, but now we need to focus on having this car quick in race trim. This thing can be a beast with full fuel and cold tires, but I think starting on the inside line like we are is going to be a help at the start tomorrow.”
 
The race will air on Speed Channel August 25th at 8:00 PM EST.

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

Photo Courtesy : Motorsport/ Eric Gilbert

<< back to top

---

Michael Shank Racing heads West as Rolex Series races to a close

08/22/2007

Looking for another California podium

(Columbus, OH)—Michael Shank Racing will make the long trip out West for the second time this season and the Armed Forces Grand-Am 250, the penultimate round of the 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season at Infineon Raceway near Sonoma, California.
 
The last visit to the Eureka state netted a fine third place finish for Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri when the Rolex Series visited Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May. The sister No. 6 of John Pew and Ian James scored seventh place with the Playboy machine at Laguna, one of eight top-ten finishes for the duo this season.
 
The two and a half-hour race marks the second visit to Infineon, long known as Sears Point, for the Rolex Sports Car Series.  The tight Rolex championship battle has gathered a lot of attention heading into the final two races of the season, and Michael Shank Racing is focused on taking as many points as possible to close out the year.
 
The team, which scored a debut win in the season-ending race of 2006, is well placed to deliver the best double-team performance in the championship since joining the Rolex Series. Heading into the Infineon round, the No. 6 is seventh in points with a seven-point margin to sixth, while the No. 60 is currently fifth and looking to reduce the twenty-point gap to fourth position.
 
“This was one of the most intense races I ran last season,” said Patterson. “There is just no place to relax even for a moment here. It will be different not having the GT traffic like we did last year, but it will still be a great non-stop challenge every lap.  Hopefully we can come out of the weekend with another strong finish before heading off for Utah to defend our win there.”
 
Pew, who has previous race experience at Infineon in the Formula Mazda ranks against a field of drivers including Marco Andretti, Raphael Matos, and Graham Rahal, has adapted quickly  in his rookie Rolex Series campaign and is looking forward to adding Infineon to the list of tracks he has Daytona Prototype experience on.
 
 “It’s just a fun track,” smiled Pew. “I am glad that I already know my way around there, but of course there is always some adjustment between running in a formula car and in these Daytona Prototypes. The schedule, with practice in the morning and then not running until we qualify or race in the afternoon, could be a challenge as far as getting the set up right, but this team does a really good job with that. Things can get busy at Infineon pretty quickly, but I am looking forward to the race no question.”
 
The Rolex Series will have two practice sessions on Thursday, and then a pair of on-track sessions that book end the day on Friday with a 9:15 practice in advance of a 4:20 PM qualifying session. The Series will once again play the opener with an 8:30 AM final practice session on Saturday in advance of the scheduled 2:45 PM  (local) race start.
 
The race will air on Speed Channel August 25th at 8:00 PM EST.

 

Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com  
317.908.2975

Photo Courtesy : Motorsport/ Eric Gilbert

<< back to top

---

Michael Shank Racing finishes strong at Watkins Glen

Long road back from twenty-first to eighth for Negri

08/11/2007

(Watkins Glen, NY)—Michael Shank Racing has staged some thrilling finishes in the Crown Royal 200 at the Glen on the way to multiple podium appearances, and Friday evening provided another new chapter as Owaldo Negri powered into eighth on the final lap