Risi Competizione’s Mika Salo put the number 62 Ferrari 430GT into second spot in qualifying for the Mid-Ohio ALMS race to be run Sunday, May 21st. The second place slot continues a team run of being either 1st (Houston) or 2nd (Sebring) in qualifying in the ALMS race series for 2006. Salo, handling the qualifying duties for the team after his incredible drive to put the team into 3rd at Houston after an on-course collision with another car, turned in a time of 1:22.686, over the 13 turn, 2.25 mile Mid-Ohio course. Salo’s time was .048 of a second off of the pole position time set by Patrick Long in the Petersen Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

In morning practice, the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT was third fastest at 1:23.269, driven by Jaime Melo. Ahead of the Red Ferrari were a pair of Porsches, one from Petersen Motorsports, which was first in qualifying with a 1.22.679 followed by a second Porsche from Alex Job Racing.

“This is a totally different challenge from what we’ve faced in the first two races of the season and the car is proving, again, that it’s quick on every type of track and surface.” Team Engineer Rick Mayer said.
 

“Not only is this a very smooth track - and quite different from the bumpy surface at Houston - but the weather conditions have been varied from the time we got here until qualifying. Everything is performing well, the Michelins are doing a great job on this newly surfaced track, and we dialled it in pretty quickly from the morning sessions. We’re looking forward to a serious run against the Porsches and the Panoz tomorrow.“ Risi Competizione is currently in second place in the race for the IMSA Cup, which goes to the best private team in the ALMS series.

Risi Competizione is a Houston-based sports car racing team which is sponsored this year by Boost Mobile, Michelin, Italy LP, Putnam Leasing, and Forza2 Motorsport/X-Box 360.