06.09.2003 FIRST BLOOD TO THE FERRARIS AS THEY LOCK OUT THE FRONT ROW AT LAGUNA SECA
The
Care Racing-supported Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranellos qualified in 1st
and 2nd positions in the GTS class at Laguna Seca this afternoon, the first
front row lock out for Ferrari since Le Mans in June, and at the scene
of the team’s first American Le Mans Series class win this time last year.
Jan Magnussen, driving car 80 claimed his first ALMS pole since Mosport in 1999 (driving an LMP Panoz), narrowly beating his Czech team-mate Tomas Enge, in car 88, into 2nd position and smashing the existing GTS lap record by six tenths of a second. Magnussen’s best time was 1m 22.350, set on his second lap of the session, while Enge’s quickest was 1m 22.410, also set on his second lap.
Jan Magnussen (DK), car 80: “For sure I am very happy with the way things are going, first Road America and now to be on pole here, and breaking the lap record too. Brabs and I are starting to get to know the car really well and we don’t have to feel our way so much when we get in the car. We can push from the start. This morning we ran in race trim and were almost as fast as this afternoon so it’s looking good for the race. The car works well on this track, which is one of my favourite places, and I’m very happy driving here.”
David Brabham (AUS), car 80: “The car was great from the start of the weekend. We didn’t have to do a great deal to it and every time we’ve gone out we have been quicker. We made a few changes, but nothing major. I’m very pleased with the way the car has gone from the word go, a little quicker each session.”
Tomas Enge (CZ), car 88: “I did three similar laps, all within two tenths and all were good. Of course I was trying but Jan was today slightly better! The biggest thing for us is that both cars are ahead of the Corvettes so it looks very similar to last year. I think it will be a good challenge tomorrow and if we can finish in the same two positions that we now in at the end of qualifying I will be very happy.”
Peter Kox (NL), car 88: “The week off has done everybody good. We have worked hard to get where we are now, and I think the new rear wing has given us an edge. To be honest I was a bit surprised with the outcome up, I thought it would have been tougher. Until qualifying I thought the competition was sand-bagging, although that is not usually their style. From the moment we started we have been right there whereas we normally we have to catch up little by little. Our car seems to like this track, so I am very confident for tomorrow.”
| Fry's
Electronics Sports Car Championships, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca / 2.238
miles, September 5-7, 2003 / Monterey, California: Provisional Grid
Pos
Class Pos Car No. Class Drivers Best Time Speed In Lap Diff No. Laps Make
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