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Final Grid Set for Record-Setting Rolex 24

31 January 1998

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Thursday's record-setting provisional pole times held up as the final grid for the 36th Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Max Papis in CART, 1997
Max Papis, in CART, 1997
Yannick Dalmas, of Le Beausset, France, turned a lap of 1:39.195 (129.200 mph) to break Fermin Velez's 1997 mark of 1:40.456 (127.578 mph) and will be joined by teammates Max Papis, of Newport Beach, Calif., Andy Evans, of Mill Creek, Wash., Bob Wollek, of Berstett, France, and Ron Fellows, of Toronto, Ont., Can. as the field takes the green flag Saturday for the 24-hour classic.

Qualifying second in the No. 30 Momo Ferrari 333 SP was Didier Theys, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Theys, teamed with Gianpiero Moretti, of Milan, Italy, Arie Luyendyk, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mauro Baldi, of Monte Carlo, Monaco, lapped the 3.56-mile circuit in 1:41.295 (126.525 mph).

"I'm surprised about the separation between first and second place -- our team used more downforce on our set-up than the Momo car," said Dalmas. "It is good to start on the front row -- that way you can get the first three or four laps clean."

"Our focus is to win the race, and we're working on a good set-up," said Theys. "We're on the front row for the race, and we're pleased with that."

Fermin Velez
Fermin Velez
Qualifying third overall and and in the Can-Am class was the No. 17 Toshiba Fax and Copiers Ferrari 333 SP of Wayne Taylor, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., Eric van de Poele, of Monaco, and Fermin Velez, of Spain.

Heading the GT1 contingent was the No. 99 Visteon-Elan Natural Waters Panoz GTR of David Brabham, of England, Eric Bernard, of France, Jamie Davies, of Great Britian, and Doc Bundy, of Braselton, Ga. with a lap of 1:44.395 (122.76 mph) -- breaking Olivier Baretta's 1997 qualifying mark of 1:40.456 (118.154 mph). Qualifying second in GT1, with a lap of 1:44.538 (122.59 mph), was the No. 01 Rohr Corporation Porsche 911 GT1 of Allan McNish, of Scotland, Danny Sullivan, of Aspen, Colo., Dirk Mueller, of Germany, Uwe Altzen, of Monaco, and Jorg Muller, of Germany.

The No. 98 Konrad Motorsports Porsche 911 GT2 of Austrian Franz Konrad, Larry Schumacher, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nick Ham, of Evergreen, Colo., and Robert Nearn, of England, took the GT2 pole with a lap of 1:51.850 (114.58 mph) -- better than the track record of 1:52.417 (114.004 mph) set by Ralf Kelleners in 1997. In GT3, the No. 10 Yokohama/Fina/BMW BMW M3 of Bill Auberlen, Redondo Beach, Fla., Marc Duez, of Belgium, and Boris Said III, of Carlsbad, Calif., turned a lap of 1:55.945 (110.53 mph) to break the GT3 track record of 1:56.265 (110.230 mph) set by Dorsey Schroeder in 1997.

The 36th Rolex 24 At Daytona is set to start Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (EST).

Editor's Note: The images displayed in this article (plus many more) can be viewed in The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions Of Speed Art Gallery.


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Starters for the 36th Rolex 24 At Daytona, with starting position, car number, class, drivers, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.

Rolex 24 Drawing

 1,  3, CA,  Papis/Evns/Dalms/Wlk/Felw, Ferrari 333 SP , 1:39.195, 129.20
 2, 30, CA,  Mortti/Theys/Lyndyk/Baldi, Ferrari 333 SP, 1:41.295, 126.52
 3, 17, CA,  Taylor/VanderPoele/Velez, Ferrari 333 SP, 1:42.061, 125.57
 4, 20, CA,  Leitzinger/Paul/Schroeder, Riley & Scott, 1:42.227, 125.36
 5, 16, CA,  Weaver/EFR/Dyson, Riley & Scott, 1:42.233, 125.36
 6,  8, CA,  Schubot/Camferdam/O'Connl, Riley & Scott, 1:43.329, 124.03
 7, 36, CA,  Matws/Pace/Waddl/Salazar, Riley & Scott, 1:43.535, 123.78
 8, 99, GT1, Brbhm/Brnrd/Davies/Bundy, Panoz GTR, 1:44.395, 122.76
 9, 01, GT1, McNsh/Sllvn/Mllr/Alz/Mllr, Porsche 911 GT1, 1:44.538, 122.59
10,  5, GT1, Wallce/Pruet/Boesel/Bundy, Panoz GTR, 1:44.968, 122.09
11, 39, CA,  Mathws/Murry/Hywood/Bell, Riley & Scott, 1:45.227, 121.79
12, 38, GT1, Boutsen/Pilgrim/Kelleners, Porsche 911 GT1, 1:45.831, 121.09
13, 28, CA,  Fld/Brckl/Sthrld/Pad/Bert, Riley & Scott, 1:45.833, 121.09
14,  4, GT1, Borkowski/Buhl/Kanann, Mustang Cobra, 1:47.246, 119.50
15, 88, CA,  Dollhite/Dallnbch/Lazzaro, Spice, 1:47.413, 119.31
16, 00, GT1, Bouct/Golrd/Rosnbld/Ahrle, Porsche 911 GT1, 1:47.598, 119.11
17, 62, CA,  Specr/Thms/Cpbl/Grp/Mirro, Mazda Kudzu, 1:48.170, 118.48
18, 63, CA,  Dwng/Katz/OSn/Fren/Tereda, Mazda Kudzu, 1:48.427, 118.19
19, 46, GT1, Bailey/Needell/Baird/Dean, Lister StormGTL, 1:48.545, 118.07
20, 60, CA,  Donley/Moser/Wilson, Ford Keiler KII, 1:48.730, 117.86
21,  2, GT1, Lewis/Rice/Hornkhl/Nevill, Mosler Raptor, 1:48.818, 117.77
22, 74, GT1, Robns/Bldwn/Hoerr/Goodng, Oldsmobile Aurora, 1:49.738, 116.78
23, 19, CA,  Davin/Montgomery/Smith, Buick Kudzu, 1:50.304, 116.18
24, 95, CA,  Volk/Schroeder/St. James, Chevrolet Kudzu, 1:51.251, 115.19
25, 11, CA,  Fbnk/Glsb/Lew/DeF/Neh/Man, Mazda Hawk, 1:51.467, 114.97
26, 98, GT2, Konrad/Schumchr/Ham/Nearn, Porsche 911 GT2, 1:51.850, 114.58
27,  0, GT1, Maxwell/Priestley, Ford Mustang, 1:52.685, 113.73
28, 59, CA,  Gregg/DeSoto/Bertaggia, Oldsmobile Spice, 1:52.927, 113.48
29, 35, GT1, Casa/Grbgnt/Bucci/Ciani, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:53.916, 112.50
30, 97, GT2, Kitchak/Seiler/Roslr/Zadr, Porsche 911 GT2, 1:54.988, 111.45
31, 21, GT2, Schuch/Rsande/Sala/Trndad, Porsche 911 T, 1:55.682, 110.78
32, 05, GT2, Iketani/Ishihara/Northan, Porsche 911 GT2, 1:55.883, 110.59
33, 10, GT3, Auberlen/Duez/Said/DeRad, BMW M3, 1:55.945, 110.53
34, 65, GT2, Saleen/Johnson, Saleen Mustang, 1:56.056, 110.42
35, 69, GT2, Ried/Langhorne/Lay/Ruch, Porsche 911 GT2, 1:56.161, 110.32
36, 29, GT1, Rsa/Vig/Rsa/Masli/Jhnsn, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:56.305, 110.19
37, 04, GT2, Graham/Morton/Husmn/Husmn, Porsche 911 GT2, 1:56.615, 109.90
38, 81, GT2, Glesn/Turner/Ward/Lintott, Dodge Viper, 1:57.074, 109.46
39, 87, GT1, Annis/Pobst/Hill/Ldnski/L, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:57.107, 109.43
40, 41, GT3, Cerv/Wagnr/Colns/Baseng, Porsche 911 RSR, 1:57.130, 109.41
41, 89, GT1, Maug/Puleo/Urritia/Penton, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:57.244, 109.31
42,  6, GT3, Valntn/Simo/Qustr/Cngham, BMW M3, 1:57.282, 109.27
43, 68, GT3, Bucklr/Coln/Bretzl/Daytn, Porsche 911, 1:57.676, 108.90
44, 44, GT3, Taels/Willm/Grohs/Dupont, Porsche 911, 1:57.995, 108.61
45, 73, GT3, Lewis/Burgs/Mthsn/Lazzaro, Porsche 911, 1:58.159, 108.46
46,  7, GT3, Hill/Petri/Delano/Bentley, BMW M3, 1:58.229, 108.39
47, 54, GT3, Nen/Brhr/Tlb/Hrndz/Hyn/Ta, BMW M3, 1:58.681, 107.98
48, 07, GT3, Mrshl/Gald/Cobb/Kng/Chmbr, Porsche 911, 1:59.393, 107.34
49, 55, GT3, Trjs/Rlsn/Ptrsn/Shlt/Sltr, Porsche 911 RSR, 1:59.422, 107.31
50, 25, GT3, Rictlli/Hfr/Blngr/Sngl, Porsche 911, 1:59.425, 107.31
51, 67, GT3, Ronson/Pelke/Pelke/Busby, Porsche 911, 2:00.240, 106.58
52, 76, GT3, Doolin/Peeler/Ruther/Snow, Porsche 993 RSR, 2:00.312, 106.52
53, 53, GT1, Schrn/Jones/Green/Pumplly, Chevrolet Camaro, 2:00.350, 106.48
54, 45, GT3, Chen/Kumpn/Shnbrdt/Funke, Porsche 911, 2:00.555, 106.30
55, 24, GT3, Kitch/Wolfkl/Sanbn/Cilli, Porsche 911 RSR, 2:01.008, 105.91
56, 75, GT3, Schmd/Schmd/Bngm/Smth/Del, Porsche RSR, 2:01.818, 105.20
57, 51, CA,  Tren/Tren/Pntr/Brynt/Pfef, Chevrolet Cannibal, 2:01.829, 105.19
58, 40, GT1, Rankin/Scott/Jensen/Lasly, Chevrolet Camaro, 2:02.069, 104.98
59, 23, GT3, Havens/Conte/Holt/Lambert, Porsche 911 RSR, 2:02.219, 104.86
60, 37, GT3, Loftis/White/Strange/Howe, Porsche 968 GTR, 2:02.291, 104.79
61, 71, GT2, Worth/Ted/Vtcci/Sansn/Lst, Mazda RX-7, 2:02.319, 104.77
62, 09, GT3, Conway/Flis/Van Cleef, Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2:02.443, 104.66
63, 77, GT3, Grnbg/Drew/Nlsn/Ptr/Frdmn, Porsche 911, 2:02.564, 104.56
64, 96, GT3, Zitza/Wheeler/Davies, Porsche 993, 2:03.139, 104.07
65, 90, GT2, Wtrs/Wtrs/Long/LaRs/Verni, Porsche 911 GT2, 2:03.234, 103.99
66, 86, GT3, Cobb/Amrn/Uci/Redman/Mars, Porsche 911, 2:03.285, 103.95
67, 52, GT3, Stitt/Arnld/Hlstd/Rus/Cly, Porsche 911, 2:03.985, 103.36
68, 50, GT2, McGln/Opnhmr/Blbch/Jsn/Js, Porsche 911T, 2:04.014, 103.34
69, 27, GT3, Goldn/Goldn/Valnct/Thomas, Mazda RX-7, 2:06.266, 101.5
70, 32, GT3, Hnrcy/Aqlt/Mnl/Hynr/Hrngt, Pontiac Firebird, 2:07.043, 100.87
71, 57, GT3, Kydr/Ahlgm/DlVco/Den/Hptn, Nissan 240SX, 2:07.403, 100.59
72, 72, GT1, Banks/Sprinkle/Crist/Rech, Chevrolet Corvette, 2:10.211, 98.424
73, 15, GT2, Cochran/Aouate, Porsche 993, 2:12.576, 96.669
74, 56, GT1, Bicl/Plc/Cstl/Dpz/Agr, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 2:18.576, 92.483
75, 58, GT2, Shuster/Dro/Lenan, Porsche 944 T, 7:23.877, 28.872, 
76, 33, GT3, Mhln/Aqlt/Mnly/Rkwd/Wnbrg, Pontiac Firebird, No-Time