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USRRC: Visteon Panoz Racing Enters Three Cars at Road Atlanta

16 June 1998

BRASELTON, Ga.,: For the first time this season the Visteon Panoz Racing Team will add a third car for its race lineup. This entry, #45, the car that just returned from Le Mans, will be piloted by American drivers Doc Bundy and Johnny O'Connell. "I'm thrilled to be driving for the Visteon Panoz Racing Team," said Johnny O'Connell, who drove the #44 Visteon Panoz at the 1998 Le Mans and drove for the team in 1997. "I look forward to teaming with Doc at one of my favorite tracks. I'm very excited to be racing on the redesigned and resurfaced Road Atlanta."

The other two entries in the GT1 category include David Brabham and Andy Wallace, who will share driving duties in the #4 Visteon Panoz GTR-1. Eric Bernard and Raul Boesel anchor the second entry, the #5 machine.

The Visteon Panoz Racing Team, fresh off its GT1 victory at Mid-Ohio and a seventh place finish at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, is ready to take on WSC and GT cars in the 3 hour and 45 minute SPORTS CAR Grand Prix at Road Atlanta. The team has chalked up five class victories in the U.S. sports car series -- the 1998 Exxon Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring, the Nevada Grand Prix, the Homestead Sports Car Extravaganza, the Dodge Dealers Grand Prix at Lime Rock, and the U.S. Road Racing Classic at Mid-Ohio.

"We've had a very successful season so far," says Don Panoz, founder and owner of Panoz Motor Sports. "We've learned a lot from our participation in the endurance races, such as the Daytona 24 Hours and the 12 Hours at Sebring, as well as the sprint races. In addition, the Visteon Panoz Racing Team was very competitive at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the #45 Visteon Panoz GTR-1 came in ahead of all other U.S-entered competitors."

What does the Visteon Panoz Racing Team think of its chances at the SPORTS CAR Grand Prix at Road Atlanta?

"We go to a race with the intention of winning overall," says Tony Dowe, managing director, Panoz Motor Sports.