Grand Am Prototype - Fogarty's Early Flyers End Up Just A Tick Off Pole

ELKHART LAKE, June 24, 2011: GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and Jon Fogarty qualified second Friday for Saturday’s Rolex Sports Car Series 250 Driven by VISITFLORIDA.com at Road America where Fogarty’s second of two flying laps in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet Riley ended up just a tick off the pole-winning time.

Saturday’s timed two-hour sprint kicks off the second half of the 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season and can be seen live on SPEED this Saturday, June 25, at Noon ET/9 a.m. PT.

Fogarty posted the early top time of the session on his first flyer and quickly improved to a 2:01.204 (120.234 mph) one lap later. The solid second lap looked like it might stand for Fogarty’s second pole of the 2011 season but Ricky Taylor just beat out the No. 99 with a lap of 2:01.050 (120.387 mph) in the No. 10 SunTrust Chevrolet Dallara before the checkered flag flew.

“I was really pleased with the car,” Fogarty said. “I think it is the best it has felt so far in the 2011 season. We had an opportunity to test recently at The Glen, that was a big help to us and we were able to carry that here to one of my favorite tracks at Road America. It seemed to translate very well, the car was well balanced, and I think we got the most out of the Continentals. Very pleased, just missed the pole by a little bit, but happy for the team and Chevrolet on the front row.”

Gurney turned the top lap in Thursday’s opening practice at Road America and will take over the No. 99 GAINSCO “Red Dragon” from starting driver Fogarty in tomorrow’s two-hour race.

“Jon did a really good job, I think got everything out of the car,” Gurney said. “We have been pretty competitive. Obviously, the 10 and the 01, like we thought, were going to be quick, and they were, so it is going to be a tough fight tomorrow. The forecast says it is going to be nice tomorrow so we are not too worried about the weather, I don’t think it is going to be an issue.”

Memo Rojas qualified third in the No. 01 TELMEX/Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley.

Fogarty and Gurney are enjoying their return to Road America with the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, the first time the series has been here since 2001 and the first time ever with the Daytona Prototype division.

“It’s awesome,” Fogarty said. “This place is incredible. It’s been 2005 since I have been here, which is far too long as this is one of the best tracks I have ever been to. It’s great, there is a huge crowd as usual, and I love being here.”

Race-day Saturday starts with a 9:15 a.m. CT final practice before the scheduled green flag for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 250 Driven by VISITFLORIDA.com at 11 a.m. CT local time.

Noteworthy

The front row start is the fourth of the season for GAINSCO and Fogarty, including the pole at March’s Grand Prix of Miami… The NASCAR Nationwide Series joined the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Friday at Road America with the two series set for a doubleheader race day tomorrow. “It is great to have a NASCAR event as it brings fans out that normally would not come to a road course but, honestly, our cars belong at Road America and those big Nationwide tanks are out of there element,” Fogarty said. “Not to say that it is not a huge challenge to run one of those cars at Road America, but when I think Elkhart Lake, images other than NASCAR come to mind. Still good to have the power of NASCAR, though, and they should run a spec Daytona Prototype for all the NASCAR road races. That would be really awesome, Rileys with Cup motors, and all the normal sponsors. Now that is a good image.”