SCCA: Fitzgerald, Kleinubing fastest in Lime Rock Park practice

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 26, 2001

LAKEVILLE, Conn. - Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Brazilian Pierre Kleinubing topped the practice sheets today in preparation for this weekend's SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge GT and Touring Car Championship races at Lime Rock Park.

Fitzgerald, driving the No. 94 Trans Sport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, turned a fastest lap of 59.715 seconds (92.238 mph) around the 1.53-mile circuit--the only driver to officially break the one minute mark in preparation for Monday's Speedvision GT Round Four race. Fitzgerald ran the lap in the first of two practice sessions. The second was slowed by rain.

Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, was second quick in an Audi S4 Competition, with a lap of 1:00.084 (91.671 mph), followed by the Chevrolet Corvette C5 of Eric Curran (S. Deerfield, Mass.), the Audi S4 Competition of Derek Bell (England) and the Corvette of Phil McClure (Floris, Iowa). Bell was fastest in the wet afternoon session, but unable to improve on his time.

Point leader, and winner of two-straight races, Peter Cunningham did not have a working timing transponder on his car in the first session, but was third-quick in the wet session, good enough for 13th on the combined sheet.

Coming into the weekend on his own two-race win streak, Kleinubing drove the No. 1 RealTime Racing Acura Integra R to a fast lap of 1:01.648 (89.346 mph) in the dry session. Following Kleinubing were the BMW 328is of Don Salama (Avon, Conn.), the Acura of Hugh Plumb (Chadds Ford, Pa.), the BMW of Will Turner (Newburyport, Mass.) and the BMW of Terry McCarthy (of Mountain View, Calif.). Kleinubing also topped the wet session, with a lap of 1:13.598 (74.839 mph).

The Speedvision Touring Cars will qualify and hold Round Four of the 2001 season on Saturday, with Round Five running on Monday afternoon. The Speedvision GT cars will qualify for their Monday Round Four race on Saturday afternoon.

Text provided by Eric Prill

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery

.