GRAND AM: Weaver Captures Fourth X-1R Pole of the Season
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 27, 2001
LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- Englishman James Weaver captured his fourth X-1R Pole of the season today in qualifying for Monday's Lime Rock Grand Prix SportsRacing Prototype twin sprint race. Weaver piloted the Dyson Racing Team's #16 Ford Riley & Scott around the rainy 1.54-mile track with a 1:00.887 lap time, two seconds faster than anyone else in the field. The second Dyson Ford will start on the outside pole with veteran-driver Elliott Forbes-Robinson (Sherrills Ford, N.C.) behind the wheel.
After a long night of repairs on Doran Lista Racing's #27 Judd Ferrari, Mauro Baldi (Monaco) was able to qualify the Judd for a spot on the second row. Baldi's co-driver Didier Theys (Phoenix, Ariz.) was behind the wheel during Friday's practice session when the Ferrari went into the wall. Today's qualifying was Baldi's first time on the track in three years.
"I didn't think we would be here for qualifying," said Baldi, who captured his first win of the season last weekend at the Six Hours of The Glen. "I felt confident that we would be ready by Monday for the race, but the crew worked very hard to get the car ready for today's qualifying."
Robert Julien (Toronto, Ont.) will lead the SportsRacing Prototype II class in the Porschehaus Racing Nissan Lola, with Paul Macey (Oakville, Ont.) starting beside him on the third row in the Archangel Motorsport Services Nissan. Julien captured his first SRPII X-1R Pole after clocking a 1:07.109 lap, more than 0.8 seconds faster than Macey.
The traditional Memorial Day race will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, highlighting a new twin sprint format for the Rolex Series prototype cars that will have a mandatory driver change midway and a restart for the field after the driver changes.
Text provided by Christie Hyde
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