PILBEAM RETURNS WITH STRONG QUALIFYING RUN

PILBEAM RETURNS WITH STRONG QUALIFYING RUN AT ROAD AMERICA

	- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

ELKHART LAKE, WIS., Saturday, July 7, 2001 - In its first event since the
season opening Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, Pilbeam Racing America returned to
the SRPII class in the Grand American Road Racing Series (Grand Am) with a
strong qualifying run. The #48 Pilbeam America/Fender Musical Instruments
Pilbeam MP84 qualified fourth-quick in the class for tomorrow’s Road America
250. The car, to be driven by Dave Dullum, Joe Blacker and Jeff Bucknum.
Bucknum, who qualified the car, turned a quick time of two minutes, 7.999
seconds (112.5 mph) around the historic Road America track despite spinning
off course in the final turn of his last qualifying lap.

“It has been a good weekend, considering we just pulled the car out with no
testing,” commented Bucknum of Phoenix, Arizona. “We are making leaps and
bounds each session. I was trying really, really hard in qualifying and spun
it off in the last corner. But even so, we have a nice balance on the car
and were able to put it fourth on the grid. The car is excellent.”

Joe Blacker, of Elliott City, Maryland, was also pleased with the 2000 FIA
Sports Racer Light European championship-winning chassis. “The car is very
easy to drive, very predictable. Other than a few teething issues it has
been a really good weekend. We have a new car, a new crew and three guys
that have never driven together. There are a lot variables and I think we
are getting through it OK. We are really enjoying driving this car.”

“The weekend for me is very interesting,” offered Dave Dullum of Falls
Church, Virginia. “This is my first time here at Road America and in this
car. So it has been a learning experience for me. We had an incident early
on yesterday that took us out all day. Today was my first time back out in
the car and I got four or five laps so now I at least feel like I know my
way around. Now I feel comfortable in the car and I think we have a
competitive team.”

Phil Harris, crew chief on the #48 Pilbeam, reflected over the weekend and
towards tomorrow’s race. “We had a pretty good run, considerably quicker
than Pilbeam did here last year. We are making some changes and this morning
we are on the pace with the fast guys. After the bump into the gravel we are
playing catch-up a little but, overall, the car is quite good.” 

About today’s race, Bucknum has a quiet enthusiasm about the Pilbeam’s
chances. “The key was coming out and getting a nice solid pace for the car
and I think we have that. We are really more about the race. We need to make
sure our pit stops are good, our driver changes are good and make the 500
miles. I think we have a real solid car underneath us.”

For more on Pilbeam Racing America please see www.PilbeamRacing.com. 

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