ALMS: Shane Lewis goes for second podium finish at Mosport

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 18, 2001

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario- Following a second-place finish at the most recent round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in Portland, Shane Lewis is ready to extend his streak of podium finishes here at Mosport International Raceway. The Jupiter, Florida-resident slips back behind the wheel of the #45 ESP American Viperacing Dodge Viper GTS-R this weekend for the Grand Turismo 3 Grand Prix of Mosport co-driving with longtime Dodge factory driver David Donohue. The fifth-round of the 2001 ALMS season is the third race that Lewis has competed with American Viperacing in the #45 V10 American muscle car. This is his first race co-driving with Donohue.

“We had a two-race deal with American Viperacing that ended at Portland,” said Lewis. “However, I don’t think the champagne cork was even out of the bottle yet when we started talking about going on to a couple of more races. We didn’t know for sure until earlier this week that I’d be in the car this weekend but the team said they wanted the best line-up in the #45 Viper they could get. I think they have it. Adding David (Donohue) to the team as my co-driver was a huge surprise to me and I couldn’t be happier. David has so much experience in these cars. This will be like old times for him as he helped develop this car for Dodge.”

Lewis, who is considered one of the sports preeminent racing and development drivers, has made a remarkable recovery from leg surgery that sidelined him from racing in what would have been his third 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. In the short four months since undergoing the procedure that included adding several titanium rods to his right leg, Lewis has been on a daily workout and rehabilitation routine to expedite his recovery. The effort has paid off as his on-track performances have shown.

At this time, Lewis’ contract extension with American Viperacing includes this weekend’s event as well as the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio next weekend. Team management continues to seek additional support to keep the ALMS-favorite in the car for the remaining 2001 races.

“It is a pleasure to be up here and competing for American Viperacing for our third race in a row,” remarked Lewis about this weekend’s event. “The improvements they have done to the track in the last few years have made it a super facility and I am looking forward to this race and on to Mid-Ohio next weekend. We don’t know where we’ll be after that but I am taking it one race at a time. We worked too hard to get back to stop now.”

Text provided by Tom Moore

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