GRAND AM: Mike Fitzgerald replaces Timo Bernhard for Mid Ohio
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 21, 2001Las Vegas…Reigning Grand Am GTU and Porsche Cup Champion Mike Fitzgerald will join Johnny Mowlem behind the wheel of the Petersen Motorsports/MPIE sponsored GT Porsche at the upcoming Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, August 23-25 in Lexington, Ohio.
No newcomer to the Las Vegas based Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing team, Fitzgerald pilots the Westward Ho Casino/MPIE World Challenge GT Porsche and was part of the team when they took the GT victory and second overall at the prestigious Rolex-24 at Daytona earlier this season.
"I'm really pleased to be driving at Mid-Ohio," says Fitzgerald who is replacing Timo Bernhard, who has a prior racing commitment in Europe. "It is a great track and I have logged a lot of successful laps there. Experience here will hopefully give us an extra edge and I think we have a good chance of doing extremely well."
While this marks the first time the American Le Mans Series has raced at the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car track, both Fitzgerald and Mowlem are familiar with the 2.258 road-racing course. In fact, both drivers have taken wins at the track, Fitzgerald in Grand Am and Mowlem in USRRC.
"We are pleased to have Mike n board for this event," says team manager Dale White. "He is an excellent driver and we know he will do his best to get us a podium finish."
Text provided by Penny Nicolai
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