Rand Racing update

new and improved

Rand Racing is three-for-three in race victories, but the team isn't resting 
on its laurels.  The new team claimed the SRPII class victory in the Rolex 
Sports Car Series 2001 season finale at Daytona International Speedway, and 
returned this year to win the class in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the series 
race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

But team owner Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., doesn't take victory for granted.  
With car preparation by the crack Risi Competizione squad, his crew continues 
to develop the No. 8 Rand Racing Nissan Lola driven this season by Anthony 
Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., and Terry Borcheller of Phoenix.

Prior to the Homestead race, the team initiated two changes that will be 
implemented for this week's race at California Speedway.  The suspension 
mounting points on the car will be reinforced and forward-facing braces will 
be used on the car's roll hoop.  The changes are designed to contribute to 
both performance and driver safety.

"All of my drivers are like family to me and there is no budget when it comes 
to their safety," Rand said.  "Our engineer, John McLoughlin, has come up 
with these changes to enhance the performance and overall safety of our 
Lolas. These changes are just a small step toward the team's goal of getting 
to the top step of the overall podium."

The Rolex Series race is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, on the 2.88-mile 
California Speedway road course in Fontana, Calif.

quadruple threat

Rand Racing drivers are set for all four feature races at California Speedway 
this weekend.  Lazzaro and Borcheller will compete in the Rolex Series race 
for Rand Racing, Lazzaro will race in the Indy Racing League with Sam Schmidt 
Motorsports, Borcheller will drive a Bell Motorsports Grand-Am Cup car and 
Rand will take the wheel of the Ferrari of Houston entry in the Ferrari 
Challenge.  (Lazzaro's participation will depend on medical clearance, 
following a crash last weekend.)

"The fact that we're three races and three wins, the results speak for 
themselves," Borcheller said.  "The team has gone above and beyond what 
anybody could expect.  It would be nice to complement those wins with our 
other races, too."

second car

Rand Racing will enter two cars in the SRPII class starting with the Rolex 
Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on April 20.  Niclas Jönsson of 
Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Marino Franchitti of Scotland will drive the new No. 
7 Nissan Lola.  Rand will return to drive with Jönsson in June.  Ralf 
Kelleners of Germany will drive the No. 8 Lola at Phoenix for Lazzaro, who 
will be competing in an Indy Racing League event in Nazareth, Pa.

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945