Cadillac LPM Tops Practice Charts at Mosport
Fellow on Track for Pole Record
ENTRY: LMP900 8 - LMP675 6 - GTS 6 - GT 8 = 28 TOTAL
WEATHER: Cloudy - overcast TEMPERATURE AIR 84 (f) TRACK 104 (f)
What had been a bright, sunny Canadian summer day turned into threatening rain and gusty winds just as GTS and GT cars took to the track for practice. Light rain A few sprinkles did not change track or driving conditions until midway through the combined session when the Ontario skies opened up with torrential rain. The session was red flagged three times due to heavy rain and water on the track.
Despite the gloomy weather, it was a perfect day for both Cadillac and Corvette.
The performance of the day was the performance of the Cadillac Northstar LMP No. 8. By driver JJ Lehto, who set the day's best time in the weather plagued combined session. Lehto along with Eric Bernard driving the No. 7 Cadillac, spent two days last week in pre-race testing at Mosport.
"Not so bad.," said Lehto, "the car has improved greatly since I last drove it. That was in June at Le Mans. Here we need more downforce and they have developed a new aerodynamic kit and the car was pretty good to drive."
"I wasn't surprised because we tested here at Mosport for two days last we and were faster then. There was just too much traffic today and I couldn't get a clear lap."
"If things stay the same on Sunday we should be in great shape."
Corvette driver Ron Fellows continues to show a strong turn of speed in his quest for ALMS pole position number seven on the year. Fellows turned practice times that should put the pole position in reach tomorrow. Fellows fastest lap in the practice session was a 1:16.818/115.239 mph good enough for pole position in GTS and ninth overall in the 27 car field. Team mate Andy Pilgrim in the number four Corvette stood second in GTS.
"I love racing at this track . Driving it is fun. So I've just got to use all of the activities, the promotion and all that as motivation for the race Sunday. I didn't know about the shot at the ALMS pole record until I read it. This is all fun and you just have to get rested and get ready for it. There are massive distractions for me here but it is still a lot of fun. I have never, ever been as busy as I have been this week"
Qualifying for Sunday's 2-hour 45-minute road race will begin at 2:40 PM Saturday, August 17.