Trans-Am Field Ready for 'Long' Summer Day at Road
America
Aug. 18, 2003
TRANS-AM FIELD READY FOR LONGı SUMMER DAY AT ROAD AMERICA
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. No other venue on this yearıs schedule has played a
bigger role in the history of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires
Cup than Road America. The 4.048-mile road course has been a part of the
Trans-Am Series legend since 1970, having hosted 34 events, the most of any
venue, active or inactive, on which the Series has competed. This year the
legend continues when the Trans-Am Series returns to Road America for the
Trans-Am 100, Round 8 of the 2003 championship.
This yearıs race may be a historical one for Jaguar as the marque has a
chance to clinch the 2003 Manufacturersı Championship here. With a victory
by a Jaguar XKR, the British carmaker will earn its third title, having won
its first Trans-Am Series crown in 1978, and most recently in 2001.
That honor for Jaguar may come at the hands of Scott Pruett, whose dominant
performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular. Pruett,
driver of the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR, has won five of seven races
this season and earned six poles. Leading the championship coming into Road
America, Pruett hopes his strong resume of finishes here will bode well
during the race. Pruett has also competed here in IMSA and Champ Car World
Series competition.
³I love Road America,² explained Pruett, who in his three Trans-Am Series
starts here has won once in 1988, finished second in 1994, and won the pole
three times. Pruett finished 29th in 1987 after a cooling system failure.
³Iıve had a lot of success there. I love the layout and the feel. Itıs an
exciting track; itıs technical and itıs fast. You go through the Carousel,
the Kink and Canada Corner; there are a lot of technical aspects to it,
along with some long straightaways. If you have the power and you have the
car, you can certainly move through the field.
³The track is so long that you have to get everything right,² added Pruett,
who returned to the Trans-Am Series this season after taking an eight-year
hiatus, competing in the Champ Car World Series and NASCAR. ³If you mess up
one turn, it messes up your whole lap. Itıs a tough place. To get it right
and go fast, you have to be perfect on every lap.²
Pruett is eyeing his third Series championship this year, having won his two
previous titles in 1987 and 1994. However, Pruett said he is focusing on
what happens on the track, and will let the points take care of themselves.
³Weıve had a great season, but I havenıt been concerned with points all
year,² said Pruett, who in his Trans-Am Series career has 19 wins, 36 podium
finishes, and 38 top-five finishes in 55 starts. ³I know weıre leading the
championship and we have a little bit of a cushion, but winning races is
really all Iım concerned with. We just have to keep doing what we are doing.
³I thought Trois-Rivières was going to be a very tough track for us,² added
Pruett, who won the most recent event in French Canada. ³As it turned out,
things went great. I see Road America as being a good track for us, and
hopefully everything will go well. Remember, it only takes one problem and
the championship can turn around. Weıre just keeping focused race to race.
Itıs nice to have a points advantage, but the championship is anything but
over.²
Johnny Miller is poised to capitalize on any mistake Pruett might make here.
The driver of the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR, who sits second in
points, earned his second Series victory this season at Lime Rock, after
winning the pole. This year, Miller has five podium finishes in seven
starts. However, Miller hopes a string of bad luck encountered at Infineon
Raceway and the Cleveland Grand Prix wonıt end his hopes for his first
Driversı Championship. Miller finished second in the most recent event, at
Trois-Rivières.
³Weıre really going to have to put our heads down at Road America if we want
to win this championship,² said Miller, who sits 40 points behind Pruett in
the title chase. ³Iıve been very successful at Road America, but have never
won, and it really owes me one.
³Weıve always run well here, and been up front,² added Miller, who won the
pole here in 2000, and stood on the podium here in 2001 and 2002.
³Hopefully, it will come my way this year; I need one to come my way.²
Miller said Road America suits his driving style. Being very technical and
posting a perfect lap every time is the key to success here, according to
the eight-year Series veteran.
³I just love the high-speed track,² added Miller. ³Man, we really fly here.
Itıs such a long lap, you just work as hard as you can, and, as you crest
the hill, you just hope for a good lap time. A shorter track is much more
forgiving. You can pick things up if you have a problem during the lap. At
Road America, the laps are so long, you canıt have a bad corner. You have to
put the whole thing togetherevery corner and every straightawayif you want
to win the race.²
Veteran NASCAR stock car driver Paul Menard is returning to the Trans-Am
Series at Road America. Menard has competed in the Busch Series, Truck
Series and ARCA competition this season. The Eau Claire, Wis. native, who
made a single Trans-Am Series start this season at St. Petersburg for ACS
Express Racing, will drive the No. 3 Johns Manville-Menards Jaguar XKR
normally wheeled by Paul Gentilozzi. In six career Trans-Am Series starts,
Menard has scored five top-ten finishes.
³Road America is by far my favorite road course because it has a lot of neat
characteristics like elevation changes and long straightaways,² said Menard,
son of IndyCar Series team owner John Menard. ³There is something about
racing on your home turf. Itıs a pride thing. You want to show off to your
home crowd. I think itıs great that the most beautiful road course in the
world is in my home state.
³Weıre coming here with an eye on the podium, if not a win,² added Menard,
who finished seventh here last season, equaling his best career finish,
recorded later that year at VIR. ³You always go for the win, and this
Rocketsports team is the one to do it with. Paul Gentilozzi has put together
a great team, and Iım looking forward to racing with them.²
Meanwhile Stu Hayner will certainly be on top of his game here. Hayner,
driver of the No. 2 Trenton Forging/GMAC Commercial Finance Chevrolet
Corvette, won here in 1998. Haynerıs best finish this season of fourth came
at Lime Rock Park.
"I've always enjoyed the track here,² said Hayner. ³This is the premier road
racing track. It's always a thrill.
³Besides having a Trans-Am victory on this track, I really like driving it,²
added Hayner. ³The elevation changes, the variety of turns and that long
straightaway tend to put a lot of the race in the driver's hands. Staying
smooth and taking care of your tires pays big dividends on a big track like
this."
Michael Lewis has also celebrated in victory lane here, in 2000, and the
driver of the No. 12 Westward Tools/The Crank Jaguar XKR is on a roll this
season. Lewis, who led every lap in the 2000 Road America race, has put
together a string of good finishes in 2003, including a runner-up effort at
Mosport.
But the veterans will have to keep on eye on this yearıs rookie crop as
Bobby Sak, Joey Scarallo and current rookie points leader Jorge Diaz, Jr.
are all seeking to etch their names into the Trans-Am Series legacy. Sak,
whoıs best finish this season of second came at Lime Rock Park, is looking
to unseat Diaz at the front of the rookie battle.
"Without a doubt, this is my favorite track,² said Sak, driver of the No. 10
Revolution Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, owned by his father and Trans-Am
Series veteran driver Don Sak. ³I've always enjoyed racing here when I ran
in other series. It's fast, it's interesting and it really showcases driver
skill... provided you've got a good car under you. I like that the long
straights give you a chance to gather your thoughts. It helps you stay
focused and allows you to think more about what you want to do. It's not
like Trois-Rivières where there is always something happening around you.
Hopefully, weıll get the setup right and have a shot at a podium finish."
Meanwhile, Diaz has little experience at tracks on this yearıs schedule,
including Road America. In fact, of the 10 scheduled venues this season,
Diaz has only previously competed at oneCleveland.
³I donıt feel different going into all of these are new tracks. Iıve never
raced on any of them,² said Diaz. ³I look at that in a positive way. Iım
always learning something new. Iım in my learning curve, and thatıs the best
place to be.²
Scarallo is looking forward to his initial Road America start.
³Man, I canıt wait for Road America,² said Scarallo, who has finished in the
top 10 in four of the six races in which heıs competed this year. ³Iıve
always wanted to compete here. Weıve made some changes on our team, and are
looking for success here.²
In addition, Series veteran Greg Pickett, who won the Driversı Championship
in 1978, will take on Tomy Drissi, Randy Ruhlman, Bob Ruman, John Baucom,
and Max Lagod in this yearıs race. Cliff Ebben, who won the 2003 June
Sprints GT-1 race here, will make his first Trans-Am Series start, as will
Brian Kubinski. Glenn Andrew, Dan Furey, John Schaller, Tom Sloe and Tim
Cowen round out an already impressive field.
The Trans-Am 100 is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. The
race will air on same-day, tape-delayed basis at 12:30 p.m. on SPEED
Channel. The Trans-Am Series, Americaıs oldest continuously running road
racing series, is celebrating its 38th anniversary this year.
Fast Facts:
What: The Trans-Am 100, Round 8 of the Trans-Am Series for the 2003
BFGoodrich Tires Cup Championship
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22, 23 and 24, 2003
Race Day: Sunday, Aug. 24, at 10:45 a.m.
Distance: 25 Laps/101.20 miles or 75 minutes, whichever comes first
Where: The race will be run on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn permanent road
course
Series PR Contact: Justin Anderson, 517-927-3614, cell at the track
janderson@trans-amseries.com
Road America Track Records:
Qualifying Record (showing year, driver, car, time and speed): 1995, Tommy
Kendall, Ford Mustang, 2:07.814, 114.016 mph
Winning Average Speed Record (showing year, driver, car, time and speed):
1991, Scott Sharp, Chevrolet Camaro, 56:22.377, 107.711 mph
Fastest Race Lap Record (showing year, driver, car, time and speed): 1995,
Tommy Kendall, Ford Mustang, 2:08.379, 113.514 mph
Road America Review:
* Jaguar can clinch its third Manufacturersı Championship with a victory by
an XKR on Sunday. Jaguar last won the titles in 1978 and 2001. Jaguar (2000
and 2001 race winner) is also seeking its third Road America Trans-Am Series
victory in last four events here. Jaguar has won six of seven events this
year.
* The last victory for a Chevroletıs Corvette here came in 1984.
* Rocketsports Racing (1999 and 2000 race winner) seeks its third Road
America Trans-Am victory.
* This yearıs race could break a nine-year streak (1994-2003) without a race
winning polesitter. The last polesitter to win a race here was Scott Sharp
in 1993 (1996 fast qualifier and race-winner Tommy Kendall started fifth
after the inverted start).
* Johnny Miller (2000 polesitter) seeks his second Road America pole, his
second pole this year and the fourth of his career. Meanwhile Chevrolet
Corvette seeks second consecutive Road America Trans-Am pole, while Derhaag
Racing seeks its second consecutive pole here.
* With a victory Sunday, points leader Scott Pruett will move into a tie
with Peter Gregg on the all-time Trans-Am Series win list with 20. The late
Mark Donohue owns the record for the most career Trans-Am Series victories
with 29.
* The Trans-Am Series has competed at Road America in every season beginning
in 1970. The 1970 event featured two races, one each for Over and Under 2
Liter, while the 1976 through 1979 races were two-class events (Category I
and II) and there were two races during the 1977 season.
* Consecutive wins have been scored by Donohue (1970 and 1971), Bob Tullius
(1977 and 1978 Category I), Monte Shelton (1980 and 1981), Pete Halsmer
(1986 and 1987), Tommy Kendall (1996 and 1997), and Paul Gentilozzi (1999
and 2000). Kendall's 1997 victory tied him with Gregg with three victories
as Road America's leading Trans-Am Series race winner.
* Chevrolet's Camaro has scored overall wins in 1976 (Carl Shafer), 1983
(David Hobbs), 1991 and 1993 (Sharp), and 1998 (Stu Hayner). The Camaro also
took a Category I win in 1977. Chevrolet's Corvette won overall in 1973,
1975, 1978, 1982, and 1984 and is the most successful model in Road America
Trans-Am racing; Corvettes also took Category I wins in 1976 and 1979.
Chevrolet's Beretta won in 1990 (Kendall). Chevrolet leads the marques with
14 victories here, including three in Category I.
* Ford's Mustang first won here in 1972 (Warren Tope driving his own entry)
and won again in 1989 (Dorsey Schroeder), 1992 (Ron Fellows), 1994
(Schroeder), 1995 (Boris Said), 1996 and 1997 (Kendall) and thus had a
four-race win streak ended by Hayner's 1998 victory. Ford won again in 1999
with Gentilozzi. Mercury products won four-straight races, 1985-1988, with
Roush entries winning five straight, from 1985-1989.
* Jaguarıs XKR has won two (2000 and 2001) Road America Trans-Am races.
* The last 23 Trans-Am Series events at Road America (1980-2002) have had
victory margins of less than one minute, the last 19 being under 30 seconds.
The Road America Trans-Am record closest victory margin was set in 1998 by
Hayner's 0.333 of a second victory over Bill Saunders. 1996 ranks second
with Kendall's 0.538 second win, with
> Gentilozzi's 0.719 margin in 1999 ranking third and Peter Gregg's 1974 margin
> of 0.8 second ranking fourth. Boris Said won by 0.866 second in 2002.
* Twenty (58.82%) of the 34 races here have been won by less than 10 seconds
while 17 (50.0%) have been won by less than five seconds.
* Twelve (35.3%) of the 34 overall Road America Trans-Am race winners have
started from the pole. The record for lowest starting position by an overall
Road America Trans-Am race winner was set by Shelton in 1980 when he won
from 10th starting position.
* Thirteen (38.23%) of the 34 overall Road America Trans-Am race winners
have won after setting the fastest qualifying time.
* The average starting position for race winners here is 2.55.
* Hansen (1975, 1982) and Sharp (1991, 93) lead all drivers in Road America
Trans-Am victories from the pole.
* Seven Trans-Am Series events here been won in flag-to-flag fashion from
the pole: 1975 (Hansen), 1981 (Shelton), 1982 (Hansen), 1983 (Hobbs), 1986
(Halsmer), 1988 (Pruett), and 1993 (Sharp). Ludwig Heimrath led the entire
race on the way to victory in 1977, but started second, as did 2001 winner
Michael Lewis.
* At the other extreme, seven "current format" Trans-Am Series events here
(1980-2002) have had a minimum of either three leaders or three lead
changes: 1980 (four leaders, three lead changes), 1987 (3, 2), 1989 (3, 3),
1990 (2, 3), and the two most competitive races to date, 1992 (four leaders
and four lead changes) and 1998 (three leaders, five lead changes). 1997's
race had two leaders (Kendall and
> Simo) and two lead changes; 1999's race had two leaders (Simo and Gentilozzi)
> and one lead change, as did the 2000 race (Miller and Gentilozzi). The 2002
> race had three leaders (Kenny Wilden, Boris Said, and Don Sak) and three lead
> changes.
* Pruett (1987 and 1988) was the first consecutive fast qualifier in
Trans-Am Series history here, and he also won the pole in 1994.
* Ford's Mustang took three consecutive Road America Trans-Am poles and four
consecutive fast laps prior to Gentilozzi's 1998 pole in a Corvette and
Hayner's fast lap in a Camaro.
* Chevrolet entries took the 1990-1994 Road America poles: Kendall's C & C
Beretta in 1990 and the McCall Camaros of Sharp (1991 and 1993), Baldwin
(1992) and Pruett (1994). Roush Racing Ford Motor Company entries took four
consecutive poles, 1986 through 1989 and the 1995 and 1996 with Kendall.
Pruett's 1994 pole allowed McCall to tie the Roush record and allowed
Chevrolet's Camaro to break a tie for the most consecutive Road America
Trans-Am poles by a model with Mercury's
> Merkur, the polesitter from 1986 through 1988.
* Chevrolet leads the marques with 19 poles, including two in Category I,
while Corvette leads the models with 11 poles, including seven ³overall²
poles, tied with Camaro for ³overall² pole honors.
* Chevrolet leads the marques with 16 fast laps, including four in Category
I. The 10 overall Chevrolet fast laps were achieved by Camaros (six),
Corvettes (five) and Beretta (one) with Category I fast laps achieved by
Corvettes (three) and Camaro (one). Ford's Mustang leads all models with
seven Road America Trans-Am fast laps after Gentilozzi's 1999 effort.
Chevrolet's Camaro ranks next in Road America Trans-Am fast laps with six.
* Rocketsports (Darin Brassfield, 1991 and Gentilozzi, 1999) has achieved
two Road America fast laps.
* Road America's 1998 race produced 20 lead-lap finishers, tied for all-time
Trans-Am leadership.
* Trans-Am racing has taken place at Road America in every season since the
beginning of Driver Championship awards in 1971, and the
championship-winning driver has won a race at Road America in 16 of the 36
(including 1976-79 two-category seasons) seasons, or 44.44%. Said (2002
champion and 2002 Road America Trans-Am Series victor) is the most recent
member of the group.
> Gentilozzi (1999 champion and 1999 Road America Trans-Am winner) preceded him.
