Orbit Racing - Daytona test Sunday

still quick

Orbit Racing continued its strong performance in preparation for the Rolex 24 
at Daytona, with the fastest GT class time in the final Sunday practice 
session.  The team changed the transmission in the No. 44 Classic Industries 
Porsche 911 GT3 RS on Sunday morning, so the drivers were limited to a partial 
morning session.  But they returned Sunday afternoon to first in class with Johnny 
Mowlem's lap of one minute 56.328 seconds on the 3.56-mile Daytona 
International Speedway road course.  Mowlem is driving with Joe and Jay Policastro, Mike 
Fitzgerald and Robin Liddell.

What does it take to go fast at Daytona?  Mowlem was succinct:  "A good car, 
good tires, good co-drivers, good team."

He noted, "We've got the car very, very good on race pace.  We're still 
working on it, still fine-tuning it because we're thinking ahead to what's it's 
going to be like in the early morning hours [of the race] when the track is 
pretty slippery.  We're already thinking about those things with one test day left, 
so that bodes pretty well.  Every single session that we've been out in - bar 
this morning when we only did a few laps because we were doing a gearbox 
change - we've been fastest.  I know the other teams can find a lot more, but 
we've got a lot more as well.  We haven't done any low-fuel, new-tire runs at all, 
so we're very happy."

Daytona draw

Jay Policastro explained the attraction of the Rolex 24 at Daytona:  "Daytona 
is a great world-class facility that brings out the best in everyone.  When 
you look at the 24-hour race, you've got the best drivers in every category, 
the best cars, the best-prepared teams.  It's really a unique challenge to come 
here because it's an all-out effort.  It's competition at its best.  It's 
difficult competition, but when you come to a place like Daytona, you wouldn't 
want it any other way."

in the genes?

Mike Fitzgerald's son Alex, 2, is drawn to anything with wheels.  "He loves 
anything with wheels or an engine," Fitzgerald explained.  "If it has wheels, 
he wants to get in it."  Alex's Hallowe'en costume last October was a kid-size 
driver suit.  His infant brother Andrew was dressed as his crew chief.

Father Joe and son Jay Policastro share their love of racing with Jay's three 
daughters, Christina, Sara and Aine Marie.  The three race on a go-kart track 
the senior Policastros built on their joint property.  Their winter race 
vehicle is a junior snowmobile.

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945