Arie Luyendyk Jr. Prepares For Rolex 24 At Daytona
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2004 ARIE LUYENDYK JR. TO RACE IN THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA - - The Most Prestigious Endurance Race In North America - - ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA FAST FACTS Series: Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Drivers: Arie Luyendyk Jr., Mike Borkowski, Paul Mears Jr., Nick Ham (Arie Jr. will be a rookie in the race) Car: #9 Multimatic Ford Focus Daytona Prototype (fastest class) Owner: Sylvain Tremblay/SpeedSource Sponsor: Mears Motor Coach Car Color: Yellow and Black Track: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL Course: 3.56-mile combined high bank tri-oval/infield road course Race Dates: Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2004 Race Start: 1:00 p.m. ET Saturday, Jan. 31st Television: More than 15 hours of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be broadcast live on the SPEED Channel Length: 24 Hours - finishing Sunday, Feb. 1st, 1:00 p.m. ET 2003 Overall Winner: No. 66 The Racer's Group Porsche (Drivers: Kevin Buckler, Sonoma, Calif., Michael Schrom, Ghent, N.Y., Timo Bernhard, Germany, Jorg Bergmeister, Germany). Margin Of Victory: 9 laps 2003 Pole Winner: Scott Maxwell, 115.969 mph, 01:50.512 sec, No. 88 Multimatic Ford Focus Daytona Prototype (Scottsdale, AZ) - Arie Luyendyk Jr., Indy Racing League competitor and son of two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, will pilot the #9 Multimatic Ford Focus Daytona Prototype car sponsored by Mears Motor Coach in the upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona for the SpeedSource team on January 29-February 1, 2004. Arie Jr. will be teamed with veteran endurance racers Mike Borkowski, Paul Mears Jr. and Nick Ham. SpeedSource has had many years of success in endurance racing, particularly in Mazdas, but 2004 will be their first attempt in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the powerful Daytona Prototype machines, the premier class in the Rolex Sports Car Series "I am very excited about the chance to compete in the Rolex 24 At Daytona," said Arie Jr. "This will be the SpeedSource team's first run at that prestigious race in the Daytona Prototype class, so I'm hoping I can run a strong race for them in their inaugural attempt in that class. SpeedSource and owner Sylvain Tremblay have given me a great opportunity to show my talents in the greatest endurance race in America. I can't wait to get on track and start working with my new teammates, Mike (Borkowski), Paul (Mears Jr.) and Nick (Ham)." SpeedSource owner Sylvain Tremblay assembled a few veterans to partner with 22-year-old Arie Jr. for this mammoth event. "We're excited to have Arie on our team for this prestigious race," stated Tremblay. "It's great that we were able to put Arie Jr. with seasoned veterans like (Mike) Borkowski, (Paul) Mears Jr. and (Nick) Ham on the #9 car. A good finish will be expected by the entire team with the talent and experience we have in that car. It's going to be fun to watch." Arie Jr. participated in a practice session for the Rolex 24 At Daytona January 3-5, 2004 - notes from those sessions are posted below. DAILY ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA NEWS UPDATES ON ARIE JR. Keep up with the progress of Arie Jr. and the SpeedSource team during the Rolex 24 At Daytona by checking out Arie Jr.'s new "News" section on his website, where updates will be posted multiple times a day. Click on www.ArieLuyendykJr.com, then on "Latest News" at the top of the page for the News Updates. TELEVISION COVERAGE OF ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA Also, the SPEED Channel will be broadcasting more than 15 hours of LIVE Rolex 24 At Daytona coverage, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET Saturday, January 31st. SPEED will go live to Daytona International Speedway for pre-race ceremonies and the green flag, and then follow the action through the afternoon, sunset and into the evening, wrapping up their Saturday broadcast at 9 p.m. ET. SPEED Channel will return live in time for race fans to watch the sunrise over Daytona International Speedway and find out who has survived the night, with the Sunday, February 1 broadcast beginning at 6 a.m. ET. After catching up on all the excitement that happened during the evening, SPEED's coverage will continue throughout the morning as teams battle for positions before the checkered flag drops shortly after 1 p.m. Race fans will get to hear from the victors before SPEED wraps up their extensive coverage at 1:30 p.m. ET. To check the availability of SPEED Channel in your area, visit www.speedtv.com. APPEARANCE NOTE Arie Jr. will be one of three Rolex 24 At Daytona drivers making an appearance at DAYTONA USA on Friday, January 30th, starting at noon. This will be a "Fan Forum," and fans are welcome to attend and ask questions to all of the drivers on the panel. FAMILY HISTORY AT ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA Arie Luyendyk Sr. was the 1998 Rolex 24 At Daytona Winner, driving a Momo Ferrari SP333 with teammates Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and Gianpiero Moretti. SCHEDULE Thursday, January 29 7:30 AM Rolex & Grand-Am Cup garages open 9:00 AM 9:25 PM Practice - HSR 2.5 Challenge 9:30 AM 9:55 AM Practice - HSR GTP, Group C 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Practice - Rolex Series 11:10 AM 11:40 AM Practice - Grand-Am Cup 11:50 AM 12:15 PM Qualifying - HSR 2.5 Challenge 12:20 PM 12:45 PM Qualifying - HSR GTP, Group C 1:20 PM 2:00 PM Practice - Rolex Series 2:10 PM 2:50 PM Practice - Grand-Am Cup 3:05 PM 3:20 PM First Round Qualifying - Rolex Series SGS 3:30 PM 3:45 PM First Round Qualifying - Rolex Series GT 3:55 PM 4:10 PM First Round Qualifying - Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes 4:15 PM Post-qualifying press conference 4:20 PM 4:35 PM Qualifying - Grand-Am Cup ST 4:45 PM 5:00 PM Qualifying - Grand-Am Cup GS 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Night practice - Rolex Series 7:00 PM Grand-Am Cup & HSR garages close 9:30 PM Rolex garage closes Friday, January 30 7:30 AM Rolex & Grand-Am Cup garages open 8:00 AM 8:15 AM Practice - HSR 2.5 Challenge 8:20 AM 8:35 AM Practice - HSR GTP, Group C 8:45 AM 9:30 AM Practice - Rolex Series 9:45 AM 10:05 AM Second Round Qualifying - Rolex Series 10:25 AM START - HSR Enduro GTP, Group C (60-minutes) 11:40 AM START - HSR Enduro 2.5 Challenge (30-minutes) 1:10 PM 2:00 PM Final practice - Rolex Series 2:30 PM START - 250-mile Grand-Am Cup race (70-laps/3-hour time limit) 8:30 PM Rolex,Grand-Am Cup & HSR garages close - All Grand-Am Cup rigs must leave the Speedway Saturday, January 31 7:30 AM Rolex garage opens 10:30 AM 11:15 PM Driver autograph session in front of the Media Center 11:00 AM START - HSR 24 Minutes of Daytona 12:00 PM Grid opens for the Rolex 24 At Daytona - ALL ENGINES OFF 12:15 PM Pre-race ceremonies 12:45 PM Grid closes 1:00 PM START - 42nd Rolex 24 At Daytona Sunday, February 1 1:00 PM FINISH - 42nd Rolex 24 At Daytona 5:00 PM Rolex garage closes ENTRY LIST Click on link below for the Rolex 24 At Daytona Entry List: http://www.grandamerican.com/race_results/view_entry71.html TICKETS For race fans that want to catch the excitement of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in person, tickets are currently on sale through Daytona International Speedway's ticket office and can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 386-253-RACE. ARIE JR. PRE-RACE QUOTES: ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA What are your thoughts as you head into this prestigious race? "I just want to be smooth and conserve the car throughout the race while still putting together good lap times. That is definitely easier said than done." You have had a few weeks since you were in the car to test. Have you taken time to critique your test and are you focusing on things a bit differently going into the race weekend? "I've had time to reflect on my performance and I am very pleased with how the test went. After not driving on a road coarse in a few years I was a bit nervous about what my performance would be, but it turned out to be a really good weekend. I felt comfortable in the car, which is one of the keys to good lap times." When you tested a few weeks ago, that was your first time running Daytona International Speedway. What do you think of the track? Of the facility in general? Did it give you the awe that you feel when you walk into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? "It was my first time at Daytona and the track is very well suited for a 24-hour event. It has technical corners mixed with long straights, allowing a driver to rest a bit before attacking the next corner. As you drive up to Daytona, you definitely know you are at a major racing facility, with DAYTONA USA, the huge grandstands and a really exciting atmosphere inside the track and out. I can't imagine what those grandstands look like during an event such as the Daytona 500. It must be a bit like walking out onto the frontstretch at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day and looking at a wall of people on both sides of you - just awesome. They definitely have built an incredible facility here in Daytona." What are some of the bigger differences between the Daytona Prototype car you will be driving and anything else you have driven, and are there any similarities? "The big difference involves the weight of the car. There's a lot of weight transfer and it took a little getting used to when I first got in the car compared to the light Pro Series car I drove the past two years. There's not much similarities in the cars, except for the fact that they both go fast. One turns left, and the other turns both left and right. I have driven and raced lots of different types of cars in the past, so the transition from one kind of car to another was not that dramatic. Once I got a few laps in the Daytona Prototype, I adjusted to it pretty well and was able to just focus on getting faster." What do you think your chances are of your team winning the event? "I think our team is very consistent, which is a key element to doing well in a race of this length. I think that consistency will pay off by the end of the race and we will find ourselves up front. We don't have the fastest car at the moment, we'll be able to make some adjustments during the practices and hopefully gain some speed. Anything can happen in a 24 hour race - the fastest car doesn't necessarily always win." Has your father (two-time Indy 500 winner in '90 and '97, and Daytona 24 Hour race winner in '98) given you any advice on running this event? "Not so far. He is available if I have any questions, but he pretty much leaves me to run my own races. He'll be at the track and will support me when I need it, which is a big help." Were you at Daytona when your father won in 1998? If so, what did you think about the race then, and did you ever think you'd be running this race at age 22? "I wasn't at that Daytona race, but after he won it, it really sunk in how important this race is to a driver's career. I have wanted to run the Rolex 24 At Daytona for a few years now, and I'm so glad I get to finally do it this year. I've had a lot of racing experience in my life, so I really don't think of my age as being that relevant to running this race. Hopefully that experience will be beneficial to the SpeedSource team and I'll be able to help them move toward the front during each of my stints." You have never driven in a race where you have to share the seat with someone. How are you preparing for that? "I think the hardest part will be the driver change. I've never had to get in or out of a seat on the fly before and there's a little pressure to get it done fast, but the team is preparing me well for that exchange. It definitely should be an exciting part of the race." What will your race-prep routine be as you head into a 24 Hour race? "I'll be getting lots and lots of sleep the week before, because I don't foresee getting much once I get to Daytona." You are quite a fitness buff normally throughout the year, both in-season and during the off-season. Are you training any different for what could be one- or two-hour stints instead of 30-minute races like you are used to in the Pro Series? "I haven't really trained any different as the race approaches, but I think I'll be OK because I'm in pretty good shape in general, and I've got a lot of endurance. I run a lot, so I'm getting a good cardio workout on a regular basis. The main concern will not be so much physical as it will be staying mentally focused throughout the race." This will be a four-day grind, topped off with 24 hours of straight racing. Will you have time to relax, and what will you do? "Again, sleep, sleep and sleep. I think that's pretty much the routine of most of the participants in this race - when you have any time that you are not in the car, to be sure to rest, as it's such a long weekend." Are you aware of the prestige of this event and the star-studded lineup, or is this just another race for you? "As a driver you have to look at it as any other race. The man with the most well-prepared car and team will win just like any other competitive event - it doesn't matter how famous you are at that point." Are you nervous about running this event? "No, not really. I've prepared for this opportunity for a long time and I know that I should do well. I had a good experience during our test session a few weeks ago, so that takes a bit of pressure off of me to have to prove that I can race these cars. When I get into the race car, that's actually when I'm the most relaxed and focused. It's the long hours of waiting for that to happen when I get a little anxious." What are your 2004 racing plans other than the Rolex 24 At Daytona? "Right now, I'm focusing on this race, as it will take 100% of my concentration. After this weekend, we will get back to working on a 2004 IndyCar program. That is my main goal for this year - to run a full season in the Indy Racing League and have the opportunity to race in the Indy 500. There are variations of that plan, but for now, because the season is still about a month away, we'll continue to work toward that goal." QUOTE FROM ARIE LUYENDYK SR. (1998 Rolex 24 At Daytona Winner, driving a Momo Ferrari SP333 with teammates Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and Gianpiero Moretti): "The Rolex 24 At Daytona is a great race - one of the classic racing events known all over the world. I raced there one time in '86 and almost won; finished 2nd with (A.J.) Foyt and (Danny) Sullivan. I raced there several other times, but broke down most of the time, which is part of that race. But we won that race in '98, which was great. I'm happy for Arie Jr. who has a really good opportunity - that is really neat for him. It's not that easy to get a good ride there, especially in competitive equipment. And it looks like he's got a good car and good equipment, which will give him a chance to win the race. Obviously, I wish him all of the luck in the world. It will be fun to watch him, and stay up all night and watch what goes on, rather than racing in the event and having to rest in between each stint. It will be fun to be there and be able to watch from the sidelines and keep track of the progress of everyone in the event. I hope they have a good result and win the race." NOTES FROM JAN. 3-5, 2004 TESTING SESSION January 3 NOTES AND QUOTES 1st Session: 5th Overall; Best Lap: 1:51.991; Speed: 114.43 mph 2nd Session: 10th Overall; Best Lap: 1:53.890; Speed: 112.53 mph 3rd Session: 11th Overall; Best Lap: 1:52.618; Speed: 113.mph Overall impressions? "For me, it's mainly to get used to the car and get back to road course racing. Right now, I feel good and I feel like I'm right where I need to be. There's room for improvement, though. Every session there are five-to-10 things that I know I need to improve on, so there's lots of room to make up some time. "I drove about an hour and 15 minutes total today - it was good. We have a little work to do, but we're right there." Do you like driving the powerful Daytona Prototype car? "The car is probably the prettiest car out there. It's black and yellow. The team is awesome to work for, and I'm really enjoying getting to know my new teammates. The car is a blast to drive! It's different than what I'm used to because it's so responsive and has a lot of torque - it's fun to drive. "The car is quite a bit different. It obviously weighs more than a formula-type car. The front end has a lot of grip, which makes the car loose, especially with the harder compound tire we ran in the later session. There was a slight problem with the pitch - when you get on the brakes, it makes the back end really light, so I was losing time under braking. The back of the car is rolling more than the front. But we'll get it worked out for Sunday's sessions." Are you surprised at the speeds of the Daytona Prototype car? "Our SpeedSource Ford Focus Multimatic got up to around 185 (mph) on the straightaway - the car is fast, and it accelerates fast." Is the car comfortable to drive? "It's nice to drive. It has got power steering, traction control and real-time telemetry like an Indy Car, as well as a sequential gearbox, which I'm used to as well - it's a very advanced race car." How did it feel to get back to your roots on a road course? "It felt good to get on a road course again. I haven't run a road course since 2001. To come out and only be one second off made me really happy. The biggest difference is that I haven't braked hard since 2001, so that took some time. The second session I was pretty close to Mike (Borkowski, his teammate and veteran road course driver). The third session we put on a harder compound of tire, which took some getting used to. Once I get used to that harder tire then I'll be faster. The biggest thing is the braking because I haven't had to really brake hard for three years." How have you gotten along with your new crewmembers on your first day of practice? "They are awesome - I have a lot of respect for what they do. The crew guys on the SpeedSource team are easy going and there's no pressure to put good lap times down right now. It's all about learning the car, and to be consistent in a 24-hour race. It's important for me to learn to turn deeper lap times while still being in control." What do you think of the SpeedSource team? "The crew guys have been awesome to me during this first day. Sylvain (Tremblay, team owner) is really nice, hasn't applied any pressure, and he's a great driver - he laid down a pretty fast time in the third session in our team car." What do you think about your first visit to Daytona International Speedway? "It's pretty difficult. The corners are flat, and there's not much elevation change. The banking makes it a bit easier and more comfortable for me, though, after running high-speed, banked tracks like Texas (Motor Speedway). The chicane is pretty fun, too." January 4, 2004 NOTES AND QUOTES 1st Session: 6th Overall, 1:50.673, 115.80 mph 2nd Session: 9th Overall, 1:51.512, 114.92 mph How did your second day in the car go? "We were fast right off the bat in the first session. I got into the car with older tires on it so that I could get a feel for what the car would be like near the end of a run in the race. It was lighter on fuel, and because I wasn't used to the tires, I was a little off pace. I didn't get many laps during the first session. "In the second session, I got about 10 laps with newer tires on them, and dropped my time to a 51.9. I was quick within the team, and made improvements to the point where I was just off of Mike's (Borkowski) time. Every day I'm getting a little faster, and a little bit more comfortable. Although we only had two sessions today, they were long sessions which gave me some good experience with different conditions. "I'm getting a bit more calm in the car, and am feeling that I can now drive more comfortably at higher speeds. If I can run those speeds and consistent lap times during the race, I'll be fine for 24 hours. The goal is to be consistently fast and have smooth runs." Will this experience in the Rolex 24 At Daytona race give you a higher degree of confidence if and when the Indy Racing League decides to add road courses? "The experience will translate for sure. That is one of the main reasons why I am running in this Daytona race. I don't know when it will happen in the IRL, but road courses will be added and I need to prepare for that. I am here to learn, but I'm also here to win this race." Quotes from teammate Paul Mears Jr.: "I've got to say that Arie has been a delightful surprise to work with. You are always nervous about an open-wheel-trained 22-year-old driver, but Arie has been a consummate professional. He takes things one step at a time and he's not trying to prove anything to anyone. He has been a true professional to work with - I can't say enough about him. "He got up to speed was going quickly right off the bat. He's doing a fantastic job in the car. He's going to be a huge asset to what we're trying to accomplish. He's a talent, no doubt about it, and not just in the car - he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's just a lot of fun to be around, too. He's one of those rare guys that an hour after your meet him you feel like you are his friend. He's a rare find, and we're lucky to have him. We've got a good chance to win this race thanks to Arie. "There's a lot of ego around a race track, and a lot of testosterone, and a lot of young guys acting like young guys. I'm sure he's got an ego, but he keeps it in check. I'm very pleased to have him as a teammate, and looking forward to having him again. I've got a full-time driver that runs with us for the other series races, but there are two other six-hour races and I'd love to have him as my teammate again if his IndyCar Series schedule does not conflict." # # # About Arie Luyendyk Jr. Age: 22 Residence: Scottsdale, AZ Birthplace: Den-Bosch, Netherlands Height / Weight: 6' 2", 175 lbs. Marital Status: Single Website: www.ArieLuyendykJr.com Racing Lineage: Son of two-time Indy 500 winner, Arie Luyendyk (1990, 1997); Future: Will attempt to run in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, in 2004 Awards: Named IRL Crew's "Most Popular Driver Award" winner for the IRL Infiniti Pro Series in 2003 2003 Major Media Appearances: Italian Vogue: Feature article and full-page, color photo (July); Abercrombie & Fitch Fall catalog; Feature article and full-page color photo (current); USA Today; Autosport; Racer Magazine; RPM2Nite (ESPN2) television show; Spike TV - "Super2nr"; Stuff Magazine (November shoot); ABC Sports Radio Other Job: Currently signed by the world-renowned Ford Modeling Agencies in both Scottsdale and Los Angeles Hobbies: Enjoys listening to music, working out, practicing yoga, traveling, cooking and snowboarding Racing Stats: 2003 - Final 2003 Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series Point Standings: 7th - 2nd in IPS laps completed - 5 top-5 finishes - Tied with Ed Carpenter for IPS all-time consecutive starts with 19 - Most consecutive IPS top-10 finishes with 11 - Won Pole Position during the recent "dreamerscandles.com 100" at Texas Motor Speedway, and also the "Michigan 100" at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway in August (the second year in a row for this accomplishment) Other - 2nd in Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series standings in 2002 - Won the SCCA F2000 SoPAC National Championships on the strength of 4 victories in 2001 - Finished third at the FF1800 Marlboro Masters event in front of home crowd in Zandvoort, Netherlands, in 2001 - Wins in SCCA Regional and National races - Wins in Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series - Top-5 finishes in US FF2000 Series - Wins in SCCA FF2000 National Series - 5th in US FF2000 Oval Crown Championship (2001) - 3rd in SCCA FF2000 Valvoline Runoffs (2001) - Began racing karts in 1992