Document from Doran Racing - Lexus News

Theys Qualifies Second In Doran-Llsta DORAN Jm NUS
For Tomorrows Grand Prix of Miami
HOMESTEAD, Fla., Feb. 27 - Friday afternoon Didier Theys of Scottsdale,
Arir. waited until hi5 Gcrodyeer Eagle tires and his Lexus engine were warm, picked
a good spot in traffic, and then ramrded a lap in 1 A4.159 (111.652 mph) to qualify
second for tomorrow's Grand Prix of Miami Grand American Rolex series ram at
Homestead-Miami Speedway.
His Doran-Lista Racing DORAN JE4 #27 was just one of four Lexus-powered
cars to qualify in the tap five for tomorrow's 250-mile race on the 2.3-mile' 11-turn
road course.
sari pruett's pole-winning lap (I :I3375 of 112.845 w h ) was automatic
new track remrd because the track has been altered since David h m o h u e ran a
1 :I 6.982 (I 12.234mph) to win the pole here last February.
"The weather today was perfect to run fast," Theys said. "We muld U S the
softer compound of Goodyear tires, and the engine likes these temperatures. I
couldn't get another second out of it, but we're in good shape, I think."
Theys also spoke of the improvements that Toyota Racing Development,
Lexus and Doran-lista Racing have made since the Doran-Lista DORAN JE4
debuted last year. "There has been a big improvement of the driveability of the
engine and the electronics," he explained. "We have worked hard to get the best
mapping and the best fuel management for the engine. From the hairpin corners to
the fast mrnew, every acceleration has to be smooth, and we've improved that a lot.
"We definitely have more horsepower than we did when we started, but we've
made improvements in other areas too, like the suspension, the shocks, the
sPriKls.-.wf3 imPrOW3 ever)! tima out," he added. "The faster lap times you're seeing

are just the program's normal development.''
The Lebanon, Ohio-based team was fourth-fastest during Thursday's practice
session with a 1:16.179 (108.691 mph) and also fourth Friday morning with a
1 :15.617 (109.210 mph). It moved up ta third in Friday afternoon's practice session
with a 135.381 (109.842 mph).
Jan Magnussen is co-driving with Theys here this weekend. It is his first start
with this team, his first time driving a Daytona Prototype, and his first time driving at
this track.
"So far I'm very happyl" Magnussen said prior to quals. "It's hard to came to 3
new team, a new car, and a new track, but this team works really well together.
Everybody is trying to make it easy for me, and every lap I do I get faster. I'm 5ure
that by the race tomorrow, we'll have a good chance of winning."
When asked what the team has concentrated on Since practice opened here
yesterday, team owner Kevin Doran said "We've worked a lot on our shocks and done
some aerodynamic tuning. Things are going good."
The three other OORAN JE4s in the field qualified third (Michael Shank
Racing); seventh (G&W Motorsports) and 14th (Bell Motorsports). The latter lost an
engine here Thursday, but it should be all set for tomorrow's race too.
The event will be broadcast on SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern time March 7.
For more information, see Lista's Web sites at www.lista.com and www.lis-
taintl.com, and Doran-Lista Racing's recently revamped site at
www. doranraci ng , corn, Jan Magnussen's Web site is at www. jan m ag n ussen. corn.
Zippo live timing and scoring will be featured on www.grandarnerican.com during
tomorrow's raw, which b g i n s at approximately 3 p.m. Eastern time.