Petersen/ White Lightning returns to North America with Podium Finish

Petersen/ White Lightning Returns to North America with Podium Finish

 

LEXINGTON, Oh., June 27 2004 - Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning
Racing came to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course straight from their GT
class victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and leaves the Midwestern track
with another podium finish. Today's third-place finish marks the Michael
Petersen-owned team's sixth career ALMS top-three finish. David Murry,
Cumming, Ga., started the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/
Michelin Porsche from fifth spot in the two-hour, 45-minute American Le
Mans Series (ALMS) race. Murry fought his way up to second place chasing
the leader in an exciting one-two-three battle. However, a caution
period just over an hour into the show and unfortunate timing brought
the pace car out in-front of Murry dropping him a lap to the leader. He
turned driving chores over to Craig Stanton, Long Beach, Calif., who
continued to take the battle to the leaders. Despite a pit stop for
fuel-not changing the Michelin Pilot tires-  with just two minutes remaining,
Stanton held on to third place. 

 

The third-place finish continues the Las Vegas-based team streak of
podium finishes in 2004. Dale White and his White Lightning Racing
preparation team have earned a third at the season-opening 12 Hours of
Sebring in March, then added a non-ALMS event victory at Le Mans.
Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing will compete next at the
New England Grand Prix on Monday, July 5. 

 

Mike Petersen, team owner/ driver: "We're semi-happy with our placing
here today. We got hung-out by the pace car. I feel like they really
need to look at the pace car rules. The best battle of the race was in
GT and the pace car rules pretty much ruined it. I'm really happy with
the performance of the team. I feel we had a very competitive car and I
look forward to next week's event to better our position."

 

David Murry: "It was a catfight like we expected it to be here at
Mid-Ohio. Craig and I drove as hard as we could. It was really hot and a
lot of work. I started and got up to second place for awhile but ran
third most of the time. I got caught out by the pace car and that put us
down a lap. I'm happy with third. The team is really motivated and,
hopefully, it will only go up from here."

 

Craig Stanton: "The Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning team did a
great job today. That was an interesting race. We just slugged it out
and whittled away at everything. The track got really greasy but the
Michelin tires hung in there and the Porsche did a great job. I'm just
really pleased to be driving for Dale and Mike, Porsche and on these
Michelin tires. I want to thank all the fans. What a great day."