CITGO/SAMAX - Rolex 24 test

CITGO Racing completes official testing for 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona

 

The No. 7 CITGO Pontiac-powered Riley Mk XI completed 1000 miles and four
days of testing for this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona, including a private
test at Moroso Motorsports Park in Jupiter, Fla., on Jan. 3, followed by the
official three-day event test at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona
Beach, Fla., Jan. 5 to 7. Dario Franchitti posted the team's fastest lap of
the official test – one minute 44.955 seconds on the 3.56-mile infield road
course (122.109 mph) – good for 10th in the 30-car Daytona Prototype class.
He is sharing Rolex 24 driving duty with Milka Duno, Marino Franchitti and
Kevin McGarrity.

 

SAMAX Motorsport is preparing the CITGO Riley for the Rolex 24, with track
action directed by race engineer John Bright and chief mechanic Robin Hayes.

 

Milka Duno  "It was my first time with a Riley, but I'm very happy with the
quick time that I already have with only a few laps in a new car. It's a car
that's very quick and easy to adjust. We'll continue working, but I'm very
happy with the car. And I have great teammates – I'm racing with Marino and
Dario Franchitti again and now Kevin. I think we have the potential to have
a good race for CITGO."

 

Dario Franchitti  "I enjoyed the test a lot. It's a good team and the car
looks pretty quick. We're still working on it; we still haven't unlocked the
full potential, so our engineer John is going to work on a couple of small
tweaks for the race. I'm very pleased with it, but now the hard work starts.
It's so much fun to come down here – I'm here to win the race, as everybody
in the CITGO car is – but there is an element of just having a good time."

 

Marino Franchitti  "We certainly all found our speed and we're really happy
with where we are. I think we're going to come back stronger for the race,
so it's been very productive. I've worked with Kevin before, and I've worked
with Milka and Dario before. We get on well, and it's a very relaxed
environment. It's good to have three teammates that you communicate so well
with. Everyone's relaxed and I think that's showing because we're all fast."

 

Kevin McGarrity  "I've always wanted to do this 24-hour race in Daytona. I'm
glad that I'm here with a very good team, racing with Marino and Dario and
Milka. We've all gelled really well, we've got the car balanced quite well
and everyone's up to speed. I'm leaving a bit frustrated because I didn't
get a clear lap with new tires, so I should have gone faster. But at least I
know I can come back and go quicker."

 

The 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin at noon EST on Saturday, Jan. 28,
with the checkered flag waving 24 hours later at noon EST on Sunday, Jan.
29.

 

For more information about Milka Duno, please visit HYPERLINK
"BLOCKED::outbind://30/www.milkaduno.com"www.milkaduno.com. Additional
information about Dario Franchitti is available at HYPERLINK
"BLOCKED::outbind://30/www.franchitti.com"www.franchitti.com, Marino
Franchitti at HYPERLINK
"BLOCKED::outbind://30/www.marinofranchitti.com"www.marinofranchitti.com and
Kevin McGarrity at HYPERLINK
"BLOCKED::outbind://30/www.kevinmcgarrity.com"www.kevinmcgarrity.com.

 

CITGO, based in Houston, Texas is a refiner, transporter and marketer of
transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, refined waxes, asphalt and
other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the
national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more
information on CITGO visit HYPERLINK
"BLOCKED::outbind://30/www.citgo.com"www.citgo.com.