Cheever Racing News: Road & Track 250 Qualifying

Monterey, Calif. -- Problems with traction control prevented Cheever Racing from securing a strong starting position for Sundayıs Road & Track 250, a Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Christian Fittipaldi and the No. 39 Cheever Racing Crown Royal Special Reserve Porsche Crawford started 15th in Saturdayıs qualifying race, but will start 26th in Sundayıs race after a spin in the qualifying race.

³Traction control wasn't working properly and I spun because of that,² Fittipaldi said. ³I thought it was a flat tire, so I came in to change the tire and I almost spun again. We put ourselves in the back and now we have to make the best of it tomorrow. It wasnıt a good day.²

Patrick Long won the pole position for Sundayıs race, which will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Longıs best lap was 1:25.014, while Fittipaldiıs best lap was 1:25.553.

The qualifying effort was disappointing for Cheever Racing, which ranks fifth this season in standings for Daytona Prototypes. The car had the seventh-best lap of the first practice session when team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. was clocked at 1:52.265 around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca circuit.

Cheever had just arrived in Monterey after a long journey from Qatar, where he finished fourth last week in a Grand Prix Masters race won by Nigel Mansell. ³Itıs good to be back at Laguna Seca,² Cheever said. ³In the last two days Iıve gone from Qatar to California. I canıt say Iıve ever done that before.²

The Rolex Series will hold one more practice session at 12:30 p.m. EDT Sunday before the start of the race.