Daniels Takes Lime Rock Pole, Then Breaks Transmission During MX-5 Cup Qualifying

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 27, 2006) - A weekend that started out less than
ordinary for SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup
Presented by Hankook competitor Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., took
another twist during Saturday's lone MX-5 Cup qualifying session after
he took the pole position for Monday's race, part of the Rolex GT Sports
Car weekend at Lime Rock Park, with a 1:01.972 (88.878 mph).  Anders
Hainer, of Hidden Hills, Calif., will start second.

 

After running just four laps in his No. 76 specmiata.com/Team MER Mazda
MX-5, Daniels' car suffered a broken transmission, forcing the driver to
watch as the rest of the MX-5 Cup field took aim at his top time.

 

However, no one was able to top Daniels, who missed Friday's practice
sessions as he attended his children's graduation ceremonies.

 

"Those things only come once," Daniels said of his kids' achievements.
"And they are more important to me than racing.

 

"Essentially, we had a shift fork problem in the transmission after
about four laps.  I was still trying to figure out what gear the car
should be in.  I thought, I know, she has a little bit more left in her.
But that's the way it is, and the time was good enough to stick.

 

"We'll have to pull the transmission, replace the shift fork, readjust
it and cross our fingers that it will be okay for the race."

 

Though replacing the parts means extra repair work, Daniels was quick to
find a silver lining in the partly cloudy day.

 

"Maybe this is something beautiful for us," Daniels said.  "I'm happy to
run these tires for the race.  I've got the least amount of laps on
them, and I'm starting up front.  Maybe that'll work.

 

"We'll get the transmission fixed, and it's going to be a hell of a
race."

 

Hainer, in the No. 13 Under Armour Mazda MX-5, will join Daniels on the
front row after turning a 1:02.112 (88.678 mph).  

 

Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas (No. 28 specmiata.com/Autobarn Mazda
Mazda MX-5) and first-round runner-up Todd Buras, of Melbourne, Fla.
(No. 56 BSI Racing/supportthem.com Mazda MX-5) make up the second row of
the second-ever MX-5 Cup race after posting a 1:02.136 (88.644 mph) and
1:02.223 (88.520 mph), respectively.

 

John Kuitwaard, of Wantagh, N.Y., will start fifth in his No. 09
P1-Motorsports.com/HKF Racing Mazda MX-5 after turning a 1:02.312
(88.393 mph).  

 

In all, the top eight times were within nine-tenths of a second.

 

After an off-day tomorrow, Monday's SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite
Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook race, part of the Rolex GT
Sports Car Weekend, is set for 5:15 p.m. (EDT).

 

To follow MX-5 Cup race action live via the web, go to www.mx-5cup.com
<http://www.mx-5cup.com/> , click the Lime Rock Park event button under
the 2006 schedule menu and then select the "Live Timing and Scoring Link
Brought to You by SCCA.com" link in the middle of the page.

 

 For other information, including a weekend schedule, race grid, full
results and race recap, visit www.mx-5cup.com <http://www.mx-5cup.com/>
.

 

-30-

 

LAKEVILLE, Conn. - Starting lineup for Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS
Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook Round 2 race, part
of the Rolex GT Sports Car Weekend at Lime Rock Park, with position, car
number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and
speed in miles per hour.

 

1,(76), Jim Daniels, Germantown, Tenn., Mazda MX-5, 1:01.972, 88.878.

2,(13), Anders Hainer, Hidden Hills, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.112,
88.678.

3,(28), Jason Saini, Fort Worth, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:02.136, 88.644.

4,(56), Todd Buras, Melbourne, Fla., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.223, 88.520.

5,(09), John Kuitwaard, Wantagh, N.Y., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.312, 88.393.

6,(59), Ryan Pilla, Amagansett, N.Y., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.323, 88.378.

7,(40), Ben Hohn, Easton, Conn., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.470, 88.170.

8,(57), Mike Gatto, Atlanta, Ga., Mazda MX-5, 1:02.839, 87.652.

9,(97), Erik Stearns, Van Buren, Ohio, Mazda MX-5, 1:03.211, 87.136.

10,(36), Justin Pohl, Longview, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:03.264, 87.063.

11,(3), John Munson, Chicago, Ill., Mazda MX-5, 1:03.291, 87.026.

12,(39), Brad McAllister, Portland, Ore., Mazda MX-5, 1:03.525, 86.706.

13,(11), Ara Malkhassian, Houston, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:03.548, 86.674.

14,(23), Deborah Loth, Fort Worth, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:03.704, 86.462.

15,(26), Tim Probert, Houston, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:03.738, 86.416.

16,(58), Steven Jay Bernheim, Encino, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 1:04.814,
84.981.

17,(43), Barry A. Fromberg, Plano, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 1:05.053, 84.669.