SCCA PRO (LAGUNA SECA) - Pilgrim Fastest in Practice for SCCA SPEED GT Finale

Pilgrim Fastest in Practice for SCCA SPEED GT Finale Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., improved on his morning practice time to set the fastest practice lap of the day for Round Ten of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship, part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Michael McCann, of North Canton, Ohio, and Michael Galati, of Olmstead, Ohio, were second and third quickest, respectively, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

While most of the SCCA SPEED Touring Cars were unable to improve on their morning practice times in the session previous to the SCCA SPEED GT cars, the track conditions wound up being perfect for Pilgrim to improve on his. The No. 8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V pilot set the fastest lap of the day, a 1:29.373 (90.148 mph), in the 20-minute afternoon session.

"The sun went in and the temperature dropped, which is exactly what we needed," Pilgrim said. "The temperature drop is good for the engine and good for the tires.

"I'm pretty much a real long shot now for the Drivers' Championship after Atlanta, but if we can get the one point for pole we'd wrap up the Manufacturers' Championship. Obviously my focus is to get the pole if I can."

McCann posted the second-fastest time of the day in his No. 82 McCann Plastics/K&N Filters Dodger Viper, entering a 1:29.698 (89.821 mph) in the afternoon session.

Galati just outpaced teammate Randy Pobst, turning a 1:29.970 (89.549 mph) in the No. 23 K-PAX Racing LLC/Jim Haughey Porsche 911 GT-3. Point leader Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., who was fastest in the morning session, was unable to improve on his time in the afternoon and ended the day fourth in his No. 22 K-PAX Racing LLC/Jim Haughey Porsche 911 GT-3, with a time of 1:30.118 (89.402 mph).

Defending SCCA SPEED GT Champion Lawson Aschenbach, of West Palm Beach, Fla., snuck into the top five on his final hot lap. The No. 1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V driver stopped the clocks with a 1:30.126 (89.394 mph).

Jeff Courtney (Dodge Viper), Ron Fellows (Cadillac CTS-V), Tomy Drissi (Chevrolet Corvette), James Sofronas (Porsche 911 GT3) and Gunter Schaldach (Dodge Viper) competed the top ten.

Combined practice results for Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship Round Ten race, part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with position, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour.

1, (8), Andy Pilgrim, Boca Raton, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V, 1:29.373, 90.148.
2, (82), Michael McCann, North Canton, Ohio, Dodge Viper, 1:29.698, 89.821.
3, (23), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:29.970, 89.549.
4, (22), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:30.118, 89.402.
5, (1), Lawson Aschenbach, W. Palm Beach, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V, 1:30.126, 89.394.
6, (99), Jeff Courtney, Slinger, Wis., Dodge Viper, 1:30.486, 89.039.
7, (16), Ron Fellows, Mississauga, Ontario, Cadillac CTS-V, 1:30.487, 89.038.
8, (87), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:30.516, 89.009.
9, (14), James Sofronas(T), Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:30.610, 88.917.
10, (09), Gunter Schaldach(R), Aspen, Colo., Dodge Viper Comp Coupe, 1:30.707, 88.822.
11, (3), Scotty B. White, Puyallup, Wash., Dodge Viper, 1:30.842, 88.690.
12, (13), Jeff Altenburg, Ellicott City, Md., Dodge Viper, 1:30.975, 88.560.
13, (2), Cindi Lux(R), Aloha, Ore., Dodge Viper, 1:31.181, 88.360.
14, (28), Brian Kubinski(R), Plainfield, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:31.231, 88.312.
15, (56), Ritch Marziale, Tempe, Ariz., Dodge Viper, 1:31.305, 88.240.
16, (17), Rob Foster(T), Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:31.437, 88.113.
17, (11), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:31.552, 88.002.
18, (34), Tony Gaples, Libertyville, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:31.647, 87.911.
19, (05), Jason Daskalos(R), Albuquerque, N.M., Dodge Viper, 1:31.757, 87.805.
20, (31), Sonny Whelen(T), Old Saybrook, Conn., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:32.066, 87.511.
21, (10), Brandon Davis, Denver, Colo., Saleen SR, 1:32.511, 87.090.
22, (7), Brett Pearson, Orlando, Fla., Dodge Viper, 1:32.533, 87.069.
23, (21), Paul Bonaccorsi, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Pontiac GTO, 1:32.703, 86.909.
24, (29), Eric Olberz(R), La Canada Flintridge, Calif., Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:33.287, 86.365.
25, (30), Eric Curran, East Hampton, Mass., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:33.370, 86.289.
26, (02), Steve Valentinetti(R), Seatte, Wash., Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:33.406, 86.255.
27, (20), Dane Moxlow(R), Grosse Ile, Mich., Pontiac GTO, 1:33.421, 86.241.
28, (18), Jason Foster, Phoenix, Ariz., Dodge Viper, 1:34.100, 85.619.
29, (6), Jeffrey Robbins(R), Southfield, Mich., Dodge Viper, 1:34.293, 85.444.
30, (12), Nick Parker(R), Seattle, Wash., Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:35.716, 84.174.