Rampelberg Paces MX-5 Cup Practice At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

MONTEREY, May 22, 2010: Local driver and championship point leader Brad Rampelberg recorded the fastest practice time following today’s SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup practice sessions, in preparation for the American Le Mans Series Monterey Weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Rampelberg, of San Jose, Calif., topped the speed chart in the No. 4 AMG/Mazda/Colbalt Brakes Mazda MX-5 with a fast time of 1:41.969 (79.012 mph) during this morning’s first practice session. This weekend, Rampelberg looks to capture his second victory of the season. He won the MX-5 Cup season opener from the pole at Virginia International Raceway.

Ara Malkhassian, of Houston, Texas, turned the second fastest time today with a 1:42.058 (78.943 mph) in the No. 11 ALARA RACING/Bulldog Productions Mazda MX-5. His best time came the afternoon’s practice session, the best of that session.

Driving the No. 01 PFM Pombo Racing/Range of Motion ATL/Carbotech MX-5, Mathew Pombo, of Atlanta, recorded the third quickest time on the day with a 1:42.175 (78.853 mph), which was set in the morning session.

Justin Piscitell, of Weston, Conn., turned the fourth fastest time with a 1:42.358 (78.712 mph) in the No. 89 Team MER/DAMG Worldwide MX-5, while Jesse Combs, of Houston, Texas, piloted the No.77 ALARA Racing/Coolgas.com MX-5 to the fifth quickest time with a 1:42.438 (78.650 mph).

Mark Carpenter, of Charlotte, N.C., Lyonel Kent, of Knoxville, Tenn., Michael Cooper, of Syossett, N.Y., Jeff Mosing, of Austin, Texas, and Nick Evans, of Powell, Ohio, were sixth through 10th, respectively.

Former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan turned the 14th best time in the No. 105 SPCA Motorsport/Adopt a Shelter Animal MX-5.