Krohn Racing: Lime Rock Park GRAND-AM Post-Race Report

Lime Rock, Jun 1, 2010: The No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Proto-Auto Lola started the Memorial Day Classic Rolex GRAND-AM Sports Car Series race from the pole position at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. Monday, May 31st. Nic Jönsson captured the first starting spot with a time of 48.786 in the single day event, where teams practiced, qualified and raced all on one day. It was Jönsson’s first Grand-Am Prototype pole and the fifth pole for the Krohn Racing team.

Jönsson held the lead for the first 20 laps before relinquishing it to eventual winner Ricky Taylor in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara. Jönsson and team owner/co-driver Tracy W. Krohn finished in the ninth position after a couple of on track incidents set them back in the two hour and 45 minute sprint race on the short 1.53-mile, 7-turn sports car circuit. Jönsson was given a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact with a GT car at nearly the one hour and thirty minute mark.

The race winner was the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara of Max Angelelli and Ricky Taylor in the fifth round of 12 on the 2010 GRAND-Am Rolex Series calendar.

DRIVER QUOTES: TRACY W. KROHN, Team Owner/Driver No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Proto-Auto Lola: “I had a tough first stint but picked it up in the second stint and did better. It was great to have a pole position. The car can do it!

We have been improving the car. I was really happy for Nic. This was his first pole in Grand-Am. Glad to have it on this particular day and look forward to some more of them.

In the first stint unfortunately we didn’t get a couple of things hooked up including my cool suit. I decided to leave it and drive the car. The next thing that happened was I got hit several times. I took a hit on the left front and it bent the wishbones on the left front. It made the car handle differently. You could still drive around and the car was still good but took a little while to adjust. About that time it was time to get out of the car. Nic got in for awhile then I got in for the final stint again. The second stint was pretty good and I drove better. We made the adjustment to the way the car was handling. The good news was the track went clockwise so it worked to our favor at the end. It was interesting and I was clearly running quicker at the end than I did in the first stint. Some of it is just seat time for me.”

NIC JONSSON, Driver, No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Proto-Auto Lola: “I qualified on pole. It was my first Rolex pole, so I’m extremely happy about that, both personally but also for the guys who have been working so hard the last couple of years to get this car quick like it is now.

I had a good start and was able to open up the lead against Ricky (Taylor). He was about eight seconds ahead of the third car so it was pretty much Ricky and I out front. Then we started running into traffic and he got back up on me. We traded back and forth like that a little bit. One lap I was about eight seconds ahead.

I ran up on a slower GT car and I figured he didn’t see me. I had to lift the brake coming down the hill and lost all momentum and went through that corner probably about 10-15 miles an hour slower than I normally do. Ricky was far enough behind he didn’t have to check out. I lost quite a bit on that incident.

We got into traffic again and he was blocking me on the inside and I went on the outside. I probably could have squeezed him but I didn’t want to risk contact. I backed off at the end and lost a little bit of time trying to be cautious. The car was great. The Krohn guys did a fantastic job prepping the car.”

DAVID BROWN, Krohn Racing Team Manager and Engineer: “The pole really was a demonstration that’s been in the car the past few races. We decided this was the right place to give Nic a chance to see if he could put it on the pole, which he managed so that was really very good. It was an impressive drive by him and the car obviously has got the pace to go fast. We are pleased with that.

The race with Nic starting went pretty well. He got overtaken in traffic after being bolted by a GT car and the 10 car got around him. He had the pace of the 10 car when he got stuck in traffic for a couple of laps he was able to catch back up.

We stopped under yellow and put Tracy in. There obviously was a difference in pace between Nic and Tracy and we dropped back in the field after a driver change, which is what we expected. We got to the point where it was time to put Nic back in the car. We tried to get our lap back but we didn’t get it back. At the restart he hit another car, the Camaro of Robin Liddell. We received a harsh penalty. When we looked at the video it wasn’t at all obvious that would be the conclusion you would make when you reviewed the video. Anyway we received the penalty and then we had to do a drive through as a result of that, which lost us another lap. We hope for future a better review of circumstances before penalties are levied but that’s how it went. Nic continued to go around and was well on the pace but we knew we were unable to achieve a high result so we put Tracy back in the car for the last 45 minutes to give him more time in the car and demonstrate how fast he could go around here. He drove well and was very competitive. I think he enjoyed the experience and he drove well. We were ninth in the end.

The car is very reliable and we are really looking forward to going to Watkins Glen. As we’ve said for several races this year, since Homestead basically, we have been right on the pace and we look forward to getting out there and competing and showing everyone what we can do with our car.”