USRRC: Visteon Panoz Racing Team Practice Notes and Quotes
12 June 1998
Friday, June 12, 1998The Visteon Panoz Racing Team had a very good day in today's 45 minute practice session, setting the fastest time in the GT1 class. The #4 lapped at 1:19.552 at 101.82, which was first in class and second overall (by less than half a second), and the #5 turned a 1:20.502 at 100.61, second in class and fourth overall.
This event marks the Mid-Ohio debut of Andy Wallace, David Brabham, and Eric Bernard, who drove the course the first time in yesterday's rain-soaked test sessions. Today was their first time driving in the dry.
Andy Wallace, #4 Visteon Panoz GTR-1:
"Mid-Ohio is a very interesting, very pretty track -- it's nice to have
elevation changes. It's not the easiest place to pass, because there's
only one line around most of the track. The Visteon Panoz is running
well, and I think we'll be quite competitive for the rest of the
weekend."
David Brabham, #4 Visteon Panoz GTR-1:
"The Visteon Panoz is running really strong. We've made a few changes
which seem to improve the car a lot and the Michelin tires are working
really well.
"It's my first time racing around this track -- I've been here three or four times as a spectator. It's a neat track. You really have to juggle the car around and set the car up for a corner more than you would normally because of the elevation changes and the off-camber corners. You end up having to drive the car like a go-kart. It's fun."
Eric Bernard, #5 Visteon Panoz GTR-1:
"Mid-Ohio is a very technical track. It's very easy to learn but not
easy to be fast here, because there are lots of nuances that take time
and laps to pick up on."
Raul Boesel, #5 Visteon Panoz GTR-1:
"I've been here before and the track has been improved. The Visteon
Panoz is good, and it's getting better as we're making changes."
Tony Dowe, managing director, Panoz Motor Sports:
"I'm real pleased with the progression with the cars during the session.
Both crews complemented each other by trying different things to
maximize the reduced amount of practice time today. I think we can
apply the information learned and improvements made on each car on both
cars for tomorrow's qualifying. "
The Visteon Panoz Racing Team is ready for qualifying tomorrow afternoon, which starts at 1:40pm.
