BMW Team PTG Set Record Qualifying Runs
27 June 1999
BMW Team PTG notes: qualifying, June 26 American Le Mans Series Grand Prix at Mosport (International Raceway) race three, American Le Mans Series 1-2-3 BMW Team PTG set a record pace in qualifying for Sunday's race at Mosport. Hans Stuck took the GT pole in the #10 BMW M3 with a record lap time of one minute 23.303 seconds at an average speed of 106.26 miles per hour. Brian Cunningham was second in class in the #7 M3 (1:24.141 seconds, 105.20 mph) and Mark Simo put the #6 M3 third (1:24.483 seconds, 104.78 mph). Greg Forde, data acquisition engineer "We switched tires to the new construction, fine-tuned the camber and toe settings and fine-tuned the wing. The drivers felt more grip through the middle of the corner, which was the biggest gain. Before that, the tires felt greasy and the drivers didn't have the confidence. But now they've got the grip back, they're more confident in the car and they can push it that much harder." Hans Stuck, driver, #10 BMW M3 "In the morning session, I knew there were two places where I could take some time off. It was hard for me to wait so long, but I picked the right spot to leave the pits. I stayed there and waited while the other guys did their two laps and came in. I then had a totally free lap. It was one of these 98 percent laps you wish to have all the time in qualifying when you put it all together. But I must admit the car was very good, better than it was all weekend, at the right time. I'm more than happy. Thanks to the great preparation of my team, I was able to do a good job. It's a feeling you can't describe -- it's like sex, Christmas, New Year's, birthday, everything together in one moment." Brian Cunningham, driver, #7 BMW M3 "As I said in Atlanta, any time I can finish second to Hans Stuck, it's great. BMW gave us a great car and Yokohama gave us great tires. It was a perfect lap until the final few turns where I missed a shift. It was my fault and we lost a few tenths [of a second], so I think the car is faster than what it showed in qualifying. [race strategy] I'm just going to put a hook onto Hans' car and let him tow me around for awhile. Hopefully by the end, we'll have enough car left to pass him." Mark Simo, driver, #6 BMW M3 "I went faster than I went all weekend. I think it was just more confidence-building. We got the tires on the car and working properly, and it built my confidence up in the first session. Obviously, this second session, it improved. I haven't really qualified much, so I drove it like I would in a practice session. I was clear for the most part and just tried to drive like I would in a hard practice session. I feel like there's more in the car, and by race time tomorrow we'll be right there." Dr. Pepper Dr. Bob Pepper, president of BMW Team PTG sponsor Level One, celebrated his birthday on Saturday. He enjoyed returning to the track where he held the record for the 500 cc class in motorcycle racing in the early 1970s.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.