Grand-Am Rolex Series Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen
Round 2 North American Endurance Championship
28 June 2012
Dr. Jim Lowe made the long drive from his home in Villanova, Pennsylvania, to Watkins Glen International Speedway in the Finger Lakes Region of New York to participate in the Second Round of the North American Endurance Championship presented by VisitFlorida.com. With his teammate Paul Tracy of Canada, and Brian Frisselle of Colorado, Dr. Lowe once again suited up as the World’s Fastest Neurosurgeon behind the wheel of the 77 Doran Racing COMBOS Ford Dallara led by Kevin Doran of Lebanon Ohio. The trio is set to run the Grand-Am endurance race, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday, July 1, 2012. The team is currently 6th in the Endurance Championship with 8 points (out of 20) scored by finishing 8th in Class at the inaugural event during the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in January of this year.
Dr. Lowe participated in the first practice sessions of the weekend on Thursday with 25 other Amateur Drivers qualified for the Trueman Akin Award in both Prototype and GT categories. “With only five weeks off since our run at New Jersey, it should be relatively easy to get back up to speed,” commented Lowe. “Having this extra practice session is a good way to start the weekend. After dealing with the heavy traffic at New Jersey, which is a much busier track because of its size, the prospect of dealing with it here is less daunting. Now it feels like heavy rush hour traffic, and that’s a big part of what driving the Prototype is all about. It’s a completely different race craft from the GT cars. Each situation has its own set of challenges, either trying to get around slower cars, or make room for cars passing. Thankfully, I got my fill of driving at NJ, doing four full days of practice and the double stint on race day. We had a good pace and I’d like more of that this weekend.”
Paul Tracy got reacquainted with the track during the 40 minute afternoon session, with Dr. Lowe completing the last one-hour practice session in the 77 Doran Racing COMBOS Ford Dallara.”We worked on and improved the understeer issue. The Dallara felt much better this afternoon and my times got progressively better. Not quite where they need to be, but we made good gains this afternoon. There will be no time to waste tomorrow. It should be a long day and we?ll get lots of seat time to prepare for Qualifying”?
This will be the fourth time Dr. Lowe suits up for the half-day enduro at Watkins Glen. He came here for the first time in 2006 with co-driver Jim Pace and enjoyed a 6th place finish in GT Class. For Lowe, that success coupled with his first-time 3rd place GT podium finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January of 2007, is the major force that keeps him returning to Grand-Am competition. “My goal will always be to have a chance to be on the podium. Longer races give us that opportunity, as anything can happen. Additionally, I always want to strive to get faster and better behind the wheel of the Prototype. Coming here to the Glen is such an exciting track. I always have a good feeling here, even when I get a bit beat up by the track. It is absolutely challenging. It will thrill you and scare you all at the same time. ‘?m really glad to be here and looking forward to our full day of practice on Friday with Paul and Brian”?
A full day of practice for all drivers will begin Friday morning at 9:55 AM and Qualifying will be 11:40 AM Saturday. The second round of the North American Endurance Championship set within the Grand-Am Rolex Series Sahle’?s Six Hours of the Glen will air on Speed, Sunday July 1, 2012 starting at 11:00 AM ET. Don?t forget to follow us on Twitter @JLoweRacing throughout the weekend.