30 June, 2012
After improvements made to the Gen-2 Dallara on Friday, the team of Doran Racing arrived at the track Saturday looking forward their final practice and qualifying sessions, convinced that further gains in lap time were possible. Sure enough, each of the drivers found those valuable seconds which boosted their confidence for the 6-hour race on Sunday. Brian Frisselle posted the teams second fastest lap time of weekend of 1:43.624, good enough to qualify the Ford powered Dallara Prototype 10th in DP Class. While those valuable seconds were found, the Gen-2 is still off the pace of the newer, faster Prototypes.
JLOWE shares his point of view going into the race on Sunday. “I am happy I took another second off my lap time. It shows you how far I have to go, but that’s fine. Brian qualified the car and he also went a second faster than he had gone yesterday. For a while he was running strong in the middle of the pack but we just bump up against the limits of the equipment and slide back into where we are familiar, which is right behind the Gen-3 cars. We did go faster than the other Gen-2 car, so that’s encouraging.”
After Paul Tracy completed the final practice session, final adjustments were made prior to turning the car over to Brian for qualifying. “Brian was pretty happy with the overall balance of the car and ran our best lap of the weekend in 1:43.624. He was a full second faster than yesterday putting us 10th on the grid. We did qualify ahead of the other older Gen Riley in our class, but we?re not where we need to be against the new cares. Overall, we know we have a six-hour race. We just need to have a clean race and not get in any trouble to finish in a good position.”
While a podium may not always be within easy reach, Dr. Lowe always welcomes the challenges that come with endurance racing at the Glen. “We are not starting last, we’re not finishing last. It’s a race of attrition. There are a lot of things happening during these 6 hours. Lots of people get themselves beat up and do dumb things, and w’?re counting on that tomorrow. Man plans, God laughs. So, w’?ll see.”
Sunday morning, Dr. Lowe, Paul Tracy and Brian Frisselle will suit up and take the wheel of the 77 Doran Racing COMBOS Ford Dallara to compete amongst the best drivers in endurance racing for the Grand-Am Rolex Series Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen. Join the action LIVE on Speed at 11:00 AM ET.