2012 Grand Prix of Miami Qualifying Report
For Immediate Release
Contact Laz Denes with True Speed Communication
(704) 875-3388 ext. 806 or Laz.Denes@TrueSpeedCommunication.com
www.TrueSpeedCommunication.com
Online Media Kit Available at www.TrueSpeedMedia.com
Date: April 28, 2012
Event: Grand Prix of Miami (Round 3 of 13)
Series: Daytona Prototype division of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (2.3-mile, 11-turn road course)
Pole Winner: None, qualifying canceled due to rain (field set by current team point standings)
SunTrust Starting Position: Ninth
The No. 10 SunTrust Corvette Dallara DP of Wayne Taylor Racing will start Sunday’s GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Grand Prix of Miami from the inside of the fifth row after qualifying Saturday was rained out at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Max Angelelli, who has a victory and a pair of runner-up finishes at Homestead in nine career Rolex Series starts for SunTrust Racing, was scheduled to qualify the No. 10 Corvette DP for the second time this season. But a heavy downpour prior to the scheduled 15-minute qualifying session prompted series officials to cancel the session and set the starting grid for Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race by the current team point standings, per the GRAND-AM rulebook.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” said Angelelli, who put the SunTrust car on the front row at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in his most recent qualifying attempt. “When you feel you can shoot for the pole and unfortunately you are unable to actually drive the car in qualifying, it’s disappointing. Now is the second time in a row we are starting from ninth, so it’s tough. This weather has not helped us. For tomorrow, racing in the wet here at Homestead is not what you want to see. I have no problem racing in the wet on any racetrack, but Homestead is a track that is very challenging, very risky, so I have a big question mark for tomorrow. But, we will do our very best to move to the front, no matter what the conditions are like.”
Angelelli and his co-driver, 22-year-old Ricky Taylor, set the second- and third-fastest laps in Friday’s two practice sessions, respectively, on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn speedway road circuit. Both sessions were run in dry conditions. This morning’s lone practice session was run in the wet. Sunday’s forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms and a 50-percent chance of rain at race time.
The top-five on Sunday’s starting grid per the current team point standings:
1. Starworks Motorsport (No. 8 Ford Riley) with Enzo Potolicchio and Ryan Dalziel
2. Michael Shank Racing (No. 60 Ford Riley) with John Pew and Oz Negri
3. Spirit of Daytona Racing (No. 90 Corvette DP) with Richard Westbrook and Antonio Garcia
4. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (No. 01 BMW Riley) with Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett
5. Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing (No. 99 Corvette DP) with Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney
Race time Sunday is 1 p.m. EDT with live television coverage provided by SPEED. Live radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius/XM Channel 117 beginning with pre-race activities at 12:45 p.m. Live timing and scoring during all on-track sessions can be found at www.grand-am.com, and on mobile devices at m.grand-am.com/laptrax.
– SunTrust: The Official Bank of Motorsports –
SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. As of December 31, 2011, SunTrust had total assets of $176.9 billion and total deposits of $127.9 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid- Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and investment banking services. SunTrust's Internet address is suntrust.com.
Max Angelelli, who has a victory and a pair of runner-up finishes at Homestead in nine career Rolex Series starts for SunTrust Racing, was scheduled to qualify the No. 10 Corvette DP for the second time this season. But a heavy downpour prior to the scheduled 15-minute qualifying session prompted series officials to cancel the session and set the starting grid for Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race by the current team point standings, per the GRAND-AM rulebook.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” said Angelelli, who put the SunTrust car on the front row at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in his most recent qualifying attempt. “When you feel you can shoot for the pole and unfortunately you are unable to actually drive the car in qualifying, it’s disappointing. Now is the second time in a row we are starting from ninth, so it’s tough. This weather has not helped us. For tomorrow, racing in the wet here at Homestead is not what you want to see. I have no problem racing in the wet on any racetrack, but Homestead is a track that is very challenging, very risky, so I have a big question mark for tomorrow. But, we will do our very best to move to the front, no matter what the conditions are like.”
Angelelli and his co-driver, 22-year-old Ricky Taylor, set the second- and third-fastest laps in Friday’s two practice sessions, respectively, on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn speedway road circuit. Both sessions were run in dry conditions. This morning’s lone practice session was run in the wet. Sunday’s forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms and a 50-percent chance of rain at race time.
The top-five on Sunday’s starting grid per the current team point standings:
1. Starworks Motorsport (No. 8 Ford Riley) with Enzo Potolicchio and Ryan Dalziel
2. Michael Shank Racing (No. 60 Ford Riley) with John Pew and Oz Negri
3. Spirit of Daytona Racing (No. 90 Corvette DP) with Richard Westbrook and Antonio Garcia
4. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (No. 01 BMW Riley) with Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett
5. Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing (No. 99 Corvette DP) with Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney
Race time Sunday is 1 p.m. EDT with live television coverage provided by SPEED. Live radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius/XM Channel 117 beginning with pre-race activities at 12:45 p.m. Live timing and scoring during all on-track sessions can be found at www.grand-am.com, and on mobile devices at m.grand-am.com/laptrax.
– SunTrust: The Official Bank of Motorsports –
SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. As of December 31, 2011, SunTrust had total assets of $176.9 billion and total deposits of $127.9 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid- Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and investment banking services. SunTrust's Internet address is suntrust.com.