Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley To Start Fifth at Laguna Seca
May 16, 2009
MONTEREY, Calif. (May 16, 2009) - Penske Racing's Romain Dumas will start the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley from the fifth position in Sunday's Verizon Wireless 250 presented by SPEEDCOM Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
On Saturday, Dumas turned a fast lap of 1:20.493, which was six-tenths-of-a-second slower than the fastest qualifier at the picturesque Northern California road course. Dumas will look to quickly improve his position before turning the Penske Racing prepared Riley over to co-driver Timo Bernhard in Sunday's race.
Dumas fought a loose-handling condition on the Verizon Wireless car during his qualifying effort at the 2.238-mile circuit, but he believes the No. 12 crew will have the car ready for Sunday's Verizon Wireless 250 presented by SPEEDCOM.
"I was surprised with the car," said Dumas. "We didn't make a lot of changes from our morning practice session but the Verizon Wireless car responded differently in the corners. After practice I thought we would be better than this for qualifying, but it is only qualifying. We will have everything sorted in the morning and hopefully I will be at the front when Timo gets in."
Round 4 of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 will be televised live on SPEED at 4 p.m. ET Sunday and the race has a two-hour-and-45-minute time limit.