Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley to Start Sixth at Mid Ohio
NO. 12 VERIZON WIRELESS PORSCHE RILEY QUALIFIES SIXTH AT MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
June 19, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 19, 2009) – Penske Racing’s Romain Dumas will start the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley from the sixth position in Saturday’s Emco Gears Classic Presented by KeyBank at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Dumas turned a fast lap of 1:19.076 seconds, posting a speed of 102.797 miles per hour, at the 2.26-mile, 13-turn road course to secure his starting position in round six of the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal event.
The Penske team worked throughout the day Friday to improve the car’s handling and steadily progressed. Following the morning practice session the No. 12 was posted in fifth-position with a 1:20.935-second lap; second practice in the afternoon produced a 1:19.185-second lap.
“I pushed the [Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley] through qualifying but we have some work to do before tomorrow’s race,” said Dumas. “Since this morning, we are working with some over-steer problems. I can’t get back in the throttle through the turns the way I need to.”
Dumas and Penske Racing co-driver Timo Bernhard have had successful runs at the Mid-Ohio course in the past, a tradition Bernhard hopes to continue in his Penske Racing prepared Porsche-Riley.
“Romain and I have both been successful at this course,” said Bernhard. “We have been to podium many times and with a little luck this time we can get there again. The qualifying result isn’t where we wanted to be but the [Verizon Wireless] crew will give us good stops and we will gain positions in the pits.”
Live coverage of the 2 hour 45 minute timed race begins at 5 p.m. ET on SPEED.
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