ESM Patrón's qualifies third and fourth at Lime Rock Park

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 5, 2013) – On a hot, humid Friday at Lime Rock Park, Extreme Speed Motorsports battled the elements to qualify third and fourth for Saturday’s American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park.

Officials reported that track temperatures reached at least 130 degrees during the heat of the day. Still in the process of perfecting the Honda Performance Development (HPD) ARX-03b racing machines, the ESM crew worked through two hour-long test sessions and one 15-minute qualifying session on Friday for tomorrow’s fourth round of the 10-race American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón championship season.

In the No. 02 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development (HPD) ARX-03, Johannes van Overbeek lapped the 1.5-mile circuit in 46.729 seconds, which slated the car in the third position in the P2 class, fifth overall when factoring in the faster P1 class. Ed Brown will drive the first stint in tomorrow’s race while van Overbeek will take the checkered flag.

Norwalk native Scott Sharp qualified the No. 01 Tequila Patrón Honda Performance Development (HPD) ARX-03b in the fourth position of the P2 class, less than two-tenths behind van Overbeek. Sharp’s best lap of the qualifying session was 46.870 seconds which placed him fourth in class and sixth overall. Sharp is scheduled to drive the opening stint before turning the wheel over to co-driver Guy Cosmo.

SCOTT SHARP
“We’re happy with our progress today. It was a good solid run in qualifying. It was the best time we ran all weekend. We hoped we were a little closer to Level 5, but I was happy with the car.

“When I did that 46.8 second lap, I was very pleased. I think we’ll be leading when I get out of the car tomorrow; I feel that good about my car. I’m not going to go risk it to run a 46.5, that’s just how it is.

“Traffic will be a huge factor tomorrow. The entire race will be traffic. Getting through that efficiently and fast is going to be everything. I’m ready for that. I love that challenge.

“The crew has worked really hard to get us ready for this weekend. I’m really looking forward to a win tomorrow.”

JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK
“It was a lot of fun for my first qualifying session in the P2 car here at Lime Rock. We struggled with grip earlier. We were also conservative on our tire choice for tomorrow, so I think we some on the table for qualifying but I think we’ll be in much better shape for the first part of the race tomorrow.

“Ed is doing great job. Our key for tomorrow is that we know we have a good car, a good balanced car. We’re on the right tire compound with 130 degree track temp, so it is really just a question of executing tomorrow and staying out of trouble.

“The temperature this weekend is hard on everybody. It’s hard on the crew, drivers and the cars. The hotter it is the more risk of failure you have in each of those elements. ESM has a great crew and I’m looking forward to drinking a lot of Patrón when this is over.

“Our primary goal for tomorrow is to stay out of trouble. If we stay out of trouble, we can be on the podium easily. I’d rather stay out of trouble and be a little bit slower than have the fastest race lap and be out of the race halfway through.”

Extreme Speed Motorsports