Photo by: Darren Pierson
Alex Job Racing to Start on Third Row in ALMS Road America GTC
TAVARES, FL, (Aug. 19, 2011) - Alex Job Racing's (AJR) Bill Sweedler and Brian Wong will start from the third row in tomorrow's running of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patron Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Road America.
AJR's Bill Sweedler, Westport, Connecticut and Brian Wong, Newport Beach, California, had a strong two-days of practice as they dialed in the No. 23 Battery Tender/Robert Graham/William Rast/AJR/GTC Porsche to the long four-mile, 14-turn Road America circuit.
Wong had the wheel for qualifying and turned a lap of 2:15.290 good for a third row starting position. In the heat of day with changing track conditions Wong had a moment in the fast 140 mph Kink and had to regroup to give the AJR crew a last lap dash for a strong qualifying effort.
"Practice was good, the car was really well balanced," Wong said. "In qualifying I got into the Kink a little too hot and kind of chattered the front tires. I then took a lap to cool the tires down, but it never really regained its bite. On the last lap they told me I needed a few tenths to move up several positions. I dug down and saw that I had a nice lap going heading into Canada Corner, so I was able to move up a few spots on the timing sheet. We have the balance, but not really the speed. The team worked hard on the car all day and I think we have a really strong race car that is easy to drive. I have a lot of confidence in our strategy and our pit stops, that will be our security blanket tomorrow. Bill and I will have to run hard, keep on the track and we will be up front."
Sweedler put in several strong laps in practice and is ready for a four-hour race tomorrow in the No. 23 Battery Tender Porsche.
"Road America is a tough track when you have to get four-miles and 14-turns just right," Sweedler said. "The car is really easy to drive and I have really had no drama out on the track. Traffic can sometimes be an issue, even with over four-miles of asphalt to play on. Brian did a great job in qualifying to pull it out on the last lap. The AJR guys have done a great job with the car and we have a long four-hour race tomorrow that will come down to keeping the car on the track, having good pits stops and strong strategy to come home on the podium - that is our plan."
Team owner, Alex Job, has his team primed to get back on the GTC podium this weekend.
"We had a good round of practice sessions yesterday and today," Job said. "Road America is a tough track and it takes a lot of concentration to string together 14-turns and four-miles to put in that fast lap. Brian was able to give us some last lap heroics and post a good qualifying lap which will help at the start tomorrow. Bill and Brian are very consistent and have not put a wheel wrong yet. We will need that same type of approach tomorrow to compliment strong pit work and strategy."
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