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AIM Autosport's Sweedler and Bell have sights set on Road America

Four races remain in championship but team remains focused on the task at hand.

#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell

#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell

Richard Sloop

#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell
#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell

Finishing in fourth position at the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway meant that AIM Autosport drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell stretched their lead in the GT-Daytona driver championship.

With four races remaining in the championship, however, some teams or drivers might find it tempting to begin to race conservatively to protect the championship lead. However, it's an unlikely scenario for Sweedler and Bell who have scored victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as runner-up finishes at Sebring and Watkins Glen. The duo ran in the first two positions throughout most of the previous TUDOR Championship race at Indianapolis before settling for fourth position. They may have been just off the podium, but they were able to lengthen their championship lead against their main rivals.

It's pretty hard to top Road America in a Ferrari...

Townsend Bell

"When you look at the quality of the teams and drivers in the GT-Daytona championship, I think we are very fortunate to be in the position that we are in," said Sweedler. "But we are still taking things one race at a time, and we are racing on one of the best circuits in North America this weekend. Every driver loves Road America and I'm excited to race there in our Ferrari. We are going to have to race like we have done all year - being aggressive, keeping the car under us for the end, and looking for every opportunity to win. As tough as this field is you can't let up for a second."

Bell has competed at Road America in ChampCar as well as the American Le Mans Series, and is looking forward to the challenge of this weekend's race.

"It's pretty hard to top Road America in a Ferrari," said Bell. "As things stand right now, there may be some other cars that have the Ferrari beat on top speed which is important at Road America. So we will have to make the most of the car's balance under braking and the handling it will provide in the fast corners. Hopefully we'll have some of Ian's strategy to put us in a position to be on the podium again at the finish, which would be the best thing for protecting our lead in the championship."

Ian Willis, who will be calling the shots for Sweedler and Bell as he has throughout the year, also sees some challenges for the Ferrari on the long straightaways at Road America.

"Knowing that the current BoP has us down a bit on the top end, that's a bit of an unfavorable position to be in at a circuit like Road America," said Willis. "We'll have to maximize everything else - driving, pit stops, strategy - to be in a position to fight for a win. Bill had one of his best opening stints of the year at Indy, and Townsend did great job on really old tires at the end of the race to almost be on the podium. I think we are operating at a pretty high level right now and if we keep this going, things should end well."

AIM Autosport

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