DETROIT, (April 8, 2014) – Team Cadillac drivers Andy Pilgrim and Johnny O’Connell are ready to return to the streets of Long Beach for the Pirelli World Challenge Series Long Beach Grand Prix presented by KIA. Pilgrim comes into the weekend second in points, O’Connell is looking for some Long Beach redemption.
Coming off of a strong weekend at St. Petersburg two weeks ago, Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) is second in points in the Pirelli World Challenge Series GT point standings. Two time defending GT Class champion O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is looking for a good finish and some Long Beach pay back. After a disappointing start to the season, the Georgian was leading last year’s Long Beach race in the final laps, but was thwarted by a piece of brake rotor from a competitors car that shot through the radiator and stopped him out on the circuit just five corners from the checkered flag. Teammate Pilgrim went on to finish second in the race.
“I enjoy street races and Long Beach is one of my favorites,” Pilgrim said. “I think this track really suits the Cadillac and it’s a blast to drive. Like any track where we have two classes running, patience is key to finishing strong. We really don’t set-up the CTS.V.R much different in Long Beach than St Pete and we were strong at St Pete, so I’m hoping we’re right on the pace again this weekend.”
“I think St. Pete was a set-up run for many of the new cars and drivers,” he continued. “We were ready and Team Cadillac had the CTS.V.Rs set-up. We know the FIA cars are stronger than us, Tomas Enge proved that, so it’s just a question of time until all the new drivers and engineers get their cars sorted.”
“Qualifying is much more important than last year considering the increased number of cars, so look for some serious action with guys putting down some wall scraping runs,” Pilgrim explained. “If you don’t use every inch of track than you’re leaving time out there; I know we’ve got more side mirrors on the truck!”
Long Beach owes O’Connell and needs a strong race to get back into the points chase after a disappointing tenth place finish at St. Pete.
“It’s been a couple years since I’ve won at Long Beach and after coming so close last year I really want to get another win this weekend,” O’Connell said. “I’m not certain that we’re going to be drastically different from St. Pete. Long Beach is a circuit that should suit our car reasonably well versus the GT3 cars. I see Andy, and myself, up at the front and I would expect that the Audis, as well as the McLarens, could be quite difficult.”
“Qualifying is always going to be important, but especially this year,” he continued. “Any positions gained in qualifying just makes your job that much easier in the race with the large GT field as well as being the first to get through the GTS traffic.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Series Grand of Long Beach presented by KIA will be a single race weekend and take the standing start on Sunday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m. PT. Qualifying will take place at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Looking to turn potential of new GT race car into victory
DETROIT (April 8, 2014) – After the two longest races on the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule, Corvette Racing moves to the shortest event on its calendar. The team’s two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs travel to the West Coast for the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase – part of this weekend’s Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Although the race lasts just 100 minutes, the event typically is one of the most challenging of the season. It’s a sprint through the streets of Long Beach – a 11-turn, 1.968-mile circuit that is playing host to a grand prix weekend for the 40th year.
Corvette Racing has been part of the last seven Long Beach weekends as part of the American Le Mans Series, and the results have been overwhelmingly solid. The team has four victories at the circuit to its credit including two years ago for the duo of Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin. A Corvette Racing driver also has set the fastest race lap in class each of the last seven years.
It’s no secret then that Corvette Racing drivers and crew look forward to returning. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – twice a pole-winner at Long Beach – share the No. 3 Corvette C7.R with Gavin and Milner in the No. 4 Corvette.
Redemption is top of mind for America’s premier production-based sports car team. Both Corvette C7.Rs led significant portions of the TUDOR Championship’s first two rounds at Daytona and Sebring but the results don’t reflect the efforts of the drivers and team.
The No. 4 Corvette of Gavin, Milner and Robin Liddell was the dominant car in class at Sebring, having led a majority of the race before a fuel pressure issue took the car out of contention. Likewise, the No. 3 entry of Garcia, Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe (competing in this weekend’s IndyCar race in a Chevy-powered entry) led at Sebring despite an opening-lap collision and a punctured tire.
Such strong performances underscore the potential of the first-year Corvette C7.R platform. Based on the 2015 Corvette Z06 production car, the C7.R’s rigid frame – which gives the car improved cornering ability and stability – and throttle response from its direct-injection engine make it a contender against entries from the likes of BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and SRT.
Live television coverage of the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase starts at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“I’ve always like racing at Long Beach, and I enjoy all street circuits. It is an unusual event because the race is short. I don’t know how it will play out this year with the new fueling and capacity regulations. This always has been a one-stop race for us and I believe it could be again. That is the key thing about this race – how the strategy plays and how you work around that. The number of yellows can play a role as well. You can be up front and use a normal strategy but find yourself in a bad situation depending on when the yellow falls. The number of factors and variables here are very, very high.”
(Long Beach methodology) “At Long Beach, you need to run at 100 percent but you have no room for error. The walls are very close and traffic will be a factor. That’s part of the game but I think that’s why I like street circuits. I enjoy that pressure.”
(Start to 2014) “It’s true that we haven’t had a trouble-free start to our season but everyone at Corvette Racing has been analyzing and working on it. I hope Long Beach is a turnaround for us and our season. The Corvette C7.R has shown at both races that it has speed and can run up front.”
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“Long Beach is a fantastic venue. There is always an incredible show going on during the weekend. The grip level on the track is very good. The Corvette has always been very strong; we’ve not always been super successful but we always have had a shot to win. I’m looking forward to a trouble-free weekend and hopefully we can get back on plan in terms of the championship.”
(Navigating Long Beach) “There is not a lot of runoff. There are some places that have a safety or escape road you can use. But most other places it is just concrete so you have to drive with a bit of a safety margin. But because of the length of the race, you also have to get things done. In certain situations you might be a little more aggressive than normal but you must also bear in mind that there is a bigger risk here than anywhere else.”
(Race expectations) “For us, it’s the first time with the C7.R at Long Beach. There may be a little bit of a learning curve but I think we have a really good handle on it. We should be in good shape right away. The car has been good. We’ve had bad luck at the first two races and we’re due for a good result. We have been up front in both races. Hopefully those things are part of the past and we can concentrate on getting some wins and podiums to get back on track for the championship.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“I do like Long Beach and the circuit. The new Corvette C7.R should be strong there, and I know the guys at Corvette Racing have been working on the setup for this weekend. Because we have so little track time, you have to make sure you come off the truck fast. In previous years, we’ve done that very well.”
(Keys to success) “A street circuit can make a little difference to a driver but at the same time you have to say to that you can only drive around in the car you’re given. Sometimes little tweaks and little things in just the right spots can make the difference in having a car on the front row and winning or losing the race. Pace is very, very important there because it’s a short race. You need to qualify well and on top of everything. That’s one of the things Corvette Racing has been good at for so long. We’re hoping for that again this year.”
(Strategy focus): “It’s most probably the one race where it’s all focused on your one pit stop if everything goes well. You have to get it right. You don’t get any second chances because there is no window for a second stop to make up any time or turn your strategy around. Once you do your stop, you’re done and you’re committed. As a driver, you’re mindful that the in-lap and the out-lap are vitally important. There are so many things you have to weigh. In terms of the work level that the driver actually does driving the car is quite short, but it’s very focus. You know that any slip-up is going to make a huge difference on the outcome of your race.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“This weekend is equally important as the first two races at Daytona and Sebring but it’s fun for different reasons. It is so short and goes through downtown Long Beach. It’s definitely a whole different mindset. We have such limited practice time. We go there with a new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R unsure of how the car will be on a tight track like Long Beach. I don’t think it will pose any problems for us. Obviously a new car shows us some new things with how it reacts to setup changes and stuff like that. So far, the new Corvette C7.R has been as good if not better in every area of performance compared to the C6.R. I don’t forsee it being an issue for us, but there are always new things to learn.”
(Corvette strengths) “In years past, it seems like what has helped us at Long Beach has been our braking performance. With the Corvette C7.R, one area where we have improved is putting power down. Those are two pretty crucial parts of having a fast car at Long Beach. So if the power-down is improved like it was at Daytona and Sebring then I think we’ll be pretty good shape for Long Beach.”
(A two-class race) “I’m definitely excited to see what the race will be like with just us and the prototypes. The other classes provide for great racing and the fans like to see that. But after some of the issues the series faced at the first couple of races with some long caution periods, hopefully with two professional categories and drivers racing together that we don’t have too many accidents and put on a good show for the fans.”
DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER
“After two long-distance races to open our season, we head to Long Beach for close-quarters racing on the streets of southern California. We have clearly shown that the pace of the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R is promising; unfortunately, the results so far do not do reflect our performance or efforts. There is no better place to break through than Long Beach. The Grand Prix is one of racing’s premier events and provides an incredible atmosphere for sports car racing with huge crowds throughout the weekend. We’re fully prepared to give all the Chevrolet and Corvette fans in southern California our fifth victory at Long Beach!”
DETROIT (April 7, 2014) – While preparing to hit its stride for the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Corvette Racing has picked up a significant honor from RACER. The renowned publication named Corvette Racing its 2013 Team of the Year in worldwide motorsport as part of its Spring edition. An editorial panel selected America’s leading production-based sports car team for the honor after it won the 2013 American Le Mans Series’ GT championship.
In capturing its 10th ALMS title, Corvette Racing won five times – half the races on the ALMS calendar. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R took three victories and the GT drivers’ championship, while Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner won twice in the No. 4 Corvette.
The 2013 season was the final for the C6.R, which gave way to the new Corvette C7.R at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. In it’s run of four-plus years, the C6.R won 11 ALMS races including nine during the last two seasons despite being at the end of its development life.
“This recognition is appreciated by everyone on the Corvette Racing, Pratt Miller and Powertrain team,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It underscores the strong teamwork, preparation and strategy Corvette Racing displayed during its 2013 championship run. The team is looking forward to the rest of this season competing with the Corvette C7.R.”
Corvette Racing’s next event is the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase from the streets of Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, April 12. Live television coverage will be available on FOX Sports 1 starting at 6 p.m. ET.
Third Consecutive Year the in Season-Opening Victory Lane for Chevrolet IndyCar
ST. PETERSBURG (March 30, 2014) – Will Power, No.12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, won today’s Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – the series’ season-opening race. It is the third consecutive year that a driver powered by the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 engine has started the season on the Streets of St. Petersburg with a win.
“Congratulations to Will Power and the entire No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet team on their win in today’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Helio Castroneves’ podium finish in the No. 3 Hitachi Chevy and Scott Dixon’s fourth place finish in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car resulted in three Chevrolet powered Indy cars in the top four finishing positions. It is a great start to the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season”.
Today’s victory marked the 22nd career for Power who led three times for 74 of the 110-lap race. It is his third consecutive Series’ victory (Race Two at Houston and season-ending race at Auto Club Speedway preceded today’s win), and the second time he has won the St. Petersburg race.
Joining Power on the podium was Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Hitachi Chevrolet. Last year’s runner-up in the title chase finished third.
Defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion, Scott Dixon, No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Chevrolet finished fourth. His teammates Tony Kanaan, No. 10 Target Chevrolet and Ryan Briscoe, No. 8 NTT Data Chevrolet gave Team Chevy five of the top-10 finishers with sixth and 10th place finishing positions respectively.
Ryan Hunter-Reay (Honda) was second to complete the podium.
Today’s victory was the third win for Chevrolet in a the three major U.S. motorsports series in which it competes. Action Express Motorsports with drivers Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais put the No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype in Victory Lane for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the
Daytona 500 behind the wheel of the No. 88 National Guard Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS.
The next race for Chevrolet in the Verizon IndyCar Series will be the Grand Beach of Long Beach (Calif) on April 13, 2014.
An interview with Will Power and Helio Castroneves
THE MODERATOR: We’ll begin our post-race press conference and welcome our third-place finisher Helio Castroneves.
Helio, it was a good day for Penske Racing and for you to continue your quest to capture the championship.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Correct. I’m extremely happy about it. Yesterday qualifying I heard Ryan saying great conditions for qualifying. I didn’t think so. Well, it was a great opportunity to show how fast our car was, and I knew that since we started here.
I was very confident that 10th place wasn’t our fair spot. But I knew I had to make the move right away in the beginning, and that’s what I did. It put us in a great position here to battle for the win
Q. How does having Verizon as title sponsor feel?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Just adding to that, certainly Verizon being with us for four years, they saw the potential. They actually perfect for the IndyCar Series. We’re about technology and speed, and they’re about technology and speed. Like I said, I’ve been part of the Verizon team for four years. Now the entire IndyCar Series is part of their team.
We’re talking about exciting people. We’re not talking about people, Let’s just put our name there. I’m very, very happy that they’re onboard.
Q. Talk a little bit about a home-field advantage coming from South Florida.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: It’s funny you say that because I had to ask for a lot of credentials to have my friends come over here. I know you did, too. For us is very difficult. The first race of the season, in Florida, it’s great to be honest. I wish we actually had a doubleheader here.
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THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up for questions for Helio.
Q. The two Penske cars went first and third. Is it an advantage New York Yankees?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: I hope so. Certainly we don’t want to give any inch this year. We don’t want to give any opportunity, whether it’s going to be myself, Will or Juan Pablo. I’ve been saying that in the pre-season interviews. We want to give the championship to Roger no matter what it takes.
Q. Have you had a chance to see the restart or talk to Will about it yet?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: I don’t have to see the restart. I know what happened. When I say wanker, he calls everybody a wanker.
Q. No microphone.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: He did play. You got to understand, Will and I know each other for a long time. He know my tricks. I didn’t quite know that trick from him, and he got me, which is good. I’m not saying that in a bad way. When you’re battling for the win… He knew where I was going, so he did something that I was not expecting and it caught me a surprise. That does not take away anything from the win he did today. Cindric and himself did a very good strategy with the tires, better tires in the end. They were able to pull away. For me, I use everything I got in the beginning because I started from behind and pushed as much as I could. Obviously it will be a very good problem to have if this is going to be the entire season like this, myself and Will battling. That’s what we want. Hopefully Long Beach will be the same, except a different end.
Q. So is that a move he should have made? You talk about it being a trick.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Should have made? Now I know when I’m restart behind him, I know what I need to do. If he should have made or not, I was not expecting.
One thing for sure, brake check, I did that in the past when I was young. But he did what he had to do, but I was not expect. I always expect a little constant speed, and we did not have that. But the problem is — well, it’s not a problem, it’s competition. You just have to keep learning from your competitors. Today I learned my lesson.
Q. Maybe the back of the field did.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, that’s the problem for me when you have that kind of scenarios. I’m glad I was in the front because that probably could have caught me as well if I would be in the back. I didn’t see the back, to be honest. I saw what happened in front of me. I just had to be careful to not knock him out of the race. But he was very fast in the end. Like I said, this little trick move didn’t take anything away. In fact, good job.
Q. You didn’t see Juan in the race. How would you sum up his first race weekend in years?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: I did speak with him on my way here. He had a blast. He learned about the red tires. He made some changes during the warm-up to the race quite dramatic. But it was good because he learned what to handle. When he was in front of us, I saw that he was running pretty good lap times. That shows he got the hang of it. Trust me, Long Beach, he knows the place, not sure if he won there, but I believe he did. It’s going to be a different picture of himself. Another bullet for Team Penske.
Q. The New York Yankees versus the Florida Marlins, Dario (Franchitti) earlier in the weekend said that Tim (Cindric’s) comments were classless. Would you like to speak to Cindric’s character in rebuttal?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: I know Tim for a long time. Obviously he has his own opinion. To be honest, so many things is said before from competitors. It’s just blowing out of proportion when somebody speaks a little bit louder. I don’t see all the fuss about it. Again, everybody is entitled for your own opinion. It’s too much power for me to comment, so I prefer to stay out of it. Certainly I think everybody is entitled for your own opinion.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about your tire strategy. You said Tim and Will had the tire strategy exactly right at the end. You made some spots up early. Did it work out in your favor?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Yeah, starting fourth place and starting tenth place, I had to make up some spots. I put the new tires in the beginning so I could pass a lot of people. It worked pretty good. Roger (Penske) decided to put the black tires on the second stint. I asked for no but he said yes. I got to say, ‘Yes, no problem.’ I got to obey the order.
In the end of the day towards the end they saved him and I think Hunter-Reay, they saved the best for last. I pushed as hard as I could the entire race and my tires just gave up in the end about 15 laps. I had a huge moment in turn 10, and I said, Guys, that’s it, I’m not making any progress here. I thought it was a very good strategy. We saved fuel when we had to, we pushed when we had to. Coming from 10th, passing a lot of cars, I’m very proud of the boys.
THE MODERATOR: Helio, we’ll see you in Long Beach. We’ll continue with our race winner, Will Power. This is Will Power’s 22nd career Indy car win. He started the race fourth. He won this race in 2010. Will, you’ve won three consecutive races, finishing out last year with wins in Houston and Fontana. How great is it to start out the year with a win?
WILL POWER: Obviously the perfect way to start. Kind of struggled a little bit during the weekend with the setup. Definitely made a good race car. Obviously qualifying was very mixed up. I don’t think anyone had anything for Sato, he was so fast. For sure we worked hard over the winter. I did personally, as well, on my fitness. As a team I think we worked very well together to get the most out of our cars. It’s been a real team effort. Real happy to get the Verizon car in Victory Lane again.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up for questions for Will.
Q. Seems to be one place where you really are the Yankees versus the Marlins. Why do you suppose the Penske cars are so dialed in at this track?
WILL POWER: Honestly, I think a lot of people have good, dialed-in cars. I wasn’t expecting to be that competitive in the race actually as the weekend was unfolding. Just good team strategy, good pit stops, mistake-free driving, and obviously a good car. It’s just hard work basically.
Q. Did you even know who the Marlins were before Thursday?
WILL POWER: I’ve only heard a little bit of that story, so I haven’t paid much attention to it, to be honest. Are the Marlins good? Do they win?
Q. Take me through the first segment when you eventually tracked down Sato to get the lead the first time.
WILL POWER: Cindric pitted me early. It was actually a very good call. I was able to pump out some good lap times. Sato came out on blacks, I think, just like I was. I felt our car was definitely stronger on blacks and was able to hunt him down and pull the move on him that I’ve had pulled on me two years in a row. I learned my lesson and finally pulled it off myself.
Q. I heard what you said on TV about the restart, where people got stacked up. Helio is convinced you were playing with the field there. Can you take us through that.
WILL POWER: Basically the pace car pulls off and you can set the pace you want. I wasn’t even in the zone. We weren’t even in the zone that you have, the 200 yards or whatever it is, to decide for the leader to go when he wants. They actually threw the green before I was even in the zone, so it was confusing to me. So the next restart I just went because I figured, They’re going to throw the green anyway. To me, the only problem people would have had would have been if they gassed back to get a big run. That’s the only problem they should have had. I didn’t touch the brakes, did not touch the brakes.
Q. You talked at the end of last season about how good it was for yourself personally to just stop thinking about points and to just race and have fun. Now that you’re starting a new season, are you still able to do that?
WILL POWER: Yeah, in a way. I just got to keep reminding myself, It doesn’t matter if you lose. You just got to keep reminding yourself that it’s a race, and you race hard to win a race. Sometime years I’ve started here and been so conservative. I just race now, race hard. I just want to race, race hard, and I want to win. That’s the only way to think of it, not think of points. I want to win a championship, but I like winning races. Hopefully the two come together and it happens.
Q. (No microphone.)
WILL POWER: Can you have fun not winning? Do I have fun? No. You know what, you come here to win. Good, hard racing is fun. You start at the back of the grid, you finish up third, that’s fun. There’s nothing worse than just struggling, though, not having the car or equipment to do well. That gives you a good hit, your self-confidence, you start to question yourself. I just remind myself that everyone is human, you’re capable of doing everything everyone else is if you work hard.
Q. What gear were you in?
WILL POWER: First gear.
Q. Helio said letting off the throttle there would be a brake effect.
WILL POWER: The thing to me was Helio was getting out of line. That’s when I lifted off the throttle. Why are you getting out of line? Are you going to go like you did last year and jump-start completely and get the lead that way? I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wasn’t even in the zone, so it did not matter. He got out here, he’s going to do his thing, jump the start, he was getting out of line, I was going to make it obvious by lifting a little. Then I just went.
Q. With an offseason as long as the INDYCAR offseason was this past year, it would probably be pretty easy to lose the momentum you finished the 2013 season with. Apparently you have the same momentum you ended the year with. How important is it to continue that momentum into 2014?
WILL POWER: Yeah, it’s amazing all the development and hard work you do in the off-season. I’m sure everyone else does too. It’s interesting to turn up to the first race and see where you stack up. During practice, it became obvious that the filed had once again even closed up more. You had 21 cars in less than in a second in practice. To me it’s like, ‘OK, no one is going to stick out here, it’s going to be competitive and tough racing.’
At the end of the day the hard work we did to get a good race car, good strategy, good pit stops, all the boxes were ticked that you need to win a race, and that’s just a good team effort basically.
Q. The TV commentators alluded to the fact that the whole off-season the talk has been about Juan coming to INDYCAR, can (Scott) Dixon repeat, everything except Will Power. Have you felt overlooked at all?
WILL POWER: I love it. I hate attention. I just loved last year, too. No one paid attention. I could just do my thing. Yup, I hope it continues. I don’t want people to talk about me. I like to be low-key. I don’t like to be in the limelight. I just like to do my job, enjoy it, race hard, and that’s it.
Q. You should try not winning.
WILL POWER: It happened last year. I didn’t have to do appearances. It was great. No one cared. It was awesome. If I could get wins and not be hassled both, I’d be stoked.
Q. How important was it for Verizon and yourself to win the first Verizon Series race in that car?
WILL POWER: It wasn’t something that I was thinking of, that I was going to think because it’s the Verizon Series. It’s pretty fitting. It’s great to win the first race of a Verizon-backed series. I think everyone is excited to have them onboard. I think the next five years, the series, we got to make good decisions and go in the right direction.
I think with Mark Miles, he’s employed some very good people. Mark Miles, I think he’s doing a very good job. He’s a very good leader. I think Derrick Walker on the technical side is the same. You have good people in the right positions. I can see it going in the right direction.
Q. There was a period of time where it could almost be taken for granted by others and you that Will Power was going to win frequently. After the drought from last year, did you have a rethink about the frequency with which you were winning and consider thinking differently about wins going forward?
WILL POWER: You definitely start to look pretty hard when you have a long period of not winning. You just can’t get complacent. You’ve got to keep working hard, especially in this series. There’s so many good teams, good drivers. It’s just a good thing. It’s a good kick in the ass to have some bad runs. Not actually lack of pace, but just to have some bad runs, be in the back of the field. You just reset, just realize that you can’t leave anything on the table. You just can’t. It’s funny. I was speaking to Mark Webber at some point, Did you lose a little bit of motivation in your 30s? He said, Yeah.
He said to me, You can’t kid yourself. You’ve got to work hard. It’s just the way it is. If you’re not, someone else is. That’s true. You got to get everything right in this business or you won’t win.
Q. You’ve long championed having more horsepower. Are we getting close to the numbers where the cars have that difficulty of driving?
WILL POWER: Yeah, it actually is getting to the Champ Car level now where you’re starting to shift a gear and it still spins. Definitely getting harder to drive. Got good horsepower. They’re definitely getting up there where they used to be.
Q. So how did Dale Jr. get your Vegas car?
WILL POWER: I think Tim Cindric gave it to him. I think he was looking for something to put in his whatever it is down there. I’ve seen a few people tweet that, my Vegas-crashed car sitting up in a tree. Sort of fitting for the way it came down. That’s about where it landed.
THE MODERATOR: Give us a little preview of what we can expect in Long Beach.
WILL POWER: Once again, it’s going to be very tight, great racing. It’s a great track for racing. Hopefully we can repeat. It’s another awesome place to go race.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (March 30, 2014) – Team Cadillac’s Andy Pilgrim started the Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg season-opener by driving his No. 8 Cadillac CTS.V.R to a second-place finish. Teammate Johnny O’Connell had contact going into Turn One forcing him to pit and was classified 10th.
Following the cancellation of yesterday’s race due to rain, the Pirelli World Challenge Series only race of the weekend took the standing start today at 11:25 a.m. The 49 car field had difficulty with the standing start, some learching and braking and the rest going. O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) got caught up in the difficult start and was hit several times going into Turn One forcing him to pit the No. 3 Cadillac CTS.V.R early and go down five laps to the field. Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) got a better start and went into Turn One in third position. By the time the field circulated once, he was in second. On lap two, he late braked the Ferrari of Anthony Lazzaro into Turn One and was leading the race. The Floridian managed to lead 26 laps, six under caution, until he was passed for the lead on lap 28 by the ultra-fast Lamborghini of Tomas Enge the eventual winner.
“We didn’t get a great start like we thought we would,” Pilgrim said. “The Cadillac CTS.V.R was great right off of the bat. Enge did not get a good start. He had to come from way back. The yellow really helped him and hurt us. Without the yellow I am not sure he could have caught me. There is a lot of pro drivers in the field with a lot of experience like Enge and Lazzaro. I don’t think they were quite used to their cars yet. I think we know now that the FIA GT3 cars are lighter, have a bigger tire and it is going to come in later. The Cadillac is heavier with a smaller tire so we will get grip faster and I was gone. Enge came back to us. He was running fast laps. A good first race. I am disappointed not to get the win, but happy to be on the podium. It was unexpected.”
O’Connell, the 2013 and 2012 Pirelli World Challenge driver champion, starts his 2014 quest for a hat-trick in the hole.
“Nothing on the start went to procedure,” O’Connell said. “It is a shame the Cadillac is a great car. The line in front of me started to move and then they stopped and I stopped and got freight trained by a bunch of cars. I then got to the first corner and was hit a couple of times. With the glare I couldn’t see the starting lights, so I had to rely on the guys around me. I had to spend several laps in the pits, which in a 50-minute race ends your day. Disappointing race for us.”
The St. Pete races will be televised on NBC Sports Network Sunday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. (re-air Saturday, April 12 at 12:30 a.m.).
The Pirelli World Challenge Championship will travel to Long Beach for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach presented by Kia April 11 – April 13.
DETROIT, (March 25, 2014) – Team Cadillac’s Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim are looking for a fast start to the Pirelli World Challenge Series at the season-opening Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg running this weekend March 22-24.
The St. Petersburg circuit traverses through the streets of downtown surrounding the marina and takes up a runway at the Albert Whitted Airport. Measuring 1.8 miles and 14 turns, the temporary street circuit will have the Pirelli World Challenge GT and FIA GT3 specification cars doing battle for the first time.
New for the 2014 Pirelli World Championship is the advent of two GT classes. One for professional drivers, GT, and the other, GT-A, for amateur drivers. Another significant change is the insurgence of FIA GT3 specification cars into the series. FIA GT3 is an international race car specification that allows manufacturers to build their cars so they can run in multiple series around the world. At St. Pete, 21 of the 25 GT entries are FIA GT3 spec including two McLaren 12C GT3s, four Porsche GT3s, six Audi R8 Ultras, four Ferrari GT3s, a BMW Z4 and two Lamborghini Gallardo FL2s. The four World Challenge spec entries include the two Cadillac CTS.V.R’s, the Acura TLX-GT and the Nissan GTR.
Reigning World Challenge GT driver champion Johnny O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is going to see a lot of new cars and a lot of new faces to race against this weekend as he embarks on his attempt to get the GT driver’s championship “hat-trick.”
“Normally at the start of the season you don’t think about points too much, but I think that with the competition we will face this year, every point available will be important,” O’Connell said. “The added horsepower should help with traffic a lot. A driver won’t be as likely to force a low percentage pass on corner entry and be more likely to wait until a straight to make a pass.
“All of the new cars are a threat this year,” he continued. “I’ve seen the Audi in its new configuration and it looks very, very fast. Of course the McLaren and Ferrari will be super quick and I would expect the Porsche on the street circuits to be very formidable. It’s a love/hate thing for me having them all there. Love in that it shows the value of the series and its growth, hate in that I know this will prove to be our most challenging year to date. To the new drivers it is great to know that the World Challenge series is now a destination. Anything other than that they will have to learn on their own.”
Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) is ready to get down to business at St. Pete.
“World Challenge is all about getting right down to business, we have about a 13-hour race season,” Pilgrim said. “You don’t need to win the first 50 minute race to be in contention, but you can sure hurt yourself if you don’t finish, so we need to push hard, think about points and go for the win if we get half a chance.”
“Patience will be key at St Pete,” he explained. “It is so easy to get impatient in the back side of the track and make a move somebody doesn’t expect. We will now have even greater mid corner speeds with the FIA GT3 cars and greater speed differences on the straights. It will take some getting used to for everyone. Any FIA GT3 car will be a threat. I’m looking forward to seeing who shows up ready to run, I know we’ll be ready.”
“Most of the GT drivers coming in have run in other series,” continued Pilgrim. “I think the difference in our races is the need to push hard every second. You don’t have hours to make up for mistakes and no pit stops either. It is funny to say, but every driver needs to all work together, especially on a street circuit with so much traffic. It’s going to be hard for some guys to race patient, but then again that’s not new. The fans don’t come to watch us run around behind the pace car. I think we owe it to them to race hard, but smart, so they get a great show. We had four of our last five races run all green, I think that’s something to be proud of and to build on.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Championship season opener will take the standing start at the Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 28-30. The race will be televised on NBC Sports Network Sunday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. (re-air Saturday, April 12 at 12:30 a.m.).
O’Connell and Pilgrim poised for toughest season ever
DETROIT, (March 18, 2014) – Team Cadillac is returning to the Pirelli World Challenge GT Championship looking to defend their driver and manufacturer championships from 2013 and 2012. Drivers Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim will face the most formidable competition that Team Cadillac has witnessed in recent history.
When the season kicks-off March 29 in St. Petersburg, Fla., the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge grid will mirror the floor of the North American International Auto Show. Manufacturers like McLaren, Lamborghini, Porsche, Acura, BMW, Audi, and Ferrari look to dethrone Team Cadillac. The new entries and fresh drivers should bring the exciting on track action to a new level.
Returning GT Class driver champion O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is poised to make a run at a three-peat as the series number one competitor. Teammate Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) is also looking to add another driver’s title to his resume and will be a factor in every one of the 16 races this season. New on the Pirelli World Challenge calendar is Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham, Ala. Highlighting the summer run are races in Detroit, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio, Toronto and a driver favorite — Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The series will end its 2014 run with a single race weekend at Miller Motorsport Park in Utah.
For O’Connell the challenge to defend his title will drive him this season.
“It has been a busy off season,” O’Connell said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Phoenix at the Bondurant School and took a trip to China for business development as well doing some driver coaching, which also helps to keep my skills honed behind the wheel.
“I think it is great that we are getting a lot of new brands in the series. That shows that the Pirelli World Challenge Series is a destination. There are strong cars, strong drivers and strong teams. The cars that are coming in are leading edge sports cars. Exactly who Cadillac wants to compete against. We are going in with a reliable and comfortable race car. Whether the car will have the athleticism to compete at that same level we are going to find out.
“Barber is a new track for me. I have never driven that race track, but we are testing there on the way to St. Pete in a few days, so I am looking forward to a fresh look behind the wheel of my Cadillac CTS-V.R.”
Pilgrim has also had a busy off season.
“I have been working hard to keep physically fit and working with my safe driving foundation,” Pilgrim said. “I have been traveling around talking to middle and high school students about the dangers of distracted driving.”
“I think all of the new entries and manufacturers is all positive for the series. With two prime sports car racing series, I think the World Challenge Series is really a great place for teams to race. The new cars will be interesting for us as drivers and especially for the fans.”
“Cadillac has done an amazing job over the years of competing, this being the fourth year for the car. We will have our work cut out for us to keep up with those FIA GT3 spec cars. We know that right out of the box they will increase the speed of the GT Class.
“Like Johnny, I have never raced at Barber Motorsports Park. I did an article for AutoWeek magazine and did about 20 laps around there in a street car. I have no experience racing there, so I am excited to run the Cadillac CTS-V.R there in a few weeks at our test. It is a tight track, and it will be tough to pass.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Championship season opener will take the standing start at the Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 28-30. The race will be televised on NBC Sports Network Sunday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. (re-air Saturday, April 12 at 12:30 a.m.).
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered an historic renaissance led by artful engineering and global expansion. Visit cadillac.com to view the full Cadillac line-up.
Additional information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com. Multi-media and team information can be viewed at Cadillac.com, GM.com, media.gm.com,
world-challenge.com, andypilgrim.com, johnnyoconnell.com; Facebook GM, Andy Pilgrim, Johnny O’Connell, Team Cadillac, Cadillac.
Three top-10 finishes in Corvette DP program’s first race at Sebring
SEBRING, Fla. (March 15, 2014) – Action Express Racing followed up a victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with a third-place result in the 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on Saturday. The No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype of Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastian Bourdais finished less than 10 seconds behind the winning car.
The second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship saw both the Action Express entries – including the No. 9 of Burt Frisselle, Brian Frisselle and Jon Fogarty – and the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP of Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli lead during the race.
Bourdais, who drove the final stint in the No. 5 Corvette DP, went around the Oak Racing Morgan entry for third shortly after the race’s final restart with 20 minutes remaining.
“Our Corvette DP teams put on a strong show in their first race at the Sebring 12 Hours,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet Program Manager for Corvette Daytona Prototypes. “Three of our five Corvette DPs finished in the top-10, and Action Express Racing continued its stellar start to the season. Chevrolet still leads the Prototype Engine Manufacturer’s championship after two tough races. Next up is another new challenge for the Corvette DPs – the streets of Long Beach.”
The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes place on the Long Beach (Calif.) street circuit from April 11-12.
JOAO BARBOSA, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP
“Third place in Sebring is always a great achievement. We are leading the championship right now, which is a plus. It was a really tough race. Very competitive. A finish on the podium is always a great result here at Sebring.”
CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP
“It was tough, but we managed the car very well. That was fun. Hats off to the Ganassi guys. They were in the right place at the right time. That made all the difference in the world. I want to thank Chevy. Our car ran flawless from the beginning to the end. We definitely had a shot at winning. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. But we scored some points, so we will turn the page and go on to Long Beach.”
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS, NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DP
“It was a tough race, but we gave it our best. We started from the front and stayed there for awhile. It looked like we had the pace and everything we needed to win the race. As things got a little more complicated, we lost the lead as everybody started to show their hand. At the end we just didn’t have anything for these guys. I gave it my best the whole race, and we set some pretty fast laps. But at the end of the race, they just turned it up and I told them ‘That’s all I got’. On top of the fact that it was very much a game of track position because you couldn’t pass anyone. It was closely matched. The No. 1 was in front of us, and the No. 01 cycled to the front and left the GTs in between us. By the time we crossed the start/finish line, the gap was six seconds… game over. It is a little disappointing because I was really hoping we could win. I’ve finished second here overall twice before. It is one of these deals where it didn’t work out. But that is all I had. No regrets. That is all we had. That is the way it is.”
JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP
“That was the toughest race I think we’ve ever had and to come out with seventh place probably doesn’t do justice to all the hard work everybody put into it. But it was just a matter of not being able to bounce back all the way from the few issues we had today – the early penalty, my having to go off with cars spinning and colliding in front of me in the middle of the race, and Ricky getting his windscreen oiled up and going off, which necessitated another pit stop toward the end of the race. All in all, I think we might have had a solid podium car, at best, despite all the things we had to deal with. But we brought it home in one piece both at Daytona and here at Sebring, and we’re still sitting second in the points, so we’ll head to the early sprint race part of the schedule and try to build some serious momentum.”
MAX ANGELELLI, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETE DP
“To win races like this, you have to be good, but you also have to have things go your way. Our car definitely was maybe a fourth-place car. With a little bit of luck maybe a podium finish. If I had to put my finger on one thing in particular, I think we underestimated the heat in the track and what it did to our car from a setup standpoint. That’s my opinion. This is a great race and we would have loved to have had a better result.”
RICKY TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP
“There seemed to be no passing during that last run. I think it was because the pace was just so high and I think everybody was in the position they belonged in after racing for almost 12 hours. I feel really bad that we had to make an extra pit stop because of the oil (on the windscreen). I don’t know if anybody else had that problem out there. That was frustrating. But when I had a clean windshield, the car was the best it’d been all day at the end, there. Finishing seventh is kind of ho-hum when you look at it. It was a long race. I’m just happy we got through the middle because it was so difficult to keep the car on the track and stay out of trouble.”
After leading during the day, sixth and eighth for Corvette C7.Rs
SEBRING, Fla. (March 15, 2014) – Corvette Racing’s two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs each led in class at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday but ultimately ended the 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on disappointing notes.
The No. 4 Corvette C7.R of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell finished sixth in GT Le Mans for the second round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The car led in class for significant portions throughout the race before two late spins and an engine issue with 30 minutes remaining put a halt to the car’s charge.
Up until that point, it was smooth sailing for the No. 4 Corvette. Gavin set the class’ fastest race lap (1:59.521).
The No. 3 Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Ryan Briscoe had an up-and-down day with the “down” part coming into play again with four hours to go. The trio eventually finished eighth in class after suffering an opening-lap collision and fuel pressure problems that ultimately resulted in the replacement of the Corvette’s fuel pump just past the eight-hour mark.
The No. 3 Corvette also lost a lap early with front bodywork damage it sustained on the opening lap when Garcia was hit by a competitor from behind and shoved into a BMW ahead of him on the opening lap. But timely yellows and strategy calls put the Spaniard into the lead just past the halfway point.
The next round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes place on the Long Beach (Calif.) street circuit from April 11-12.
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“It is a shame. It went from a disaster to really enjoying the fight back. The car was running really good. The team did a really good job just to get it back after we crashed on the first lap, and the car was behaving really good. Good strategies, and step-by-step we were going up. It was going perfect. Then again, everything went south. It’s definitely something we need to take care of for sure. We can take this as learning and try to fix every single thing because we have the speed, we have best team and we have a really good car. “
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“It’s been up and down all day. It didn’t start so well. Antonio got hit from behind on the first lap and smacked into somebody else. There was quite a bit of damage to the front – the fenders and we had to change the whole nose. We went a lap down but got that back and into the lead of the race. Then we had the unfortunate issue with the fuel pump and spent time trying to fix it. The car was pretty good. We could drive as fast as anyone out there. It was a shame about the little things. But the Corvette Racing guys were great. We all are massively disappointed.”
RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“The engine started running worse off the corners like it wasn’t running clean. It started to get worse and worse and worse as we went on. In the end it was the fuel pump. At least we were able to go until we got a full-course caution so that helped us out a little bit. Unfortunately we were three laps down. It was just so good to have the lead and run 1-2. We were the quickest cars on the track, for sure. It’s just a real shame.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“It’s very frustrating that we had that problem and issue at the end. Up to that point we were looking very strong. I got in the car toward the end to do the last couple of stints. I had a couple of issues inside the cockpit with lights that we moved around after night practice. And we’re still finding our way a little bit with this new car. I got a bit hot coming into Turn 17 and had a bit of a spin. We caught back up to the Viper and Porsche. As I was right there with them, we started to have this problem with the engine and it started to miss a bit. I was pushing harder and harder to try and keep up. I pushed a little too hard coming out of Turn 5 and looped it off there. It was pretty clear we had a problem after that. It was a case of managing the situation until the finish. But I think the guys did an absolute fantastic job with the car this weekend. For 11 hours we had one of the quickest cars and best cars. We were in a position to fight with anyone and seemed like we were the class of the field.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“It’s a bummer. It’s unfortunate, for sure. It was kind of like Daytona, unfortunately. The car was good for 95 percent of the race. That last five percent now has been a little bit of a problem. But it’s a new car. I’m excited about how quick we’ve been… and good teamwork. The No. 3 car guys had a problem early on and they were able to fight back from that. We had our own little issues throughout the race. I kept fighting and got back up front there toward the end. It was just unlucky.”
ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
“It was disappointing obviously. Tommy (Milner) and Olly (Gavin) did the lion’s share of the work, by far. And it would have been their win really, and the team’s win if we’d gotten to that point. But obviously it’s disappointing. We came pretty close at Daytona and then again here. But ultimately we’ve got to be reasonably happy with the performance of the car and obviously the team. But it’s always hard when you get close to the end in a race like this, looking like you’re going to get results, and then you start running into difficulties. But essentially it’s just new car blues. Having these two races as the first two of the season makes it incredibly tough. I think the car has shown itself to be not just a contender, but a race-winning car. It’s been a great experience. I’m happy to have the opportunity to drive for Corvette. On that side, it’s good.”
DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER
“The Sebring 12 Hours typically is one of the most challenging and unpredictable auto races in the world. Today was no different. Similar to the first race of the year at Daytona, the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R showed its tremendous potential with both cars leading significant portions of the race – including the No. 3 after facing adversity on the opening lap. At Corvette Racing, we don’t give up and that was on full display again. We’re encouraged with the performance of both Corvette C7.Rs and are eager to get back to racing at Long Beach.”
Liddell, Davis score landmark win for Stevenson Motorsports at Sebring
SEBRING, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – The new Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R is a race-winner in just its second start in the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Stevenson Motorsports’ Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis took a victory Friday in the No. 6 Camaro Z/28.R at Sebring International Raceway.
Liddell made the winning pass on a restart with 30 minutes to go and pulled away from the field as the race ended under caution. Liddell finished ahead of John Edward, his Stevenson teammate from a year ago. The season’s second round finished under yellow-flag conditions following a massive crash for one of the Mazda ST competitors.
“Congratulations to Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis on taking the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro Z/28.R to victory lane at Sebring,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The entire team demonstrated a ‘never-give-up’ approach throughout the day to put the No. 6 Z/28.R in position for Robin to make a great move on a restart that ultimately gave the team the win. We are very proud of the dedicated efforts of John Stevenson and his crew at Stevenson Motorsports, our racing engineers and our technical partners on the development of Camaro Z/28.R that resulted in its first victory in the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
“We never want to see a race conclude under caution as a result of an accident, and we extend our best wishes to Mark Miller for a speedy and complete recovery,” Campbell added.
Andy Lally and Matt Bell finished eighth in the No. 9 Stevenson Camaro. The No. 01 CKS Autosport Camaro Z/28.R of Lawson Aschenbach and Eric Curran retired following an incident on the race’s final restart in the same series where Liddell drove to the lead. The incident also involved Lally, who dropped from fifth to eighth.
All three of the Camaros ran in the top-five until that point – a remarkable achievement considering the car’s early life. Liddell also posted the fastest race lap – 2:16.893.
“Congratulations to Robin Liddell, Andrew Davis, John Stevenson and everyone at Stevenson Motorsports for a fantastic victory with the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet Program Manager For Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
“Our partners at Stevenson Motorsports, Pratt Miller and GM Powertrain put an incredible amount of effort into developing this new Camaro race car. To take a victory in just our second race is a fantastic achievement. This was a team victory in the truest sense.”
The next round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is Saturday, May 3 at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 6 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z/28.R
“To be honest I thought John (Edwards) would drive away from us after that restart, so I kind of had the bit between my teeth just to try and see what I could make of the first lap. I thought it would settle down. Those guys were just slightly napping coming out of (Turn) 17, and I had a really good run alongside John. I just kind of boxed him in which was kind of mean and I knew he would be a bit hacked off about that. But I kept him boxed in there behind Shane (Lewis). Then when we got to the braking zone for Turn One, I just broke completely right and went around the outside of them. By then I saw there was some carnage behind me, but to be honest I had a pretty massive lead at that point. I certainly thought at that point (Edwards) was going to catch us and chase us down. Obviously the Camaro is running fantastically well, but we are still early in the program. I’m not sure had it gone back to green at the end if he would have been able to get around because I would have made that Camaro as wide as possible, as I always have done.
“I have had full confidence in the program for this new Chevy Camaro Z/28.R. Obviously Chevrolet is fully behind the program. Stevenson Motorsports and all the guys I have know and love from the team that I have worked with for six years. Credit to John Stevenson for getting behind this. Back with Andrew Davis, and here we are back in Victory Lane. It’s pretty cool.
“I’ve been involved with the development of this Z/28 right from the beginning. Right from when the car first rolled out of the shop to be driven. I’ve had a little more time in the car than some of the other cars.”
ANDREW DAVIS, NO. 6 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z/28.R
“I took a hiatus from Stevenson Motorsports for a while, and I come back and they are still firing on all cylinders. They are still one of the best teams out there so I knew this program was going to be strong. We made our Camaro Z/28.R better every session and just worked on the long runs trying to make sure the car was good over the run. Again, so happy to be back with Stevenson Motorsports. Thanks everybody. Robin did a superb job. It’s nice to be on the top step of the podium again.
“This means a lot to me on a personal level to be back with Stevenson Motorsports and my buddy Robin Liddell. This is my first win at Sebring after the times I have been here. Just so happy for the Stevenson crew, for Chevy, for Pratt and Miller…thanks to everybody!
“We made another change overnight. We went back to something that worked for us in an earlier test session. I think that helped the car a little bit for a long run. Still it was all about management of the rear tires. It’s tough when you’re in a battle like that. I made a mistake and dropped back but was able to fight my way back up. With the lack of rear grip, the key is to drive mistake-free. The Stevenson Motorsports Camaro was really good. The focus we had over the weekend was not going for a single-lap but trying for a longer run. I’m proud of the team for working hard and giving us a car that is really good on those long runs.”
MATT BELL, NO. 9 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z/28.R
“The big issues we were having all weekend is keeping this thing cool, especially when it gets hot and gets humid. You’re running nose to tail, and it’s something you get when you’re developing a new car. What happens is the power drops off when you’re behind a car too long. So you’re bouncing back and forth between driving in a draft to keep up when the engine is cooler and popping out to try and cool it down. But with that constant change of torque, it’s hard to keep up. The tire fell off a little bit quicker than Andrew (Davis) and we didn’t want to hold him up. Other than that, the car is great. I’m having a blast driving the Camaro Z/28.R. That 7-liter engine is awesome. It’s still quite strong.”
ERIC CURRAN, NO. 01 CKS AUTOSPORT CAMARO Z/28.R
“Overall it was a good stint. We ran behind that BMW for awhile. That was the main goal. We have a heavier car and we have a Camaro Z/28.R with a big 7-liter motor and lots of torque. It’s pretty easy to spin up those rear tires coming off the corners. You have to be really careful on the tires, short-shift gears and not be too aggressive on the throttle and really pace yourself to have a really good run. These Camaro Z/28.Rs are so new and it’s the second race. There is still a learning curve but I’m really happy with what I’m seeing. These cars are plugging away and going fast.”
“It was one of those deals and unfortunate things coming to the green flag. We had a rocket ship today. The car was on rails all day. I thought we had a shot at it coming to the restart and looked like the two leaders spun. At that point there was nowhere I could go, and I moved up the track and into Andy (Lally). I feel bad for Andy but there was nothing I could do at the time and into the wall. I feel bad for the CKS Autosport guys. We definitely had a shot at this. We were going to fight the Stevenson guys and the BMW all the way there.”
