Corvette Racing in Canada: Second, Sixth in ALMS GT Qualifying

Hard crash for Magnussen but No. 3 Compuware Corvette will be ready to race

BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO (July 20, 2013) – Corvette Racing is a nine-time winner at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in American Le Mans Series competition. But the track formerly known as Mosport proved Saturday it can be unforgiving to even the best in racing.

Jan Magnussen set the second-fastest lap in GT qualifying for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R before a significant crash with less than five minutes left in the session. Upon its return to the team’s paddock, the Corvette crew went straight to work to dismantle and repair the No. 3 entry, which has Magnussen and Antonio Garcia second in the ALMS GT championship. Sunday’s race airs live on ESPN2 starting at 1 p.m. ET.

The Dane’s best time was a 1:15.601 (117.094 mph) that he set on his fifth lap. With pole position in his sights, Magnussen was on a flyer before a small bump in the middle of the third corner caused the Corvette to unsettle and veer slightly wide at the exit. The left-rear tire went off the surface just enough to send Magnussen into a spin and hard into the outside tire barrier.

The car will start Sunday’s race from the rear of the grid and is expected to make the morning warmup at 9:10 a.m.

Tommy Milner qualified the No. 4 Compuware Corvette sixth in class at 1:16.083 (116.352 mph). Despite the position, Milner was only 0.621 seconds off pole position. The car struggled to find balance in the second practice session and qualifying but Milner believed the fix would be an easy adjustment for Sunday’s race. He and teammate Oliver Gavin – defending ALMS GT champions – will go for their second ALMS victory of the season.

“Tommy and Jan both had solid qualifying efforts,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager. “Jan’s crash was unfortunate. He was on a good lap, but we were reminded how quickly this track can come up and bite anyone. The entire Corvette Racing team is an experienced and resilient group and will work as long as it takes to get the car repaired and ready for Sunday. It’s that ‘never give up’ spirit that we all exude.”

EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.

Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix (all times ET)

• • Warmup: 9:10 a.m. ET, Sunday, July 21
• • Race: Noon ET, Sunday, July 21

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: Watch It!

Sunday, July 21 (all times ET)

• • Race (TV): Live – 1 p.m., Sunday, July 21 (ESPN2)
• • Web: Live – 11:45 a.m., Sunday, July 21 (ESPN3)

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“One of the things I love about this place is that there is a real consequence to making mistakes or pushing too hard. We were just a tenth back from pole and this was an attempt to get it. I still think (the pole time) was in the car but I just bounced in the middle of Turn 3 over a small bump and that put me a little bit off line at the exit. A wheel off into the grass and that was it. I was off into the tire wall. I feel sorry for the team. For sure you try to avoid these things but sometimes they happen. When you hit the tire wall at an angle, it tends to rip things off the car. It will be a bit of work for the guys but the car was awesome in qualifying and I believe the pole time was in it. That’s why I went for it. The car will be perfect for the race.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R

“In the previous practice we struggled with the balance of the car and that carried over into qualifying. We’re not way off by any means. The GT field is so close that you have to have a great car, and we have that. It’s a bummer. This was my first qualifying run in awhile and had the issue with balance. We had a bit too much understeer and need to dial some of that out of the car. But we have a direction to go and we’re not lost by any means. We will make some small changes here and there and be ready for tomorrow. We should be in good shape for the race.”

ALMS GT Championship Standings

Driver Standings

1. 1. Dirk Muller – 62
2. 2. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 46
3. 3. John Edwards – 46
4. 4. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 45
5. 5. Bill Auberlen/Maxime Martin – 44

Team Standings

• 1. Corvette Racing – 72
• 2. BMW Team RLL – 72
• 3. SRT Motorsports – 45
• 4. Paul Miller Racing – 30
• 5. Risi Competizione – 29

Manufacturer Standings

1. 1. Chevrolet – 75
2. 2. BMW – 72
3. 3. Ferrari – 51
4. 4. SRT – 50
5. 5. Porsche – 50

Year Class Drivers Result Car Notes

2000 GTS Fellows/Pilgrim 2nd Corvette C5-R Fellows pole, fastest race lap

2001 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 1st Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim 3rd Corvette C5-R

2002 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 1st Corvette C5-R

Collins/Pilgrim 2nd Corvette C5-R Pilgrim fastest race lap

2003 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 1st Corvette C5-R

Collins/Gavin 7th Corvette C5-R Gavin pole

2004 GTS Fellows/O’Connell 2nd Corvette C5-R

Beretta/Gavin 1st Corvette C5-R Gavin pole, fastest race lap

2005 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell 2nd Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin 1st Corvette C6.R

2006 GT1 Fellows/O’Connell 4th Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin 2nd Corvette C6.R

2007 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell 1st Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin 2nd Corvette C6.R Gavin pole, fastest race lap

Fellows/Pilgrim 3rd Corvette C6.R

2008 GT1 Magnussen/O’Connell 1st Corvette C6.R O’Connell pole

Beretta/Gavin 2nd Corvette C6.R Beretta fastest race lap

2009 GT2 Magnussen/O’Connell 1st Corvette C6.R

Beretta/Gavin 3rd Corvette C6.R

2010 GT Beretta/O’Connell 5th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen 4th Corvette C6.R Magnussen fastest race lap

2011 GT Beretta/Milner 6th Corvette C6.R

Gavin/Magnussen 1st Corvette C6.R

2012 GT Garcia/Magnussen 2nd Corvette C6.R Magnussen pole

Gavin/Milner 10th Corvette C6.R