TRG GTO.Rs 2nd and 21st at 12 Hour Mark
2006-01-28
Daytona Beach, Florida -- TRG is currently running second and 21st in the 44th Grand American Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. The Pontiac GTO.Rs are running strong with the number 64 car falling back and the 65 car moving up.
On lap 246, while leading the race in the GT category, Kelly Collins had a wild ride through turn one. “I was going into turn one and I hit the brake and it just snapped around on me, I think some thing came loose or broke in the right rear. There was no warning, no vibration, just came around and sent me through turn one spinning, I just missed the tire wall.” The car returned to the fray on lap 232 and was back in the garage later to change the steering rack, a further result of the original problem.
Johnny O’Connell is turning consistent laps and is happy with the number 65 GTO.R. “The car started out loose, but it came to back me and was actually pretty nice to drive toward the end of the stint. The track seems to be pretty good as far as grip. There is a lot of rubber laid down now and the usual spots are slippery like the Bus Stop where cars bring dirt onto the track. I am having a little problem with the brake pressure, it takes a big foot to stop the car.” Team owner Kevin Buckler, having won here overall as a driver in 2003, knows the trials and tribulations of the 24 at Daytona. “It’s a shame what happened to the 64 with Kelly. We were leading, up by a lap and we had a suspension issue. We work hard to be perfect and then this happens. The drivers were doing a flawless job and we were settling in for a good run. The guys in the 65 car will have to carry us the rest of the way.”
Speed TV is broadcasting more than 14 hours of the 24 Hours at Daytona. The first segment will air with the start of the race on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. EST and run air until 6:00 p.m., they will return at 8:00 p.m. and run until 11:00 p.m. On Sunday the show will resume at 8:00 a.m. and run the finish at 12:30 p.m.
#64/TRG/iRise/Pontiac GTO.R
*Paul Edwards
*Kelly Collins
Jan Magnussen
Andy Pilgrim
#65/TRG/F1 Air/Alpine Bagel/iRise/Pontiac GTO.R
*Marc Bunting
*Andy Lally
*RJ Valentine
Johnny O’Connell
*Denotes season long drivers.
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