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Paul Tracy working on full time Daytona Prototype program, Le Mans

The "Thrill from Westhill" Paul Tracy is speaking with a team about running a Daytona Prototype before the year is out and on into the future.

Paul Tracy

Paul Tracy

Adriano Manocchia

While his roots are in open wheel racing, Canadian race car driver Paul Tracy is working on setting up a full time Daytona Prototype program with an unnamed team to, hopefully, run before the end of this season, and into the United Sports Car series merger in 2014.

With a full field in the IndyCar series, and a lack of extra engines floating around, Tracy said he has “turned the page” on getting a ride in IndyCar.

His past couple seasons have seen him run a Daytona Prototype with Doran Racing and Action Express Racing, and he says he loves the formula of the series.

Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

“My focus is to try and get in the united sports car scene if I can. I have been talking to a team as of late that is looking at starting up a second car, there is a potential for doing something in that,” said Tracy.

“I enjoy the sports cars. Its fun. I think the formula is good. I like the DP formula because the cars are all very equal, you can race hard with guys, wheel bang and its just good hard racing. Of course with the prototypes they really frown on people bumping each other, and really racing hard.”

Tracy has made his way down to the 24 Hours of Daytona five times now in his career, and says that event is a special one just to finish. “When you get through a whole 24 hours, its an enjoyable feeling. Even if you don't win, it would be incredible to be in a situation to win, I think that could be a possibility next year. You get a lot of seat time, and a lot of track time,” said Tracy, who has finished 2 of his 5 Rolex 24’s.

Podium: race winners Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, second place Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, third place Paul Tracy, David Donohue
Podium: race winners Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, second place Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, third place Paul Tracy, David Donohue

Photo by: Yanick Gougeon

“You get 6 stints in a car at 2 hours. That’s six IndyCar races in one day. That’s what makes it really fun.”

With a handful of Rolex 24 events under his belt, and the start of the WEC ramping up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this month, Tracy admitted he would enjoy getting to run the race over in France.

“I would love to. That’s obviously on the bucket list. I would love to go to Le Mans. If it was in a P car, or if they run DP cars, I would love that opportunity,” said Tracy.

“Everybody that I have talked to that has races there said its like nothing they have ever done. I would like to have a try at that.”

#77 Doran Racing Ford Riley: Jim Lowe, Paul Tracy, Jon Bennet, Colin Braun
#77 Doran Racing Ford Riley: Jim Lowe, Paul Tracy, Jon Bennet, Colin Braun

Photo by: Covy Moore

Tracy spoke about the challenges of the GrandAm – ALMS merger coming next year, adding that its going to be about finding what the top class is that is the question on everybody’s minds.

“The biggest question mark for everybody is how and what the packages are going to be for having the P2 cars, and the PC and Grand-Am cars run on the track, and what is going to be the top class. What is the premier class,” Tracy said.

“Nobody knows the answers to those questions right now. How do you get all these cars on a level playing field.”

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