SCC: Phoenix: SpeedSource preview

Series - Grand Am Cup
Event - Phoenix International Raceway
Team - SpeedSource Inc.

SpeedSource develops Boxster in hopes of two overall wins this weekend.

Sunrise, FL -- SpeedSource will try to become the first team to score two overall wins in different classes in Grand Am history as they take to the track this coming weekend (April 18 - 20) for the Grand Am Cup Series at Phoenix International Raceway. The Grand Am Cup series will be debuting a new split race format that will see the Sports Touring I and II classes have there own 250 mile race on Friday night and the Grand Sports I and Grand Sports II classes have their own separate 250 mile race on Saturday afternoon.

SPORT TOURING I (STI)

The first win SpeedSource will be chasing will be in the Sports Touring I race on Friday with their two Porsche Boxsters, the #67 Network for Medical Reaserch and Communication/ Champion / Fikse Boxster and the #68 Papa John's / GiantBank.com Boxster. SpeedSource is trying to give Porsche its first professional win with the current model Boxster in North America. In an effort to develop the car, SpeedSource left the last race at California Speedway and traveled directly to Phoenix International Raceway for a one day test session. "We were able to learn some more in our testing at Phoenix.," explained team owner Sylvain Tremblay. "I believe we have a better combination for Phoenix."

Under normal circumstances, the starting driver on the #67 Network for Medical Reaserch and Communication/ Champion / Fikse Porsche Boxster, David Haskell, has to get out of the car early in the race so that he may finish the #66 GSI Mears Motor Coach / Champion / Fikse Porsche. The split race format erases that concern: "With the ST race being split off from the GS races, it will allow me to drive a little more in the Boxster," said Haskell. "I am excited about that opportunity, and I believe that after testing we now have a car that (my co-driver) Stan (Winokur) can run up front with at the end of the race."

The team will also be fielding the #68 Papa John's / GiantBank.com Porsche Boxster for veteran Scott Schlesinger and rookie J.C. France. A testing accident at Phoenix severely damaged the car and the team had to work overtime to finalize repairs on the #68 Boxster. "We have been thrashing on the #68 for the last several weeks getting it put back together," commented Tremblay. "After extensive repairs on the car, we hope to have an even faster car for them than they even had at California."

"The car is running strong," commented Schlesinger after the California race. "I think at Phoenix you'll see us back in the mid-pack, maybe even a top five finish."

GRAND SPORTS I (GSI)

For their second overall win of the weekend, SpeedSource will be hoping to score their first victory in GSI this year. At California, the previous event for the Grand Am Cup Series, SpeedSource scored a second and third in the Grand Sports I class. With only one more spot to move up on the podium, it looks like they might get their first overall win since the 2001 finale at Daytona last November.

"Everyone is very happy with how things went at California," commented Tremblay, driver of the #70 Redhat / Worscape / Champion / Fikse Porsche and 2001 GSII Champion. "We just have one more step up on the podium to go. Last year at Phoenix we made our debut in the GSI class and (my co-driver) Selby Wellman and I took a fifth place finish. I have Selby with myself again this year, and we fully believe we can take the win after scoring a second and a third at California."

The #66 Mears Motor Coach / Champion / Fikse Porsche will also be sporting a local sponsor, Hello Arizona!

"Hello Arizona!, a destination management company, signed on for California and Phoenix," said driver of the #66 machine, Paul Mears Jr. "They were extremely pleased with the second place finish we gave them at California, but we would really like to get them that win. The Corvettes were very fast at California, but (my co-driver) David (Haskell) was flying the car there, and I think we will have a really good shot at this win at Phoenix."

GRAND SPORTS II (GSII)

In Grand Sports II, SpeedSource will be trying to duplicate their success from last season that saw them win the Phoenix race on their way to the Grand Sports II Triple Crown Championship. Sylvain Tremblay, who will be finishing the #70 GSI Porsche, will be pulling double duty on Saturday and starting the #63 Wilson Sporting Goods / Champion / Fikse Porsche as well.

"We are delighted by the progress of my co-driver John Sturm in the #63 Porsche," commented Tremblay who has 14 professional wins on his resume. "He is already shaping up to be a contender for the GSII Championship and Phoenix will only be his third professional race ever. Our lineup in the #65 Porsche will be strong once again as we will have IMSA veteran Buzz Marcus teamed up with David Shep for one more race at Phoenix."

Websites of interest:
www.speedsourceinc.com/
www.grandamcup.com/

-wn-