Sears Point: Lexus qualifying report

ROJAS PACES FOUR LEXUS-POWERED PROTOTYPES IN TOP EIGHT AT SONOMA

SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2007) -- Memo Rojas placed fourth to lead four Lexus-powered Daytona Prototypes into the top-eight for Saturday's Armed Forces 250 Rolex Sports Car Series event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Rojas will join Scott Pruett for Saturday's feature as Pruett battles for the series' Driver's Championship. The Northern California native is currently tied for the championship lead with just two races remaining. Pruett also is the defending race champion in the #01 Telmex Lexus.

Right behind Rojas in fifth-place is Indy Pro Series points leader Alex Lloyd, who is filling in for Rob Finlay in the #19 Z-Line Design/Make a Wish Lexus. Lloyd, who will co-drive with Michael Valiante, climbed into the Chip Ganassi Racing car for the first time on Thursday. Lloyd will have double-duty on Saturday, starting on the front row of the Indy Pro Series race at 11:45, followed by the Rolex Series event at 2:45 (PDT).

Shane Lewis earned a season-best seventh in qualifying for Southard Motorsports in the #3 PLP Lexus-Riley. It eclipses the team's prior best of ninth, while marking its third top-10 showing in the last four races. Lewis will team with Randy Ruhlman.

Continuing a strong series of qualifying runs, Mark Wilkins earned his eighth consecutive top-nine start with an eighth in the #61 Exchanged Traded Gold Lexus for AIM Autosport. He will drive with Brian Frisselle on Saturday.

Rounding out the Lexus effort was a pair of entries from Michael Shank Racing. Mark Patterson, who campaigns with Oswaldo Negri, placed 11th in the #60 Michael Shank Racing effort, while John Pew was 14th in the #6 Playboy Lexus he shares with Ian James.

-credit: lexus