Taylor, Angelelli enjoy being champions

Taylor and Angelelli Take in Honors as Champions

Atlanta, Georgia (December 8, 2005) -- The No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley team driving duo of Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli are enjoying the duties of Driver Champions after winning the honors in the 2005 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototypes class.

The popular pair received top Driver honors at the Grand American Road Racing banquet last week in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, Taylor, along with Bill Riley, were honored for the Team Championship, Bob Riley for the Chassis Manufacturer's Championship for the Riley chassis and Pontiac for the Engine Manufacturer's Championship, all in the Daytona Prototype category.

In addition to the $100,000 bonus check the SunTrust team received for their performance through the Hoosier PaceSetters program, an evening highlight was the presentation of the specially engraved Rolex Daytona Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph watches to Wayne and Max. The banquet also served as the official unveiling of the impressive new "Championship of the Americas" trophy, which will be on perpetual display at DAYTONA USA and will be engraved with the names of Taylor and Angelelli, as well as future Daytona Prototype champions.

Additionally, Taylor and Angelelli were named First-Team selection in the Road Racing category for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's All-American Team (AARWBA). The two were honored for their accomplishments at the annual AARWBA awards banquet, held Dec. 3, in Indianapolis, Ind.J

"It is great to be honored and recognized for something you've worked so hard at," said SunTrust car owner/driver Taylor. "The entire team worked so enthusiastically all season for this. We're having a great time enjoying it, but it's all too brief because the 2006 season is already upon us."

Also, Angelelli was selected one of ten finalists for the Economaki Champion of Champions award, presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel and National Speed Sport News. Taylor was selected as one of the initial 25 semi-finalists.

These honors came on the heels of the team's remarkable championship run, which included five victories and ten podium finishes in 14 races.

"It was a great way to complete an exciting year," added Angelelli, who recorded seven fastest race laps and one pole this season. "Wayne and I have been together for such a long time now, so it's very special to have won a championship together."

The No. 10 SunTrust team recently wrapped up two days of testing at the Homestead/Miami Speedway on Monday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 6. Although they were driving their 2005 winning Pontiac Riley, a new car is on the way and being built back at the shop in Indianapolis.

"We came here to test a few things and get some feedback for the new car," said Bill Riley, who spearheads the running of the championship-winning SunTrust Pontiac Riley team. "We have a lot of new competition coming for next year, but that's alright. I just love to see the series continue its growth. I hope the competition stays tight and everyone continues to get better, because this is a great series to race."

With their success this year, the SunTrust team became the winningest Daytona Prototype team in the six-year history of Grand American Road Racing with a total of eight victories over two years. Additionally, the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley Mk.XI completed every lap available for competition during the 2005 season, an incredible mark of 2,050 laps, proving their preparedness and driving capabilities.

The No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley Mk.XI racecar and drivers, including third co-driver Emmanuel Collard, will head to the Daytona Test Days on January 4-7, 2006, after a quick shake down with the new car. The 44th annual twice-around-the-clock Rolex 24 At Daytona will be held January 28-29, 2006.

-suntrust