Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Interview

Five questions with Ed Brown

Extreme Speed's owner scores first pro victory

#2 Extreme Speed Motorsports HDP ARX-03b: Ed Brown, Johannes van Overbeek

#2 Extreme Speed Motorsports HDP ARX-03b: Ed Brown, Johannes van Overbeek

Covy Moore

Extreme Speed Motorsports’ Ed Brown scored his first professional victory in last Sunday’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, joining Johannes van Overbeek in the Tequila Patrón HPD ARX-03b/Honda.

Brown began racing prototypes one year ago, when ESM moved from the GT to the P2 class in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. His previous best finish was second at Long Beach last year, co-driving with Johannes van Overbeek.

The resident of Boca Raton, Fla., is the CEO of Patrón Spirits Company. He received the 2009 ALMS Promoters Trophy for Patrón’s longtime support of the ALMS.

Q: What were your thoughts watching Johannes running down – and then passing – Jordan Taylor in the closing minutes at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca?

A: “Johannes was the fastest driver on track for a lot of laps, so I wasn’t all that nervous. I knew we would catch and pass them (Wayne Taylor Racing) eventually. They were probably running a little low in their fuel strategy and we knew they’d have to turn it down a little bit. I was probably more nervous about something else happening. In general, the unknowns are the most nerve-wracking.”

Q: How big was it to score your first professional victory?

A: “I don’t know if I’ve really come to terms with it yet. It was fantastic. I said it before; I look at it as a privilege just to be on the track with all these guys. Out-running some of the best drivers in the world is not an easy feat. I’m really starting to reap some of the benefits from a lot of the hard work that I’ve done over the last couple of years”

Q: Did you feel extra pressure starting the race on the pole?

A: “I felt plenty of pressure, but that’s the great thing about race cars. All that pressure you feel, you’re putting it on yourself. Once you get rolling in that race car, you’re thinking about getting the tires warm and that pressure goes away.

Q: And what about being involved in a wild opening 20 minutes while you held your own?

A: “I knew I could do it, I just needed put my mind to it and get it done.”

Q: In your role as a sponsor, how important was it to see the Tequila Patrón car winning its first race overall?

A: “It was very important. Winning races is what helps pay some of the bills for the race team. It is all about exposure. You get more PR and exposure when you win races. As a team, ESM has worked very hard. We’ve been in a great position where we thought we’d win races before and it just didn’t happen. It is nice to get the monkey off the back a little bit. Now we’ll look ahead and continue to win races as a team.”

ESM

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Solid points battle shaping up in TUDOR series
Next article Consistency paying off for BMW

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA