Las Vegas BMW Notes

TOSHIBA COPIERS & FAX NEVADA GRAND PRIX -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway PTG BMW M3 Team - Post-Race Press Notes for Sunday, April 26, 1998

PTG BMW M3s WIN GT2, FINISH 1-2 IN GT3 The BMW M3s of Prototype Technology Group scored a unique 1-1-2 finish in today's Toshiba Copiers & Fax Nevada Grand Prix at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, winning in both the GT2 and GT3 classes from flag to flag, and adding a runner-up finish in GT3. The M3s finished fourth, fifth and sixth overall with only a pair of World Sports Cars and a GT1 entry beating them to the finish line in the three-hour, 45-minute event over the 2.15-mile LVMS road course. The No. 6 Yokohama/Fina BMW M3 coupe of Andy Pilgrim, Boris Said and Bill Auberlen took the GT2 honors by four laps over the No. 99 Porsche 911 of Larry Schumacher and Martin Snow. The No. 10 Yokohama/Fina BMW M3 four-door, started by Auberlen and co-driven by Mark Simo and Marc Duez, finished a lap ahead of the No. 1 M3 of Peter Cunningham and Ross Bentley for GT3 honors.

M3s now have won 16 of their last 18 races in GT3, and 17 of their last 19 overall counting today's GT2 victory.

BILL AUBERLEN, No. 10 and No. 6 Yokohama/Fina BMW M3s: "In the end, the M Power struck back. After the disappointing weekend we had here last year, and yesterday in (GT3) qualifying yesterday, this is just the greatest. Our cars are just that good. We make some basic modifications to our GT3 car and enter it in GT2, and we leave here with a win. That's just incredible. With a team like ours, with drivers like ours, with support like we get from BMW and Yokohama, you've got to have a great day to beat us. This sure makes up for the disappointing times we've had at this race track."

ANDY PILGRIM, No. 6 Yokohama/Fina BMW M3 coupe: "This is the job I was asked to do and this marvelous team simply did the rest. I needed to get a clean start, keep the car out in front, stay safe, and then turn the car over to Boris. When you've got guys like that following you, it's no surprise that we can win a race like this going away. This is just a super team and it's been a pleasure working with them."

Note - With yesterday's victory in a BMW M3 in the Speedvision Cup event and today's GT2 victory, Pilgrim has now finished 110 consecutive Professional Sports Car-sanctioned races, dating back to 1992.

TOM MILNER, Prototype Technology Group team owner: "The crew did just a fantastic job in the pits today, and I think that had a lot to do with our being able to finish 1-2 in GT3. It was a tough race and they made the difference. Our drivers did a fantastic job, as well. Mark Simo, in particular, carried the load under outstanding pressure and did a marvelous job. In GT2, the only car we had to race against, for all intents and purposes, had problems, so we stayed out of trouble and brought home another win. Hats off to every on this team. This is about as perfect a day as you can possibly have."

SCOTT DONIGER, M Brand Manager, BMW of North America: "It was a pretty tall order, coming here and taking both GT3 and GT2, especially at a track that has been difficult for us in the past. But a day like today shows the reliability of these M3s and the team's perseverence can really make things happen."