MX-5: Road America practice two notes

Schimsk Still on Top in MX-5 Cup Practice at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 8, 2008) -- Ryan Schimsk, of Austin, Texas, led SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup practice for the second day in-a-row at Road America, site of the Road Race Showcase. Ara Malkhassian, of Sonoma, Calif., was second fastest, followed by Elivan Goulart, of Shelton, Conn.

Although this is his first trip to the famed 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course, Schimsk further improved on this Thursday practice time to lead the MX-5 Cup field again in the second practice session of the weekend.

"In yesterday's practice session we were on used tires," Schimsk said. "But, some of my teammates like Eric [Foss] and Rob [Huffmaster] went out on sticker tires and we determined that those tires were a little quicker, so I tried a set of sticker tires this morning and obviously it worked out well. The Kumho tires didn't really fall off the entire session."

Sharing the 20-mintue practice session with SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Cars, Schimsk entered a lap of 2:37.865 (92.311 mph) in the No. 81 Team MER/Airco Mechanical MX-5, nearly a second and a half faster than his Thursday practice time.

"Everytime the car goes out it gets faster and faster and I learn to drive it a little better. Once you put the sticker tires on, you have to change a few things in a couple corners to maximize the grip."

Malkhassian skimmed nearly two seconds off of his Thursday time and climbed to second with a 2:38.664 (91.847 mph) in the No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5.

Second fastest in Thursday's practice, Goulart improved his time in the No. 70 GRE/Squier Design/Red Line SCDA1.com MX-5, but ended Friday's session in third with a 2:39.012 (91.646 mph).

Christian Franck, of Simi Valley, Calif., was fourth fastest in the No. 16 Alara Racing/Select Painting MX-5. The 16-year-old entered a lap of 2:39.245 (91.511 mph).

Point leader Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, completed the top five. Driving the No. 28 Team MER/Autobarn Mazda MX-5, Foss turned a 2:39.275 (91.437 mph).

Portland race winner Brad Rampelberg was sixth fastest, followed by Mosport race winner Robert Huffmaster. Todd Buras, Steve Welk and Harrison Williams completed the top 10.

Qualifying for Round Four of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will take place Saturday, Aug. 9, at 9:30 a.m. (CDT). The race is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. on Sunday. Live timing and lap notes are available all weekend at www.mx-5cup.com.

-credit: scca pro racing