Mid-Ohio: Series Touring Car practice two report

Cunningham Quickest in Second SPEED TC Practice at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 7, 2009) -- Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., set the quickest lap in final practice for Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship. Teammate Eric Foss and Jason Saini, both of Fort Worth, Texas, completed the top three, in preparation for Sunday's Toyo Tires Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network.

Though he was unable to improve on his morning practice time, Cunningham felt the team made positive changes to the No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX as they prepare for Sunday's Round Seven race, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (EDT). The five-time series Champion entered lap of 1:35.502 (85.116 mph).

"We tried two things in the second session," Cunningham said. "We took one of them off altogether halfway through the session and left the other change mostly where it was, but these Acuras just love Mid-Ohio.

"Qualifying is early in the morning, but we're more worried about how we're going to be in the afternoon, in the heat of the day. I can't promise anything for qualifying, but we'll be in good shape for the race."

As the defending World Challenge Touring Car polesitter at Mid-Ohio and with more series starts (11) at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile course than any other driver in the field, Cunningham is looking forward to racing again in Lexington, Ohio.

"I've run more races here than just about at any other track. We used to run 24-hour races here in fact. So, I certainly have a lot of time around here and I just love the place."

Cunningham was followed in the order by Foss in the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ ProParts MAZDA6. The top Rookie of the Year candidate entered a fast lap of 1:35.526 (85.095 mph) in the 45-minute session.

Current point leader Saini completed the top three. Driving the No. 74 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6, Saini entered a time just one-thousandth of a second slower than his teammate, a 1:35.527 (85.094 mph).

Nick Esayian jumped into the fourth spot as the checkered flag flew. Esayian stopped the clocks with a 1:35.561 (85.064 mph) in his No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i.

In his return to World Challenge Touring Car for the first time since the 2008 season finale, Patrick Lindsey was fifth, turning a 1:35.583 (85.044 mph) in the No. 57 Horton Autosport MAZDA6.

The Acura TSXs of Pierre Kleinubing and Kuno Wittmer were sixth and seventh, respectively, followed by the BMW 328is of Seth Thomas, in eighth, and James Clay, in ninth.

Branden Peterson (Acura TSX) completed the top 10.

None of the times from practice two could match the top five from the early morning session.

Wittmer goes on the record as the fastest practice time of the day with a 1:34.562 (85.962 mph) his No. 44 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX.

Cunningham, Foss, Kleinubing and Lindsey completed the top five on the day.

Qualifying for Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship is slated for 8:00 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday. The Touring Car portion of the Toyo Tires Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network will launch from a standing start at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Live timing, audio and lap notes are available throughout the weekend on www.world-challenge.com.

-credit: scca pro racing