Michael Lewis first to use fuel injection in Trans-Am

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Can. -- Michael Lewis and Team AmeriSuites unveiled the future of the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series today with the first fuel injected engine to run in the Series in a decade.

The new fuel injected ford engine that will power the No. 12 AmeriSuites Ford Mustang Cobra was developed by Lazano Bros. Porting of San Antonio, Texas.

"We decided to work on developing the fuel injection as soon as it was announced that it would be legal for 2000," said Lewis. "Further development of the new engine will continue throughout the year, but we are very pleased with the performance it has already shown in testing."

Under the 2000 rules, the Lewis' Mustang Cobra will be subject to a 75-pound weight penalty and will be allowed to carry one gallon of fuel less than its competitors.

"We're not a team that likes to sit back and see what others produce," added Lewis. "We like to be on the leading edge and this is just one example of the dedication we have towards the future of our program and this Series."

Team AmeriSuites unveiled its new chassis, that was developed in-house at the AutoCon Motorsports shop in San Diego, Calif., at the season opener in Sebring, Fla. Boris Said (substituting for Lewis due to family commitments) qualified the new chassis on the front row in the car's first outing.

"The start of the season has been riddled with incidents not related to the integrity of the new car and we really have yet to show its capabilities," said Lewis. "We've got our quota of bad luck out of the way -- now it's onward and upward."