Road America: Scott Pruett preview

Pruett hopes to extend Rocketsports' success at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- Scott Pruett, driver of the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR, hopes to continue his near-perfect season as the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup visits Road America for Round 8 of this year's championship, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24. Pruett is on a tear this season, having won five of seven races, and earning six poles. Pruett is coming off his most recent victory at Trois-Rivieres, where he led every lap, and has a 40-point lead in the points chase.

Rocketsports has a tradition of excellence at Road America's 4.048-mile permanent road course. Team owner and three-time champion Paul Gentilozzi has won here twice in Trans-Am competition, while teammate Johnny Miller has finished on the Road America's podium for the last two years. Pruett won the Trans-Am Series race here in 1988, and has also competed here in the Champ Car World Series and IMSA competition.

"Rocketsports has a strong history here," said Pruett, who returned to the Trans-Am Series this season after an eight-year hiatus, during which he competed in the Champ Car World Series and NASCAR. "The team has seen a lot of success here, and I hope to carry on that tradition.

"I love Road America," added Pruett. "When a driver likes a track and the driver has a good track record there, it can't help but lend itself to a successful weekend."

Pruett said perfection is the key here: "The track so long that you have to get everything right," said Pruett. "If you mess up one turn, it messes up your whole lap. It's a tough place. To get it right and go fast, you have to get it all right every lap."

Pruett comes to Road America in pursuit of his third Series title, having won the Trans-Am Series Drivers' Championship in 1987 and 1994. Yet, the veteran racer isn't going to let the points get in the way of a successful race.

"We've had a great season, but I haven't been concerned with points all year," said Pruett, who in his Trans-Am Series career has 19 wins, 36 podium finishes, and 38 top-five finishes in 55 starts. "I know we're leading the championship and we have a little bit of a cushion, but winning races is really all I'm concerned with. We just have to keep doing what we are doing."

The Trans-Am 100 is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24. The race will air on same-day, tape-delayed basis at 12:30 p.m. on SPEED.