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Daytona 24 Hour 2004

Rolex

01/02/2004

29/01/2004

Pontiac Qualifies On The Front Row

Pontiac Qualifies On The Front Row For The Rolex 24 At Daytona

Max Angelelli Powers Pontiac Riley To 2nd Position Overall In Thursday Session

General Motors’ Pontiac and Chevrolet-powered Daytona Prototypes captured five of the top eight positions in qualifying before Saturday’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. Max Angelelli, driving the No.10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley, recorded GM Racing’s best lap with a time of 1:46:095, placing second on the 55-car grid. All five GM-powered cars shattered the previous Daytona Prototype qualifying record by nearly two seconds.

“This is a great day for GM Racing and Pontiac Motorsports,” said Gary Claudio, marketing manager for GM Racing. “With Pontiac entering Grand American Rolex racing for the very first time, it means so much to be able to say we qualified on the front row for this legendary event. We are looking forward to a great race on Saturday.”

Not since 2001, when the factory Corvette C5-R took an overall victory, has GM Racing shown such a presence at the prestigious 24-hour event. Pontiac Motorsports announced on Thursday its formal arrival in the Rolex Series; Max Angelelli’s front-row qualifying time highlighted the division’s renewed performance prowess.

“I am very happy with the level of performance I was able to obtain considering I really haven’t had much time in the car,” said Angelelli. “This is an important race for Pontiac and we are all looking forward to a strong race on Saturday.”

The top placing Chevrolet-powered Daytona Prototype, fielded by Crawford Race Cars and driven by Andy Wallace, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., placed fourth overall after the 15-minute session. The two top NASCAR stars, both of whom have experience in the Daytona 24, are joined by sports car veteran and multiple Daytona-winner Andy Wallace.

“The car is very strong and we’re confident for Saturday,” said Wallace. “We’ve got a few things to work on over the next few days but overall we’re quite happy with the progress we’ve made through practice and qualifying today.”

The five Chevrolet and Pontiac-powered Daytona Prototypes will take to the track again on Friday for two practice sessions before starting the 24-hour race on Saturday afternoon.