ALMS

Mid-Ohio: Risi Competizione preview

RISI COMPETIZIONE PREPARES FOR MID-OHIO AND ANOTHER RUN FOR THE PODIUM. Lexington, Mid Ohio - Two races (Sebring and Houston). Two fastest Laps (Sebring and Houston). Two long-term leads (6 hours at Sebring, 61 laps in Houston). Two podium ...

Published: May 20, 2006, 8:31 AM

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RISI COMPETIZIONE PREPARES FOR MID-OHIO AND ANOTHER RUN FOR THE PODIUM.

Lexington, Mid Ohio - Two races (Sebring and Houston). Two fastest Laps (Sebring and Houston). Two long-term leads (6 hours at Sebring, 61 laps in Houston). Two podium finishes (Third in Class at Sebring and Third in Class in Houston). Nothing if not consistent-and consistently fast-Risi Competizione has arrived at Mid-Ohio prepared, ready to run, and facing the challenges of a totally different type of track and track surface.

As the Rosso Corsa (racing red) Ferrari F430GT came off the team transporter, Team Engineer Rick Mayer reflected on what faced Risi Competizione for the weekend: "This should be a good track for us. It has low top-speed flowing corners, change of direction, and good braking zones. Our Michelin tires will give us an advantage here. The F430GT has proven to be very quick, with good acceleration, excellent braking and it changes direction really well. We're looking at top speeds around 150 mph for our class. We're going to run in the leanest engine map possible to improve our fuel mileage. The reliability built into the car is superb."

Team Managing Director Giuseppe Risi said, "It's been a very encouraging start to a long season. We worked very hard at Sebring, after Sebring, and in Houston. Even with all the distractions at the first Lone Star Grand Prix, we had a very good racing meeting. It was great to have all of our friends, supporters, and clients from Ferrari of Houston at the track for the race. For the very first time, we had the chance to race in front of all the people who work at the dealership-we got tickets for every single person and they all turned out to see us run. What a great thrill for everyone on the team."

Continuing, Risi noted that "Houston was a very important race meeting for us. Not just on the track-where we had a great run, the car performing superbly on the Michelins-but off of it. Mika Salo joined our team in Houston and he put on a real show of amazing driving to put the car on the podium after it was hit on the track by another race car. The team really came together through that incident and that is, ultimately, what a team is all about: can everyone dig down and make the extra effort it takes to be one of the best. Mika's effort, coupled with Jaime's great first-half stint, where he set the lap record, has set the tone for the team We've got a great team going now and we look forward to every race and the challenges brought to us by both Panoz and Porsche."

Over the course of two races, all of the GT2 cars in the American Le Mans Series have faced two very difficult race tracks. Sebring, notorious for its tough conditions was more than equaled by Houston's bumpy street circuit. "At Mid-Ohio, "Rick Mayer explained, "we're into a totally different type of track. The surface is smoother because the track was recently repaved. Tires are likely to play a bigger difference in car performance on a smooth track, whereas on bumpy tracks shock absorbers play a bigger role. Mid-Ohio is a high downforce track and the circuit should be a great one for the Ferrari. Weather could be a factor..the forecast is for cooler temperatures and it all points to softer compounds on our Michelins. It'll be a good race for everyone."

The Mid-Ohio ALMS race will be telecast, live by CBS on Sunday, May 21st (Check your local listings for time). Risi Competizione is a Houston-based sports car racing team sponsored by Boost Mobile, Michelin, Italy LP, Putnam Leasing, and Forza2 Motorsport//X-Box 360.

-rc-

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