Mosport: Team CytoSport qualifying report

Pole Position for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport at Mosport Raceway

Bowmanville, Ont. (August 28, 2010) - It's been a year of firsts for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport and it continued today with Klaus Graf scoring his and the team's first ever pole position in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón at one of the most challenging tracks on the schedule.

The team showed its speed from the moment it first sent its Michelin-clad Porsche RS Spyder out onto the 2.259-mile, 10-turn road course at Mosport International Raceway for the promoter test yesterday, topping the time sheets in all of the on-track sessions.

Romain Dumas, who is replacing the injured Greg Pickett this weekend, showed that he hadn't lost his touch behind the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder despite not having driven the car since 2008.

The Frenchman set the fastest time in Friday's test session (1:07.801) and again in Saturday morning's first practice (1:07.489), but it was the team's regular driver Klaus Graf that was behind the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder in qualifying.

Greg and Klaus celebrate pole Although Graf paced Practice 2 with a time of one minute 7.851 seconds, nearly half a second ahead of his closest competitor, the speedy German knew he was in for quite the battle for pole position.

As soon as the green flag dropped in qualifying the fight was on. Graf found himself second after his first timed lap, but not for long as he moved up to first on his second lap.

With the Dyson Racing and Highcroft Racing cars putting up a fight, Graf kept on pushing the Porsche RS Spyder and improving his time, taking over provisional pole with every lap.

On his fourth lap, Graf put himself on pole position for good and confirmed his speed on his following lap by being the only driver to turn a lap below one minute and seven seconds.

Graf's lap time of one minute 6.956 seconds set an LMP class qualifying lap record at Mosport International Raceway.

What they had to say:

Klaus Graf Headshot Klaus Graf, Qualifying Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder

"Unbelievable! It's a fantastic result for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport to be on pole position here at Mosport. I couldn't be happier for the guys.

"Everyone on the team is working well together and it's been easy working with Romain. He's blindingly fast and we've done a good job together working on the set-up for the Porsche RS Spyder. We made some major improvements and I think that got us the pole today.

"It's a very challenging place here and it's very easy to make a mistake and the speeds are so high. It's an adrenaline rush. I was a little pumped after doing the laps.

"That said, it's just half the job, the rest comes tomorrow. Again, this whole operation is a team effort so thanks to the guys. The car is very, very good and thanks to Michelin, we made the right tire choices together with the engineers and I think we're in good shape for tomorrow."

Romain Dumas, driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder

"It's nice to be back in the Porsche RS Spyder. It has gone very well so far, leading all the practices and now qualifying. I think it's a good sign.

"It's been great working with the team, they make you feel very welcome. Klaus and I have also been working very well together. It's been easy to set-up the car to our liking.

"The first few laps of the race tomorrow will not be easy with the quicker cars on the straight. We will need to be smart and be patient, it is a long race."

Greg Pickett, owner/driver, #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder

"I'm very pleased for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport. This is a heck of a comeback from where we were a couple of weeks ago. It's very gratifying. I'm also very happy for Klaus getting our first pole. I've said it before, Klaus is getting noticed in this paddock and I think this kind of puts an exclamation point on that. He's a really fast driver and I think it's wonderful that he was able to show that today.

"I am very proud of the whole organization and Klaus in particular. I couldn't be more tickled, I just wish I was out there, but that's OK it will all come in time."

-source: team cytosport