ALMS
Road America: Maserati Friday test day notes
The Maserati MC12 posted the fifth-fastest GT1 time during testing for the Aug. 21 American Le Mans Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Drivers Andrea Bertolini and Fabrizio de Simone are rookies at Road America, but both turned quick ...
Published: Aug 20, 2005, 12:55 PM
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The Maserati MC12 posted the fifth-fastest GT1 time during testing for the Aug. 21 American Le Mans Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Drivers Andrea Bertolini and Fabrizio de Simone are rookies at Road America, but both turned quick laps as they learned the intricate 4.048- mile track. They also tested a new tire compound provided by team partner Pirelli in preparation for Sunday's two-hour 45-minute race.
Following qualifying on Saturday, the Maserati drivers will see the track from another vantage point. Bertolini and de Simone will lap the track on bicycles during the Tour de Road America, a special event to raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Maserati competes with an MC12 in compliance with the rules of IMSA and matches FIA GT Championship GT1 specifications. The team will not score points in the American Le Mans Series championship.
Giorgio Ascanelli, Maserati Corse technical director: "The car ran reliably for one hour and a half. We have completed what we think will be one hour of the race on the same set of tires, and the durability of the new compound has been tested and has been successful. We're clearly lacking speed, but the drivers are learning the circuit for the first time and I think there is something more to come from the car. The engine is not in the same trim as we had [at the two previous races] in Sonoma and Portland, but I think we still are the fastest GT1 car on the straight. The long straights favor the potential of our engine, which is very good."
Andrea Bertolini: "It's a very fun track, a very European track. I love this track because it's fast. It's my favorite track now in the U.S.A., this and Road Atlanta. We improved a lot today. Our team is working very hard on development of the car and the tires."
Fabrizio de Simone: "The track is new for me. It's a very nice track, quite exciting. It takes a little bit longer than other tracks to get it completely, so I'm taking my time. We're looking for our best setup, so tomorrow we'll go on with our work with the car and with Pirelli and the tires. We'll try to get our best data."
The participation of Maserati in the ALMS has been made possible thanks to the fundamental cooperation of important partners, including Pirelli and team Risi Competizione, that support Maserati logistically. The MC12 is using Pirelli Racing P Zero tires, developed in 2004 and currently used on an exclusive basis in the FIA GT Championship. The successful cooperation between Maserati and Pirelli continues in the ALMS.
-www.maseraticorse.com.
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