Trois-Rivieres: JML Team Panoz Saturday notes

JML Team Panoz pulls out best qualifying performance of '03.

The impressive performances from JML Team Panoz continued at Trois Rivieres in Quebec today with the team pulling out its best qualifying performance of 2003.

Olivier Beretta qualified the #10 Panoz LMP-01 in 4th position with a time of 59.148 seconds, while young star Gunnar Jeannette was just behind the two-time ALMS GTS champion in 5th place, stopping the clocks at 59.644 seconds.

Both Panoz machines made significant improvements during morning practice and carried that form into the afternoon qualifying session.

Previously in the 2003 American Le Mans Series, JML Team Panoz qualified 8th and 13th and Sebring, 6th and 8th at Road Atlanta and 6th and 33rd at Infineon Raceway.

The Panoz LMP-01 cars qualified 3rd and 7th here at Trois Rivieres in 2002.

Tomorrow's three hour event is round four of the 2003 American Le Mans Series. Broadcast live on Speed Channel, the Trois Rivieres event kicks off at 2.45pm

OLIVIER BERETTA "Everything went well and we got through without any damage to the car which is good, because there is a lot of concrete around this track. "It would have been nice to go a little bit quicker, but at least we are on the second row and we have a very long race tomorrow. "We didn't put a lot of laps on the tires and try and go even quicker because we will double stint the Michelin rubber from the start. "The plan tomorrow will be to try to keep the car on the road and and keep out of trouble. This track is quite fun to race on and I am really looking forward to the race."

DAVID SAELENS "We had a very good day today - everything went extremely well. Throughout practice we have been P1, P2, P3 or P4 and Olivier did a great job to qualify fourth. "This track is really fun to race on and I think we have a package that will certainly keep the Audis and the MGs very honest. "The team has done a fantastic job and I am really looking forward to tomorrow. On street circuits anything can happen, but our performance so far has been very rewarding."

GUNNAR JEANNETTE "This is the first chance I have had to qualify the Panoz and I am very happy with the result. Being 5th overall and 4th in class is very rewarding. "I had a bit of a moment on my second fastest lap which added a bit of flavor to proceedings. The car got pretty sideways and I could see everybody ducking behind the pit wall. "The JML boys did a brilliant job with the car and the Michelin tires were very strong. We will certainly be able to double stint the tires tomorrow. "It is also very pleasing to be close to Olivier's time because he has a huge amount of experience in sports car racing."

SCOTT MAXWELL "This morning we started with a different set-up and found about a second by going softer and continued in that direction for the afternoon practice session. "We ended up going slower in that session, so we went back to the morning set-up for qualifying and Gunnar did an excellent job. "Both of us are very happy with the car and we will try to find some more speed in the morning warm-up, but starting from 5th position is a very good result for us."

TROIS RIVIERES QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. Biela/Werner Audi LMP900 57.740 2. Herbert/Lehto Audi LMP900 58.396 3. Weaver/Leitzinger MG Lola LMP675 58.547 4. Beretta/Saelens JML Team Panoz LMP900 59.148 5. Jeannette/Maxwell JML Team Panoz LMP900 59.644 6. Dyson/Wallace MG Lola LMP675 1:00.149

Paul Ryan, Panoz Motorsports Group OFFICE: 706 654 2983 • CELLPHONE: 770 601 7832

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