Grand-Am

Daytona 24: Rand Racing final practice

2002 Rolex 24 at Daytona Daytona International Speedway Final qualifying and practice, Feb. 1 The Rand Racing team is hoping for a strong finish in its first endurance race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, scheduled for a Saturday start on the 3.65-mile ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

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2002 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Final qualifying and practice, Feb. 1

The Rand Racing team is hoping for a strong finish in its first endurance race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, scheduled for a Saturday start on the 3.65-mile Daytona International Speedway road course. The team will start the No. 8 Nissan Lola from the SRPII class pole position, with Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., driving the first stint. He'll be followed by Terry Borcheller of Phoenix, Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., and Ralf Kelleners of Germany.

"I think we're in much better shape than we were when we got here," Lazzaro said. " We're three to five seconds faster than the next car, and it's almost not good because you relax too much, knowing you don't have anybody to pressure you. I don't want to take it easy because it's easier to lose focus, so I just put my head down and do what I've got to do. A 24-hour race is a lot of a mind game: we've got to not make a lot of mistakes."

Rookie lessons

Preparation for the Daytona endurance race has been a learning experience for team owner and rookie Grand-Am driver Bill Rand. He explained, "Every second in the pit counts; that's why we're working on pit stops versus speed. We feel that we can run the pace that we want to run, and we want to make sure we don't lose any time in the pits.

"Personally, I've learned to keep out of trouble, not do anything beyond my capability and bring the car home for the whole race. With the driver lineup we've got, it's in better hands to have Ralf, Terry or Anthony run the hot laps we need. I'll save the car and bring it back to them. My confidence level has definitely improved this week. I know I can do this as well as most of the people in this class. I'm having the time of my life."

-sp-

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