Grand-Am
Farnbacher Loles Racing Indianapolis test notes
Farnbacher Loles Racing Completes Successful Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Throughout the international racing community, few venues are recognized as true icons of the sport. These are the select few circuits that everyone wishes to ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:16 PM
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Farnbacher Loles Racing Completes Successful Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Throughout the international racing community, few venues are recognized as true icons of the sport. These are the select few circuits that everyone wishes to compete at and all dream of winning. Tracks such as Daytona, Monza, the Nurburgring Nordschleife, The Circuit de la Sarthe, and of course, the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On Thursday, September 3, 2009, nine Grand-Am Rolex Series teams participated in a sanctioned test session at the historic track at 16th and Georgetown. The #87 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was among only four GT Teams to be invited, with 2009 Championship leaders Leh Keen of Charleston, SC and Dirk Werner of Kissenbruck, Germany behind the wheel. The drivers spent the majority of the two, two-hour sessions on Indy's 13-turn Formula 1 layout, with a short session on the 16-turn MotoGP configuration.
For Keen, the chance to drive at Indy provided a few surprises.
"It was cool. The first time on the front straightaway and coming around the corner, and braking for Turn one wow," Keen said. "The track is really interesting, it was different that what I thought. It's like three different kinds of tracks in one. There is the banking you get to play on a little bit, then some smooth, glowing sections in the infield, and then some bumpy, street course-like, features there too. There was a lot to take in for the first trial. But it was a lot of fun. We just tried to go out there and run as fast as possible, and I think there are some good parts that will make a great race."
Werner was similarly impressed with the track's unique characteristics.
"The track is really awesome, I liked it a lot. It's like the European tracks I've raced on, with the flat curbing, the grass, and not being as bumpy. But it still has the character of the American tracks, with the oval use and heading onto the banked turns onto a long straightaway. It's pretty cool and it will provide for some great racing because there will be a good overtaking spot at the end of the long straights. For a driver, it's a lot of fun."
Farnbacher Loles Team Principal, Gregory Loles, hopes to see the successful test become an actual race on the 2010 Grand-Am calendar. "I believe, as do others, that the test was a prelude to a full sports car race at Indy," Loles said. "Speaking with the fans, other teams, the drivers, and team owners, it seems everyone would like to see a new tradition in American Sports Car racing, and I for one would love for us to go racing at the Brickyard."
The Rolex Grand-Am Series continues at the penultimate round of the 2009 schedule at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT. Qualifying begins on Friday, September 18 at 7:15pm ET with the 2.75 hour race starting on Saturday, September 19 at 5:30pm ET.
-credit: flr
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