VIR: Michael Shank Racing qualifying report

(Alton, VA) 8 October 05-- Michael Shank Racing's two Daytona Prototypes will start Sunday's VIR 400 from eighth and nineteenth on the grid after the qualifying session was cancelled due to the rainy weather conditions which have persisted at Virginia International Raceway in advance of round thirteen of the Rolex Sports Car Series.

The announcement was received with disappointment by the team, which was hoping to get the chance to show their speed in the qualifying session after both cars posted times in the top five in the morning session.

"I understand why they (Grand American) made this decision, but we would have of course had the chance to qualify because both of our cars are really good," said team owner Mike Shank "Starting by points also really penalizes Mark (Patterson) and Oswaldo (Negri) because they have only entered a few events, so there are a lot of slow cars that they are going to have to start behind tomorrow."

The Mears Motor Coach Machine of Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr. was fourth quickest in the morning practice session with a fast lap time of 2:03.842-seconds on the 3.27-mile circuit, and the sister Flight Options Lexus-Riley of Patterson and Negri were just a shade behind in fifth with a best lap of 2:03.107-second.

"It's a shame that we didn't get a chance to qualify today," said Negri. "We know we could have been in the top-ten or even better, so we will have some work to do tomorrow. But the Flight Options car is great and it's a long track so hopefully Mark can make up some ground early and we can finish well like we did at the Glen (where Patterson and Negri scored their debut Rolex podium in just their third Rolex start together)."

-msr-