GT3: GAS/Wheel Enhancement qualifying notes

Roush Pole, Swartzbaugh Fourth

SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2006) - Kevin Roush, grabs pole for round-one of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin at the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Roush, driver of the No. 12 G.A.S. Motorsport/Wheel Enhancement Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997, put down four laps and posted a fast lap time of 2:10.301. "The car was great," Kevin said. "The track was a little hotter than I expected and was slippery. But the car was awesome and I'm glad we kept it on the track and that my teammate Nathan got fourth. With two guys in the top four, I'm very happy."

Nathan Swartzbaugh, despite contact with another car early in the session, took fourth on the starting grid in his No. 17 North-South Machinery Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997. "Qualifying was good. We had a couple slow laps in the beginning getting through traffic and our new chassis set-up took some time to adapt to, " said the 20-year-old driver.

Nathan was unable to capitalize on the new set-up in yesterday's red- flagged final afternoon practice session.

"We ended up behind a couple fast guys and unfortunately, coming into turn 17 I made contact with one of them, luckily neither of us ended up in the wall," Swartzbaugh further commented. "After having to make a pit stop to replace my left front wheel, we went out for two more laps and grabbed fourth. It will be a late night trying to find the time we need to finish in front. Fourth is good but that's not why we're here."

Round one of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin begins 3:40 p.m. EST Friday, March 17, at 3:30 at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway.

-we-