Laguna Seca: GT practice one report

Angelelli Tops Laguna Seca Morning Practice

MONTEREY, Calif., (Oct. 20, 2006) -- Max Angelelli, of Monte Carlo, Monaco, led the SPEED GT morning practice session at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., and Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., completed the top three.

Angelelli clocked a time of 1:29.064 (90.460 mph) around the undulating 2.238-mile track, 0.3-seconds under the current track record of 1:30.387 (89.136 mph), set by Wolf Henzler last year in a Porsche 911 Cup. The No. 12 XM/Mobil/Motorola/On Star Cadillac CTS-V led practice from start to finish and set his quick time shortly after the start of the session, which was a simulated qualifying session for many.

"It's a good benchmark to see where we are compared to the other competitors," Angelelli said. "I still believe [Tommy] Archer is hiding a lot of speed and not showing his true potential. He's going to show it to everybody tomorrow, but right now we're looking quite good, so I'm very happy about that. I love this track."

Second quick is the No. 23 At Speed Motorsports Porsche 911 Cup of Pobst, who clocked a time of 1:29.629 (89.890 mph). Pobst is pulling double duty this weekend running both SPEED GT and Touring Car, and finds himself second on the timesheets in both classes.

Closing out the top three is Angelelli teammate and defending SPEED GT Champion Pilgrim, with a 1:30.088 (89.432 mph) in the No. 1 Cadillac CTS-V.

Johnny O'Connell, of Flowery Branch, Ga., was fourth quick in his No. 16 Cadillac CTS-V, with a time of 1:30.114 (89.406 mph), followed by the No. 6 Banner Engineering Chevrolet Corvette of Leighton Reese, from Minnetonka, Minn., with a 1:30.184 (89.337 mph).

The entire top five were under the current qualifying lap record at Laguna Seca.

The final SPEED GT practice session will take place Friday afternoon at 4:55 p.m. (Pacific). Sunday's race is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

-credit: scca