Lime Rock: Touring practice report

Local driver Turner tops speed Touring Car practice at Lime Rock. LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 24, 2002) -- Will Turner passes the town in which he grew up each time he drives to Lime Rock Park, and it has paid off thus far, as he topped the first day of ...

Local driver Turner tops speed Touring Car practice at Lime Rock.

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 24, 2002) -- Will Turner passes the town in which he grew up each time he drives to Lime Rock Park, and it has paid off thus far, as he topped the first day of practice for SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Cars at the Mohegan Sun Presents the Lime Rock Grand Prix. Teammate Bobby Sak, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Brazil's Pierre Kleinubing completed the top three.

Driving the No. 92 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs/County Line BMW 325i, Turner cut a lap of 1:01.840 (89.068 mph) around the 1.53-mile circuit in the first of two 20-minute practice sessions to top the day. The lap was under Kleinubing's 2001 qualifying mark of 1:01.939.

Turner, now of Newburyport, Mass., grew up in nearby Collinsville, Conn. While he enjoyed success at his home track in 2001 as a car owner, with then team driver Bill Auberlen winning the first of two races at Lime Rock, he has yet to stand atop the winner's podium as a driver.

Driving the No. 93 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW 325i, Sak topped the second session and wound up second on the combined time sheet with a lap of 1:02.078 (88.727 mph). Sak did not turn a single lap in the initial practice session, and the crew changed motors in just over an hour to make the afternoon run.

Kleinubing, the race's defending champion, turned a lap of 1:02.101 in the opening session in the No. 1 RealTime Racing Acura Integra R. He is currently tied atop the point standings with Ken Dobson, with 60.

Dobson's teammate, rookie Mark Kirberg, of Madera, Calif., was fourth, followed by Kleinubing's teammate and team owner, Peter Cunningham, of W. Bend, Wis.

Woody's Ice Qualifying for Monday's Speed Touring Car race will take place Saturday at 11:15 a.m. Eastern.