Sebring: Tuesday test day summary

Fitzgerald and Turner quickest in Sebring Speed World Challenge test day. SEBRING, Fla. (March 11, 2003)--Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Will Turner, of Newburyport, Mass., were the fastest in SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge GT and ...

Fitzgerald and Turner quickest in Sebring Speed World Challenge test day.

SEBRING, Fla. (March 11, 2003)--Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Will Turner, of Newburyport, Mass., were the fastest in SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge GT and Touring Car, respectively, during Tuesday's unofficial test session at Sebring International Raceway.

Driving the 3R Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for the first time, and for the first time on the new Toyo Proxes RA-1 race tires, Fitzgerald turned a fastest time of 2:15.007 (98.662 mph) around the 3.7-mile circuit, a full four seconds faster than Michael Galati's 2002 qualifying record, set on Toyo street tires.

Fitzgerald's 3R Racing teammate Phil McClure, driving a Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, was second fastest in the final two of three sessions, with a lap of 2:15.044 (98.635 mph), just 0.037-second behind.

The brand new Audi RS6 cars from Champion Racing fared well in their first series test, with Randy Pobst third on the day and defending Champion Michael Galati fourth. Bill Auberlen, driving the new BMW M3 from the BMW Team PTG stables was fifth.

Turner, driving his Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW 325i, turned a fastest lap of 2:29.414 (89.148 mph) to lead the SCCA Speed Touring Cars. Turner's lap was faster than Pierre Kleinubing's 2002 qualifying record of 2:30.288.

Jon Prall, driving the Stasis Audi A4, was second quick, with a 2:30.043 (88.775 mph), followed by rookie Matt Plumb (duPont Motorsports BMW 325), Robert Stretch (Wheels America BMW 325Ci) and Jeff Altenburg (TriPoint Motorsports/Mazdaspeed Mazda Protege ES).

The day started with a bizarre incident in the first, un-timed session, which seriously damaged the BMW Team PTG BMW M3 of Boris Said and eliminated Touring Car Rookie of the Year candidate Bob Endicott (King Motorsports Acura RSX). Endicott suffered a mechanical failure on the front straight and turned abruptly across the pit lane exit, right into the path of Said, who was exiting the pit lane for the first time. Said's car tee-boned Endicott at approximately 65 mph.

Official practice session's for Friday's opening round races begins Wednesday. For more information, including live timing, please visit www.world-challenge.com.