Grand
AM: Miller Motorsport Park
The season is done. Sixth in final race.
Fifth in series Championship
(09.21.2008) It was a tough battle throughout the SunRichGourmet.com 1000k for
the No. 61 Ford Riley and drivers Mark Wilkins, Brian Frisselle and Cristiano
da Matta all put in strong efforts through traffic and the elements to record
a sixth-place finish. The Exchange Traded Gold car also recorded one lap in the
lead making it eleven races where they have lead at least one lap.
The team is now packing up for the trip home - with a brief stop in Las Vegas
for the series banquet, and then they will begin preparations for testing starting
in October to get ready for the '09 season which starts with the Rolex 24 at
Daytona in late January.
A complete post race release will follow but in the meantime, click the link
below for hourly updates from the SunRichGourmet.com 1000K
SunRichGourmet.com 1000
Grand
AM: Miller Motorsport Park
Friday Practice & Qualifying
 (09.19.2008)
With a long morning practice session, Cristiano was given some extra time in
the car to make up for the limited seat time available on Thursday. It also afforded
him time to be come more comfortable with the No. 61 Ford Riley, Cristiano's
times improved steadily throughout the session. Both Mark and Brian put in some
laps to gauge changes to the car and prepare for qualifying later in the day.
Mark would be qualifying the No. 61 and with the long, 4.5 mile course - and
the fifteen minute time limit, it would be a matter of getting it right in only
a few laps. The possibility of rain during the session was also a factor.
Other than a light rain making the first few turns a bit slick during the first
two laps, the track was dry and it would come down to traffic. Mark had a clear
gap at the start of the session and was improving his times when he got caught
behind another car. Mark tuned a lap of 2:27.839 at 103.317 mph for ninth on
the starting grid.
Tomorrow's race is 1000 km and the team will be focusing on working their way
up the field and a strategy that will keep them in the mix to the end with the
ultimate goal of taking the win and at east a podium. It is a long race, and
anything can happen.
The race starts at 11:08 a.m. MT (1:08 ET) and will be broadcast live on SPEED
TV.
photo: Mark Wilkins, Cristiano da Matta and Brian
Frisselle share a moment with Nicole from Performance Drink
Grand
AM: Miller Motorsport Park
Thursday ... and already a long week for some
 (09.18.2008)
The AIM Autosport No 61 Ford Riley is about to hit the track for the first open
practice but the team - and guest driver Cristiano da Matta, have already been
hard at work. Cristiano arrived at Miller Motorsport Park on Tuesday to take
a few laps in one of the track's Ford Mustangs. Having never driven here, the
2002 CART Champion wanted to get acquainted with the circuit and the folks at
Miller graciously provided Cristiano the opportunity during a club session.
Then on Wednesday, as the rest of the team arrived from home base, Cristiano
and engineer Jim Malicki were at the track preparing a new seat insert for the
car. Joined by Dan Hingley and Trevor Daley, they worked into the night to make
sure that it would be a good fit and that driver changes will go smoothly.
A short practice this afternoon and then the cars are on track tomorrow (19th)
at 10:20 MT (12:20 ET) for a full practice ahead of qualifying later in the day.
We will provide updates as available.
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