;)
We haven't actually run this Grand-Am-spec Ferrari since Daytona as we had switched gears to focus entirely on our preparation for the 2012 ALMS season and it's opening rounds, the Sebring 12 Hour & Grand Prix of Long Beach. While all the other Rolex teams have tested and raced at Barber Motorsports Park I thought there would be a chance we'd show up at Homestead and be behind the eight ball just a bit, but apparently that wasn't the case!
We had a pretty good day, although it wasn't looking so good at first. We missed all of the first practice session due to an ECU glitch, but my boys on the Extreme Speed Motorsports crew got the problem solved and low and behold, our little Ferrari came to life and we were all set for the rest of the day.
My first laps in session two were quick enough to put us P1, and held strong for much of the session until we were bumped to P2. Not too shabby, I guess! Same story for practice session three, where I drove just the first few laps to evaluate some changes - posted times that put us P2, just behind Bill Auberlen and his Turner Motorsports BMW - and then turned the car over to my teammate Ed Brown. Ed drove at Homestead just once before, and it was one of his very first days in a race car - ever! So I just like to say he's 'never been here before'. Ed drove really well and acclimated to the track quickly. We're looking good so far!
Conditions? Slippery! Like, BIG TIME! There is NO traction out there! It's crazy. But, it's the same for everyone, and apparently our little Ferrari likes it. It's warm too, by the way...
Tomorrow we have just two practice sessions totaling 2.5 hours of track time, so we'll have enough time to make some changes and keep working on improvements. But first & foremost is helping Ed get comfortable and up to speed, and from what I can see in his data thus far, he'll be making some significant gains tomorrow!
I'm looking forward to it! Stay tuned for more updates!
Guy