Max Angelelli captures pole for prestigious 24 Hours At Daytona endurance race
By APThursday, January 28, 2010
Angelelli captures pole for 24 Hours Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Max Angelelli won a tight qualifying race Thursday to capture the pole for the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona.
Angelelli secured the top position for Saturday’s race with a lap of 1:40.827 seconds (127.108 mph) in the No. 10 Ford Dallara at Daytona International Speedway.
Ozz Negri will start from the outside of row one after running 1:41.100 (126.765 mph) in the No. 60 Ford Riley. He edged out Michael Shank Racing teammate Michael Valiante with a time of 1:41.110 (126.755 mph) in the No. 6 Ford Riley.
“The car is great,” Angelelli said. “It’s really easy to drive. It’s fast. We have everything in place, and we’re really looking forward to the race to get a good result. Now it’s up to us as drivers to make it happen.”
The opening practice session had three single-car incidents that damaged contending cars driven by four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Lucas Luhr and Martin Ragginger. All three cars are expected to be ready to race following extensive repairs.
The defending Daytona Prototype champion GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team initially made plans to fly in another car — driven by Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty to the 2007 championship — after Johnson crashed in the infield when a slower car moved in front of him. But the team decided to rebuild the damaged car with parts being flown in from Riley Technologies in Concord, N.C.
Jeff Segal won the GT pole in the final lap of qualifying with a track-record lap of 1:49.282 (117.275 mph) in the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8.
