SunTrust Racing in the Daytona Prototype class and AIM/FXDD in GT will both be hoping to make it three wins in the row at the Chevrolet Grand-Am 200 at Detroit’s Belle Isle road course this Saturday.
Both teams won in the rain at Homestead-Miami in April and at New Jersey Motorsports Park in mid-May. AIM drivers Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato will be defending their GT points lead; SunTrust drivers Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli hope to close the four-point deficit to first place in DP.
Angelelli discussed driving for the first time on a new track: “I have zero first-hand knowledge of the track,” he said on the team’s site. “I’ve been looking at videos of the track with the boys, Ricky and Jordan (Taylor). We‘ll see when we get there. It’s a lot of corners, long straights. I’ll need to see it to understand it.
As for driving an a brand-new street circuit, he said, “You just need to be extra careful. I think it’s going to be a very exciting race because it’s going to be short and we will be pushing from beginning to end.”
Taylor also commented on the pressure. “"We’re right in the backyard of Chevrolet and the pressure is really going to be on because we’re now fighting for a championship, just a few points out of first. As recently as last race at New Jersey, we could be really aggressive with our strategy and everything.
“Going to a street course for the first time, it’s another variable that makes it tough and makes you be a little more conservative so as not to touch anything or anyone. It’s a lot less pressure when you’re behind in points, I think. It’s more fun to try and make risky moves and you can afford to take risks.
“No matter what happens, we are conscious of the situation and we‘ll try and not make any mistakes because, when we get to the tracks we know for sure we are good at, we’ll want to be able to take advantage of those.”
The Grand Am Rolex Chevrolet Grand-Am 200 is part of a full weekend of racing at Detroit’s Belle Isle circuit. IndyCar, Indy Lights, and Pirelli World Challenge will also be on track. For the full schedule and tickets, visit the Detroit Grand Prix website.
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