Darren and Scott finish third in Rolex Grand Am
Oct 31, 2004, 15:29
Darren made his competitive return from injury in the Grand Am Rolex Series this weekend as Target Chip Ganassi Racing added a third Daytona Prototype to the season-ending Lexus 400 at the California Speedway in Fontana.
Darren was forced to miss the IRL season finale at the Texas Motor Speedway after his sustained back injuries during an IRL IndyCar Series qualifying crash, but was fit enough to make his Grand-Am debut on the road course circuit on Sunday, October 31.
Darren partnered his IRL IndyCar Series team-mate Scott Dixon in the CompUSA sponsored Riley-Lexus, and with Scott busy racing in the Crown Royal International Race of Champions event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on the Saturday, Darren qualified the no.8 Lexus Riley securing second spot with a time of 1:31.820 (110.564 mph).
Despite contact with the No. 63 Stuttgart Performance Porsche GT3 RS of Geoff Escalette on lap 10 of the race that required a new front end, Darren and Scott battled back for a third-place result. It was Darren’s first-ever appearance in the Rolex Sports Car Series and was Scott’s first Rolex Series race since competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in February.
“We had a good start and I was able to keep pace with Max (Papis) in the no.01 CompUSA Lexus Riley,” Darren said. “I had a bit of a rookie mistake at the beginning which ripped off the nose of the car and cost us some valuable positions. We also had some fuel pick up problems that took away our straight-line speed but we were fairly good in traffic. Scott (Dixon) did a good job to get us back into the top five and finishing on the podium is definitely a bonus in this my first run in the Rolex Series. It was definitely a good experience and I’d look forward to doing it again.”
“From my initial experience at the 24 Hours at Daytona, I could see marked improvements in the adjustability of the car and how the team has really come together,” remarked Scott. “Darren and I held our own out there in a very competitive field and it was really nice to have Chip (Ganassi) give us this opportunity to actively be part of this weekend and see the CompUSA team win the title and bring home another championship to the Ganassi organization.”
No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley co-drivers Max Papis and Scott Pruett, who led 81 of 89 laps, wrapped up the 2004 Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype driver and team titles for Chip Ganassi Racing with a win at the California Speedway.
“I'm overwhelmed,” said Papis, who was celebrating his first championship win. “It's really special driving for an organization like Chip Ganassi. Three weeks ago we decided we wanted to get help from Darren (Manning) and Scott (Dixon). I was surprised in the beginning with our pace.”
“On the personal side, it's been a very strange weekend. Last week people from (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team) Hendrick (Motorsports) had their tragedy and I lost some friends. Five years ago today my friend Greg Moore had his accident so Scott really made this weekend great for me. Even when Scott had his problem in the pit stop, it could have been terminal but it wasn't. We didn't work for this championship without the ups and downs.”
The championship came in the first year of Rolex Sports Car Series competition for CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Indy Racing League season will kick off at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 4-5-6, 2005. Keep checking Darren’s website for news, features, photos and much more during the off-season.
Lexus Grand American 400K top ten race results:
1. Papis/ Pruett - CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley
2. Forbes-Robinson/ Leitzinger - Howard - Boss Motorsports / Pontiac Crawford
3. Manning/ Dixon - CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley
4. Taylor/ Angelelli - SunTrust Racing / Pontiac Riley
5. Theys/ Magnussen - Doran Lista Racing / Lexus Doran
6. Morales/ Diaz - CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates / Lexus Riley
7. Negri Jr/ Frisselle - Michael Shank Racing / Lexus Doran
8. France/ Haywood - Brumos - Goodyear - Kendall / Porsche Fabcar
9. Duno/ Wallace - CITGO - Howard - Boss Motorsports / Pontiac Crawford
10. Martini/ Wagner - Rx.com/ G&W Motorsports / BMW Doran
