Notes &

Quotes

ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA RACE

NOTES

ENRICO BERTAGGIA (No. 71 Callaway C7R) ­­ It was an electrical problem (that put the car out). Ron Fellows was in the car. (On his stints) The car was perfect ­­ quick. The only problem was the traffic. I just know that in that moment we were leading GT­1 because the Viper had a problem. We led for one lap and then the car broke. The mechanics say it is not possible to fix it. It was the first race for this car and we were leading. I think Reeves (Callaway) can say better than me that he was impressed with the potential of the car. In the pre­testing and the race our pace was really a pace to finish the race. When this happens, you have no explanation. I hope we will try again next year.

OLIVIER BERETTA (No. 94 GTS­1 Oreca Dodge Viper GTS­R) ­­ (at about 2 a.m.) I just wake up. We were in first position and we had a gearbox problem. They have fixed it already but we are back in the pits. The gearbox was OK while I was in the car. Everything was OK, but I think it's not finished. We see where we are in the morning and if we arrive there we will push very hard.

ERIC VAN DE POELE (No. 1 Doyle Racing Oldsmobile R&S Hk. III) ­(One lap prior to handing the car back to Wayne Taylor and two laps ahead of the second place #3 Scandia Ferrari, van de Poele felt an odd vibration. The engine had failed.) "The car felt absolutely perfect. I was coming along the straight, felt a big vibration, then boom. I was hoping that it might be a transmission problem, but no. It is disappointing. The car was so easy to drive and things were going so well. After losing a few laps in the start to small things, we gained back our lead...then this."

WAYNE TAYLOR (No. 1 Doyle Racing Oldsmobile R&S Mk. III)­"The car felt great. We were running conservatively; the drivers were doing a good job, the tires were fantastic. Though we don't know for sure, it looks like the same problem we had in the early January test. It is really disappointing. We have no option but to look to the rest of the season. After 15 hours, this race is a throw away for us."

MEL BUTT (No. 64 GTS­1 JB Racing Chevrolet Camaro) ­­ We got hit going into turn one. I don't know if I pulled over on someone I didn't see or someone didn't see me stopping. It spun us around and into the pit exit wall. (The no. 1 car had just blown up on turn one.) I saw the oil and had missed it for two laps. I took a wider line and maybe someone tried to sneak up underneath me. Whoever it was clipped me in the left rear and it was a ride! That's racing ­­ you do the best you can and I'm sure they were doing the best they could. Sometimes you win and sometimes you end up with a wrecked car.