Angelelli captures pole for 24 Hours Daytona
January 28, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP)—Max Angelelli won a tight qualifying race tocapture the pole for the 24 Hours of Daytona on Thursday.
Angelelli secured the top position for Saturday’s race with a lap of1:40.827 seconds (127.108 mph, 204.55 kph) in the No. 10 Ford Dallara at DaytonaInternational Speedway.
Ozz Negri will start from the outside of row one after running 1:41.100(126.765 mph, 204 kph) in the No. 60 Ford Riley. He edged out Michael ShankRacing teammate Michael Valiante with a time of 1:41.110 (126.755 mph, 203.98kph) in the No. 6 Ford Riley.
“The car is great,” Angelelli said. “It’s really easy to drive. It’sfast. We have everything in place, and we’re really looking forward to the raceto 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 damagedcontending cars driven by four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Lucas Luhrand Martin Ragginger. All three cars are expected to be ready to race followingextensive repairs.
The defending Daytona Prototype champion GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing teaminitially made plans to fly in another car—driven by Alex Gurney and JonFogarty to the 2007 championship—after Johnson crashed in the infield when aslower car moved in front of him. But the team decided to rebuild the damagedcar with parts being flown in from North Carolina.
Jeff Segal won the GT pole in the final lap of qualifying with atrack-record lap of 1:49.282 (117.275 mph, 188.73 kph) in the No. 69 FXDD MazdaRX-8.
