Fix and Andretti lead “Fast Five” qualifying at Lime Rock Park
May 22, 2015
Ernie Francis, Jr., sets fast lap for TA3 class
LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 22, 2015) – Paul Fix and Adam Andretti led their respective classes in qualifying today at Lime Rock Park in preparation for tomorrow’s races, the Next Dimension 100 and 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge.
Fix, in the No. 4 Stopflex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet, set the pace for the TA class with a 50.340, as he captured his second consecutive pole of the year at a course where he claimed victory in 2014 and 2013. Fix will start tomorrow’s Next Dimension 100 in prime position in his pursuit of three consecutive Trans Am wins at Lime Rock Park.
Following Fix in Trans Am’s “Fast Five” format was two-time defending Champion, and Fix’s Tony Ave Racing teammate, Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3-Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, with a time of 50.643. Amy Ruman, driver of the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette and current points leader, secured third position with a time of 50.649, while Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, and Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, rounded out the “Fast Five” with times of 50.955 and 51.224, respectively.
Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Ford Mustang, turned a TA2 class track record time of 53.369 to claim pole position for the 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge, an independent TA2 race. The pole is Andretti’s second consecutive pole of the year and at Lime Rock Park. Starting alongside Andretti in tomorrow’s race will be Kevin Poitras, driver of the No. 73 Post Plastics Ford Mustang, with a time of 53.566; while two-time defending Champion, and current points leader, Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, will start third, the result of a 53.766 lap time.
JJ Haley, in the No. 99 BraunAbility Chevrolet Camaro, and Tony Ave, in the No. 70 Lamers Motorsports Ford Mustang, logged times of 53.769 and 53.940 to round out the TA2 “Fast Five.”
In TA3, defending American Muscle Group Champion, Ernie Francis, Jr., set the pace in the production based class to the tune of a 56.188 lap time, strong enough for tomorrow’s TA3 pole and a new track record of his own. Francis was followed by International Group driver Steve Streimer, in the No. 42 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, with a time of 56.446 and Randy Mueller, also of the International Group and driver of the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/MCM Holdings BMW M3, at 56.692 seconds.
Defending International Group Champion Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, was fourth in the session with a time of 56.813; while Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, of the American Muscle Group was fifth with a time of 57.031.
The Trans Am Series will hold two more sessions on the day, a 4:20 PM EDT practice session and a second chance to qualify immediately following at 5:05 PM.
Tomorrow’s races, the TA2 class exclusive 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge and TA and TA3 class Next Dimension 100, will take place at 1:00 PM and 3:15 PM, respectively, with each race constituting 67 laps around the Lime Rock track, approximately 100 miles.
Fans of Trans Am can keep up with all the weekend’s action from Lime Rock Park at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com and on Twitter at @gotransam.
TA "Fast Five" Qualifying Results
