Teammates Peterson and Fix lead official practice session
May 24, 2013
Current TA points leader Doug Peterson and the #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette led the second practice session of the day with a time of 52.009 seconds, beating out his own teammate, Paul Fix, for the top spot of the second practice session at Lime Rock Park.
Peterson is currently riding a three race winning streak that dates back to the 2012 season finale, and now he has a fresh face next to him in the paddock and on the timing sheet. Trans Am veteran Paul Fix raced Trans Am heavily in the early 2000’s and is making his return to the Trans Am paddock in the #4 StopFlex/Beebe Racing/PME/Lamers Chevrolet Corvette.
Fix has filled in for Tony Ave, who has stepped away from the driver’s seat for the time being to better manage Tony Ave Racing, and his return has produced results. Fix’s time of 52.140 was only .131 behind Peterson, putting Tony Ave Racing at the top of the time sheet.
Doug Peterson was quick to credit the quality of the cars and efforts of the crew at Tony Ave Racing.
“We had some really good cars,” Peterson said. “This isn’t a horsepower track—we constantly work on setup here; we’re constantly making changes, trying to get the car right on the edge. We’ve gone through the process this weekend: First we had too much understeer, then too much oversteer, then we got it right. This car is so easy to drive when it is spot on, and that’s what I’ve always liked about them.”
While Tony Ave has relinquished the #4’s driver’s seat to Fix, he doesn’t have any regrets and is pleased with the team’s performance.
“Paul is doing really well,” Ave said. “He likes the car, fits in it well and has been fast both sessions. We have a pretty good setup here; the car’s we’ve built have gone one, two, three in the last session. I knew Paul would run well here anyways, and Doug is still on the top of the sheet. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing our cars on the podium.”
Following the duo of Peterson and Fix was David Pintaric in #57 Kryderacing/WRP Investments Chevrolet Corvette. Pintaric put in a time of 52.841 and for one, is comfortable in the rain.
“I’ve been really fortunate to have a well setup car,” said Pintaric. “A lot of people don’t know all the nuances of these cars, but these guys at Kryderacing, Matt Miller and Jerry, do. They set up cars for me for the conditions and that makes all the difference.”
In TA2, Cameron Lawrence, in the #11 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro, once again led the TA2 field with a time of 54.961; but the competition was right behind him.
Two-time defending Champion Bob Stretch, driver of the #98 Wheels America/Fix Rim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro was only .002 behind Lawrence and Lawrence’s teammate Pete Halsmer, in the #12 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro, and Robert Huffmaster in the #27 Kryderacing/VirSec/ Chevrolet Camaro were both within half a second of Lawrence.
Pete Halsmer, who finished second in the TA2 points last year, has seen the competition increase over the past year.
“The competition has really tightened up. We have some new guys coming in, and the same guys are still running quick, and that’s great for Trans Am. While the increase in competition makes it more of a challenge, it also makes it more of an accomplishment.”
With the weather causing qualifying to wash out, the Series will determine tomorrow’s grid based on current point standings. The 100.5-mile race will take place at 1:30 p.m. EST tomorrow, Saturday May 25, 2013.
