LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 25, 2007) – Hot off his second-straight win to open the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship season, Jeff Altenburg, of Ellicott City, Md., paced the opening practice session for Monday’s Round Three race at Lime Rock Park. Teammate Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., and Peter Cunningham, of Grafton, Wis., completed the top three.
Driving the No. 72 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6, Altenburg turned a quick time of 58.689 (93.851 mph) midway through his session around the 1.53-mile circuit.
“This is a handling track more than anything and we’ve gotten this Mazda 6 to the next level as far as the handling goes,” Altenburg said. “Utah was a handling track as well so the car was good out of the box. We basically ran the exact setup from Utah, we didn’t change anything. We played around with some Lime Rock stuff and I didn’t like it, so we’re back to exactly what we ran for the race at Utah except with sticker tires on and that’s where we are.
“I’m comfortable that I have a fast car. I’m comfortable that I have pretty good knowledge of the track and we should be shooting for a top-five.”
Pobst turned his fast time of 58.791 (93.688 mph) late in the session in the No. 73 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6. Pobst finished third in last night’s SPEED GT race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Driving the No. 42 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Racing Acura TSX, Cunningham turned a fastest time of 58.884 (93.540 mph). James Sofronas was fourth in his No. 29 Global Motorsports Group BMW 325Ci with a 58.970 (93.403 mph).
Four-time Lime Rock winner Pierre Kleinubing was fifth in his No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Racing Acura TSX with a fast time of 58.978 (93.391 mph).
The series’ second practice session is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Qualifying is set for 5:10 p.m.
To follow all the weekend action via live web notes and timing and scoring, check out the SCCA Pit Board at www.world-challenge.com.
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