Defending Series Champion Randy Pobst
(Gainesville, GA) qualified his #1 Audi RS 6 in 3rd position with a
time of 2:10:661. Pobst's time will put him in the second row just
behind the pole sitter.
"I'm very pleased with how qualifying went
this morning," said Pobst. "The handling and the braking is up on the
car this year. I'm really looking forward to the start of the race.
We've got the advantage of quattro traction so hopefully I'll be the
first guy in turn 1 and I'll stay there as long as I can. We've got
some really tough competition this year and everyone is going several
seconds faster than last year. We've improved the Certified Audi a lot
and we need be consistent just like last year so we can earn the team
another Championship."
Teammate
Michael Galati (Olmsted Township, OH) qualified with time of 2:12:364
on the 3.7 mile, 17- turn road course. Galati's time puts his #2 Audi
RS 6 in the fifth row for tomorrow's race.
"I think Champion made quite a bit of
improvement this year on the car, especially with the new tires," said
Galati. "We've had some small problems but in general, we just haven't
done enough testing so I didn't really know enough about my car today.
We'll figure it out though. That's what the first race of the year is
all about. I feel confident though about the face. I'll try and pick
up a couple of spots at the start and then just keep pushing."
The 2004 version of the Certified Audi RS 6
has undergone several changes since it was introduced last season.
While the engine has stayed the same, 4.2 liter, V8, bi-turbo, the
boost was compromised in order to allow the wider 305 sized Toyo RA-1
tires.
Like
last year, the team has worked tirelessly within a short amount of
time to prepare these cars for what has been called 'one of the most
competitive seasons ever' in the World Challenge GT Series. Pobst
gained some much needed track time for set-up but for Galati, the bad
luck from last year seems to have returned as his car spent most of
the time in the paddock working on set-up changes.
The SCCA Speed GT Championship takes the
green light Friday at 4:25 p.m. EST, for Round One of the 2004 season,
part of the Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. For more information,
please visit
1) Max Angelleli/Monte Carlo/MC Cadillac
CTS-V 2:09:076
2) Lou Gigliotti/Dallas/TX Corvette ZO6
2:10:188
3) Randy Pobst/Gainesville/GA Audi RS 6
2:10:661
4) Andy Pilgrim/Delray Beach/FL Cadillac
CTS-V 2:10:795
5) Phil McClure/Floris/IA Corvette ZO6
2:11:050
9) Michael Galati/Olmsted/OH Audi RS 6
2:12:364
