Understeer
Krohn Racing/TRG Daytona Prototype drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Tracy Krohn qualified in eighth and seventeenth for tomorrow’s Grand American Rolex Series Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

Under overcast skies, 91-degree temperatures and near 100% humidity, the Krohn Racing/TRG prototype drivers battled understeer to post qualifying times that will see Bergmeister start from the fourth row and Krohn leave from the eighth row for tomorrow’s 10:00 a.m. green flag start.

Bergmeister, driving the number 66/Krohn Racing/TRG/Pontiac Riley, qualified with a time of 1:46.780 and an average speed of 115 mph. “I was really pushing hard. The car had way too much understeer, so I turned off the traction control and was able to set my fastest lap of the session, but that burned up the rear tires. We will need to make a few changes for the race tomorrow, but starting in the fourth row is not too bad for a six-hour race.” Open wheel racing stalwart Christian Fittipaldi will partner Bergmeister for tomorrow’s race.

Team owner Tracy Krohn drove his number 67/Krohn Racing/TRG/Pontiac Riley to a qualifying time of 1:49.886. “The car has a lot of push. We made some changes last night, but I think we went a little too far; I am having trouble getting the car turned into the corner. I tried to adjust my line, my approach to the corner and braking point, but still the push. I think we will be able to race comfortably in the 49s and 50-second range. We will have to go back to the setup we had yesterday for the race.”

Pole
TRG Porsche driver Andy Lally will lead the GT field to the green flag for tomorrow’s Grand American Rolex Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. Teammates Robert Nearn and Dave Master will go away from the grid in the seventeenth and twenty-fourth qualifying positions.

What was supposed to be a 15-minute qualifying session was reduced to only seven-minutes, with a black flag ending the session early. Andy Lally, driving the number 65/Auto Gallery/TRG/Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, was able to get in the gas early to lineup on the first row of the GT grid, with a qualifying time of 1:57.262 and a speed of 104 mph. Lally’s time was originally good for a second place effort, but post qualifying scrutineering found the Pobst pole car had a ride height infraction, sending them to the back of the field.

“I feel sorry for Randy Pobst, because I love battling with him every time we get close. We’ve had such good races in the past. The good thing is that this gives us two poles in-a-row for TRG. It is nice for the whole team and especially the crew who work so hard. The team has put a fantastic car under us, Marc and I will just look forward to running a clean race and try to stay out front tomorrow.” Lally is teamed with Monkton, Maryland’s Marc Bunting.

Driving the number 88/Comfort Systems/TRG/Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car are Steve Johnson and Robert Nearn. Nearn qualified the car in seventeenth and will go away from the GT grid from the eighth row with his qualifying time of 2:00.008. “I wasn’t able to get a clear lap with the shortened session. I know I could have done a 58.4 which probably would have put us in the top ten. We have a good set-up under the car and we have six-hours of racing to make up positions.”

Dave Master had the qualifying duties driving the number 63/Auto Gallery/TRG/Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, driving to a time of 2:06.415 and a twelfth row GT starting position. “We have had a tough week. We have only done about ten laps of practice all weekend. We had a pretty big crash on Thursday in practice and the crew has done a great job to get the car back together. I am hoping to use the first four hours to get Ben and I up to speed and race the last two hard.” Masters will team with Ben McCrackin.