(1)TALK ABOUT 2012 SCHEDULE — One of the hot topics in the GRAND-AM paddock has been the shape of the 2012 Rolex Sports Car Series schedule. While news of a round at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway was broken this week by SPEED.com’s Robin Miller, could there be other additions to the 2012 calendar?
While nothing has been officially confirmed, it appears there could be a few street circuits added to the mix next year. St. Petersburg and Long Beach have been mentioned as possibilities, although it’s unclear how Long Beach would happen given race organizers are in the middle of a five-year contract with the ALMS.
We understand that if new races were to happen, it could come at the expense of existing events. The Rolex Series has held as many as 14 rounds in previous seasons, although the current economic struggles indicate that 12 may be a good number to remain at.
(2)BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE ADJUSTMENTS — GRAND-AM has made a number of performance adjustments ahead of Saturday’s Rolex Sports Car Series 250 Driven by VISITFLORIDA.com. Ford-powered Daytona Prototypes have been given 200 additional rpm (7200-7400 rpm), while a brace of GT contenders have seen weight and restrictor changes since the last round at Watkins Glen.
The Prep 2 BMW M3 has received a 100 rpm boost (6800 to 6900 rpm), while the Camaro GT.Rs will carry 26 lbs of additional ballast (2782-2808 lb), as well as using a smaller GRAND-AM-supplied air inlet restrictor. Marsh Racing’s Prep 1 Corvette has also been subjected to the restrictor change and will be 25 lbs heavier (2600 to 2625 lb) as well.
(3)THREE CARS, FOUR DRIVERS — That’s the approach the GT pole-sitting Team Sahlen team will be taking on Saturday with its brace of Mazda RX-8s. Wayne Nonnamaker, who gave the family-run team its first Rolex Series pole on Friday, will complete the opening stint in the No. 42 Mazda before handing over to Mazdaspeed development driver John Edwards, who is making his first start with the team on Saturday.
Once he’s out of the No. 42 car, Wayne will then hop in the No. 43 Mazda, relieving father Joe Nonnamaker, who will then get in the No. 49 car following an opening double-stint by son Will Nonnamaker. Sound complicated? It could be, especially if all three cars end up on different strategies!
(4)HEINRICY SUBS FOR SAID — Veteran road racer and former Corvette engineer John Heinricy is subbing for Boris Said in the No. 31 Marsh Racing Corvette this weekend. Said, who is on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series duty at Infineon Raceway, is expected to rejoin season-long co-driver Eric Curran at next month’s round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
(5)NEW CAR FOR STARWORKS — Following a heavy crash in practice at Watkins Glen, which resulted in the write-off of the No. 2 Riley-Ford, Starworks arrived at Road America with a new chassis. Car owner Enzo Potolicchio purchased one of the ex-Penske Racing Riley-Porsches that will do battle this weekend with he and fellow Venezuelan Alex Popow behind the wheel. The team has elected to keep the 4.0-liter flat-six Porsche powerplant in the back of the Riley for the next three races, according to team owner Peter Baron. After that, they’ll reevaluate the situation. Starworks’ No. 8 entry of Ryan Dalziel and Mike Forest will continue to utilize Ford power.
(6)BARBOSA’S NEW HOME — Fresh off a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Joao Barbosa hasn't had much time to celebrate his success in the twice-around-the-clock classic. That's because the Action Express Racing driver spent the past week moving from his native Portugal to Ormond Beach, Fla., ahead of this weekend's Rolex Series round at Road America.
Barbosa, along with his wife and two children, age 5 and 7, settled into their new home in Florida last Thursday. So far, the family is enjoying their new surroundings and new chapter in their lives. “I’m really happy with this big change in our lives,” Barbosa said. “Everything is going according to plan. I haven’t spent much time there yet. I’m going to go back on Sunday and spend a few more days before I head to Imola [for Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race]. Then we have Laguna, so these next couple of months are going to be rough. But on the other hand, if I was still living in Portugal, I’d be spending less time with my family.”
(7)DEMPSEY IN RUSSIA — While Patrick Dempsey will be missing his first Rolex Sports Car Series race of the season, the multi-talented actor/racer has a good enough excuse. Dempsey and a host of other stars from the upcoming Transformers: Dark of the Moon are at the 33rd Moscow International Film Festival, where the $200 million blockbuster is being premiered.
Dempsey’s regular ‘fill in’, Charles Espenlaub, will team with Joe Foster in the No. 40 Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 on Saturday, with the globe-trotting Dempsey planning to be back in action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca next month.
