Round four of the 2009 Ferrari Challenge Series season hits Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., this weekend after an eight-week break. And the Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life team wasted no time moving toward their seventh podium finish of the season.
Driver Scott Tucker and his No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life F430 qualified in position one for this afternoon's race with an impressive time of 02:24.133, besting the official track record (02:24.610) that he himself had set during this morning's fifth practice session; that practice time dipped well below the field's benchmark of 02:25.054, posted by Henri Richard. But the qualifying time was only one indication of how primed the No. 55 is for race seven: Tucker was heading toward an even faster time of 02:23.9 on lap two of qualifying when a black flag dropped because Richard Fant's No. 42 F430 had gone off track.
In fact, Tucker stormed onto the track on Friday, as well, leading two of the day's four practice sessions with times of 02:25.167 (practice two) and 02:26.428 (practice three). The team tweaked the setup after between practices, which-along with Tucker's command of the track--led to today's full-second gain in qualifying.
"I'm very pleased to be starting in first position for race seven," Tucker said. "I have to give credit to the Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life team for giving me a great car to run with this season. We've had some busy weeks of racing behind us and have finished strong in each one of them."
In the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, Tucker and his Supercar Life Racing teammate Christophe Bouchut have consistently posted Top 10 finishes with their No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype. Last weekend, the duo secured ninth position at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the EMCO Gears Classic. Prior to this weekend's race, Tucker tested the team's new No. 95 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype at Road America, posting a flyer of 02:04.8 on Wednesday and setting the DP track record. He then bested his previous time in the late afternoon, clocking in at 02:03.5.
"As Team Manager I have been extremely pleased with our results in each of the Series," David Stone said. "Last weekend we focused on the DP; this weekend we will put all efforts into the Ferrari. Scott sits well in the Series standings and we hope to see him back in first come the end of round four."
Drivers Zak Brown (02:24.133), Mark McKenzie (02:24.847), James Henley (02:25.051) and Henri Richard (02:25.150) rounded out the top five in qualifying.
Tucker and his No. 55 F430 will look to take the lead once again as the green flag drops at 2:25 p.m. CST for today's race seven.
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