Level 5 Motorsports Has Strong Run in Homestead

Posted At : March 9, 2010 12:05 PM | Posted By : Team PR
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 HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The two-car team of Level 5 Motorsports battled a strong field and tough circuit in the Grand Prix of Miami Saturday and proved it was equal to the challenge. Both of the team's Crown Royal Cask No. 16 BMW Riley Daytona Prototype entries had strong runs, but were victims of racing misfortunes that put an end to their hopes of podium finish.

Team owner and driver Scott Tucker started the race in the No. 55 entry and spent time in both of the team's cars, sharing the driving duties with IndyCar Series standout Ryan Hunter-Reay in the No. 95 and journeyman driver Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55. Both cars started strong and seemed poised to finish strong until a separate problems put them behind the eight ball.

After starting 6th and leading two laps early in the race, the No. 95, with Hunter-Reay behind the wheel, went off track in turn 1 as the car developed handling issues. That forced the team into the pits a little more than an hour into the race for repairs. Despite that setback, the team rallied as Tucker took over the badly-damaged car and regained many of the spots they lost while the team repaired the car. He brought the car home 14th in class and 19th overall, an impressive accomplishment given the shape of the car.

But, that stellar performance came after Tucker was forced into the pits for a penalty as the No. 55 car was black-flagged for missing the Grand-Am mandated driver-change window due to an in-car radio failure. Tucker was embroiled in fierce racing and the crew was unable to direct him into the pits due the faulty radio. That penalty was enough to put the team a lap down, a deficit that they were unable to overcome.

"It was tough out there today," said Tucker. "You've got a tough track, tough competition and changing conditions as the day wore on. On top of that, we lose radio communication -- of all things -- and we paid a steep price for that. We're happy with the performance of both cars considering all of that. We had two cars that should have been in contention at the end."
Bouchut, who competed in the entire 2009 season with Tucker in the No. 55, produced yet another steady performance posting lap times in that rivaled the leaders during the race. He took over driving duties in the car as Tucker moved to the No. 95. The sports car racing veteran has been a model of consistency and has helped the team remain a threat to win each time they take to the track.

Coming into the Grand Prix of Miami, the Level 5 Motorsports team was riding high after a podium finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. A strong finish in the most prestigious sports car event in North America proved the team was prepared to rise to any challenge.

"This team consistently brings strong equipment -- every race," said Tucker. "This team is as good as they come and I couldn't be more proud of them. We showed a lot of heart today."

Veteran racer Scott Pruett took his Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley to victory for his 23rd career Grand Am race win. Pruett was had to hold off a late race challenge by David Donohue after a late caution brought the field together for a restart.
The Level 5 team and Tucker return to Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend to put his Ferrari F430 Challenge car to the test in the 2010 Ferrari Challenge Series. Tucker found Victory Lane more than any other driver in the series in 2009 and looks to continue his winning ways this year.

The Level 5 team then leaves Homestead-Miami Speedway, but they don't have far to go as they compete in just two weeks in the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring at nearby Sebring International Raceway. The team will field two entries in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class in the historic race.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America's greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

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Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

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