Level 5 Team Whips Engine Problems with Solid Qualifying Effort

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- After overcoming major adversity throughout the weekend, the Level 5 Motorsports team, with Andy Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 95 ORECA FLM 09, will start fourth in the LMPC class in the American Le Mans Series' Time Warner Road Race Showcase at Road America.

Engine problems on both Friday and Saturday hampered the Level 5 Motorsports effort. However, Wallace qualified the Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored No. 95 O in a time of 2:00.740 around the 4.045-mile, 14-turn road course.

"Sometimes, things just happen. But, it's the teams that have guts and character that come through it," said Scott Tucker, co-driver of the No. 95. "This Level 5 team has shown a lot of that this weekend, and that's why we're a championship contender."

On Friday, both of the team's cars, the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 and the No. 95 ORECA FLM09, encountered engine failure. New engines were sent overnight to the team in Eklhart Lake on Saturday morning. The team worked non-stop Saturday to prepare the cars for practice and qualifying.

"I can't say enough about how the team has responded under these circumstances," Level 5 Motorsports team manager David Stone said. "It's a testament to this team and its dedication to win a championship. They're all hungry and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal."

In Saturday's first practice session, the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 unexpectedly lost another engine. The car did not participate in the final practice session and did not qualify. The Level 5 Motorsports team, however, intends to get the car ready to race on Sunday.

In Saturday's final practice session prior to qualifying, Tucker and Wallace were third on the LMPC speed chart with a best lap of 2:02.279.

Tucker leads the LMPC standings and carries an 11-point advantage over Gunnar Jeannette into Sunday's race. Christophe Bouchut, Tucker's Level 5 Motorsports teammate and co-driver of the No. 55, is third in the standings, 13 points behind Tucker. Andy Wallace co-drives the No. 95 with Tucker.

The Time Warner Road Race Showcase is the seventh of nine races on the 2010 ALMS schedule. Tucker has scored four LMPC class victories in the first six events.

Tucker hopes to continue his success at Road America. In September 2009, he drove to victory in the T1 race in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship Runoffs at Road America.

Road America is the longest track on the ALMS schedule. It is the third-fastest track on the schedule, but with the fastest corner speed.

The green flag is scheduled to wave Sunday for the Time Warner Road Race Showcase at 3:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live by the SPEED Channel, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

Following this weekend's race, the American Le Mans Series visits Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, August 27-29, before the season finale 13th annual Petit Le Mans at Road America in Braselton, Georgia, September 29-October 2.

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