TURNER: HOMESTEAD ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE TRACKS WE VISIT
AMESBURY, Mass. - Turner Motorsport had a disappointing result in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, when transmission problems resulted in four hours of down time.
However, the car came through the Rolex Series' most demanding race with minimal damage. Now, the team is ready to tackle the unique challenges posed by Homestead-Miami Speedway in Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami.
"Surprisingly, the car was in great shape when he stripped it down and checked it out," Turner said. "Usually, the car looks like it's been through a 24-hour race, but the car looked pretty good this year. I wish we hadn't had that transmission problem, because it was looking pretty good for us."
Turner said that his team's strategy for the sprint races isn't really that much different from the Rolex 24 - with the exception of the repetitive systems needed the Daytona enduro. Homestead, however, offers several unique challenges.
"Homestead is definitely one of the most unique race tracks that we go to," Turner said. "It's a relatively short lap and it also has a significant part of the oval, so there's significant banking in there. Most of the time made is either made or lost in that banking. Unlike Daytona, it's not flat out, so it offers setup challenges. We hope we can get a handle on it early."
Bill Auberlen, Paul Dalla Lana, Boris Said and Matt Plumb finished 17th. They led 96 laps.
Turner was impressed with Dalla Lana's performance, leading 27 laps in the Rolex 24.
"Of all the GT races that Paul's driven in, this year's Rolex 24 was his best drive," Turner said. "He did really well. He's getting used to the car now, and it shows that having some races and some experience under your belt can really do wonders. We're looking good with Paul for the upcoming races. "
Auberlen and Joey Hand finished fifth in last year's Grand Prix of Miami. Auberlen is a two-time winner of the event. He won overall in 2007 with Team Sigalsport, and joined Said in winning GT in 2004 for Prototype Technology Group.
The team will also field a pair of BMW M3s in Saturday's Kia 200 for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Auberlen and Dalla Lana will pilot the No. 96, with Rolex 24 overall winner Hand and Michael Marsal in the No. 97. However, Turner said there isn't much crossover between the two series.
"Although the cars are both M3s and they look the same, they are very different," Turner said. "About the only thing we can learn from one series to the other is how the tires are wearing."
AMESBURY, Mass. - Turner Motorsport had a disappointing result in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, when transmission problems resulted in four hours of down time.