| Where better to show off the Corvette performance | | | | the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Beretta said, "It was a very |
| parts than at the American Le Mans Series Utah | | | | important day for us because it was the last practice |
| Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park. And this where | | | | before Le Mans. We had to finish with the car in one |
| exactly Oliver Gavin together with Olivier Beretta | | | | piece because it will fly to France in a few days. We |
| scored their fourth win in five starts this season. The | | | | want the mechanics to be well rested because |
| two "Ollies" completed 61 laps of the 4.5 mile circuit in | | | | they've done a fantastic job since the start of the |
| their No.4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, finishing 26.550 | | | | season. We went through three street races without |
| seconds ahead of Jan Magnussen and Johnny | | | | any accidents and now we've completed a successful |
| O'Connell in the No.3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. The | | | | Michelin tire test. We are ready to go to the big one |
| two Corvettes finished eight and ninth respectively. | | | | now." |
| After the team elected to change tires that had been | | | | The Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan |
| flat-spotted in a spin during qualifying Gavin was given | | | | also agreed that indeed "It was a perfectly executed |
| no choice but to start at the back of the pack. Per | | | | race today and we learned a tremendous amount. I |
| ALMS rule, the pole-winning Corvette was demoted to | | | | think we've made a very good tire selection for Le |
| the 25th starting position after the tire change. Despite | | | | Mans; the last compound we had on looked really |
| his pole position Gavin was able to surpass the entire | | | | good, so we're excited about that. We'll be as |
| GT2 field on the first lap obtaining the ninth positions. | | | | prepared as possible." |
| And by the third lap he was 3.5 seconds behind the | | | | The race was a tough one for the Corvette Racing |
| No. 3 Corvette which has started on the 12th position. | | | | team like for instance the experience of Magnussen |
| Gavin recalled, "There was quite a melee in the first | | | | who had to deal with a transmission problem in his two |
| corner with cars going off the track, and I was trying | | | | stints in the No. 3 Corvette C6.R. He said, "In the first |
| to be very careful because the last thing I wanted to | | | | stint I had some trouble with the gearbox on shifts. |
| do was damage the car. I managed to pick off cars | | | | That problem got better in the second stint, but I |
| one by one. Then I caught up behind one of the | | | | couldn't count on it not coming back so it was hard for |
| prototypes - that was a problem because we were | | | | me to push. Still, we did have a good test of the tires, |
| much quicker in the corners but their car was like a | | | | and that will be useful for us going into Le Mans." |
| dragster in the straights. Finally he went wide in Turn 15 | | | | Johnny O'Connell who is the teammate of Magnussen |
| and I managed to get past him." | | | | is also eyeing the Le Mans prize. He said, "The next |
| A full course caution at 11:50 into the race has reduced | | | | stop is Le Mans, and we're hoping for good fortune |
| the margin between the two Corvettes to .6 seconds. | | | | there. We've certainly done our homework in these |
| And then it happen after the first round of pit stops at | | | | last races." But for team manager Gary Pratt the race |
| the 40 minute mark, the No. 4 Corvette has started to | | | | that happened was nothing but business as usual. He |
| lead. | | | | said, "It was a smooth run, and I'm proud of the drivers |
| Gavin said, "As I came in for the pit stop, Ray Gongla, | | | | and crews. Everybody kept it on the track. And when |
| my crew chief, said on the radio, 'Make it count! I | | | | Olivier's happy with the tires then that's a good sign for |
| pushed and pushed, the crew did a fantastic pit stop, | | | | Le Mans." |
| and we managed to get out just in front of Jan. I have | | | | The Corvette Racing Team will head to France for |
| to say that our engineer, Steve Cole, and the team | | | | the 24 Hours Le Mans which is scheduled on June 16 |
| gave us a brilliant race car today." | | | | to 17. The 75th running of the classic 24-hour |
| While Gavin reminisce the race Beretta was savoring | | | | endurance race on the 8.5-mile Circuit des 24 Heures |
| his record-setting 32nd career ALMS victory and | | | | du Mans will start at 3 pm local time (9 am EDT). Parts |
| would be focusing on the team's next race which is | | | | of the race are to be televised live on SPEED. |