1-25-07
-- For Immediate Release
Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Qualifies
Seventh for Rolex 24 at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2007) - Ruby Tuesday Championship
Racing Team driver Patrick Long, of Las Vegas, Nev., qualified
the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford
Daytona Prototype seventh with at time of 1:44.205 (122.988 mph),
in preparation for the Grand-Am Rolex Series Rolex 24 at Daytona
Jan. 27-28.
The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team almost put the car on
the pole for the second straight year, as Long set the pace early
in the qualifying session (with a 1:47.172) before a full-course
caution came out to retrieve the No. 60 Pontiac Riley from the
Turn One tire barrier.
"I knew there was a chance of something going wrong early on in
the session," Long said of his strategy to turn a fast lap early. "There
was rain, from earlier today, that was still on parts of the track.
So, there was a chance of someone making a big mistake - which
happened. We played our cards well anticipating something like
this happening."
"It (the pole position) looked pretty good at that time." Job said
responding to the possibility of putting the car on the pole. "But,
I thought, 'I am sure they are going to get this thing going.'
It would have been nice if they hadn't restarted the session."
Once the car was removed from the tire barrier, there were six
minutes remaining in the 15 minute session. With that in mind,
the team knew that Long would need to find more speed to retain
the top spot. Long did find some more speed, but the team had to
settle for a slot on the inside of row four.
"I am happy enough with the performance of the team and myself," Long
said of his qualifying effort. "Compared to the pre-test here earlier
in the month, the car is much more drivable and is a better race
car. We've focused on making this a 24-hour race car and I think
we've achieve that goal. It reflected a little bit in our qualifying
time. We're in the top ten. We're in the show. We're safe and our
car is in one piece. So, overall I am happy. Now we are going to
get Jörg [Bergmeister] and Romain [Dumas] in the car, get
them comfortable with the set up and work towards a 24-hour car,
which I think we've got a pretty good one."
"Last year we were on the pole, which was very important in my
hunt for a sponsor," Job said of the difference between this year's
qualifying effort and last year's. "Fortunately, Ruby Tuesday came
along and now we have a great relationship with them. It would
have been great for us to get a pole for them today. But, we really
have not found the speed this year that we did last year. We gave
it our best shot. But, our best shot was only good enough for eighth
today. Quite frankly, we are not used to qualifying like that.
The new tire has thrown quite a curve to any of the cars other
than the Riley. We are the second quickest Crawford. But, you know
it's a long race. The race is all about the team. The team is the
drivers, the crew and the preparation. It is good to start up front.
But, the only lap I care to lead is the last one with the checkered
flag."
The team will continue to make race trim adjustments in the practice
sessions tonight and tomorrow, searching for that right combination
that will put the car in victory lane.
Long finished third in last year's Rolex 24 in the DP class, He
will make his fourth consecutive Rolex 24 start. His three previous
starts include two GT class starts and one DP start, respectively.
The German Bergmeister is a two-time winner of the Rolex 24 at
Daytona and will make his sixth consecutive start. He is looking
for his first-ever Rolex 24 win in a Daytona Prototype. He captured
the GT class win in 2002 and was the overall winner in 2003. His
best Rolex 24 finish in a Daytona Prototype was fifth in 2006.
Frenchman Dumas will make his third Rolex 24 start and his second
in a Daytona Prototype. Dumas made his Rolex 24 debut in 2002,
finishing third in the GT class and 10th overall.
Race fans will be able to follow the Ruby Tuesday Championship
Race Team at the Daytona Beach Ruby Tuesday restaurant, located
at 1808 International Speedway Blvd. across from the Daytona International
Speedway, as it will be open for the duration of the 24-hour race.
Ruby Tuesday will serve from its full menu and will also offer
guests some breakfast favorites from 11 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan.
28.
The 45th running of the Grand-Am Rolex Series 24 Hours at Daytona
airs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (EST) Saturday, Jan. 27 live on FOX. The
broadcast will switch over to Speed Channel from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
(EST) and from 8 to 10 p.m. (EST). Speed Channel resumes coverage
at 6 a.m. (EST) Sunday, Jan. 28.
Ruby Tuesday is one of the nation's leading casual-dining restaurant
companies, with more than 900 restaurants worldwide. It was founded
in 1972 by Sandy Beall, who serves as Chairman and CEO today. The
company is committed to having uncompromising freshness and quality
with passionate employees who take pride in delighting guests with
an excellent dining experience. The burger-centric menu features
an assortment of handcrafted burgers, its fresh garden bar, premium
baby back ribs and a variety of other signature entrées.
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the NY Stock Exchange (symbol:
RI). To find out more about Ruby Tuesday, visit www.rubytuesday.com.
For more information regarding the Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing
Team, visit www.alexjobracing.com or
contact Adam Horn at ahorn@iland.net or
(660) 864-8927.
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