TAVARES, Fla. - Home track advantage could play a significant role in California drivers Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand's quest for victory in Saturday's Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Armed Forces 250 at Infineon Raceway.
Auberlen and Hand are coming off a fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen two weeks ago and now head into this weekend's Round 12 race with their sights set on giving the Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team its first win of the season. And, if there is one track in which this tandem could bring home a victory it's Infineon.
"I love racing at Sear's Point [Infineon]," Hand, who resides in nearby Sacramento, said. "It's my home track. In fact, I started my racing career there. They call Sear's Point a driver's track and I'd like to think that Bill and I are two of the best out there. And, with the way we've been running, I don't think there is a better track to take our momentum to. If we can get the set up close right out of the trailer, we are going to be very tough to beat."
"I have had some really good success there," Auberlen said. "I really want to win this race and I think we have the car to do it. Alex [Job], Greg [Fordahl] and all of the guys have been giving us a perfect car. Now, we just have to go out and get it done."
"Infineon should be a really good track for us," Job said. "With the experience our two drivers have at that track, coupled with the experience that the team now has with the new car, I expect to be on the podium there. And, quite frankly, I expect to be on the top spot."
Saturday's race will mark only the fourth time this season that Auberlen and Hand have driven the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche-powered Riley. In each of the previous three races, the team has demonstrated that they are a force to be reckoned with. In fact, they were in contention to win the last two races.
And, speaking of wins, Auberlen has four career SPEED World Challenge wins at Infineon. He won the SPEED GT and the SPEED Touring Car races in 2003, and followed that effort with SPEED Touring Car wins in 2004 and 2005. He also won the IMSA GTS-3 class race in 1997. Hand has two Formula Mazda and one Star Mazda win at Infineon.
Practice for the Armed Forces 250 gets underway with a two hour practice session beginning at 4:45 p.m. (PT), Thursday, Aug. 21. Grand-Am Daytona Prototype practice resumes at 9:15 a.m. (PT), Friday, Aug. 22, followed by a 15-minute qualifying session that begins at 4:30 p.m. (PT). The DPs will take to the track for a final 30-minute practice session at 10:45 a.m. (PT), Saturday, Aug. 23, followed by the start of the Armed Forces 250 at 3 p.m. (PT). SPEED Channel will air the race at noon (ET), Sunday, Aug. 24. However, fans can watch live timing and scoring at www.grand-am.com. |
