Alex Job Racing Recovers to a Podium Finish in GTC at Mosport

Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, (Aug. 29, 2010), Alex Job Racing (AJR) recovered from a terrible start to the race weekend by finishing third in GTC in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron race at Mosport International Raceway today.  The race was shortened 29-minutes due to a crash on the long back straight that took down a section of Armco that could not be repaired in time to complete the event.

On Wednesday the team suffered a setback to the weekend when Romeo Kapudija had a big accident in Turn Two in the open test.  The crash caused substantial damage to the No. 23 Battery Tender/Tequila Patron 997.  The team made a heroic effort to put the AJR Porsche back together.  After working nearly 40-hours on the car and bringing in substitute driver Mitch Pagerey, the team was rewarded with a third place finish.   

"Mitch did a great job coming here on a moment's notice," Sweedler said.  "He knows the track. It was a good call by Alex.  I started on Friday a total Mosport rookie having never seen the track.  I am thrilled where I ended up.  I ran my best lap on worn tires in the race as I got more comfortable with the track.  No one likes to end the race under a caution.  I think Mitch would've had something for the guys in front.  It is too bad we didn't have the opportunity to prove that at the end.  A podium is a good finish going into the last race.  Romeo will be back for Petit and we will be ready.

Pagerey, who flew in on a days notice, would have liked to run to the checker.

"I think we would have had something for the 88 car," Pagerey said.  "The AJR car was set-up better and I think we could have gotten them.  The car was really consistent in the race and as it was all weekend.  It would have been really nice to have that battle at the end of the race.  Jeroen (Bleekemolen) was just out there, I am not sure we had anything for him.  I want to thank Alex for calling me.  I am happy with a podium finish.  It would have been nice to have the possibility of battling for another position, but we will take the third place."

Alex Job, team owner, is pleased with a podium finish as a nice team reward for the work the guys put in on Wednesday and Thursday. 

"We had a tough start to the weekend with the crash on Wednesday," Job said.  "Mitch came in and did a great job.  Bill got faster in the race as he was able to get comfortable with the track.  It would have been nice to see if Mitch could have challenged the 88, but I guess that is racing.  Romeo will be ready for Petit and we have some more work to do on the car, but everything will be at full strength for final race in October."

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron will run the final race of the season, Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta on October 2. 

AJR 2010 GTC Season

Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in ALMS history with 39 wins.  This record is supported by 46 pole positions and 80 podium finishes.   The team has won three championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans.  The team also boasts seven Sebring 12 hour wins. 

The ALMS GTC category is specific to one of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.  Developed for Porsche's one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.