Pirelli returns to Daytona this weekend for a second time this season, ready to set all-new records at the storied Florida raceway in the Brumos Porsche 250. The Saturday, July 4th race is scheduled for 70 laps/250 miles on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course and can be seen live on SPEED at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).
While January’s Rolex 24 and the Brumos Porsche 250 are run on the same track, the similarities end there. This Saturday’s race will be run in the heat of a typical Florida summer afternoon, a challenging environment that takes its toll on the drivers, race cars and the track itself. The dire conditions also bring out the best in the Pirelli P Zeros.
“It is going to be nasty, hot, slippery and tough,” said Jon Fogarty, who co-drove to victory in the 2007 Brumos Porsche 250 with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and teammate Alex Gurney in the team’s No. 99 Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype. “The heat will sap energy out of the drivers and the motors, and the tires are going to have there work cut out for them. I am sure the Pirellis are up to the task, but I am certain that it will be a more difficult track to drive than what we have in January.”
Burt Frisselle co-drives the No. 61 AIM Autosport Ford Riley Daytona Prototype with Mark Wilkins. He also expects the Pirelli P Zeros to be ready for the grueling Florida conditions this Fourth of July.
“Daytona is a tough track for tires because it requires great traction for the tight hairpins and at the same time requires longevity and stability when running the high banking at over 190 mph,” Frisselle said. “For 2009, the P Zero is even better for the drivers as it allows us to get the occasional lock up going into Turn 1 and the Bus Stop chicane without the penalty of a big flat spot. Pirelli’s hard work has shown in the lap times.”
The warm weather conditions could also be a challenge for the teams and drivers in the Grand-Am Rolex Series GT category. Andy Lally was part of January’s class winning Rolex 24 team in the No. 67 TRG Porsche GT3 and looks for an equally challenging race this weekend.
“The main thing that we will deal with at Daytona this weekend as opposed to the 24 hour race in January is the heat,” Lally said. “We will be focusing mainly on tire life, especially this year because for the first time Grand-Am will run this race in the day time. The infield section will be very tough to put the power down and we will be pushing the Pirellis for all there worth.
"We had no real tire issues in the Rolex 24 win and I don't anticipate any this weekend either. This allows us to focus on driving."
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