1-26-2006 - Krohn Racing PR - Qualifying report

Krohn Racing Rolex 24 Qualifying Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., January 26, 2006 – Krohn Racing opted to forgo today’s qualifying session for the January 28-29^th Rolex 24 At Daytona to better prepare for the team’s first endurance race. During this morning’s first official practice session for the 44^th Annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, Krohn Racing technicians discovered an engine problem in the No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype that harmed the performance of the car. Team management opted to park the car for the remaining sessions, including the qualifying session, while they worked to diagnose the malady. Team owner/ driver Tracy Krohn (Houston, Texas) and team manager Jeff Hazell decided that discretion is the better part of valor and began a complete engine change. That change over to the team’s race engine has been completed in time for Friday’s first practice session at 9 AM (ET). It was also determined to use the time effectively to make final race preparations for the twice around the clock classic. That choice kept drivers Krohn, Nic Jönsson (Buford, Ga,), Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany) and Colin Braun (Ovalo, Texas) out of the car during the race’s only night practice on Thursday evening. However, each driver is experienced in night racing and each has competed at least once in the Rolex 24.

Despite a second qualifying session available at 11:40 AM (ET) tomorrow, Krohn Racing will not attempt to put in an official time trial and, therefore, will start at the back of the Daytona Prototype field. In order to protect the fresh-engine, which will be required to run the full 24 hours starting at noon on Saturday, each driver will be given a limited number of laps to prepare for Saturday’s start to the 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve season. The Houston, Texas-based race team will cycle Krohn, Jönsson, Bergmeister and Braun, in that order, through the bright green and blue entry in the first session. The car will then be parked with only minor preparations needed prior to the start.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona can be seen live on SPEED Channel starting at 12:00 PM (ET) with coverage continuing at 8 PM on January 28 and at 8 AM on January 29. Live Timing and Scoring of all activities throughout the Rolex 24 weekend can be found at www.GrandAmerican.com.

More on Krohn Racing can be found at www.KrohnRacing.net

For more on the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, please visit www.GrandAmerican.com.