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5-10-2006 - Laguna
Rolex race news stories about Colin
Laguna Seca Grand Am Rolex Race - 2006
News stories
It
was a good weekend for Colin and his co driver, Jorg Bergmeister. Jorg
regained the championship points lead after he and Colin finished 3rd at the
twisty Laguna Seca track. Colin would be tied with Jorg if he was not
prevented from driving at the Homestead round due to tobacco sponsorship in a
series racing that weekend.
The next event is at Phoenix Saturday night at 4:00pm eastern.
Speed Channel will broadcast the race Sunday at 3:00pm eastern
Grand Am web site
Completing the podium were Jorg Bergmeister and Colin Braun in the No. 76 Krohn
Racing Ford Riley. It was the duo's second podium result of the season and their
best run since a second-place outing in March's Mexico City 250. More
importantly, the performance moved Bergmeister back atop the Daytona Prototype
point standings. The German leads No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team
Porsche Crawford co-drivers Patrick Long and Mike Rockenfeller by just two
points, 208-206, after six of 14 races.
"It feels really good to back in the points lead," Bergmeister said. "We made
some changes to the car in the warm-up which helped us during the race. The guys
also did a fantastic job in the pits and that made a big difference today."
"We struggled a bit in qualifying but gained a bunch of time and cars in the
pits," Braun added. "That's why we're on the podium. We've finished second,
third and fifth this season so hopefully we can get a win before too long. This
is a fantastic feeling."
Jorg Bergmeister and his 17-year-old teammate, Colin Braun of Texas, ran a solid
third in the Krohn Racing Ford Riley. That was enough to propel Bergmeister into
the championship lead by two points over Long and Rockenfeller (208-206).
Motorsport.com
The final podium step between one Porsche, one Pontiac and three Ford's was won
by Colin Braun and Jorg Bergmeister carrying the blue oval for the Krohn Racing
Riley machine.
Paddock Talk
Bergmeister and his 17-year-old co-driver, Colin Braun, co-drove the No. 76
Krohn Racing Ford Riley to its second podium result of the season with a
third-place run in last weekend’s Road & Track 250 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
That performance enabled Bergmeister to climb back atop the Daytona Prototype
championship standings, giving the German a slim, two-point lead over No. 23
Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford co-drivers Patrick Long
and Mike Rockenfeller (208-206).
In the 2005 Rolex Series visit to Phoenix International Raceway, Bergmeister
combined with Christian Fittipaldi to claim the victory, and Bergmeister is
undoubtedly hoping for a repeat performance this weekend to strengthen his
position in the point standings. It would be an historic victory should
Bergmeister and Braun pull it off, as it would make Braun the youngest overall
winner by more than three years. Phoenix-born Michael McDowell currently holds
the distinction after his victory in the 2005 Rolex Series season finale at
Mexico City at the age of 20 years, 10 months and 15 days.
Third went to the Krohn Racing Ford Crawford of Jorg Bergmeister and Colin
Braun, an effort that again put Bergmeister back into the point lead over
Rockenfeller and Long by two markers.
Crash.net
Despite still looking for his first Rolex Series victory of 2006, Jorg
Bergmeister returns to the site of his most recent triumph as Daytona Prototype
points leader, leading a strong field into Saturday's GAINSCO Grand Prix at
Phoenix International Raceway.
The German and 17-year old co-driver Colin Braun co-drove the #76 Krohn Racing
Riley-Ford to its second podium result of the season with third place in last
weekend's Road & Track 250 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and that enabled
Bergmeister to climb back to the top of the DP championship standings with a
slim, two-point lead over #23 Ruby Tuesday co-drivers Patrick Long and Mike
Rockenfeller.
Last year's visit to Phoenix saw Bergmeister combine with Christian Fittipaldi
to claim the victory, and the German is undoubtedly hoping for a repeat
performance this weekend to strengthen his position in the standings. It would
be an historic victory should Bergmeister and Braun pull it off too, as it would
make the teenager the youngest overall winner by more than three years.
Phoenix-born Michael McDowell currently holds that distinction after his victory
in the 2005 season finale in Mexico City at the age of 20 years, ten months and
15 days.
Press Snoop
Third was Krohn Racing No.76 Ford Riley with JORG BERGMEISTER and teenager COLIN
BRAUN. The drivers credited their teams' pit strategy in gaining track
positions. Bergmeister is now unofficially leading the Driver's championship
standings with 208 points. His 17-year old teammate is probably in the top ten,
but the official points standings don't come out until Tuesday. Braun has one
less race than Bergmeister as he was forced to miss the round at Homestead-Miami
Speedway because he is a minor and couldn't race at an event with Indy Racing
League IndyCars, which has a team with tobacco sponsorship. The Krohn team is
still working hard to resolve that issue for the two remaining races with IRL,
Watkins Glen and Infineon Raceway, and they are "getting closer to a
resolution." Braun is "obviously disappointed to miss the race and lost chance
to be leading the standings" but he is pleasantly philosophical about and thanks
his team for going to bat for him.
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