6-29-2006

6-29-2006 - Colin wins Daytona 250 Grand Am race

Daytona 250 Grand Am Rolex Race Press

6-29-2006

Grand American Rolex Series: Braun, Bergmeister Dominate
July 5, 2006 By Brit Fryer, Production Editor


	GRAND AM PHOTO SEEING GREEN: Daytona Prototype winners Jorg Bergmeister (left) and Colin Braun celebrate their victory at Daytona Int'l Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Grand American Rolex Series) -- Colin Braun became the youngest winner in Grand American competition Thursday night, while co-driver Jorg Bergmeister extended his point lead in the Daytona Prototype standings after their victory in the Brumos Porsche 250.

The Rolex Sports Car Series race on Daytona Int'l Speedway's road course came down to fuel mileage, with Bergmeister doing all he could to nurse his No. 76 Ford Riley to the finish on only one stop.

Waiting in the Krohn Racing pit area was the 17-year-old Braun, who, after driving the first stint, hoped Bergmeister and the car's Ford powerplant cautiously consumed every drop of fuel over the final few laps.

"I was lifting a lot to save fuel," Bergmeister said. "On the last lap I ran out of fuel, so it was just perfect."

Not as fortunate was the Porsche Crawford of Patrick Long and the Lexus Riley of Scott Pruett, who were running 1-2 ahead of Bergmeister until they each pitted for a splash of fuel with five laps to go. They returned to the 3.56-mile track in second and third and stayed there until the finish.

"All I was doing was pushing as hard as I could trying to keep Pruett behind me and racing my own race," Long said. "Unfortunately, the 76 made one less stop than us, and that was the difference."

Bergmeister drove to a 16.498-second victory over Long for his second triumph in the past three events. The German holds a 31-point advantage over co-drivers Pruett and Luis Diaz with four races remaining.

But it was Braun who grabbed the post-race attention. He shattered the previous record for a youngest winner -- held by Michael McDowell, who won the 2005 finale at 20 years, 10 months and 15 days.

Despite missing two of the first 10 races, Braun ranks sixth in the DP standings.

"It's really nice to finally have this," said Braun, who'll turn 18 Sept. 22.

Braun Becomes Youngest Grand-Am Winner at Daytona

Written by: Grand American Road Racing Daytona Beach, Fla. – 6/30/2006

Playing the fuel strategy game to perfection, 17-year-old Colin Braun became the youngest winner in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve history and his No. 76 Krohn Racing co-driver Jorg Bergmeister extended his Daytona Prototype points lead with their victory in the Brumos Porsche 250 under the lights of Daytona International Speedway.

After starting second, Braun drove the race’s opening stint and took the lead from polesitter Luis Diaz in the No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley when Diaz pitted on Lap 34 of the 70-lap event to turn the car over to co-driver Scott Pruett. One lap later—at the halfway point in the race—Braun came onto pit lane to turn the No. 76 machine over to Bergmeister.

The extra lap coupled with excellent fuel mileage from the Ford powerplant would enable Bergmeister to drive the rest of the race without making another pit stop. The other front-runners would not have the same luxury, and on Lap 66 race leader Patrick Long in the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford and second-place Pruett pulled onto pit lane for “splash and go” stops. That opened the door for Bergmeister to take the lead and the German would not be challenged over the remaining five laps en route to a 16.498-second victory over Long in the No. 23 machine.

It was Bergmeister’s second victory in the past three races—he co-drove to the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen win with road racing star Boris Said—and was his third-consecutive top-two result. With four races remaining in the 2006 Rolex Series season, Bergmeister leads Pruett and Diaz by 31 points, 358-327.

“It was really difficult,” Bergmeister said. “I felt I was a little quicker, so I had to be really patient (to conserve fuel). I was lifting a lot to save a lot of fuel. On the last lap, I ran out of fuel, so it was just perfect.”

In addition to becoming the youngest winner in Rolex Series history at the age of 17 years, nine months and seven days, Braun is also believed to be the youngest winner of a major league auto race in North America. Braun shattered the previous record for a youngest Rolex Series winner, held by Michael McDowell, who won the 2005 season finale in Mexico City at 20 years, 10 months and 15 days. It was Braun’s second-straight Rolex Series podium, as he finished second alongside Bergmeister in the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course five days ago, and was his fourth podium result of the season. Despite missing two of the first 10 races, Braun currently ranks sixth in the Daytona Prototype championship standings.

“This is really nice to have this,” Braun said. “I have to thank the Roush/Yates guys for building a great engine—that won us the race right there. Having a great team like this behind me is just fantastic and I can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Krohn Racing wins the second Daytona stop

Racing series	GRANDAM
Date	2006-06-29

By Tony DiZinno - Motorsport.com

Braun, Bergmeister outlast competition to win second Daytona stop

It was only a matter of time before Krohn Racing's No. 76 Ford Riley earned a victory with their usual driving duo. Colin Braun and Jorg Bergmeister won on fuel strategy and cruised from their one and only stop to score a victory. Bergmeister extended his points lead to 31 over the Chip Ganassi pairing of Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz, while Braun set several new records in scoring his first victory. The Krohn car won at Watkins Glen despite Braun not participating.

The grid was set by owner points for the second time in three races. There were communication issues between race control and track safety officials on what was a busy Thursday at Daytona. In addition to the Rolex Series event, both the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series had practice sessions and immediately following the race, the IROC cars raced on the road course for the first time in many years.

The race's only full course caution flew on lap four following contact between Matthew Alhadeff and Milka Duno. While there were upwards of 60 cars in February for the Rolex 24, just 47 took part in this 70-lap sprint race. Less cars meant less traffic for the leaders to negotiate or perhaps come in contact with.

Diaz led a majority of the first half of the race and peeled off on lap 34, turning driving duties over to Pruett. Braun was able to stay out a lap longer before handing his car off to Bergmeister. The Ford powerplant got better mileage over both the Lexus of Ganassi Racing, and the Porsche of Alex Job Racing/Emory Motorsports. Both Patrick Long, in the Job car, and Pruett had to stop with four laps remaining for a splash of gas. Bergmeister cut it so close that he was barely able to coast to the finish. "It was really difficult," he said. "I was lifting to save a lot of fuel. On the last lap, I ran out of fuel, so it was just perfect."

Braun's chronicles this rookie season have been well-documented. He's been held out of two races due to age and tobacco restrictions, and otherwise would be tied for the points lead in this competitive series. Nonetheless, at 17 years, nine months and seven days, he is both the youngest winner in Rolex Series history and likely the youngest winner of a North American major league auto race.

Associated Press
17-Year-Old Colin Braun Wins Grand Am Race
06.29.2006, 10:33 PM

(AP Photo/Brian Myrick) ::

Jorg Bergmeister, from Germany, and Colin Braun, right, celebrate late Thursday, June 29, 2006,

after winning the Brumos Porsche 250 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Colin Braun became the youngest winner in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series history Thursday night, taking the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway.

The 17-year-old driver from Ovalo, Texas, teamed with Jorg Bergmeister of Germany to win the Daytona Prototype category in the Brumos Porsche 250.

Braun had been at the center of an age-based legal battle earlier this month regarding a Grand Am race at Watkins Glen International. At issue was the contract between the Indy Racing League and Watkins Glen. The agreement prohibits competitors under 18 from participating in any on-track activities at the same racing facility on the same weekend the IRL is also competing.

Braun, who will turn 18 on Sept. 22, was not allowed to compete at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March for the same reason.

The rule stems from the 1998 master agreement with the tobacco companies, and cigarette maker Philip Morris is one of the race's sponsors.

Krohn Racing officials argued that Philip Morris should be dropped as a corporate sponsor rather than ban Braun. Krohn sued the track and related entities, claiming it was unfair to bar Braun from participating. A state court in Texas ruled that Braun could compete at Watkins Glen, and a settlement was reached the following day although Braun skipped the race.

Braun and Bergmeister needed only one pit stop in the 70-lap road course race. They edged Mike Rockenfeller and Patrick Long, who pitted twice.

Braun and Bergmeister Win at Daytona

Colin Braun and Jorg Bergmeister gave Krohn Racing a Rolex Series win under the lights at Daytona during Thursday night's Brumos Porsche 250, driving the No. 76 Ford Riley to victory in one of the cleanest races of the season.

After a race filled with contact and cautions last Saturday at Mid-Ohio, it was a relief to see the field get through the race with only one caution period. The 250-mile race had a time limit of two hours and 45 minutes, but when the checkered flag flew the clock was at just two hours and 12 minutes.

Luis Diaz led the way at the start in the No. 01 CompUSA/Chip Ganassi Lexus Riley, while Braun went backwards in the No. 76 Ford, getting caught on the outside line of turn one while other cars filed past.

The first and only full-course caution came early when the No. 30 SigalSport BMW Riley impacted the No. 11 CITGO/SAMAX Pontiac Riley. The force of the hit sent the Pontiac into- or rather, on top of- the No. 75 Krohn Ford Riley.

The mess took a while to clean up, but the race got restarted on lap seven. Once again, it was Diaz leading the way in the No. 01 CompUSA Lexus.

Behind him, Wayne Taylor in the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley and Jon Fogarty in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Blackhawk Racing Pontiac Riley were battling for second. Their battle let Diaz put a bit of a gap on the field, but Taylor and Fogarty had plenty of pressure from behind.

One of the drivers putting pressure on them was Braun, who was hard at work making up the spots he had lost on the race start. He was able to get by both to take over second in the few laps after the caution ended.

Krohn Racing's road to victory was not going to be as easy as it appeared, though. Mike Rockenfeller was also working his way toward the front, and he got past Braun in the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Porsche Crawford.

Rockenfeller then got to work catching up to Diaz, who still led the way by seven seconds in the No. 01 Lexus. On lap 23, Rockenfeller had closed the gap and made the pass on the front banking to put the No. 23 into the lead.

For a change, pit stops were made under green. After an hour of racing, Rockenfeller was one of the first DP drivers to bring his car in, handing the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Porsche over to Patrick Long.

Diaz retook the lead for just a handful of laps before making his own pit to give the No. 01 CompUSA Lexus to Scott Pruett.

The lead kept changing throughout the next few laps, but soon the No. 23 of Long was back in the lead.

As the race progressed, Long continued to lead but even the quick pace of the Porsche was not enough to let him escape the competition. On lap 60, Pruett gave Long a challenge but was unable to get past.

At the same time, Bergmeister was challenging for third. After a bit of a battle, he got past Angelelli in the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac, moving into the top three.

The lead changed hands again as cars began ducking into the pits for a last-minute splash of fuel. The first to come in was Long, who dropped out of the top spot in the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Porsche.

Pruett followed Long down pit lane. With the first and second place cars in the pits, Bergmeister inherited the lead in the No. 76 Krohn Ford with just five laps to go.

From there, Bergmeister just had to hang onto his lead. He did just that, crossing the finish line in first. The No. 76 Krohn Ford Riley came into the weekend tied in points with the No. 01 Lexus, so the victory was an important one for Bergmeister and Braun. In addition, Bergmeister has now extended his lead in the driver championship.

Long followed in second in the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Porsche that he shared with Rockenfeller, proving that having the quickest car doesn't guarantee a victory.

Third went to Pruett and Diaz in the No. 01 CompUSA Lexus Riley.

Bergmeister, Braun win Porsche 250

BY MARK DeCOTIS
FLORIDA TODAY

DAYTONA BEACH - Veteran German driver Jorg Bergmeister and 17-year-old Texan Colin Braun co-piloted the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley to victory in Thursday night's Rolex Grand American Road Racing Series Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona.

The victory was the second this season for Bergmeister, who teamed with road racing ace Boris Said to win the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen earlier this month. Bergmeister extended his points lead in the series' elite Daytona Prototype class.

Braun became the youngest overall winner in the series' history as he and Bergmeister nursed their car home, striving to save fuel and outlasting Mike Rockenfeller and Patrick Long in the Alex Job Porsche Crawford. Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz were third in the Chip Ganassi Lexus Riley Prototype. The winners were able to complete 70 laps over the 3.56-mile road course on one pit stop, taking the lead for good when both Long, who was leading and Pruett, who was running second, pitted for a splash of fuel on lap 65.

"We knew pretty early we would make it" on fuel, Bergmeister said.

"Obviously I'm really happy," said Braun, who missed two races this season because he was not allowed to participate on companion weekends due to age requirements with the Indy Racing League, who has tobacco sponsorship. He turns 18 on Sept. 22, three weeks after the season ends.

The GT class victory went to the TRG Pontiac GTO.R of Marc Bunting, Andy Lally and R.K. Valentine.

For the second year in a row, the No. 36 TPC Racing Porsche co-piloted by former Melbourne resident Randy Pobst went out early, this time suffering a clutch problem after running only 10 laps with Ian Baas behind the wheel. The 45th-place finish was the car's first out of the top 8 in six races this season that included the GT class victory in the 24 Hours.

Next up for Grand Am is Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., on July 30.

DAYTONA NOTES

Texas teen teams for sports car win

By JOHN STURBIN

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Germany's Jorg Bergmeister and Texas teenager Colin Braun combined to win an historic Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday night.

Braun, a 17-year-old native of Abilene and resident of Ovalo, in West Texas, became the youngest winner in the history of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Grand American officials believe Braun, who will turn 18 on Sept. 22, is the youngest winner in any North American motorsports series.

"It's fantastic for me to get my first win," said Braun, who led Lap 34 of the 70-lapper around the 3.56-mile combined oval/road course. "But I'm not too caught up in the [age] titles and all that. I want to do everything I can to help Jorg win this championship."

Bergmeister, lead driver of the No. 76 Krohn Racing Riley powered by a Roush/Yates Ford V-8, led the final five laps to earn his second victory in three starts. Through 10 of 14 events, Bergmeister has a 31-point lead in the Daytona Prototype driver's championship over Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

Colin Braun, 17, became the youngest winner in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series history. The 17-year-old driver from Ovalo, Texas, teamed with Jorg Bergmeister of Germany to win the Daytona Prototype category in the Brumos Porsche 250

Both the Grand American Road Racing Series and the International Race of Champions (IROC) had the opportunity to spotlight their series in front of a mostly stock car crowd Thursday on the Daytona 3.56-mile road course.

The Grand Am Series put on a rare one-day show, with practice, qualifying and the race all taking place in an eight-hour stretch – unusual for a series that runs races lasting longer than that.

The win by Krohn Racing, owned by Texas oil billionaire Tracy Krohn and with drivers Jorg Bergmeister and 17-year old Colin Braun, further solidified that team's points lead (358 to 327) with just four races remaining.

Braun also became the youngest winner of a major league auto race in North America.

• Colin Braun, 17, of Ovalo, Texas, became the youngest winner in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series history, teaming with Jorg Bergmeister of Germany to win the Daytona Prototype category in the Brumos Porsche 250.

Colin Braun, the 17-year-old wunderkind from Ovalo, Texas, became the youngest driver to win a Rolex Grand Am Series event -- series officials went so far as to claim he was the youngest winner of any major motorsports league -- when he teamed with 30-year-old German driver Jorg Bergmeister to capture the checkered flag in Thursday night's Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona's road-course circuit. ``Obviously, I'm very excited," Braun said. ``I know I just wanted to go out and drive as hard as I could, Jorg did the same and we won the race."

... Colin Braun, a 17-year-old competing in the Grand American series, was part of the winning team in Thursday night's race. He said he had received some interest from NASCAR teams. The victory made Braun the youngest winner in series history. ...

Krohn Wins in Daytona

AutoWeek | Published 07/03/06, 12:14 pm et

The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series apparently has a new fuel mileage king: the Ford V8 engine, as built by Roush/Yates and installed in the Krohn Racing Riley-Ford Daytona Prototype. Victory at the Brumos 250 at Daytona International Speedway did not go to the fastest car—the Alex Job Crawford-Porsche—but to the car able to make one fewer pit stop than the others.

The win belonged to Krohn teammates Bergmeister and Colin Braun, who, at 17, became the youngest winner in series history. They started second behind pole-sitters Luis Diaz and Scott Pruett in the Ganassi Racing Riley-Lexus, but were quickly left in the dust by the Ganassi Lexus and the Job Porsche, the latter driven by Long and Mike Rockenfeller, who led more than half of the 70 laps on the Daytona road course.

Long and Rockenfeller finished second, and the Diaz/Pruett duo finished third. Few expected the Krohn team to try the one-stop strategy, and the only other team to come close—the SunTrust Riley-Pontiac of Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli—dove into the pits with just a few laps to go to top off the fuel.

Even more remarkable was the winners weren’t aided in their mileage quest by long yellow-flag stints, as the race’s only yellow flag came on lap two. The Krohn Ford team arrived in Daytona tied with the Ganassi Riley-Lexus for the points lead, but is now in front after the win. Those two cars started on the front row after qualifying was canceled due to “communications problems” between race officials and corner workers.