Watkins Glen: Colin Braun post-event notes

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series) -- Tracy Krohn should have been a Postmaster.

The owner of Krohn Racing and a fine driver himself, Krohn ignored all obstacles -- including the refusal of officials to allow his championship-caliber 17-year-old driver, Colin Braun, to participate in the shared weekend here with the IRL -- to guide his team to victory in Saturday's Six Hours of the Glen.

Claiming the honors for Krohn in the team's Ford-powered Riley were Jorg Bergmeister and substitute Boris Said on a day when the difference between success and failure was strategy. Bands of rain moved continually through the region and changed the track surface from wet to dry and back again within minutes, sometimes even leaving the track both wet and dry simultaneously.

For Said, a man who knows the New York track well, the opportunity to partner with Bergmeister came on Friday after it became clear that should Krohn enforce the injunction he had gotten from a New York court to permit Braun to race, the event itself might be in jeopardy of not happening.

Faced with that, Krohn then withdrew his legal action and secured Said's services.

No less than seven full-course yellows punctuated the action as errant competitors slid off the track in what was a messy but not overly serious series of incidents.

Even so, Mess. Bergmeister and Said appeared to have the measure of their opposition, winning by a five-second margin over the Gainsco Pontiac Riley of Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, who had found themselves in the middle of a three-car sandwich on the opening lap and were forced to stop to replace a nose section immediately thereafter.

Gurney and Fogarty appeared in the end to be the only ones to have even the remotest hope of challenging Bergmeister and Said, having led themselves throughout the race.

But, ultimately, the Krohn duo kept it and their advantage together as they crossed the finish line for the team's first victory of the season.

Interestingly, that performance put Bergmeister, who has been in a war with Chip Ganassi drivers Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz for the Rolex season title, in the fight through consistency.

As for Pruett and Diaz, they never felt comfortable with their CompUSA Lexus Riley, eventually coming home seventh.

Third, and another who showed the ability to lead on an afternoon when most car setups were compromises, was the SunTrust Pontiac Riley of reigning crown-holders Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli, assisted here in Upstate New York by IRL driver Ryan Briscoe, who had been scheduled to run with the team at the Rolex 24 but who never got in the car after it was withdrawn at Daytona following a severe crash.

Rounding out the top five was the Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri, which, too, had its moments of success under the Glen's gloomy skies, and the Howard Boss Pontiac Riley of Andy Wallace and Butch Leitzinger, which although a top car was not a true contender here.

In truth, Wallace and Leitzinger were helped out when the Porsche Crawfords of Christian Fittipaldi and Patrick Long, who were battling in the top five during the last half an hour, got together in the chicane and took themselves out of contention, Long incurring a stop-and-go penalty in the process.

As for the GT production set, there it was a Porsche kind of day, as the German 911 GT3 brigade led their Pontiac GTO-R opposition throughout the six hours in rather handy fashion.

Ultimately, the Tafel Racing 997-based Porsche of Robin Liddell and Wolf Henzler beat the 996-based TPC example of Randy Pobst and Ian Baas, the former car handling better than the latter as the track dried out during the final stages.

Third went to the TRG Pontiac of Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins, while the TRG Pontiac of Andy Lally and Marc Bunting was fourth.

Star Gazette

Teen pulls out of Grand Am race
Morning practice canceled after court ruled in his favor.
June 3, 2006

WATKINS GLEN - Driver Colin Braun was philosophical Friday about the agreement between the Grand American Road Racing Association and Krohn Racing to run the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen without him this weekend.

While the 17-year-old driver was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to race, but he was glad his teammates would be able to do so.

"I think it's good for everybody (else) to be able to race," he said. "I feel bad nobody got to practice (Thursday night)."

Krohn Racing owner-driver Tracy Krohn said he wanted other teams and drivers to have the opportunity to race this weekend, and didn't want to disrupt that.

"Nobody wins if nobody races," he said. "This is a very hard decision. I certainly wanted Colin to be able to drive?"

At the end of the day, though, Krohn said he had to balance the "business side" with the "emotional side."

On Thursday a New York State Supreme Court judge granted an injunction for Braun to compete in the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen, but Krohn Racing decided to withdraw him from the competition in the interest of all of the teams and parties involved in the dispute, according to a press release. The contract between Watkins Glen International and the Indy Racing League doesn't allow drivers under the age of 18 to participate in any on-track activities the same weekend at the same track that the IRL is racing.

Driver Boris Said has been named as Braun's replacement in car 76. He will drive with Jorg Bergmeister, according to the release.

A replacement driver also will be brought in for Braun in the penultimate round of the 2006 Rolex Series at Infineon Raceway on Aug. 26, the final race weekend of the year shared by the IRL and Rolex Series, according to the release.

Fan Kurt Woehrman of Woodstock, Conn., said he thought it was "classy" of Krohn Racing to replace Braun with another driver so that other teams and drivers weren't impacted by the dispute, but that he thought Braun should have been able to race.

"I'm a carpenter," he said. "That's like telling me I can't practice my trade in another state."

Date 2006-06-02 (Watkins Glen, NY)

WATKINS GLEN -- MUCH ADO

Thursday and Friday's Watkins Glen action was a pretty wild show for a sportscar race event where the participants are supposed to be upper-crust types possessing a "sporting" demeanor.

In the end, 17-year-old driver Colin Braun still is sitting on the sidelines and another racer, Boris Said, will be co-driving the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford-Riley in his stead.

The team is working on naming a replacement driver for the August 26 Infineon Raceway Rolex Series/IndyCar Series races, the last of 2006's three such dual events.

Mr. Braun turns 18 just about three weeks later. Celebrate? I'd bet the farm he does.

However, one can only wonder if the hassles here and at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier in the year may preclude the organizations from coming together again in the future.

LIFE HAPPENS

For the most part, Tracy Krohn's motives were honorable but, also for the most part, those in the Grand American paddock weren't terribly thrilled with his efforts.

Some in that paddock even hinted that others -- never themselves, of course -- might be wanting to exact some measure of revenge on Krohn's No. 75 Ford-Riley, which he co-drives with Nic Jonsson, during Saturday's Six-Hours of The Glen.

"There are ways to do those things without it being too obvious," one team owner said.

The fact is Krohn erred. Even he admitted as much in the joint Grand American/Krohn Racing statement that put the adverse situation to bed Friday.

"It was never our intention to disrupt the competition, but instead to provide a mechanism for Colin Braun to be racing ..." Krohn was quoted as saying.

Though an owner's methodology might need a little tuning at various times and for various reasons, that an owner would stick up for his driver surely isn't exactly a bad thing.

CRAZY LIKE A FOX?

As a result of Thursday's legal matters, the pre-race schedule having thus been thrown out the window, Rolex Series officials decided to allot all of Friday's track time to practice, allowing teams the option of spending more practice time in an effort to acclimate its third driver -- who usually does not have a regular DP ride through the bulk of the season.

Though fielding objections from some disgruntled teams -- one particularly vociferous team owner being No. 12 Lowe's Racing's Adrian Fernandez -- the Rolex Series will nonetheless be gridded by points for the start of Saturday's classic endurance race.

It would be later Friday "daylight" practices that revealed Fernandez' hand -- one justifiably played -- when his No. 12 Lowe's Pontiac-Riley consistently ran among the top-five fastest cars on the 3.28-mile Watkins Glen "Long Course."

Instead of a prospective pole position, the Lowe's car will be gridded ninth.

Oh, and key among Fernandez' complaints?

The No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford-Riley -- having an updated driving team of Jorg Bergmeister and Boris Said -- will be starting on the outside pole for Saturday's race.

"The people who started this whole mess, causing us to miss an actual qualification period, are among those who have benefited the most from the loss of that session," Fernandez said.

Frankly, I still don't think Tracy Krohn is crazy.

-DC Williams, exclusively for Motorsports.com

Racing One.com

Legal Matters Cancel Rolex Practice

As a result of a legal filing for an injunction, Grand American Road Racing Series has cancelled today's 3 p.m. practice session at Watkins Glen International for this weekend's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

The injunction, brought by Krohn Racing, was filed because their 17-year-old driver Colin Braun is not allowed to take part in this weekend's event because it would violate contracts involving the race track, the IRL IndyCar Series and Philip Morris Tobacco Co. - Sponsors of Team Penske and drivers Helio Castroneves and Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr.

The heart of the issue is the contract that the Indy Racing League has with Watkins Glen International. That contract prohibits competitors under the age of 18 from participating in any on-track activities on the same weekend as the league is also competing. It is a contract that is in place in all venues where the IRL IndyCar Series competes at.

This marks the second time that Braun has been forced out of his ride for a race, with the first taking place earlier this season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Had Braun participated in the event, it is highly likely he would be in second place in the championship. Currently, he resides in fifth place in the Daytona Prototype standings -- only 30 points behind co-leaders Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz.

While a judge ruled earlier today that Braun could race, the matter remains unresolved as of 5:05 p.m. (ET). With little time remaining, this could also hamper tonight's second practice which is scheduled to take place at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

While unconfirmed, paddock rumors suggest that tonight’s session could be a GT only period.

Should all of today’s practices be scrapped, it would put the drivers of the Grand American Rolex Series in a tough position for both qualifying and the race. After today, the schedule only has one 30-minute practice session on Friday prior to the 4:15 p.m. qualifying period. On Saturday, teams are set for a final 30-minute session before taking the green flag at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Check back with RacingOne for further updates from Watkins Glen.

The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend schedule will proceed as originally planned — with Daytona Prototypes and GT cars competing simultaneously — as officials from the Grand American Road Racing Association have reached a settlement agreement with Krohn Racing.

One day after a New York State Supreme Court judge granted an injunction for 17-year-old driver Colin Braun to compete in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, Krohn Racing has elected to withdraw Braun from the team’s No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley entry in the best interests of all Daytona Prototype teams and the parties involved in the dispute. The contract between Watkins Glen International and the Indy Racing League—with whom the Rolex Series shares the bill this weekend—does not allow for drivers under the age of 18 to participate in any on-track activities on the same weekend at the same track the IRL is racing.

“We want our fellow teams and drivers in the Rolex Sports Car Series to be able to race this weekend as scheduled,” said Krohn Racing owner/driver Tracy Krohn. “It was never our intention to disrupt the competition, but instead to provide a mechanism for Colin Braun to be racing here this weekend. Circumstances have ultimately prevented this, but it is important that the race goes on, not only for the competitors, but the race fans here at Watkins Glen and the viewers watching on SPEED.”

Road racing star Boris Said has been named as Braun’s replacement in the No. 76 machine and will co-drive with German standout Jörg Bergmeister, who currently ranks third in the Daytona Prototype driver standings. Krohn Racing cars finished first and second in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen last year, with Bergmeister and then-co-driver Christian Fittipaldi trailing winners Krohn and Nic Jönsson. Braun will return to Rolex Series competition in two weeks in the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 24.

“We are pleased that we have been able to reach an amicable settlement with Krohn Racing over this matter,” said Grand American President Roger Edmondson. “It is important to understand that the Grand American Road Racing Association and many in our paddock think the world of Colin Braun, and are just as disappointed as he and Krohn Racing are that Colin will not compete in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. He is obviously an extremely talented young driver with an incredibly bright future, and we look forward to watching his career continue to develop on the Rolex Series stage. On behalf of Grand American and all of our Daytona Prototype teams, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Krohn Racing for deciding not to pursue this matter further this weekend.”

A replacement driver will also be brought in for Braun—who turns 18 on September 22—in the penultimate round of the 2006 Rolex Series at Infineon Raceway on August 26, which will be the third and final race weekend of the year that the Rolex Series shares with the IRL.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, Round 8 of the 14-race 2006 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 3. The race will be televised live on SPEED.

Indy drivers back on track at WGI
Teen withdraws from Six Hours race, which runs at 2:30 p.m. today.
By ANDREW LEGARE
Star-Gazette
June 3, 2006
 

WATKINS GLEN - Indy Racing League drivers were reunited with Watkins Glen International on Friday. In the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, a bit of unity kept today's Six Hours race on track.

On a day in which IndyCar Series stars such as Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick hit the racetrack for some practice time, Krohn Racing decided to withdraw 17-year-old driver Colin Braun from today's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen after reaching an undisclosed settlement with the Grand American Road Racing Association.

The deal came one day after a New York State Supreme Court judge granted an injunction allowing Braun to compete in the race.

Braun was barred because he is under 18 years old. Allowing him to take part in the race would violate contracts involving Watkins Glen International, the IRL and sponsor Philip Morris Tobacco Co.

Because of the Braun issue, the Daytona Prototype cars were unable to practice Thursday, forcing Friday's scheduled qualifying session to instead be used for practice. The team of Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz will start today's race on the pole based on points standings.

Braun was replaced by Boris Said in the No. 76 car who is scheduled to co-drive with Jorg Bergmeister.

Castroneves had the fastest time for the IndyCar Series in Friday's practice: 1 minute, 30.6783 seconds. Tony Kanaan was second, Marco Andretti third, defending race winner Scott Dixon fourth, defending series champion Wheldon fifth, and Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. sixth. Patrick was the 16th-fastest driver Friday.

Qualifying for the second annual Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Tissot is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. today. The race is set for 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

Following the IndyCar qualifying today will be the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen, which begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by Speed Channel. Also on tap today is IRL Pro Series qualifying, at 11:15 a.m.

6/2/2006 - by Beth Dolgner

The good news is that there will be Daytona Prototypes racing along with the GT class at Watkins Glen on Saturday during the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen. After Thursday's drama with Krohn Racing and the New York State Supreme Court, just knowing that things would go on as normal was a relief.

The Rolex Series is running in conjunction with the IRL this weekend, and the problem stemmed from the IRL's rules that no driver under the age of 18 can compete during their weekends. Krohn Racing, with 17-year-old Colin Braun on the roster, wanted the young talent to be able to race. The team was granted an injunction by the court so that Braun could get on track, but it was appealed, and series activity came to a screeching halt while everything was sorted out. The result was no practice for the Daytona Prototype teams, and only a few laps for the GT class.

Grand American officials and Krohn Racing came to a settlement agreement on Friday, and the team withdrew Braun (replacing him with the very able substitute Boris Said). The withdrawal allowed the Daytona Prototypes to proceed with their weekend, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Because of the lost day of practice, qualifying was cancelled, meaning that teams will have to grid according to points. The schedule was adjusted to allow for three practice sessions, including one Friday evening.

Are you following all of this?

At least the on-track activity was less confusing. The evening session saw the quickest times of the day, with Mike Rockenfeller leading the way in the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford. Rockenfeller had a fast time of 1:45.466, just over one-tenth of a second quicker than the rest of the DP field.

Ryan Dalziel set a 1:45.596 for the second-quickest time. Like Rockenfeller, Dalziel had his No. 89 Playboy Pacific Coast Motorsports Pontiac Riley at its quickest in the evening.

Not far behind was Oswaldo Negri, Jr., back from his one-race suspension following contact during Phoenix's qualifying race that resulted in a multi-car pileup. Negri turned a 1:45.711 in the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley.

Because of the qualifying cancellation, the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday car starts fifth, the No. 89 Pacific Coast machine will be 12th, and the No. 60 Michael Shank entry will be eighth. The pole will actually go to points leaders Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz in the No. 01 CompUSA/Chip Ganassi Lexus Riley, even though they trailed in tenth on the time sheets.

The final practice of the day was also a good one for the GT entries, particularly Robin Liddell. He was almost half a second quicker than the rest of the field, setting a time of 1:56.914 in the No. 72 NEC Tafel Racing Porsche GT3 Cup.

Paul Edwards had the quickest Pontiac GTO.R with his time of 1:57.356 in the No. 64 TRG entry. David Murry followed with a 1:57.475 in the No. 80 Synergy Racing Porsche GT3 Cup.

The Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen stars on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET- with both Daytona Prototypes and GT entries.

Legal tangle threatened Six Hours race
By RON LEVANDUSKI
Star-Gazette
 

WATKINS GLEN -- Strange legal circumstances that could have prevented the running of today's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen were resolved Friday afternoon, clearing the way for the 25th running of the endurance event at Watkins Glen International.

Scott Pruett will lead the 46-car Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series field, which includes 25 of the series' top Daytona Prototypes. Pruett, who drives the No. 01 Comp USA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley, gained the top spot after qualifying was canceled and the starting order was determined by the points standings. Pruett and teammate Luis Diaz are on top of the points chart.

"It's always nice to start up front, but a six-hour race is all about strategy," said Pruett, who started 11th here in 2004, fell one lap down to the leaders, then came back to win the race. "The competition is pretty close these days, so strategy, well-planned pit stops and a little bit of luck are all going to play into it for a six-hour event."

The top support event during the second annual Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Tissot takes the green flag at 2:30 p.m.

Colin Braun, the 17-year-old driver for Tracy Krohn Racing, won't line up with the rest of the drivers in the event. The teenager, who was granted an injunction from a New York State Supreme Court judge on Thursday to race this weekend, was withdrawn from the event by his Daytona Prototype team owner, Tracy Krohn, on Friday.

The action from the team was taken after it became apparent the race couldn't take place with the teenager running in it because of the terms of the tobacco settlement under which Marlboro Team Penske competes in Indy Racing League events.

The team filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to try to get its young driver in the race. The tobacco settlement forbids any driver under the age of 18 from competing in events that have tobacco sponsorship.

"On behalf of Grand American and all of our Daytona Prototype teams, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Krohn Racing for deciding not to pursue this matter further this weekend," Grand American President Roger Edmondson said in a press release.

Krohn Racing cars finished first and second in last year's Six Hours of the Glen. Boris Said, the road-race specialist turned NASCAR driver, will replace Braun in the No. 76 car and team with Jorg Bergmeister.

The dispute, which forced Grand Am administrators to cancel three hours of Daytona Prototype practice Thursday, also caused Friday's schedule to be altered, including the cancellation of qualifying. The 21 GT-class cars that will run along with the Daytona Prototypes were allowed to practice Thursday but were also kept from qualifying.

"We lost three hours of time (Thursday) and it would have been difficult for us to only have one half-hour session of practice and then go right into 15 minutes of qualifying," Pruett said. "We could have done that, but it wouldn't have been the safest thing to do for the weekend."

The teams were granted 2 hours and 45 minutes of extra practice on Friday, but that offered little solace for Adrian Fernandez. The driver of the No. 12 Lowe's Pontiac, Riley was fastest in the first session and set the second-fastest time in the second session.

The former IndyCar driver, whose team is in its first year in the Rolex Series, will start in ninth based on points. Former Formula One and Champ Car driver Christian Fittipaldi is his teammate.

"You know you're fast, but we obviously can't do our job to the max," Feranadez said. "It is ridiculous why we aren't qualifying. I'm really disappointed about that."

Fernandez dropped to seventh overall after the final 2-hour session.

Mike Rockenfeller, the German driver of the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Porsche Crawford, turned the fastest lap of the day of 1 minute, 45.466 seconds (116.056 mph) around the 3.4-mile Glen circuit.

Al Unser Jr. also got his first taste of running in a Daytona Prototype on Friday. The two-time Indianapolis 500 and Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona winner is co-driving the No. 8 Glycomax Porsche Doran.

FLORIDA TODAY's Mark DeCotis reports on auto racing.

Saturday's Grand Am show will run in full - both Daytona Prototypes and GT cars - following a deal that was struck over a tobacco-related issue that threatened to derail things among the DP class.

Here's the Grand Am release:

The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen weekend schedule will proceed as originally planned with Daytona Prototypes and GT cars competing simultaneously as officials from the Grand American Road Racing Association have reached a settlement agreement with Krohn Racing.


One day after a New York State Supreme Court judge granted an injunction for 17-year-old driver Colin Braun to compete in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, Krohn Racing has elected to withdraw Braun from the team's No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley entry in the best interests of all Daytona Prototype teams and the parties involved in the dispute. The contract between Watkins Glen International and the Indy Racing League - with whom the Rolex Series shares the bill this weekend - does not allow for drivers under the age of 18 to participate in any on-track activities on the same weekend at the same track the IRL is racing.

(That's because the IRL has tobacco-sponsored cars running for Team Penske.)


"We want our fellow teams and drivers in the Rolex Sports Car Series to be able to race this weekend as scheduled," said Krohn Racing owner/driver Tracy Krohn. "It was never our intention to disrupt the competition, but instead to provide a mechanism for Colin Braun to be racing here this weekend. Circumstances have ultimately prevented this, but it is important that the race goes on, not only for the competitors, but the race fans here at Watkins Glen and the viewers watching on SPEED."


Road racing star Boris Said has been named as Braun's replacement in the No. 76 machine and will co-drive with German standout Jorg Bergmeister, who ranks third in the Daytona Prototype driver standings. Krohn Racing cars finished first and second in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen last year, with Bergmeister and then-co-driver Christian Fittipaldi trailing winners Krohn and Nic Jonsson. Braun will return to Rolex Series competition in two weeks in the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 24.


"We are pleased that we have been able to reach an amicable settlement with Krohn Racing over this matter," said Grand American President Roger Edmondson. "It is important to understand that the Grand American Road Racing Association and many in our paddock think the world of Colin Braun, and are just as disappointed as he and Krohn Racing are that Colin will not compete in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. He is obviously an extremely talented young driver with an incredibly bright future, and we look forward to watching his career continue to develop on the Rolex Series stage. On behalf of Grand American and all of our Daytona Prototype teams, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Krohn Racing for deciding not to pursue this matter further this weekend."


A replacement driver will also be brought in for Braun - who turns 18 on September 22 - in the penultimate round of the 2006 Rolex Series at Infineon Raceway on Aug. 26 which will be the third and final race weekend of the year the Rolex Series shares with the IRL.


The Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, Round 8 of the 14-race 2006 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The race will be televised live on SPEED.

A surprise from the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. One can only assume the dispute is rooted in tobacco since the Indy Racing League has among its team sponsors Marlboro (Team Penske).

Word is the dispute will be resolved today and the Prototypes will race but that remains to be seen.

News release:

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 1, 2006) -- Following an injunction granted today to Krohn Racing and driver Colin Braun by New York State Supreme Court Judge Judith O'Shea, Thursday's Daytona Prototype practice sessions for Saturday's Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International were canceled.

At issue is the contract between the Indy Racing League and Watkins Glen International, which prohibits competitors under 18--such as the 17-year-old Braun--from participating in any on-track activities at the same racing facility on the same weekend that the IRL is also competing. The defendants in the case have filed an appeal, which will be heard on Friday morning. A decision is expected by midday on Friday.

"It is important to point out that Krohn Racing and Colin Braun are well within their rights to take this action," said Grand American President Roger Edmondson. "It is also unfortunate that the rest of our Daytona Prototype teams must wait until Friday for a decision on the status of their event. However, we must respect both the decision of the court as well as our race promoter, and are prepared to alter our plans if necessary."

Braun did not compete in March's Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami, which was also run in conjunction with the IRL, as a result of a similar contract between Homestead-Miami Speedway and the IRL.

Braun pulled from Rolex Series race over tobacco ad issues

By A.J. Perez, USA TODAY

Krohn Racing agreed to pull Texas teenager Colin Braun out of this weekend's Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series race at Watkins Glen International, clearing the way for the race to proceed as scheduled.

Krohn settled with Grand American officials out of court Friday afternoon, terms of which were not released. The agreement came before a scheduled appeals hearing that was to determine definitively whether Braun, 17, could participate in a race weekend that includes tobacco sponsorship.

"Obviously I'm disappointed, but this is a team thing," Braun told USA TODAY Friday afternoon. "(Team owner) Tracy (Krohn) did everything possible, but it just didn't work out."

R. Anthony Rupp III, the lawyer Krohn hired to represent Braun, said he could not go into detail on the settlement because of a confidentiality agreement had been signed, although he said "there was a give and take on both sides."

Veteran road racer Boris Said will replace Braun and share the driving duties with Germany's Jorg Bergmeister.

"It is important that the race goes on, not only for the competitors, but the race fans here at Watkins Glen and the viewers watching on SPEED (Channel)," Krohn said in a statement released by the series.

Braun was granted a preliminary injunction by New York State Supreme Court Judge Judith O'Shea Thursday morning. Lawyers for Watkins Glen, a track owned by International Speedway Corp., sought to keep Braun from racing because, as a minor, he would have put the track in violation of agreements with tobacco giant Philip Morris and the Indy Racing League, which headlines this weekend with a race Sunday.

An affidavit obtained by USA TODAY claimed the track would be open to at least $5 million in damages if Braun were allowed to race.

If the injunction wasn't overturned on appeal, there was talk of moving the Grand-Am race from Saturday to Monday. The track's contract with Philip Morris bans minors from on-track activities until 10 p.m. ET Sunday night.

Another option, Rupp said, was canceling the race.

"We are pleased that we have been able to reach an amicable settlement with Krohn Racing over this matter," said Grand American President Roger Edmondson in a statement. "It is important to understand that the Grand American Road Racing Association and many in our paddock think the world of Colin Braun, and are just as disappointed as he and Krohn Racing are that Colin will not compete in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen."

Philip Morris' Marlboro brand of cigarettes sponsors Penske Racing's two-car team in the IRL, which is running alongside Grand-Am for the second time this season. The deal between the track and Philip Morris is an offshoot of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, which included limits on sports sponsorship and advertising.

Braun, who is fifth in Rolex Series points standings, was also held out of the car for the same reason when the IRL and Grand-Am raced on the same weekend at Homestead, Fla., in March. As part of Friday's agreement, Braun also won't race this August in the final Grand American-IRL doubleheader at Sonoma.

Daytona Beach News Journal

No smokes for 17-year-old

By D.C. WILLIAMS
Correspondent

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Houston-based Krohn Racing filed for, and was granted, a court injunction barring Daytona Beach-based Grand American Road Racing Association from preventing 17-year-old Colin Braun from racing the team's No. 76 Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype on Watkins Glen International Raceway.

"We're only honoring what the track has asked of us," Grand American president Roger Edmondson said Thursday as the multi-sided legal issue, and not race-car practices, took center stage Thursday.

"We're not even a party to the contracts entered by (the three parties) and we just can't barge into a track and tell them what lawful obligations they must or must not respect."

In an agreement forged with cigarette maker Phillip-Morris to secure the rights to host Sunday's Indy Racing League race, Watkins Glen International, owned by Daytona Beach-based International Speedway Corp., obligated itself not to allow anyone under the age of 18 to be a participant in any racing activities should a Phillip-Morris sponsored car -- in this case, Penske Racing's Marlboro-sponsored IndyCar Series cars -- race at the track over the same weekend.

As a result, Thursday's Rolex Series practice for Saturday's Sahlen's Six Hours at The Glen didn't happen as team and track legal teams began slugging it out in the wake of a temporary injunction issued by New York State Supreme Court Judge Judith O'Shea.

"I'm being held hostage and I don't like being held hostage," said Eddie Cheever -- who owns cars in both the IndyCar and Rolex series.

Top-level teams like Cheever's are estimated to spend about $5,000 daily just to feed and house team members.

"What it comes down to is just one man has decided to play with the fate of hundreds of others and is negatively impacting the bottom lines of those for whom racing is a business," Cheever said.

Krohn Racing owner Tracy Krohn on Wednesday saw the issue in another light.

"Colin Braun is a very capable driver whose ability far exceeds his age," he said.

"Instead of penalizing (the team and driver) over issues involving tobacco advertising and corporate sponsorship, the appropriate thing to do is to remove the cigarette logo from the Penske race cars so that all participants can continue to compete."

In a packed early-evening Thursday meeting, Edmondson said that if the legal matter went beyond a deadline of noon today's, the series' GT-class cars would begin regularly scheduled Friday afternoon practice with the intent of the cars staging the Saturday's six-hour race -- absent of the series' premier DP class cars.

"The DPs would run Monday, probably in a two-hour race, after the IRL and the tobacco-badged cars are gone."

During the meeting, Krohn took the floor to announce that the team would "officially withdraw Colin" as a driver so the event could go on as planned "as long as certain conditions are met by Grand American."

Braun did not race in a March event in Miami, staged in conjunction with the IRL, due to a similar contract between Homestead-Miami and the IRL.

Status of Daytona Prototype Race at Watkins Glen Pending Friday Appeal

2006-06-02

Following an injunction granted today to Krohn Racing and driver Colin Braun by New York State Supreme Court Judge Judith O’Shea, Thursday’s Daytona Prototype practice sessions for Saturday’s Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International were canceled.

At issue is the contract between the Indy Racing League and Watkins Glen International, which prohibits competitors under 18—such as the 17-year-old Braun—from participating in any on-track activities at the same racing facility on the same weekend that the IRL is also competing. The defendants in the case have filed an appeal, which will be heard on Friday morning. A decision is expected by midday on Friday.

“It is important to point out that Krohn Racing and Colin Braun are well within their rights to take this action,” said Grand American President Roger Edmondson. “It is also unfortunate that the rest of our Daytona Prototype teams must wait until Friday for a decision on the status of their event. However, we must respect both the decision of the court as well as our race promoter, and are prepared to alter our plans if necessary.”

Braun did not compete in March’s Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami, which was also run in conjunction with the IRL, as a result of a similar contract between Homestead-Miami Speedway and the IRL.

Teen sues to race Saturday at Watkins Glen International

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. A race car team is suing Watkins Glen International after one of its drivers was barred from racing in the upstate New York Indy Racing League race this weekend.

Krohn Racing Team of Houston says 17-year-old driver Colin Braun has been barred from Saturday's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen race because of his age.

That's because tobacco company Philip Morris is one of the race's sponsors. Officials say allowing him to compete would violate contracts involving the tobacco company, Watkins Glen International and the Indy Racing League because he's a minor.

The Krohn racing team's lawsuit filed yesterday says that rather than ban their driver, the tobacco company should be dropped as a corporate sponsor. The team says that the Ovalo, Texas, resident is currently in fifth place in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series driver standings.

A state Supreme Court judge in Schuyler County, New York, will hold a hearing today.

Teen sues to race Saturday at WGI
17-year-old not allowed to participate because tobacco company is sponsor.
Star-Gazette
June 1, 2006

A Houston-based race car team has filed for a court injunction against Watkins Glen International and other entities because one of its drivers is barred from participating in the Indy Racing League weekend at the Glen.

Krohn Racing Team filed the action because driver Colin Braun of Ovalo, Texas, won't be allowed to participate in Saturday's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen race. Braun was barred because he is only 17, and allowing him to take part would violate contracts involving Watkins Glen International, IRL and sponsor Philip Morris Tobacco Co. because Braun is a minor, according to a news release from Krohn Racing Team.

Braun is currently in fifth place in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series driver standings, according to the news release.

Braun won't be taking part in Sunday's IRL IndyCar race, where two Philip Morris-sponsored Penske Racing team cars will compete, Krohn Racing Team co-owner Tracy Krohn said in the release.

"... Instead of penalizing Colin and the Krohn Racing Team over issues involving tobacco advertising and corporate sponsorship, the appropriate thing to do is to remove the cigarette logo from the Penske race car so that all participants can continue to compete," said Tracy Krohn in a news release.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday names WGI parent company International Speedway Corp., the Grand American Road Racing Association and Watkins Glen International as defendants, and seeks an injunction barring the defendants from taking any further action to prevent Braun from racing.

Neither Krohn nor Watkins Glen International spokeswoman Eiron M. Smith could be reached for comment late Wednesday.

State Supreme Court Judge Judith O'Shea scheduled a hearing on the matter for 9:30 a.m. today in the Schuyler County Courthouse in Watkins Glen.

Teen will get to race this weekend
Star-Gazette
June 1, 2006

Driver Colin Braun of Ovalo, Texas, can participate in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race Saturday, a judge ruled today.

“It was argued this morning, and the judge ruled that he will be allowed to race,” Schuyler County Court Chief Clerk Karen Morgan said of the decision by state Supreme Court Justice Judith F. O’Shea.

The Krohn Racing Team of Houston sought a court injunction against Watkins Glen International and other entities because Braun, 17, was barred from participating in the race due to his age. Because he is a minor, allowing him to take part would violate contracts involving Watkins Glen International, IRL and sponsor Philip Morris Tobacco Co., according to a news release from Krohn.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday named WGI parent company International Speedway Corp., the Grand American Road Racing Association and Watkins Glen International as defendants. It sought an injunction barring the defendants from taking any further action to prevent Braun from racing.

Bergmeister Retakes Points Lead with Victory Alongside Said in Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 3, 2006) -- In a race featuring 20 lead changes among nine cars and 12 drivers, Jörg Bergmeister reclaimed the lead in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Daytona Prototype driver championship with a victory alongside co-driver Boris Said in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

When then-race leader Alex Gurney made his final pit stop of the race with 21 laps remaining in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Blackhawk Racing Pontiac Riley, Bergmeister took the lead in the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley. The German maintained the lead through two late full-course caution periods and pulled away on both restarts to win by 3.495 seconds over Gurney after leading three different times for a total of 33 laps.

Bergmeister parlayed the victory into a four-point lead in the Daytona Prototype driver standings, 291-287, over No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley co-drivers Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz. It was Bergmeister's first Rolex Series overall victory since last September at Phoenix International Raceway, and he has now finished inside the top-eight positions in all nine of his 2006 Rolex Series starts.

"It definitely was exciting," Bergmeister said. "Our team did an awesome job, Krohn Racing. After the trouble we had at the beginning of practice where my usual teammate couldn't compete today, Boris did an awesome job with his stint in the middle of the race under difficult conditions. It was just awesome today."

Said--who served as a replacement driver for 17-year-old Colin Braun in the No. 76 machine--earned his first career Rolex Series overall victory in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. It was Said's fourth career Daytona Prototype start and his first appearance in the top Rolex Series class since the 2006 season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.

"I pretty much got a gift by being on the team with them," Said remarked. "They called me Tuesday when I was testing my NEXTEL Cup car in Atlanta and they asked me if could come stand by just in case something happened. He (Jörg) probably drove about four hours. I just drove about an hour-and-a-half in the middle, and he gave me a win so I feel pretty happy. Hopefully, I'll be sitting up here in August. I'm pretty happy."

Post-race technical inspection revealed that the race-winning No. 76 Ford Riley was too low, and the team was fined $2,000, which will be donated to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Fla., the preferred charity of the Grand American Road Racing Association. The team and drivers keep the victory, as well as all championship points earned in the race.

Gurney and co-driver Jon Fogarty came home second in the No. 99 machine, which was the duo's second runner-up result in the last three races after finishing second in the Road & Track 250 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca last month. Fogarty led all drivers with a total of 35 laps led, while Gurney led 10 laps himself to total a race-high of 45 laps at the front of the field for the No. 99 GAINSCO machine. It was Gurney's second runner-up performance in three starts at Watkins Glen International, while Fogarty made his debut at The Glen this weekend.

Gurney and Fogarty rallied back after falling a lap down, as Gurney and Michael Valiante in the No. 5 Make A Wish/Z-Line Designs/Finlay Motorsports Ford Crawford made contact on the opening lap. The damage forced Gurney onto pit lane for a new nose, but the team battled all the way back to lead for the first time on Lap 57 of the 154-lap race. At one point within the final two hours, the No. 99 machine led by more than 15 seconds.

"It's really a shame, we were feeling like we could win this race," Gurney said. "What we knew and what we were doing with the tires really helped our pace. It felt like that at the start of the race. It was just unfortunate that we got into some contact. We actually damaged the exhaust a little bit. I think it hurt us a little bit on top speed. Jon was incredible in the wet. I'm sure you all saw that. I wish we could have gotten the win for him. It was very tough holding off Max (Angelelli) at the end. I was just lucky to do it and happy to do it. I just hope to put up a stronger fight at the next race."

"All in all, it was an eventful race for us," Fogarty said. "We had contact right on the first lap, and we had to come in and change the nose. We also had a stop-and-go penalty for what they deemed avoidable contact. It just happens. It's racing. It was kind of back and forth, but once the rain came, we had something. We were able to put it back up to the front. We were a little out of sequence on our pit strategy, but we were still able to keep the car up front. If we would fall back, we could make it back to the front under those wet conditions. As the track dried out at the end, we weren't really sure about our fuel window and going to slicks. I handed over the car to Alex and it's kind of where the chips fell. It was a good run, all in all, and we were just a little short this weekend, but I'm still pleased with second."

Angelelli co-drove the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley to a third-place result alongside Wayne Taylor and Ryan Briscoe. Angelelli and Taylor--the defending Daytona Prototype co-champions--had won each of the last two events at Watkins Glen International, and have now finished on the podium in five of their six career Rolex Series starts at the venue. Briscoe, meanwhile, made his first Rolex Series appearance at Watkins Glen and just his second appearance ever in the Rolex Series. It was also Angelelli's fourth consecutive top-four result. Angelelli led 26 laps in the race, while Briscoe led 10.

Oswaldo Negri Jr.--who led one lap in the race--and Mark Patterson came home fourth in the No. 60 Flight Options/Net App Lexus Riley for Michael Shank Racing to earn their best result since finishing second in January's Rolex 24 At Daytona. Andy Wallace and Butch Leitzinger completed the top five in the No. 4 The Boss Snowplow Pontiac Crawford for Howard-Boss Motorsports. It was the duo's fourth top-six result in eight races.

6/4/2006 - by Beth Dolgner

The Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen capped the Rolex Series weekend at Watkins Glen with a victory for none other than Krohn Racing. The No. 76 Krohn Ford Riley won the wet and gloomy race with Jorg Bergmeister and substitute driver Boris Said behind the wheel.

The win was ironic, since the No. 76 car's regular driver Colin Braun- or, more specifically, his young age of 17- was the focal point of a dramatic weekend. Team owner Tracy Krohn wanted Braun to be able to compete, despite the contractual agreement between the IRL, with whom Grand American is sharing the bill this weekend, and Watkins Glen, specifying that no driver under 18 can compete. A court case ensued, and an injunction was granted for Braun to race. The injunction was appealed, but Krohn chose to withdraw Braun and replace him with Said in order to allow the rest of the Daytona Prototype class to proceed with the racing.

Thursday's practice was lost as a result of the lawsuit, and qualifying on Friday was scrapped in favor of extra practice time. Instead, teams were gridded according to points, meaning that the No. 01 CompUSA/Chip Ganassi Lexus Riley started from the pole.

At the start of the six-hour race, though, Max Angelelli took over the lead in the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley. The No. 76 Krohn Ford had passed for second by lap six with Bergmeister behind the wheel. Angelelli made an early pit stop when the first of many cautions began on lap 13. Krohn Racing and the CompUSA car came in, too, and when the race restarted it was Christian Fittipaldi leading in the No. 39 Crown Royal Special Reserve/Cheever Porsche Crawford.

As the race neared the completion of the first hour, a caution period for a car off track prompted Fittipaldi to pit, and once again Angelelli was in the lead in the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac.

Thanks to his early stop, Angelelli was able to wait until halfway through hour two to make his next pit stop. He handed the car over to Wayne Taylor while the lead shuffled hands as teams pitted.

The No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford had a brief lead before being passed by the No. 39 Cheever Porsche.

A third full-course caution began on the same lap as the pass for the lead, prompting the top DPs to come into the pits. The race restarted with just ten minutes left in the second hour, and the No. 76 Krohn Ford was quickly back in the lead, with Bergmeister behind the wheel.

The German driver was undaunted by the drizzle that kept the track conditions in constant flux, and by the two-hour mark he was over five seconds ahead of the field.

As the third hour got underway, the Daytona Prototypes were in need of another round of pit stops. The lead changed hands as the top cars came in, and things shuffled even more when the fourth caution period started at two hours and 30 minutes.

When the race restarted 17 minutes later, the No. 39 Cheever Porsche was in the lead once again.

The fourth hour was underway when the No. 99 Gainsco/Blackhawk Racing Pontiac Riley made a pass for the lead, building up a gap of a long ten seconds.

The sixth full-course caution came halfway through hour four, and again the leaders ducked into the pits. The long caution period for a car off course lasted until there were just 12 minutes left in the fourth hour. When the green flag flew again, the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac was leading, this time with Wayne Taylor behind the wheel.

Not to be outdone, the No. 99 Pontiac made a pass for the lead in turn ten just a few laps later. While Taylor pitted to put Angelelli back behind the wheel of the No. 10, the new race leader built up a lead of 15 seconds. Second place was held down by the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford.

When the No. 99 machine slid off course near the end of the fifth hour, Krohn Racing took the lead briefly before making their next scheduled stop.

Changing leaders due to pit stops began another cycle, but at the end the Gainsco Pontiac was back in the lead. Another caution began just after the start of the final hour, and a stop for fuel by the leader put the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford back in the lead.

There was one more caution period, but the lead never again changed. Bergmeister and Said finished 3.495 seconds ahead of the No. 99 Gainsco Pontiac Riley of Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney and Bob Stallings.

The second-place team held off a charge from Angelelli, who crossed the finish line with the third-place spot for himself and Taylor in the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac.

During post-race inspection, the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley was deemed to be too low, and the team was fined $2,000. The team did, however, get to keep their finish and the points they earned for the victory at Watkins Glen.

"It definitely was exciting," Bergmeister said. "Our team did an awesome job, Krohn Racing. After the trouble we had at the beginning of practice where my usual teammate couldn't compete today, Boris did an awesome job with his stint in the middle of the race under difficult conditions. It was just awesome today."

"I pretty much got a gift by being on the team with them," Said remarked. "They called me Tuesday when I was testing my NEXTEL Cup car in Atlanta and they asked me if could come stand by just in case something happened. (Bergmeister) probably drove about four hours. I just drove about an hour-and-a-half in the middle, and he gave me a win so I feel pretty happy. Hopefully, I'll be sitting up here in August. I'm pretty happy."

There were 20 lead changes among nine teams throughout the six-hour event.