3-24-2007 - Colin runs as high as 2nd but takes 8th in Homestead

Homestead FL - The third round of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway proved to be challenging for the Krohn Racing team today. The No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley of Max Papis and Colin Braun, who started from the second row in the fourth position, finished eighth overall. T

On Lap 11 Braun was assessed a drive-through penalty after mixing it up with the No. 23 Porsche Crawford while in second-place. He exited in the 11th position overall but made it back into the Top Five by the restart from a second caution on Lap 24. Papis took over the wheel of the No. 75 Krohn entry under caution on Lap 50, while in third position. Two more cautions for 18 of the nearly 39 remaining laps made a run for the lead impossible.

Watch a 4mb video of the penalty and make your own decision.  Click on the picture above of Colin passing Pat Long and see what you think.

Colin Braun, driver, No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley:

"The Krohn Racing guys did a really good job. The car was good in the race. We had a rough start with a couple of the officiating calls and made it back up and were sitting fine. We just didn't have the pace the leaders did at the end. We're going to go testing then go to VIR and hopefully be a little bit quicker there."

Max Papis, driver, No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley:

"It was definitely an eventful race for us. We had to go to a different strategy after we got the drive through (penalty). We found ourselves a little bit in the middle of the pack. It was particularly difficult today to get by people. The mechanics did a great job to keep everything under control. We got some important points for the championship. When you can't win, it's good to finish. I think today was a great team effort and I'm really proud of all my guys."

Jeff Hazell, Krohn Racing Team Manager:

"I think that the call on Colin for the drive-through was pretty harsh. I don't think it was clear cut by any means. In fact, it's hard to think of any incident in the race that required a penalty. The guys were out there racing. There was a bit of rubbing and what have you. There were some small errors but nothing particularly serious. I think there are far too many penalties. It destroys the racing and maybe that's why we don't have the number of spectators we should have."

Papis and Braun now sit in fourth position in the Daytona Prototype point championship with 75 points, 18 points behind leader Scott Pruett (93).

Round Four of the 14-race 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series will be at Virginia International Raceway next on April 28-29 in Alton, Virginia.