O’Connell’s Cadillac, Foss and Povoledo Fastest In Pirelli World Challenge Practice

O’Connell topped the GT time charts with a 1:22.886 (110.320 mph) in the No. 3 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe during afternoon practice after turning the third-quickest time in the morning session. O’Connell’s lap around the 12-turn, 2.54-mile circuit was just 0.110-second quicker than second running Mike Skeen.

“This is my home track," O’Connell said. “Actually, I think I was racing out here before a lot of these guys were born. It’s good, we’ve improved the car. Every day we run these things we’re getting them better. We were quick on the day, but I know both the Corvettes are going to be lightning quick, too. The funny thing is, when you watch practice, every single time, how fast the Cadillacs go in practice is pretty darn close to how fast they’re going to qualify. I’ve learned you can’t always say that about everybody else. We’re happy, we’re confident, but I think the Corvettes have a lot to lay down, as do the Volvos."

Cadillac won four races in a row at Road Atlanta in their last stint in Pirelli World Challenge from 2004 through 2007.

“You have circuits that favor each car," O’Connell said. “One of the best cars I had this year was at Mosport, and that’s a track I won seven times at in the [American Le Mans Series] Corvette. I’m pretty good around that place, and the similarities are pretty close as to what the car likes. Hopefully between Mosport and now we’ve learned a lot to get our car better, but it’s going to be real hard and tricky."

Skeen turned his quickest time of 1:22.996 (110.174 mph) in the first of the two practices on Wednesday and was unable to move back into the 1 minute, 22 second range in the afternoon. Even so, Skeen’s No. 2 Cragar Wheels/CRP Chevrolet Corvette trailed only O’Connell in the afternoon practice.

Third on the combined charts is Skeen’s teammate, Patrick Lindsey, in the No. 12 Hawk Performance/CRP Chevrolet Corvette. Lindsey’s time of 1:23.059 (110.090 mph) came in the morning session.

Like O’Connell, Andy Pilgrim found some speed in his No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V Coupe during the afternoon session. Pilgrim’s lap of 1:23.374 (109.674 mph) was third in the session, and fourth overall on the day.

Eric Curran, making his return to the series in the No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette, turned a lap of 1:24.222 (108.570 mph) to finish fifth on the day and complete a General Motors sweep of the GT class.

Ian Baas turned the top GTS class time in the afternoon session, running a lap of 1:31.345 (100.104 mph) in his No. 56 APR Motorsports Audi A4. That time was good for second on the day, trailing Foss’ lap of 1:30.963 (100.524 mph) from the morning session.

Third on the combined charts is Paul Brown, who has already clinched the 2011 GTS Drivers’ Championship in the No. 50 One Hour Heating and Air/Luminox/Kenny Brown Ford Mustang Boss 302S. Brown turned a lap of 1:31.394 (100.050 mph) in the afternoon session.

Jordon Musser posted a lap of 1:32.043 (99.344 mph) in the morning session behind the wheel of the No. 06 Momentum Autosport Chevrolet Camaro to sit fourth in practice, just ahead of teammate Alec Udell in an identical No. 05 machine with a lap of 1:32.157 (99.222 mph) in session two.

Povoledo’s fast time of 1:35.690 (95.558 mph) on sticker tires near the end of the second session left his No. 88 K-Pax Racing Volvo C30 as the fastest car of the day in the Touring Car class.

“We’ve had an intense week so far," Povoledo said. “We’ve been focusing on race runs, race setup. We’ve been focusing on setup on old tires, on how’s the car going to be in the last 10 minutes of the race. I know we’re going to have probably the biggest fight of the season for this win here, and the strategy going in was to focus on race setup. We had a blister in a tire, so we had the option of putting other old tires on, but I wanted to feel how much of a game changer the sticker rubber was going to be. It shouldn’t surprise us, but we found a good second on a big, high speed track like this makes a difference.

“I’m happy to be first, but I’m not resting on the laurels. It’s nice to be P1 in the Volvo C30, it always is, it’s a nice pat on the back for the K-Pax Racing crew guys. But let’s not fool ourselves, that was sticker tires at happy hour."

Sitting behind Povoledo on the combined practice chart is Tristan Herbert’s No. 33 Brimtek/GermanAutoParts.com Volkswagen GTI. Herbert led the second practice session with a time of 1:36.072 (95.178 mph) prior to Povoledo’s fast lap.

Like Povoledo and Herbert, Lawson Aschenbach improved in the afternoon session to a time of 1:36.112 (95.139 mph). Having already clinched the Touring Car Championship, Aschenbach is simply looking for a win in his No. 71 Compass360 Honda Civic Si on Friday.

Josh Hurley, fastest in the morning session with a 1:36.590 (94.668 mph) in his No. 57 APR Motorsports Volkswagen GTI, didn’t improve in the afternoon session and remains fourth overall. Povoledo’s teammate, Robb Holland, improved in the afternoon session to 1:36.813 (94.450 mph) in the No. 66 K-Pax Racing Volvo C30 and is fifth on the combined charts.

The Pirelli World Challenge returns to the track on Thursday afternoon for a 4:05 p.m. qualifying session. The standing start for Friday’s Cadillac Road Atlanta Grand Prix, Round 12 and the season finale, is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. EDT. Follow all live timing and notes at world-challenge.com. Saturday’s race will be broadcast live on world-challengetv.com.

BRASELTON, Ga – Combined practice results from Wednesday for Friday's Pirelli World Challenge Championships Round 12 race, part of the Cadillac Road Atlanta Grand Prix at Road Atlanta, with position, class, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour.

1, GT, (3), Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, Ga., Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, 1:22.886, 110.320.

2, GT, (2), Mike Skeen, Charlotte, N.C., Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:22.996, 110.174.

3, GT, (12), Patrick Lindsey, Santa Barbara, Calif., Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:23.059, 110.090.

4, GT, (8), Andy Pilgrim, Marina Del Rey, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, 1:23.374, 109.674.

5, GT, (30), Eric Curran, Easthampton, Mass., Chevrolet Corvette C6, 1:24.222, 108.570.

6, GT, (6), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Volvo S60 AWD, 1:24.352, 108.402.

7, GT, (46), Rob Morgan, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:24.647, 108.025.

8, GT, (14), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:24.754, 107.888.

9, GT, (99), Jeff Courtney, Milwaukee, Wis., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:24.881, 107.727.

10, GT, (9), Alex Figge, Denver, Colo., Volvo S60 AWD, 1:24.948, 107.642.

11, GT, (11), Tony Gaples, Lincolnshire, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:25.096, 107.455.

12, GT, (47), Tomy Drissi, Costa Mesa, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:25.662, 106.745.

13, GT, (31), Sonny Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., Chevrolet Corvette C6, 1:26.957, 105.155.

14, GT, (85), Jason Carter(R), Dallas, Texas, Porsche 911 GT3, 1:30.806, 100.698.

15, GTS, (73), Eric Foss, Dallas, Texas, Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:30.963, 100.524.

16, GTS, (56), Ian Baas, Opelika, Ala., Audi A4, 1:31.345, 100.104.

17, GTS, (50), Paul Brown, Covina, Calif., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 1:31.394, 100.050.

18, GTS, (05), Jordon Musser(R), The Colony, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:32.043, 99.344.

19, GTS, (06), Alec Udell(R), Houston, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:32.157, 99.222.

20, GTS, (1), Peter Cunningham, Milwaukee, Wis., Acura TSX, 1:32.310, 99.057.

21, GTS, (25), Ben Crosland(R), Salt Lake City, Utah, Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:32.414, 98.946.

22, GTS, (34), Nick Esayian, San Diego, Calif., Acura TSX, 1:32.821, 98.512.

23, GTS, (19), Jason von_Kluge(R), Ann Arbor, Mich., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 1:32.825, 98.508.

24, GTS, (55), Richard Golinello(R), Oldsmar, Fla., Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:33.270, 98.038.

25, GTS, (97), Tony Rivera, Angleton, Texas, Nissan 370Z, 1:33.534, 97.761.

26, GTS, (83), Karl Poeltl, Knoxville, Tenn., BMW 325i, 1:33.837, 97.445.

27, GTS, (75), Brad Adams(R), New Orleans, La., Ford Mustang 500S, 1:34.396, 96.868.

28, TC, (88), Aaron Povoledo, Toronto, Ontario, Volvo C30 FWD, 1:35.690, 95.558.

29, TC, (33), Tristan Herbert(R), Reston, Va., Volkswagen GTI, 1:36.072, 95.178.

30, TC, (71), Lawson Aschenbach, Darnestown, Md., Honda Civic Si, 1:36.112, 95.139.

31, TC, (57), Josh Hurley, Gainesville, Fla., Volkswagen GTI, 1:36.590, 94.668.

32, TC, (66), Robb Holland, Denver, Colo., Volvo C30 FWD, 1:36.813, 94.450.

33, TC, (60), Ron Zitza, Orlando, Fla., Volkswagen Jetta, 1:37.107, 94.164.

34, TC, (28), Jesse Clark, Richmond, Va., Honda Civic Si, 1:37.173, 94.100.

35, TC, (58), Kevin Gleason, Johnstown, Pa., Volkswagen GTI, 1:37.244, 94.031.

36, TC, (70), Brett Sandberg, Allendale, N.J., Honda Civic Si, 1:37.560, 93.727.

37, TC, (74), Ray Mason(R), Columbus, Ohio, Honda Civic Si, 1:37.688, 93.604.

38, TC, (80), Patrick Seguin(R), Calrence Creek, Ontario, Honda Civic Si, 1:38.275, 93.045.

39, TC, (65), Greg Liefooghe, San Francisco, Calif., BMW 328i, 1:40.201, 91.256.

40, TC, (72), Thomas Ehlen(R), Vancouver, British Columbia, Honda Civic Si, 1:43.726, 88.155.

41, TC, (61), Carolyn Kujala, Tucson, Ariz., Volkswagen Jetta, 1:47.333, 85.192.

42, TC, (93), Karl Thomson, Toronto, Ontario, Honda Civic Si, 1:53.193, 80.782.

43, GTS, (20), Andy Lee(R), Chandler, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, no time.

BRASELTON, Ga – Results from Practice 2 on Wednesday for Friday's Pirelli World Challenge Championships Round 12 race, part of the Cadillac Road Atlanta Grand Prix at Road Atlanta, with position, class, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour.

1, GT, (3), Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, Ga., Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, 1:22.886, 110.320.

2, GT, (2), Mike Skeen, Charlotte, N.C., Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:23.059, 110.090.

3, GT, (8), Andy Pilgrim, Marina Del Rey, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, 1:23.374, 109.674.

4, GT, (12), Patrick Lindsey, Santa Barbara, Calif., Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:23.814, 109.098.

5, GT, (30), Eric Curran, Easthampton, Mass., Chevrolet Corvette C6, 1:24.222, 108.570.

6, GT, (6), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Volvo S60 AWD, 1:24.352, 108.402.

7, GT, (14), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:24.754, 107.888.

8, GT, (99), Jeff Courtney, Milwaukee, Wis., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:24.881, 107.727.

9, GT, (9), Alex Figge, Denver, Colo., Volvo S60 AWD, 1:24.948, 107.642.

10, GT, (46), Rob Morgan, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:25.062, 107.498.

11, GT, (11), Tony Gaples, Lincolnshire, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:25.096, 107.455.

12, GT, (47), Tomy Drissi, Costa Mesa, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:25.688, 106.712.

13, GT, (31), Sonny Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., Chevrolet Corvette C6, 1:27.345, 104.688.

14, GT, (85), Jason Carter(R), Dallas, Texas, Porsche 911 GT3, 1:30.806, 100.698.

15, GTS, (56), Ian Baas, Opelika, Ala., Audi A4, 1:31.345, 100.104.

16, GTS, (50), Paul Brown, Covina, Calif., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 1:31.394, 100.050.

17, GTS, (73), Eric Foss, Dallas, Texas, Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:31.554, 99.875.

18, GTS, (06), Alec Udell(R), Houston, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:32.157, 99.222.

19, GTS, (1), Peter Cunningham, Milwaukee, Wis., Acura TSX, 1:32.310, 99.057.

20, GTS, (05), Jordon Musser(R), The Colony, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:32.346, 99.019.

21, GTS, (25), Ben Crosland(R), Salt Lake City, Utah, Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:32.414, 98.946.

22, GTS, (34), Nick Esayian, San Diego, Calif., Acura TSX, 1:32.821, 98.512.

23, GTS, (19), Jason von_Kluge(R), Ann Arbor, Mich., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 1:33.378, 97.924.

24, GTS, (97), Tony Rivera, Angleton, Texas, Nissan 370Z, 1:33.534, 97.761.

25, GTS, (55), Richard Golinello(R), Oldsmar, Fla., Ford Mustang FR500S, 1:33.632, 97.659.

26, GTS, (83), Karl Poeltl, Knoxville, Tenn., BMW 325i, 1:33.837, 97.445.

27, GTS, (75), Brad Adams(R), New Orleans, La., Ford Mustang 500S, 1:35.284, 95.965.

28, TC, (88), Aaron Povoledo, Toronto, Ontario, Volvo C30 FWD, 1:35.690, 95.558.

29, TC, (33), Tristan Herbert(R), Reston, Va., Volkswagen GTI, 1:36.072, 95.178.

30, TC, (71), Lawson Aschenbach, Darnestown, Md., Honda Civic Si, 1:36.112, 95.139.

31, TC, (57), Josh Hurley, Gainesville, Fla., Volkswagen GTI, 1:36.628, 94.631.

32, TC, (66), Robb Holland, Denver, Colo., Volvo C30 FWD, 1:36.813, 94.450.

33, TC, (60), Ron Zitza, Orlando, Fla., Volkswagen Jetta, 1:37.107, 94.164.

34, TC, (28), Jesse Clark, Richmond, Va., Honda Civic Si, 1:37.173, 94.100.

35, TC, (74), Ray Mason(R), Columbus, Ohio, Honda Civic Si, 1:37.688, 93.604.

36, TC, (70), Brett Sandberg, Allendale, N.J., Honda Civic Si, 1:37.944, 93.359.

37, TC, (80), Patrick Seguin(R), Calrence Creek, Ontario, Honda Civic Si, 1:38.275, 93.045.

38, TC, (58), Kevin Gleason, Johnstown, Pa., Volkswagen GTI, 1:38.658, 92.683.

39, TC, (65), Greg Liefooghe, San Francisco, Calif., BMW 328i, 1:40.201, 91.256.

40, TC, (72), Thomas Ehlen(R), Vancouver, British Columbia, Honda Civic Si, 1:43.963, 87.954.

41, TC, (61), Carolyn Kujala, Tucson, Ariz., Volkswagen Jetta, 1:47.333, 85.192.

42, TC, (93), Karl Thomson, Toronto, Ontario, Honda Civic Si, 1:53.193, 80.782.

43, GTS, (20), Andy Lee(R), Chandler, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, no time.