Peterson tops speed charts in Trans-Am

Doug Peterson, of Rochester Hills, Mich., was fastest in SCCA Pro Racing Tran-Am Series Round Six practice today at Road America, as part of the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase. Cliff Ebben and Simon Gregg were second and third, respectively.

After a three-race hiatus, Peterson needed only three laps to turn the session’s top time with a 2:07.803 (114.025 mph) around the 4.048-mile road course. After he completed his fourth lap, Peterson lost the motor in his No. 87 3Dimensional.com Jaguar XKR. However, despite the blown motor, his time held up throughout the 45-minute practice session thanks to his familiarity with the track.

“I know this track pretty well," Peterson said of being fastest in practice. “I used to be in the SCCA Central Division, so I know the track really well. The Alegra team has done a phenomenal job of tuning the car and getting every little thing just right on. When everything feels right and is good, you’ll go a little deeper [in the corners] before braking, carry the speed through the turns and then go to the throttle. The car was awesome.

“We went out with a little extra tire pressure. We were simulating qualifying. Unfortunately, we lost the motor. But, I might be faster [tomorrow in qualifying] because we’ll have a new motor."

Ebben, from nearby Appleton, Wis., turned the session’s second fastest lap time with a 2:08.338 (113.550 mph) in the No. 36 McMahon Group/StumpfFord/Lamers Ford Mustang. In 2009, Ebben recorded his first-career Trans-Am Series win at Road America.

Gregg, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is enjoying a great 2011 Trans-Am campaign. He is coming off a second-place finish at Trois-Rivieres and has three podium finishes in five races this season. Today, he continued to show good speed with the third fastest practice time with a 2:09.726 (112.335 mph) in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette.

Carlos de Quesada, of Coral Gables, Fla., was fourth in the No. 22 Alegra Motorsports/Vitalz Jaguar XKR with a 2:09.781 (112.287 mph), while Daniel Ramoutarsingh, of La Romain, Trinidad, was fifth in the No. 18 Trinrico Steel & Wire Products Jaguar XKR with a 2:10.888 (111.338 mph).

Scott Tucker, of Overland Park, Kan., led the Trans-Am 2 (TA2) class with a top time of 2:20.777 (103.517 mph) in the No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports Porsche 997. Gary Stewart, of York, Pa., was second quickest in the No. 92 Apple Motorsports Porsche 996 with a 2:21.041 (103.323 mph).

Bob Stretch, of Arlington, Texas, was third fastest in the TA2 class with a time of 2:22.964 (101.933 mph), followed by Gregg Rodgers, of Southlake, Texas, with a 2:24.641 (100.751 mph), and Ricky Sanders, of Fayetteville, Ga., with a 2:27.305 (98.929 mph).

SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series qualifying is set for 8 a.m. (EDT) Friday, Aug.18. The green flag will drop for Round Six of the Trans-Am Series at 8 a.m. (EDT) Saturday, Aug.19. It will be a 25-lap, 101.2-mile race.

Results
1, TA, (87), Doug Peterson(R), Rochester Hills, Mich., Jaguar XKR, 2:07.803, 114.025.
2, TA, (36), Cliff Ebben, Appleton, Wis., Ford Mustang, 2:08.338, 113.550.
3, TA, (59), Simon Gregg, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Chevrolet Corvette, 2:09.726, 112.335.
4, TA, (22), Carlos deQuesada(R), Coral Gables, Fla., Jaguar XKR, 2:09.781, 112.287.
5, TA, (18), Daniel Ramoutarsingh, La Romain Trinidad, , Jaguar XKR, 2:10.888, 111.338.
6, TA, (86), John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., Ford Mustang, 2:11.814, 110.555.
7, TA, (00), Doug Harrington(R), Kemah, Texas, Chevrolet Corvette, 2:11.825, 110.546.
8, TA, (66), Denny Lamers, Appleton, Wis., Ford Mustang, 2:12.264, 110.179.
9, TA, (31), Dave Ruehlow(R), Oconomowoc, Wis., Ford Mustang, 2:13.381, 109.257.
10, TA, (01), Jim Bradley, Gaston, Ind., Chevrolet Corvette, 2:13.797, 108.917.
11, TA2, (55), Scott Tucker(R), Overland Park, Kansas, Porsche 997, 2:20.777, 103.517.
12, TA2, (92), Gary Stewart(R), York, Pa., Porsche GT3 Cup, 2:21.041, 103.323.
13, TA2, (98), Bob Stretch(R), Arlington, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 2:22.964, 101.933.
14, TA2, (40), Gregg Rodgers(R), Southlake, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 2:24.641, 100.751.
15, TA2, (19), Ricky Sanders(R), Fayetteville, Ga., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2:27.305, 98.929.
16, TA2, (65), Tom Sheehan(R), Auburn, N.H., Chevrolet Camaro, 2:30.425, 96.877.
17, TA2, (32), Bill Prietzel(R), Richfield, Wis., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2:31.407, 96.249.
18, TA, (23), Amy Ruman, Kent, Ohio, Chevrolet Corvette, 10:05.845, 24.053.
19, TA, (70), David Jans(R), Mundelein, Ill., Ford Mustang, 11:53.856, 20.414.
20, TA, (4), Tony Ave, Maiden, N.C., Chevrolet Corvette, no time.