Long feeling good vibes headed to Utah

Patrick Long

It’s safe to say that Patrick Long has learned to love Miller Motorsports Park. While initially unsure about the palatial venue just outside Salt Lake City, his performances there in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n have made MMP one of his favorites.

Long and teammate J̦rg Bergmeister will look for a GT2 repeat victory in the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix with their Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The circuit has been good to the duo РBergmeister is on a three-race win streak at the track and was the fastest GT2 qualifier last year. Long set the fastest GT2 race lap in 2009 and Рlike his teammate Рhas never finished off the podium including a runner-up LMP2 finish in 2008.

“The length of the racetrack and the altitude of Salt Lake City are the most unique parts of the race," said Long, America’s lone Porsche factory driver. “It’s one track that’s a favorite of mine, but it wasn’t always. I’ve found that as I’ve come to know the racetrack and its hidden nuances, the easier it’s been to establish a rhythm – the result of which is that it’s become a very rewarding circuit."

There is certainly much for newcomers to learn about the 3.048-mile, 15-turn circuit. Situated in the Utah desert, it’s relatively flat but lightning quick with average speeds in excess of 113 mph for prototypes and 102 mph in GT cars. Aside from the circuit, the on-site facilities are ultra-modern and make the venue Utah’s marvel of motorsport.

“Miller is a world-class facility that sets the bar the highest in all of North America – it’s unlike anywhere else we race," added Long, who leads the GT championship with Bergmeister after two straight victories. “It’s this Taj Majal of a racetrack, planted right out in the middle of a very rural, desert area."

Long and the rest of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n return to action at the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix. The two-hour, 45-minute race is set for 2:35 p.m. MT on Sunday, July 11 from Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. SPEED will air the race live at 4:30 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.