Vasser Takes First Laps of 2008

Vasser in the No. 99 car

Former Champ Car World Series Champion and Rolex 24 At Daytona class winner Jimmy Vasser took his first laps in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac Riley since last September Saturday as GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing continued to work on its 2008 setup at Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Test Days.

After teammate Alex Gurney set the early pace in the afternoon practice, Vasser took the wheel in the middle of the session and quickly got up to speed on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course. It was his first time in a race car since he drove for the team in practice for the 2007 season-ending SunChaser 1000 at Miller Motorsports Park where GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing clinched the Rolex Series team and driver championships.

"These were the first laps I have driven this year and my first time in the car since I drove with the team at Miller in practice," Vasser said. "So it's good for me to drive. From a driving aspect, it's always good to get behind the wheel and knock a little of the rust off. I am pleased that I didn't feel like I had lost much at all and to be able to jump in to try to help the team solve some of the problems we have been encountering trying to adapt to the Pirelli tire. While the tire seems to be fairly grippy and pretty quick it does have some characteristics the team is still trying to come to grips with, but all in all we are reasonably pleased with getting the work done."