The beat goes on for No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley co-drivers Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor, as the duo scored their fourth Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series victory of the season and their second-in-a-row with their triumph in Friday night's CompUSA 200 at The Glen.
After taking over the controls from Taylor--who started fifth--just past the halfway point in the race, Angelelli stalked then-race-leader Scott Pruett in the No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley for several laps before rocketing past the defending Daytona Prototype co-champion in the famed Watkins Glen International "inner loop" chicane on Lap 55 of the 75-lap event.
The Italian then had to stave off a hard-charging Alex Gurney in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Blackhawk Racing Pontiac Riley in two restarts late in the race, the last of which came with just two laps remaining. Angelelli did just that--leading a total of 21 laps--and crossed the start/finish line just 0.711 seconds ahead of Gurney to secure the victory. It was the second time this season that Angelelli and Taylor have taken consecutive victories, as the duo opened the year with wins in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Grand Prix of Miami.
"There was a lot of pressure because I was building a little gap to be comfortable for the last five laps, and the last yellow came," Angelelli said. "It scared me a little bit. I really concentrated, and I tried to turn a good first lap. I was lucky to have it, and I built my gap."
With their series-leading fourth win of the season, Angelelli and Taylor managed to extend their lead in the Daytona Prototype driver standings once again. The No. 10 teammates are now 21 points (282-261) ahead of Pruett and his No. 01 co-driver Luis Diaz with nine of 14 races completed.
""It was a lot of fun," Taylor said. "I had some difficulty getting through traffic and getting passed under yellow. Our plan was obviously to be ahead of the No. 01 car, and if you can be ahead of the No. 01 car, you can win the race. Max and all these guys did an outstanding job. From a points standpoint, it's a little better for us, because Scott fell back out of the top three."
Competing in just their fourth Rolex Series race, Gurney and his No. 99 car owner and co-driver Bob Stallings posted career-best results with their runner-up finish. Gurney has quickly adapted to Daytona Prototype racing, as he traded paint with Pruett to take over second place in Turn 1 on Lap 56. The runner-up result for Stallings and Gurney comes on the heels of Gurney's first career Rolex Series pole position at Barber Motorsports Park nearly two weeks ago.
"Everything worked out right today," Gurney said. "Our strategy was to come from 21st to second, and the challenge was great. Everything worked well, and the car was awesome. We made it through all the traffic, but we didn't quite have enough for Max at the end. We are glad to be on the podium. It's our first time in only our fourth race."
"Yesterday was the first time I saw this track, ever, in my life," Stallings added. "I saw it on TV a couple times, and I was very tentative my first couple times out. Alex is my coach, and he showed me a lot of things. I was more comfortable in the car in the last practice session. We started way in the back, and I was fortunate to move up six positions before I ended up coming in. Our strategy all along was to get me out as soon as we could, and get this rabbit (Gurney) in the car. He just did a heck of a job."
No. 66 Krohn Racing/TRG Pontiac Riley co-drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Christian Fittipaldi capped an eventful two days at Watkins Glen with a third-place performance. Bergmeister put the race car on the outside of the front row midway through Thursday's qualifying session, but a crash shortly thereafter kept the No. 66 off the track for the final practice session as the crew made repairs.
Bergmeister dropped back in the field slightly at the start, but came roaring back and took the lead on Lap 15. The German led a total of five laps before turning over the blue and silver Daytona Prototype to Fittipaldi in a Lap 21 pit stop. The decisive moment in Fittipaldi's portion of the race came on Lap 56, when he overtook Pruett for third place shortly after Gurney's bold move to claim the second position.
