Porsche qualifies eighth at Mid-Ohio

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Falken RSR qualified over a second slower than Flying Lizard Motorsports' RSR. Photo: Bob Chapman
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The #45 Porsche GT3 RSR qualified 8th with Porsche factory driver Patrick Long behind the wheel. Photo: Bob Chapman

Flying Lizard Motorsports’ driver Patrick Long qualified his GT3 RSR eighth — almost a second slower than the fastest Ferrari F430GT — at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course after winning the last race at Lime Rock Park. The Falken RSR was qualified 11th.

Ahead of Long were Ferraris, Corvettes, and BMWs, but he says: “We are certainly aware that the others are going fast, but we have made good progress on our set-up program, shaving tenths of a second off our time at each session.” Despite the less-than-stellar qualifying position, the team is confident in its race set-up.

The GT3 RSRs have not been the fastest this season, but that isn’t surprising given that the Corvette, Ferrari, and BMW teams have newer cars. The Flying Lizard Motorsports team, however, leads the points standings with the #45 Long/Joerg Bergmeister RSR, even amongst faster cars. The Falken RSR has fallen behind in the points standings and qualified 11th for tomorrow’s race. The other #44 Seth Neiman/Patrick Pilet RSR qualified 13th.

So how does the Lizard team continually come out on top in a field with faster cars?

“So far this season, good pit stops, strategy, reliability, and mistake-free driving have put us on top of the points,” Long says.

Those who want to watch the race live, but can’t be at the event, will have to watch it online at www.americanlemans.com/live on Saturday, August 7, 2010 starting at 2:30 PM EDT. Fans are requested to register on the site to view the live stream.

Otherwise, watch it Sunday August 15, 2010 starting at 12:30 PM
EDT on CBS Sports.

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