Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas News Notes
February 22, 2001
LEATHER CENTER GRAND PRIX OF TEXAS NEWS NOTES
NOTE: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tex., will host the first
race of the 2001 American Le Mans Series season, the Leather Center Grand
Prix of Texas, on March 3-4.
** PANOZ ENTERS THIRD PROTOTYPE -- Panoz Motor Sports has entered a third
Prototype race car in the Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas. The new
entry, which will carry number 49, will be driven by Jay Cochran of Palm
Beach, Fla., and a driver to be named. Cochran will be one of the
drivers for Westward Racing Group, a new team that will campaign Panoz LMP
cars in the European Le Mans Series in 2001.
** MURRY TO MISS TEXAS RACE -- David Murry, who was to debut in the
Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas with the new Kelly-Moss team, will have
to miss the event for medical reasons. Christophe Bouchut of France will
substitute for him in the team's Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Murry said on
Thursday that he requires surgery to have a growth on one of his kidneys
removed, but that he plans to be back in action for the Mar. 17 Sebring
event. Anthony Lazzaro will co-drive with Bouchut, while a second
Kelly-Moss car will be co-driven by Cort Wagner and Rick Polk.
** RICE JOINS CALLAWAY TEAM -- ALMS veteran Vic Rice of San Rafael,
Calif., has been named to co-drive with Shane Lewis in the new Aspen
Knolls Racing Callaway C12 R GT machine. Rice finished fifth in the GTS
class standings of the ALMS last year. The new Callaway car is being
finished in Germany and is expected to arrive at Texas Motor Speedway in
time for the event.
** AMERICAN VIPER NAMES TWO MORE DRIVERS -- American Viper Racing has
named Erik Messley of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Neil Hanneman of Lake
Orion, Mich., to drive its second Dodge Viper GTS-R in the Leather Center
Grand Prix of Texas. The team, which ran one race last year as
Patriot Motorsports, has reformed as American Viper and will field two
cars in all ALMS events. Team owner Tom Weickardt will co-drive with Joe
Ellis in the other team car.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Andy Hall, ALMS Director of Media &
Communications, (317)
295-3500, ext. 31
Andy Hall
Director of Media & Communications
American Le Mans Series
(317) 295-3500, ext. 31
(317) 298-8924 (fax)
andy@4pmg.com