Lewis Goes for Second Podium at Mosport
SHANE LEWIS
www.shanelewis.com
LEWIS GOES FOR SECOND PODIUM AT MOSPORT
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Friday, August 17, 2001- Following a second-place
finish at the most recent round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in
Portland, Shane Lewis is ready to extend his streak of podium finishes
here at Mosport International Raceway. The Jupiter, Florida-resident slips
back behind the wheel of the #45 ESP American Viperacing Dodge Viper GTS-R
this weekend for the Grand Turismo 3 Grand Prix of Mosport co-driving with
longtime Dodge factory driver David Donohue. The fifth-round of the 2001
ALMS season is the third race that Lewis has competed with American
Viperacing in the #45 V10 American muscle car. This is his first race
co-driving with Donohue.
“We had a two-race deal with American Viperacing that ended at
Portland,” said Lewis. “However, I don’t think the champagne cork
was even out of the bottle yet when we started talking about going on to a
couple of more races. We didn’t know for sure until earlier this
week that I’d be in the car this weekend but the team said they wanted
the best line-up in the #45 Viper they could get. I think they have it.
Adding David (Donohue) to the team as my co-driver was a huge surprise to
me and I couldn’t be happier. David has so much experience in these
cars. This will be like old times for him as he helped develop this car
for Dodge.”
Lewis, who is considered one of the sports preeminent racing and
development drivers, has made a remarkable recovery from leg surgery that
sidelined him from racing in what would have been his third 24 Hours of Le
Mans in June. In the short four months since undergoing the
procedure that included adding several titanium rods to his right leg,
Lewis has been on a daily workout and rehabilitation routine to expedite
his recovery. The effort has paid off as his on-track performances have
shown.
At this time, Lewis’ contract extension with American Viperacing
includes this weekend’s event as well as the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio next
weekend. Team management continues to seek additional support to
keep the ALMS-favorite in the car for the remaining 2001 races.
“It is a pleasure to be up here and competing for American Viperacing
for our third race in a row,” remarked Lewis about this weekend’s
event. “The improvements they have done to the track in the last few
years have made it a super facility and I am looking forward to this race
and on to Mid-Ohio next weekend. We don’t know where we’ll be after
that but I am taking it one race at a time. We worked too hard to get back
to stop now.”
For more on Shane Lewis please see www.ShaneLewis.com.
To follow Lewis lap-by-lap this weekend, visit live timing and scoring at www.AmericanLeMans.com.
Sunday’s race will be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2 p.m. (EDT).
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