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Crown Royal Special Reserve Thursday Test Report

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., June 9 - Rolex series rookies Fabrizio Gollin and Matteo
Bobbi got their first laps at Watkins Glen International under their belts
during a track test day Thursday.

Both pronounced the track "nice but challenging."

The track test day was in preparation for Sunday's Sahlen's Six Hours of the
Glen Rolex series race.  Test times were not complete Thursday because not
all of the cars had gotten through the tech line and so many didn't have
transponders on for the first session.  That got better as the day progressed.

The Crown Royal Special Reserve car was unofficially ninth in the first test
session with a lap in 1:52.718 (108.590 mph), but only 15 cars were timed.  It
was eighth in the second session with a 1:50.164 (111.107 mph) when 34 cars
were timed.  The team was 13th in the third test session with a 1:49.969
(111.304 mph).

Friday's first official practice session for the Daytona Prototype class
starts at 10 a.m.

Unofficially the Orbit No. 39 of Jim Matthews, Guy Smith and Marcel Tiemann
was fastest for the day with a 1:47.521 (113.838 mph) run in the third session.

The competition is fierce.  There are 21 Daytona Prototypes and 27 GT cars
entered in Sunday's race.

Rain didn't hamper Thursday's on-track activities but it was hot, with
temperatures in the low eighties. The weather forecast for the rest of this week
and Sunday warns that thunderstorms could pop up at any time.

Some grandstands from Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway are in the process of being
installed across from the Glen's pit area where the regular main grandstands used
to stand.  They are red and yellow, which gives the Glen a different look. 

The new Indy Racing League IndyCar series logo on one side of the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup bridge adds to the changes seen here today.  Eighteen Indy cars are
scheduled to test here next Wednesday after their race this weekend at Texas in
preparation for September's IRL debut here.  That series will be joined by the
Rolex series that weekend.  Wednesday's test is open to the public, and like
today's it should also be interesting.

Sunday's Sahlen's Six-Hours of the Glen Rolex series race will be covered
live on SPEED.  Prior to that, check back here for qualifying results.

Gollin has a particularly busy schedule this month.  He got a ride in the 24
Hours of Le Mans, which will be held next weekend.  He'll be in the ProDrive
Ferrari 550 fielded by BMS Scuderia Italia with veteran Cristian Pescatori and
Miguel Ramos as his co-drivers.  It will be Gollin's first 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He tested at Le Mans last Sunday, flew from Paris to New York on Tuesday, and
arrived at the Glen on Wednesday.

After Sunday's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen he'll fly to Paris on Monday,
arriving there on Tuesday morning.  Two qualifying sessions will be held on
Wednesday and Thursday prior to the race on Saturday and Sunday.