Pilgrim Fastest In Opening SPEED GT Practice at Miller

Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., was fastest in Friday morning’s opening practice session for this weekend’s SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship Round Three race, part of the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix Presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels at Miller Motorsports Park. Eric Curran, of East Hampton, Mass., and Ritch Marziale, of Tempe, Ariz., completed the top three.

Driving the No. 8 Remington Shaving Cadillac CTS-V, Pilgrim turned a fastest time of 1:57.398 (93.466 mph) around the 15-turn, 3.048-mile circuit. Miller Motorsports Park has not been kind to the former series champion, and despite pacing practice, Pilgrim’s expectations for the weekend are modest.

“We’re happy because we made a little bit of progress on the car from the times we got yesterday," Pilgrim said. “I’m not sure why a lot of people aren’t quicker. We’re just flat out. I would say there’s a little bit of gamesmanship going on, let’s put it that way.

"I got a good draft on that lap. I was behind James Sofronas for three laps and was slowly catching James. I had two laps where I had a great draft behind him and I’m sure that helped. When I was on my own I couldn’t run within a half second of those times. But still, we made some progress over yesterday so I’m happy."

Curran, back in his primary No. 30 Whelen Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette for the first time since his accident at Sebring, was second fastest with a 1:57.514 (93.374 mph).

Marziale was fastest of the Dodge contingent in the No. 56 All-Cut Concrete Cutting Dodge Viper, turning a 1:57.558 (93.339 mph). Point leader Randy Pobst (No. 1 K-PAX Racing Porsche 911 GT3) and the most recent race winner at Long Beach, Brandon Davis (No. 10 ACS/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang Cobra), completed the top five.

The second practice for Sunday’s race will take place this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. (MDT). Log in to the SCCA Pit Board to follow live timing and scoring and live session notes.

Practice 1 Results

1, (8), Andy Pilgrim, Boca Raton, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V, 1:57.398, 93.466.
2, (30), Eric Curran, East Hampton, Mass., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:57.514, 93.374.
3, (56), Ritch Marziale, Tempe, Ariz., Dodge Viper, 1:57.558, 93.339.
4, (1), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:57.885, 93.080.
5, (10), Brandon Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:57.903, 93.066.
6, (14), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:57.949, 93.030.
7, (23), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Porsche 911 GT3, 1:58.127, 92.889.
8, (13), Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., Dodge Viper, 1:58.146, 92.875.
9, (2), Cindi Lux, Aloha, Ore., Dodge Viper, 1:58.372, 92.697.
10, (99), Jeff Courtney, Slinger, Wis., Dodge Viper, 1:58.565, 92.546.
11, (66), Tim McKenzie, Madison, Wis., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:58.612, 92.510.
12, (5), Jason Daskalos, Albuquerque, N.M., Dodge Viper, 1:58.705, 92.437.
13, (4), Dino Crescentini, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:58.918, 92.272.
14, (11), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:58.919, 92.271.
15, (16), Michael McCann, Canton, Ohio, Cadillac CTS-V, 1:58.968, 92.233.
16, (97), Vesko Kozarov(R), Sighisoara, Utah, Mitsubishi Lancer Ev IX, 1:59.400, 91.899.
17, (34), Tony Gaples, Libertyville, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:59.468, 91.847.
18, (31), Sonny Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:59.486, 91.833.
19, (06), Joey Scarallo, Smithtown, N.Y., Pontiac GTO, 1:59.552, 91.782.
20, (18), Jason Foster(R), Phoenix, Ariz., Dodge Viper, 1:59.582, 91.759.
21, (01), Jeff Altenburg, Ellicott City, Md., Porsche 911 GT3, 1:59.763, 91.621.
22, (17), Robert Foster, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:59.767, 91.617.
23, (57), Stu Frederick, Del Mar, Calif., Dodge Viper, 1:59.864, 91.543.
24, (02), Robb Holland, Denver, Colo., Porsche 911 GT3, 2:00.394, 91.140.
25, (9), Gunter Schaldach(R), Aspen, Colo., Dodge Viper, 2:00.547, 91.025.
26, (28), Loren Beggs, Montclair, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 2:00.944, 90.726.
27, (36), Wesley Hoaglund, Irvine, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 2:02.042, 89.910.
28, (22), Nick Parker, London, England, Porsche 911 GT3, 2:02.196, 89.796.
29, (76), John Bourassa, Jupiter Island, Fla., Porsche 911 Turbo, 2:02.244, 89.761.
30, (7), Phillip Martien(R), Finksburg, Md., Porsche 911 GT3, 2:03.908, 88.556.
31, (29), Eric Olberz, La Canada, Calif., Porsche 911 GT3, 2:10.243, 84.248.
32, (0), Don Pickering(R), Reno, Nev., Porsche 911 GT3, no time.
33, (3), Keith Rossberg(R), West Jordan, Utah, Dodge Viper, no time.
34, (12), Brian Kubinski, Plainfield, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, no time.