Pratt & Miller 2001 Yearbook

OVERALL WINNER: Rolex 24 at Daytona GTS WINNER: 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS CHAMPION MANUFACTURER: American Le Mans Series GTS CHAMPION TEAM: American Le Mans Series

WINNERS 2001 & CHAMPIONS

CONTENTS

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS!

What a Year it Was!

1

Highest Standards – Pratt & Miller’s Tradition of Excellence

2

Our New Home

6

Living the Dream – Two Thousand and Won!

8

Mega Start – The Rolex 24 at Daytona

12

Mission Accomplished – The 24 Hours of Le Mans

24

Road To The Championship – The American Le Mans Series

37

Cover Stories – Corvette Racing Makes Big News

54

I

n last year’s book, we documented

Daytona 500. Today, we are still at a loss

GM Racing and the Corvette brand.

our Return to Victory Lane. In 2001, we

for words to describe our emotions. We

We welcomed Steve Shannon to the

not only returned to victory lane, but

were fortunate to cross paths with the

team and thank him for his confidence

were fortunate enough to do so many

Earnhardt family, but at the cost of bear-

in P&M. To Dave Hill, Herb Fishel, Joe

times … the overall win at Daytona … the

ing a deep sense of loss. Dale, his wife,

Negri, Gary Claudio, Doug Fehan and

historic 1 – 2 finish at Le Mans … five

family and the entire DEI organization

John Rice, special thanks for giving us

ALMS summer sprint race victories … and

are Winners and Champions.

the opportunity to fulfill your expectations

completing the season with our repeat

Giving Something Back – Pratt & Miller Charitable Involvement

55

Fortunately, in racing we are able to pick

and join together in victory circle. We are

win at Petite Le Mans. Therefore, we felt

up the pieces and be distracted from such

proud to have all the folks from GM as

Winners and Champions was an appropriate

tragedies. We head back to the track and

supporters of the P&M team. You have

title for our chronicle of this year’s travels.

focus on the next challenge. And what a

provided the means for us to be Winners and Champions.

However, it is important to note that

challenge that was! Le Mans— the world’s

this title was chosen not only because we

most prestigious road racing event — our

won races and were crowned champions.

Super Bowl. To run first and second in just

drivers, with special thanks to Chris

More importantly, it was chosen to

our second year in France is truly a sign of

Kneifel for his efforts from the start of

Our heart-felt appreciation to all our

What Champions Are Made Of – Corvette Racing Drivers, 2001

56

acknowledge the way in which the entire

Winners and Champions. Before the race, we

the Corvette program. We welcomed

GM / Corvette Racing – Championship Team, 2001

58

Pratt & Miller team acted, responded and

knew our team was special; now the entire

Johnny O. — not only for his driving

Pratt & Miller / Corvette Racing – Championship Team, 2001

60

represented themselves throughout the

racing world knows.

skills but for just being who he is.

year. We proudly say that all of you are We Are Family We Remember Dale Earnhardt

64 68

truly Winners and Champions.

After enjoying a summer full of visits to

And special thanks to Ron, Andy, Kelly,

the winner’s circle, we watched the horrific

Franck and Scott. You guys went through

events of September 11. Once again we

a lot this year … all of you are Winners

hard pressed to reflect on any given 12-

were at loss to articulate our emotions, but

and Champions.

month period in which, as a group, we

we pulled together for a very special week-

experienced the emotional peaks and

end in early October. On a playing field

ners, especially to the folks at Katech and

valleys that we had to navigate in 2001.

stacked against us, the 4 car prevailed for a

Goodyear … together we stand as Winners

pole position and rallied for the victory at

and Champions.

And what a year it was! We would be

It started with the opportunity of a life-

Thanks to our all of our business part-

time … the privilege of welcoming Dale

Petite Le Mans. And at the season-ending

Earnhardt and Dale Jr. to our team at

ALMS awards banquet, the racing commu-

able efforts of the employees of Pratt &

Daytona … then an emotional overall

nity applauded the Pratt & Miller team

Miller. We feel that you guys are the real

victory after the heartbreaking second-

as Winners and Champions.

Winners and Champions. This book is

place finish in 2000 … only to watch in disbelief two weeks later at the end

We enjoyed this special year with continued support from General Motors,

Finally, special thanks to the remark-

dedicated to you.

— JIM MILLER AND GARY PRATT

Photos courtesy of Goodyear, General Motors, Peter Brock, John Brooks, David Noels, Robin Pratt, Richard Prince, Rene Tanner.

Printed with permission.

Winners & Champions Copyright © 2001 Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication All rights reserved

29600 William K Smith Drive, New Hudson, MI 48165 Phone: 248-446-9800 Fax: 248-446-9020 www.prattmiller.com 1

HIGHEST STANDARDS P R AT T & M I L L E R : A T R A D I T I O N O F E X C E L L E N C E I N A C O M P E T I T I V E W O R L D

I

and in providing quality craftsmanship

t’s a dynamic combination: one suc-

In addition, Pratt & Miller designs

cessful businessman and one highly

and fabricates specialized parts using

respected designer and fabricator.

its extensive networked CAD system

When Jim Miller and Gary Pratt com-

and computer-aided milling and turning

was with Chevrolet for the design and

bined forces in Pratt & Miller Engineering

equipment. These parts can be made

construction of a Grand Touring Prototype

and Fabrication, Inc., they brought to the

of the most exotic materials available

race car. For this project, Pratt & Miller

auto industry a partnership that has built a

today, including carbon-fiber composites,

transformed a traditional fabrication facili-

tradition of excellence in a field where high

titanium and alloys of aluminum.

ty into a world-class prototype manufac-

standards are just the price of admission.

Since the company was formed in 1989, Pratt & Miller has provided innovative

The strength of the organization comes

and on-time customer delivery.

One of Pratt & Miller’s first contracts

turing site in less than six months. The

from its dedicated management and

resulting high-tech, all-composite RM-1

employees, who take pride in their skills

chassis raised the standard for American

engineering solutions to major automotive manufacturers — a field in which Gary Pratt has excelled since 1975. Chicago businessman Jim Miller adds the sound acumen that keeps the company on a course of growth and continuous improvement.

Pratt & Miller is located near the epicenter of American auto manufacturing, in New Hudson, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. The company’s specialty is the design and construction of prototype vehicles — from race cars to models for wind tunnel studies — and it also has limitedproduction manufacturing capabilities.

2

3

HIGHEST STANDARDS

CONTINUED

engineering excellence. It competed in

an overall win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona

the International Motor Sports Association

and a 1-2 finish in GTS class in the

series, and compiled an impressive racing

24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most

record against teams from global manufac-

prestigious long-distance race. Six victories

turers such as Nissan, Toyota, Porsche,

in the American Le Mans Series also

Mazda and Jaguar.

earned Corvette Racing manufacturer

Other projects included a championship -winning Sports 2000 race car, an IMSA Oldsmobile Aurora, as well as Camaro

the season’s accomplishments.

This success comes from a competitive,

and Corvette race cars for the SCCA

driven-to-win attitude that is shared by

Trans-Am series.

everyone who works at Pratt & Miller. The

One of Pratt & Miller’s most exciting

4

and team championships to highlight

company’s staff includes key personnel

projects is the current factory Chevrolet

who have served as crew chiefs, race engi-

Corvette C5-R race car, designed and

neers, team managers and team owners

built in partnership with GM Motorsports.

at the highest levels of motor racing. This

The team’s remarkably successful 2001

experience, and the consequent can-do,

season has elevated the Pratt & Miller/GM

results-oriented mentality, distinguishes

Motorsports organization to the pinnacle

Pratt & Miller’s determination to provide

of international endurance racing. Eight

nothing short of excellence in the prod-

victories in 10 races during 2001 include

ucts and services for its customers.

5

OUR NEW HOME IN 2002 WHERE THE WINNING TRADITION CONTINUES

6

7

LIVING THE DREAM

TWO THOUSAND AND WON!

by GARY YOUNG mechanic, 3 car

the overall victory; first and second in

in practice, but the next day we heard

was watching out for us, and that we were

them. At Mid-Ohio the next weekend

class! It doesn’t get much better than

Heures du Mans. What a spectacular

someone on one of the other teams

going to win this thing.

it was family day for everyone at Pratt

I

that. Or does it?

t was at our victory lunch after win-

My favorite trip, or two, is the 24 event! It truly is the most prestigious

remark, “That isn’t going to slow those

ning the Daytona 24-hour race where

Then it was off to Texas for a repeat

road race in the world. Our second jour-

guys down.” And they were right!

I first heard Ron Fellows use the term

of our first victory from the year before.

ney to the 24-hour spectacle showed that

The day before the race there was a

“Living the Dream.” For everyone

Thankfully, it was earlier in the season

we learned a lot from our first year there.

strange but good feeling in the air, along

and awesome drivers we drove away with

here at Pratt and Miller, this year has

instead of in the middle of summer heat

I remember sitting in front of the car in

with a few rain clouds here and there. We

a stunning one-two finish in GTS by

California at my hometown track,

truly been a dream, starting with our

like the year before. But the results were

the garage, ready to go while all the

all gathered around as Gary Claudio read

Corvette Racing. Every one of us couldn’t

Laguna Seca, where we finished an

overall victory at Daytona. After coming

the same, as was the awesome Texas bar-

other teams were still working, getting

a letter from Teresa Earnhardt. We knew

have been more proud! Yes, we were

acceptable second and third in class.

so close the year before, it was almost

becue put on by Bob McGraw and the

ready for night practice before the race.

Dale wanted to do this race with us, and as

living the dream.

Then we traveled back across the country

unbelievable to come away with the over-

people at AER. They are a wonderful

Even the officials walking by commented

Teresa said, he was there with us, cheering

With such a fantastic start to the

to Road Atlanta for the season finale. We

all win this time … real tribute to the

group, and it was great to be able to

on how calm and prepared we all were.

us on, just like at Daytona. And as we all

season, it’s hard to describe the feeling

ended the season with an awesome win

dedication, preparation and determina-

thank them for their Texas hospitality

We were determined, no matter what,

tried to hold back tears, the clouds opened

of accomplishment we had going into

by the 4 car, taking the Petite Le Mans

tion of everyone here!

with a repeat victory!

to do our best to put on another flawless

up and the rain poured down, just as if we

the next part of the American Le Mans

GTS victory for the second year in a row!

Needless to say, it rained just about the

& Miller. We provided an especially fun

whole race, like Daytona. With another

day for all our family and friends by

flawless performance by our car, crew

delivering another win for them.

Our next stop was back out in

Having the Earnhardts on the team made

Next was lovely Sebring, Florida. What

performance. We had to rebody the

were back at Daytona with Dale. After we

Series schedule. Sears Point was our

So there it is — “Living the Dream,” as

it even more special. Just meeting them and

can I say, Sebring is Sebring. Sometimes

whole car after a late-night mishap

all gathered our composure and I thought

fourth win in five races, followed by

Ron put it! We won eight of the ten races

working with them was an honor, consider-

that single race seems like a whole season!

about it, I told Doug Fehan it felt like the

a mad dash back to Michigan and out

we entered this year, including Daytona

ing the tragic event that was to follow in

It’s always very grueling, but we came

downpour was an omen that someone

to Portland for another victory. Next was

overall and The 24 Hours of Le Mans,

the next two weeks. But that is another

away with a second and third, and we

Mosport and the Ron Fellows hometown

and to win the Team Championship,

story in our year to remember.

did make progress from the year before.

show! The Canadian fans love Ron and

Manufacturers Championship and more

it was a pleasure to deliver a win for

is truly a dream. I am so proud to have

So yes, Daytona seems like a dream now: the flawless performance by car,

been part of it, along with everyone that

crew and drivers; the rain; the Earnhardts;

made it possible. We will all be there again next year to continue our dreams, for what is life without them!

8

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24 HOURS OF LE MANS AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

JUNE 16 - 17, 2001

GRAND PRIX AT MID-OHIO

GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 119.421 mph 4th, Andy Pilgrim, 117.671

AUGUST 25, 2001

AUGUST 5, 2001

GTS RACE: 1st (8th overall), Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Scott Pruett, Corvette C5-R #63 2nd, (14th overall), Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Franck Freon, Corvette C5-R #64

GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 98.160 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 97.629 mph

GTS QUALIFYING: 1st, Ron Fellows, 96.765 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 96.288 mph

GTS RACE: 1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 109 laps, 88.467 mph 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 109 laps

GTS RACE: 1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 122 laps, 88.559 mph disqualified (underweight), Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 122 laps

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

GT3 GRAND PRIX AT MOSPORT PARK AUGUST 19, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, 114.590 mph 5th, Ron Fellows, 89.152 mph GTS RACE: 1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 109 laps, 96.204 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 107 laps

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

X-FACTOR GRAND PRIX AT SEARS POINT JULY 22, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 98.926 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 97.485 mph

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

GTS RACE: 1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 97 laps, 88.559 mph 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 97 laps

PETITE LE MANS AT ROAD ATLANTA OCTOBER 6, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 1st, Andy Pilgrim, 115.814 mph 9th, Ron Fellows, 96.768 mph GTS RACE: 1st, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 362 laps, 99.016 mph disqualified, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 2 laps

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

MONTEREY SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT LAGUNA SECA September 9, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 96.288 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 95.059 mph GTS RACE: 2nd, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 111 laps 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 111 laps

10

ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

LEATHER CENTER GRAND PRIX OF TEXAS MARCH 4, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 1st, Ron Fellows, 99.644 mph 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, 99.474 mph GTS RACE: 1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Corvette C5-R #3, 108 laps, 90.422 mph dnf (crash), Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Corvette C5-R #4, 61 laps

FEBRUARY 3 - 4, 2001 AMERICAN LE LE MANS MANS SERIES SERIES AMERICAN

SUPERFLO 12 HOURS OF SEBRING MARCH 17, 2001 GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 110.331 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 109.299 mph GTS RACE: 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Franck Freon, Corvette C5-R #4, 331 laps 3rd, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Chris Kneifel, Corvette C5-R #3, 322 laps

GTS QUALIFYING: 2nd, Ron Fellows, 119.421 mph 3rd, Andy Pilgrim, 117.671 mph GTS RACE: 1st (1st overall), Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Franck Freon, Chris Kneifel, Corvette C5-R #2 2nd (4th overall), Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Corvette C5-R #3

11

ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA ❚ FEBRUARY 3-4, 2001

MEGA START S P E C TA C U L A R B O N U S F O R C O R V E T T E R A C I N G I N R O L E X 2 4

C

orvette Racing’s 2001 season

mates Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Dale

opened with a mega-successful

Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. piloted

Daytona that I wouldn’t mind if it rained

Rolex 24 at Daytona. The team was

the number-3 GM Goodwrench Corvette

… because we race well in the rain,” said

gunning for a one-two finish in the

to second in class and fourth in the

Gary Pratt, team manager. “Well, we got

GTS class, but got the spectacular bonus

overall order. They did it in decidedly

our wish, and then some. But I was right;

of the overall victory.

unfavorable weather conditions, with

we raced very well in the rain. Everybody

rain on and off throughout the event.

did a superb job – the drivers, crews …

The number-2 GM Goodwrench Corvette driven by Ron Fellows, Chris

“I told the guys before we went to

everyone on the team.”

Kneifel, Johnny O’Connell and Franck Freon finished first overall, while team-

12

13

QUALIFYING: MEGA START

CONTINUED

Qualifying was conducted under the Grand-Am series’ wet weather rules, which meant that in both sessions all the cars were on the track at once for 45 minutes.

“A crap-shoot for getting a good lap.”

– RON FELLOWS

In the first session on Thursday, only the front row of the grid was established, which made it primarily a practice session for the GTS cars. Even so, the Corvettes gave hints of their capabilities, with Pilgrim in the number-3 car clocking the fourth fastest time overall, and first in GTS, with Fellows right behind in fifth overall and second in class.

Friday’s final qualifying was in the same conditions, with 80 cars all on the track at once, and the track drying out as the session progressed. “That made it pretty much of a crap-shoot for getting a good lap,” said Fellows. “You had to try and get a clean lap – no traffic in the way – when the tires were at their optimum.

That was tough; you needed some luck and we never got it, but Scotty [Maxwell] did in the Porsche.”

The Bytzek Motorsport Porsche GT1 took the top starting spot in GTS, and 12th overall, with a time of 1:46.848 (119.946 mph), while Fellows qualified the number2 Corvette second, and 14th overall at 1:47.318 (119.421 mph). Andy Pilgrim lined up third in GTS and 19th overall with a time of 1:48.494 (117.671 mph).

14

15

MEGA START

CONTINUED

The track was dry for the 1:00 p.m.

Saturday start, but that lasted less than two hours. “From then on, we were on rain tires or intermediates the whole race,” noted Pratt. “Under those conditions, the drivers’ concentration has to be so much higher … they have to watch every little thing really carefully.

“We had a spotter for the 3 car who

“Those were some

treacherous conditions,

and the tires were just fantastic.”

really helped them out; the 2 car didn’t have a spotter, but we had Steve Cole and Doug Louth concentrating on them. Doug

– RON FELLOWS

kept an eye on the leader and made the right calls on their pit stops every time.

They probably gained at least a couple of laps that way.”

In the second hour, the number-2 Corvette took over the GTS lead and was well into the top 10 overall. “From then on, we just slowly kept building our lead,” said Fellows. “Our pit stops helped a lot, for both cars. We had worked hard on cutting down our driver-change times, and the result was we were making about the fastest stops of anybody on pit lane.

Over 24 hours that makes a huge difference. Those Goodyear rain tires made a big difference, too. Those were some treacherous conditions, and the tires were just fantastic. The whole team performed perfectly … Johnny, Chris, Franck … nobody put so much as a scratch on the car the whole time, and that’s amazing in such terrible conditions.”

16

17

MEGA START

CONTINUED

By 9 p.m. the number-2 car was leading

“I have to say,” Resciniti continued, “it

GTS and up to fourth overall, while the

was a pleasure working with our drivers.

number-3 Corvette was running third in

Andy and Kelly were quick and reliable,

class and seventh overall.

and the Earnhardts were great. Dale Jr. is

“Everything was fine until just after

an amazing natural talent. He had no

midnight,” said Frank Resciniti, crew

experience in the rain, but once he got

chief on the number-3 Corvette. “Dale Jr.

into it he was fine. So was his father; he

came in and said the transmission was

got rained on hard, and he was quick,

gone. We replaced the transmission in

smooth … and kept turning in these

about 15 minutes, but it turned out it

amazingly consistent lap times. The only

was an axle shaft that had broken. All

complaint he had was that I wasn’t talking

Dale’s racing experience has been in cars

to him enough on the radio. So I asked

with solid rear axles, so it felt like the

him what he wanted me to talk about. He

transmission to him.

said, ‘doesn’t matter … tell me about your

“The fact is, the only reason this

family, or fishing, anything … it gets lone-

happened at all was because a supplier

ly out there.’ We joked around a lot, and

let us down. We ordered new half-shafts

talking to Dale Sr. on the radio was one

in plenty of time, but they didn’t arrive

of the best times I’ve ever had in racing.”

until we were literally pushing the car onto the grid. So we started the race

“Dale said, ‘Tell me about your family, or fishing, anything

… it gets lonely out there.’”

on used units … and they didn’t last.

“That probably cost us a one-two finish overall. But I’m proud of our drivers and

– FRANK RESCINITI

crew. We took the cards we were dealt and played them the best way possible.

And really, working through the problems we had will make us that much better the next time.

18

19

MEGA START

CONTINUED

The number-2 Corvette team did have

floor to help drain the water, and moved

had gained an insurmountable lead. “It

the wire farther up out of the way, and

was a concern when Ron reported the

that fixed the problem.”

transmission warning light coming on,

a couple of anxious moments in their run

“All the crew guys did a terrific job,”

to the victory. “In the middle of the night

said Pratt. “They’re really good at plan-

Ron radioed in that the brake pedal had

ning for all the what-ifs that can happen

gone way down,” said Bill DeLong, crew

in a race like that, and the fact that

couple of laps, then completed the race

chief. “He came in and we found a wheel

they’ve worked together for a long time

with Pilgrim in the team car alongside.

nut that had cracked and the wheel had

makes them a much stronger team. It’s

come loose. But we got it fixed without

a big advantage for us.”

losing much time.

There were about four hours to go when

but we were able to play it safe because nobody could catch us.”

Fellows waited in the pits until the last

“Before my last stint I had just wakened from a short sleep and I saw on the TV monitor that the leading car had dropped

“Then, about 6 in the morning, the

the leading SRP car dropped out, and an

out,” Fellows remembers. “I felt bad for

engine started cutting out when Johnny

overall victory became a real possibility.

the Dyson team but all of a sudden I got

“Those were the longest four hours I’ve

goose-bumps when I realized, ‘we could

was driving. It had been raining really hard, and there was a lot of water in the

ever been through,” said Pratt, who was

car on the floor. It was shorting out a

only able to relax a little with about 20

sensor lead. So we drilled holes in the

minutes to go, when his number-2 car

win this thing overall.’

“It really happened … and I’m glad we didn’t have to do it sitting in pit lane.

Winning the 24 Hours of Daytona overall is an awesome accomplishment. It’s great for the team and for GM and Corvette Racing.”

“Those were the longest four hours I’ve ever been through” – GARY PRATT 20

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24 HOURS OF LE MANS ❚ JUNE 16-17, 2001

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED CO RV E T T E RAC I N G S CO R ES 1 -2 F I N I S H I N TO U G H EST L E M A N S E V E R

T

wenty-three-and-a-half hours of

“In that last half-hour we were just driv-

this huge armada of people and equip-

the race had played out and Ron

ing around at not much faster than pace-

ment, and I thought, ‘we sure have come

Fellows was cruising. All he had to

car speed,” Fellows said. “I got thinking

a long way.’”

do was cross the finish line when

about our very first test with the Corvette

It was a long way in both distance and

the 24 hours were up and Corvette Racing

at Sebring in 1998. There were about six

effort, and the final days leading up to

would win a GTS victory in the world’s

of us, all Pratt & Miller team people. We

the triumph were particularly difficult.

most prestigious endurance race. This

had one pickup truck, a 35-foot trailer,

Although the team had a comfortable

would be a mission accomplished that

and one tool box. Now we’re here with

margin at the end, it had been anything

the team had been working toward for

but an easy victory.

more than three years.

24

25

replace

“We had to just about every body panel on the car, but it could have been a lot worse.”— G A R Y P R A T T

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

CONTINUED

Fellows cut a rear tire and crashed heavily in the second chicane on the Mulsanne

“This was very rewarding but also very tough,” said Gary Pratt, team manager.

car was a mess.

“When he set the 3:52 lap, we started working on race setup,” Pratt said.

They had other issues to worry

“From the time we first were on the track

“According to the data he went off

Wednesday evening until the race ended

at about 170 miles an hour,” said Pratt.

at four Sunday afternoon, there was one

“We had to replace just about every body

problem. It would be fine for four or five

unexpected thing after another we had to

panel on the car, but it could have been

laps, then the pressure would drop off.

deal with. But we were well prepared and

a lot worse. It turned out to be only

the whole team did just a great job getting

body damage.”

through it all. We also had a little bit of

After the Wednesday sessions, the

good luck on a couple of occasions, and

two Corvette C5-Rs were within striking

that helped, too.”

distance of the 3:54-plus qualifying time

The first unexpected setback came in the first session Wednesday evening.

26

straight. Ron emerged unscathed, but the

seconds off of that time.

about, too.

The 63 car was having a fuel starvation

“We had to completely rewire the pump,” Pratt explained, “which was added to all the race-preparation work we had to do on Friday.”

That work included replacing virtually

set by Oliver Gavin in the Saleen S7R.

the entire drivetrain, as well as the sus-

But the next day Gavin cut a full two

pension uprights on both cars.

27

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

CONTINUED

tires. One exception was the 63 Corvette C5-R, which was on intermediates.

When it came time for the 9 a.m. warm-up session on Saturday, both cars

that starting on intermediates would be

were ready and in prime condition. But

a fairly low-risk option,” Fellows said. “If

the first headache wasn’t long in coming.

the track continued drying up we would

“The 64 car left the pits when the ses-

lose some time squirming around on the

sion started, but it didn’t get any farther

intermediates, but overall it wouldn’t cost

than the Dunlop bridge before it lost oil

us all that much.”

pressure,” Pratt said. “It had to be towed

call turned into one of the biggest breaks

pump belt had come off. That hadn’t

they got in the whole 24 hours.

“This was the first of a bunch of stupid Pilgrim. “We had things break that never

out of Arnage and it was like I drove into

break, so the race was a double challenge

a wall of water. There were cars spinning

for us. It seemed like we were always try-

in front of me, behind me and beside me.” and the intermediate tires not only helped him get through the melee,

as a preliminary to being at their posts

they also helped him cover the dis-

and working for the next 24 hours. But

tance to the pits in short order to

it was done with all the meticulous care

get full rain tires.

Andy Pilgrim also made it through

the 63 and 64 cars were rolling in their

in the 64 car, but with some body

grid positions.

damage to a front fender from debris.

The track was damp and the skies

— ANDY PILGRIM

Fellows made it through unscathed,

was the extra effort of changing an engine

that’s vital in racing, and at four o’clock

trying to come back from something.”

warned me about rain,” recalled Fellows.

“It started raining lightly, but then I came

The last thing the 64 car’s crew needed

challenge for us.

“They called me on the radio and

stuff that happened to our car,” said Andy

ing to come back from something.”

“The race was a double It seemed like we were always

About a half-hour into the race, that

back, and we discovered that the oil happened in three years.”

28

“We took a look at the sky and decided

“All of a sudden we were up in the

were threatening when the race started.

top 15 overall,” remarked Fellows.

Nevertheless, most cars started on slick

“That cloudburst took out a lot of cars.”

29

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

CONTINUED

It rained on and off for the rest of the 24 hours and the two Corvettes alternated between protecting their lead and working to overcome sudden misfortune.

The first incident happened at about

The 63 car’s last incident of the race could have been disastrous.

“It was about 4 a.m. and I had just taken over from Scott Pruett,” Fellows said. “I had just about completed my

the five-hour mark, when Johnny

out lap when I hit a puddle in the Ford

O’Connell reported a big miss in the

chicane and spun into a gravel trap. The

63 car’s engine.

car was stuck and I thought the race was

“He also said he smelled something

over, but almost immediately some corner

like a wire burning,” said Pratt. “But just

workers pulled me out and away I went

as he was coming into the pits the miss

into the pits.”

went away. So we did a regular service,

“We cleaned a lot of gravel out of that

the burning smell disappeared, and there

car,” Pratt said. “It was everywhere, but

was no more problem.. It must have been

there was no serious damage.”

a wire for the engine control system for a

“The conditions were treacherous,”

function we don’t use, and when the wire

Fellows commented, “but it was my fault.

burned through it was okay again.”

I should have been more careful.”

“The car was stuck and I thought the race

was over” – RON FELLOWS

30

31

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

CONTINUED

starter motor, and replacing it dropped them back farther still.

“At that point all we could do was run

After working back to the class lead by

come back to us,” said Pratt. “We did

losing the drive belt for the transmission

catch a couple of lucky breaks on pit

and differential oil pump.

stops, when it started to rain just when

“That’s another thing that never goes wrong,” said Pratt, “but we do keep a spare secured right along side it because

we were coming in to change tires. That helped a lot.” egy paid off and the Corvettes were once

ing the transmission. So we put the spare

again running one-two in class. tered by the closest Saleen had set it back

no idea why. At that point we had to

far enough to give the two Corvettes an

change the transmission, which set us

insurmountable lead. However, the rules

back quite a bit.

at Le Mans require a car to be running

“That was the low point of the race for

For that reason, Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager for GM

places and a bunch of laps.”

Motorsports, decided to call the cars into

The last of the 64 car’s mechanical

— GARY PRATT

at then end to be listed as a finisher.

and all of a sudden we lost two or three

problems came in the form of a dead

breaks on pit stops …That helped a lot.”

Not long after that, problems encoun-

hours, but then it came off too. We have

us,” said Pilgrim. “We’d been doing great,

“We did catch a couple of lucky

Shortly after noon on Sunday, the strat-

it’s impossible to change without removone on and it was fine for four or five

32

a quick but steady pace and let the race

hour four, the 64 car’s first problem was

the pits and wait, letting them return to the track for the final half-hour or so.

33

“You never knew from

one corner to the next what the conditions would be.

That made it incredibly difficult mentally.”

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

— ANDY PILGRIM

CONTINUED

Veterans at the track, including Jacky

morning I went out on slicks, but three

Ickx, said this race had the worst condi-

laps later it was raining again, and that

tions ever in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

was it. The rain tires Goodyear developed

“I ran a total of three laps on slick

for us were a saving grace. They were our

tires,” said Fellows. “About 7:30 Sunday

ace in the hole for wet conditions.”

“This was the most difficult race I’ve ever run,” said Pilgrim. “At the end I wasn’t physically tired but I was mentally exhausted. For the whole race it varied from light rain to a monsoon. Steady rain like we had at Daytona is relatively easy to deal with. Here, you never knew from one corner to the next what the conditions would be. That made it incredibly difficult mentally.”

Fellows agreed. “We thought Daytona was a tough race, but this was 10 times worse,” he said. “Nothing was ever a given and you could never relax, even going in a straight line.

“Everybody did a great job under extremely difficult conditions,” Fellows added. “I told the guys that the best team would win this race, not the fastest car.

And that proved to be the case.”

34

35

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES ❚ MARCH 4-OCTOBER 6, 2001

ROUND 1 LEATHER CENTER GRAND PRIX OF TEXAS TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MARCH 4, 2001

Kelly Collins, was being loaded onto its transporter looking very “second hand.”

Race day was cool, dry and sunny — ideal conditions when Johnny O’Connell started the 3 car and Andy Pilgrim took the first stint in Corvette number-4.

There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Win On paper, the ALMS 2001 opener looked relatively easy for Corvette Racing. The

ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Everything went according to plan for the first 25 minutes. Then, right in front of the pits, O’Connell suddenly dropped off the pace when a rear tire deflated.

Saleen wasn’t on the scene yet, and there

“Fortunately it didn’t come apart

was a fairly small field for the two-hour, 45-

right away, so Johnny had no trouble

minute race. So the primary competition

keeping control,” said Bill DeLong,

for the two GM Goodwrench Corvettes

crew chief for the number-3 Corvette.

seemed to be each other. The only team

“But it couldn’t have happened at a

orders were to race cleanly and may the

worse place on the track. He had to

best one win. With the Daytona triumph

do most of a lap very slowly.”

still fresh in people’s minds, another onetwo finish in GTS was the goal.

It didn’t work out quite that way.

O’Connell ended up almost two laps down to Pilgrim, until Andy made his own pit stop, under green, and handed

Corvette Racing got its second win of 2001

over to Kelly Collins. That put Johnny

all right, but not without some drama and

back on the same lap, but almost a full

improbable “racing luck” — good and bad.

lap behind.

At the end, the number-3 GM

Corvette Racing had several key objectives in the 2001 season. Two major ones were winning the 24-hour races at Daytona and Le Mans. Another was winning races and championships in the eight-race American Le Mans Series.

In the ALMS there were titles for manufacturers, teams and drivers up for grabs, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

Goodwrench Corvette driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell was parked in victory circle, while the number-4 car, piloted by Andy Pilgrim and

There was formidable competition on the horizon, in the form of a new, mid-engine race car called the Saleen S7R.

36

37

ROUND 1 LEATHER CENTER GRAND PRIX OF TEXAS CONTINUED

“All of a sudden there was this violent thumping from the right rear and it just turned up into the wall,” said Collins,

in time for the Superflo 12 Hours of Sebring less than two weeks later.

“It took a lot of man hours but we got

describing his sudden tire deflation. “Up

it ready,” said Frank Resciniti, crew chief

The big break for O’Connell came

to then, the car felt really good. It wasn’t

for the number-4 Corvette. “The car was

about 10 minutes later in the form of a

as fast as our other car through the turns,

badly torn up, but the front absorbed a

full-course yellow. He was just ahead of

but I had settled into a rhythm and was

lot of energy. We use the factory Corvette

the overall race leader on the track, so was

going great. Then I was slamming into

frame rails, which are designed to accor-

able to recover most of a lap in the ensu-

the wall and sliding backwards into the

dion in a frontal impact. Kelly was sore

ing caution period. He also made a pit

infield. Just like that.”

the next day, but he was ready to go at

stop and Fellows took over.

With fresher tires, Fellows was able to take the lead, and from then on had a fairly uneventful race. Unfortunately, Collins did not.

Fellows cruised on to a two-lap margin of victory over a Dodge Viper GTS-R driven by Erik Messley and Terry Borcheller.

Back in Wixom, the team’s big challenge was to repair the number-4 Corvette

Sebring, and so was the car.”

“That was a long week at Sebring, all

ROUND 2 SUPERFLO 12 HOURS OF SEBRING, SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY MARCH 17, 2001 One Tough Old Track The venerable old race track in Sebring, Florida, is an airport circuit built on a World War II training field. They’ve been running annual 12-hour races there for almost 50 years, and every year the world’s best sports cars get a brutal 12hour workout.

jammed into 12 hours,” said Gary Pratt, team manager. “The [GTS-winning] Saleen S7R could run faster than we could on the track, but we had quicker pit stops.

We probably could have won with a clean race, but that didn’t happen.”

Even so, the number-4 Corvette, driven

by Pilgrim, Collins and Franck Freon, was in a close battle with the Saleen all the way. They finished first and second in GTS, sixth and seventh overall, with the Corvette a little over a minute behind.

Going into this year’s event, the Corvette Racing Team C5-Rs had never managed to get into the top three in class.

One way or another, the old track had always managed to beat them.

This year, both cars finished in the top three of GTS, but a win eluded them once again.

RESURRECTING THE 4 CAR

and Ray Gongla came in Monday afternoon

the normal race-prep stuff — plus an alignment

and stripped the wrecked parts off the chassis.

at the end! The bulk of this work was done by

by Frank Resciniti

Tuesday we finished disassembling the car and

Ross, Ray, Randy, Mike Tanner, Greg Hiatt and

moved it over to one of the chassis plates.

me — the regular 4-car crew.

The 4 car was a

The plan was to be done by Sunday and

onto the right-front, then new pickup points,

test in Sebring on Tuesday. But we were able

a mud puddle after

motor mounts and rail connectors had to be

to load the car at 6 p.m. Saturday, which gave

its close encounter

fabricated and welded into place — all done

the truck drivers time to get there without

with the Texas Motor

by Bill DeLong, Mark Salice and our new guy,

killing themselves.

Speedway wall. From

Vinnie Carrivino. The frame was finished

the firewall forward,

Wednesday night and painted about 1 a.m.

only the left-side main frame rail remained on

Meanwhile, the 4 car’s crew was preparing

We wanted to run a few laps in Tuesday’s 2:45 p.m. practice session, just to make sure everything was working OK. In fact, we ran 38

the car, and we had nine days to get her back

parts for reassembly. Trust me, these weren’t

laps and didn’t have a single problem. Our

together for Sebring.

eight-hour days!

times were a couple of tenths off the 3-car’s,

The transporter drivers, Rich Eldred and

38

We transplanted a spare Corvette frame rail

steaming heap in

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday we rebuilt

second-fastest of the day! It was a proud

Randy Hughes, drove all night to get the car

the car — new suspension, engine, cooling sys-

moment after an “above-and-beyond” effort

back to Wixom by Monday morning. Ross Jeffery

tem, brakes, transmission, bodywork, and all

by the whole crew and team.

39

ROUND 2 SUPERFLO 12 HOURS OF SEBRING,

then a broken right-side door latch added

CONTINUED

caused when a broken connector in the

time to every pit stop. Another delay was ignition wiring had to be replaced.

“We didn’t have any big problems,”

“It was just a series of little things that

ROUND 3 X-FACTOR GRAND PRIX SEARS POINT RACEWAY JULY 22, 2001

The weekend began badly, when unexpected transaxle problems on Friday meant almost no track time for Fellows

of their previous runs, and he was happy

tire from Goodyear, while the Borcheller/

with their third-place position in GTS.

Konrad Saleen ran on a medium-com-

Fellows, who qualified the number-3

pound tire.

At the start, Fellows latched onto

and O’Connell. Pilgrim and Collins

car in second place, three-quarters of a

weren’t having an easy time of it either,

second behind the Saleen, was not so

the bumper of the Saleen and held

as they struggled to find a good setup

pleased, even though it was a huge

on for a while, until traffic, together

for the number-4 car.

improvement over Friday.

with the Saleen’s softer tires, gained

said Pilgrim, “and we were trading the

can make you crazy,” said Fellows, whose

lead back and forth through most of

car finished 11th overall and third in GTS,

the race. We had to make an extra stop

nine laps behind. “There’s no predicting

Sears Point Raceway near Sonoma,

because we sucked up a plastic garbage

stuff like that; it just happens sometimes

Calif., certainly is one of the country’s

around on Saturday. The Pilgrim/Collins

“and I was disappointed because we

bag that blocked the air intake. Then

– especially at this track.”

most picturesque facilities. It’s also one

crew chose to work on finding a good race

seemed to be chasing the track, and never

of the most challenging, and Corvette

setup. Even so, Pilgrim’s qualifying time

really found the right combination.”

to catch him,” said Fellows. “Those

was almost a full second better than any

Sunday was a beautiful, sunny,

Goodyears were just great — far and

later on we got nailed with a stop-and-go

Far from being discouraged, the drivers

Another One-Two Finish

The team’s fortunes began to turn

“We wanted the pole,” he said flatly,

Borcheller a lead of several seconds.

It didn’t last, however.

“As the track heated up I was able

penalty for passing under a local yellow.

and crews were upbeat and looking ahead

Racing came to the 2.52-mile road course

Just those two incidents could have made

with great competitive spirit.

with a difficult mission: beat the Saleen

California summer day. Corvette Racing

away the best we’ve had for a slick track.

S7R in a two-hour, 45-minute shootout.

chose to run on a new, hard-compound

I could drive hard, and if the rears greased

the difference.”

The number-3 Corvette, driven by Fellows, O’Connell and Chris Kneifel,

“We will win this race,” predicted Fellows, “and it will be that much sweeter

up I just took it easier for a little while

when we do.”

and they would come right back.”

had a series of mechanical frustrations.

First, a starter motor had to be replaced,

40

41

ROUND 3 X-FACTOR GRAND PRIX

a splash of fuel with about 10 laps to go.

CONTINUED

restarted. That made things really tense.

But then I had trouble getting the car When I came out of the pits, Kelly was

Fellows stalked Borcheller for several laps, then got by and immediately started

right behind me.”

ROUND 4 GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY AUGUST 5, 2001

O’Connell finished with a lead of six

opening up a lead until a full-course

seconds over Collins. Corvette Racing now

caution came out a half-dozen laps

had finished one-two in the longest race

later. Fellows pitted during the caution

of the year, and the shortest.

A Winning Strategy

When the team elected to try a different

third. Then, during a full-course caution

setup on the Fellows/O’Connell C5-R,

period, the Corvette crews made a strate-

Ron discovered some unexpected han-

gic decision.

dling issues as he was hustling into turn one on his first hot qualifying lap.

“We weren’t into our fuel window yet,” explained Pratt, “but we decided to pit

“He went off at turn one under brak-

under the yellow anyway, and thanks to

ing,” said Pratt. “It didn’t do any damage,

Katech and the great fuel mileage we’re

When Corvette Racing came to this two-

but after that he couldn’t get a clean lap

getting now, we were able to go the rest

mile circuit in the Pacific Northwest, the

for a flyer. For most of the session Ron’s

of the way with just one more stop.”

period and handed over to Johnny

team’s only pole position so far in 2001

best time was just a tick behind Franz

O’Connell, who held the GTS lead

had been at Texas. And for most of the

Konrad’s Saleen.”

when racing resumed.

qualifying session at Portland, it looked

From then on, the Saleen gradually

as though this would not be the second.

Finally, in the last minute of the

When racing resumed, the Saleen held a 10-second lead over Fellows. He was able to catch up, but his tires lost some

session, Fellows posted a time of 1:12.32

grip and he fell back to a gap of about

faded from contention, and the Corvette

(96.765 mph), seven one-hundredths

seven seconds.

teammates found themselves racing

of a second faster than the Saleen.

for the win.

“Kelly and I were both racing as hard

At the start of Sunday’s two-hour, 45-

When the Saleen had to pit under green, the Corvettes gained a lead of more

minute race, Fellows held the GTS lead

than a lap, and when the Corvettes made

as we could,” said O’Connell. “I managed

through the first 19 laps, shadowed close-

their second stops, also under green, they

to get a big enough lead to come in for

ly by Konrad, while Pilgrim followed in

came out only a short distance behind the Saleen. With O’Connell and Collins now driving, their chase to catch up became a non-issue when their adversary’s car began to smoke and slow down.

42

43

ROUND 4 GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND CONTINUED

“I believe our pit stop strategy had the

ROUND 5 GT3 GRAND PRIX MOSPORT PARK AUGUST 19, 2001

race won for us even if the Saleen had stayed healthy,” said O’Connell. “Making the early pit stop under caution was an

Lucky, and Good As the familiar old saying goes, “I’d

Saleen driven by Konrad and Borcheller.

Fellows holds the GTS qualifying

Fellows immediately showed his prowess

Then, when the sun came out and track

on his home track in wet conditions. He

dried up, that hurt us.”

record at Mosport, set at 1:16.675

charged toward the front and, within 20

a year ago, but track conditions during

minutes, had taken the lead in GTS.

the session meant no new record in

Then, 35 minutes in, the rain stopped

Fellows maintained the GTS lead until about an hour into the race, when he had a scary moment and thought his luck had

2001. Pilgrim set a time of 1:17.253,

and the complexion of the race changed.

run out. A GT car made an unexpected

just behind Borcheller’s 1:17.091 pole

Both cars made pit stops for slicks, which

move just in front of him when he was

run. Fellows never got a shot at the pole

wasn’t what the team had planned for.

breaking for turn three, which forced him

inspired call. Our car was really strong

rather be lucky than good,” and at

because of a clutch problem. He did a

“The weather forecast called for rain all

mechanically and we were getting good

Mosport, Corvette Racing was both lucky

couple of slow laps but had to give up

afternoon,” said Pratt, “so we went with a

the grass, clipped a tire barrier and tore

fuel mileage, so when I took over from

and good. It proved to be an unbeatable

and settle for 25th on the starting grid.

wet setup on both cars, which is quite a

off some of his left-rear bodywork, but

Ron we could go the rest of the way. Terry

combination. Fellows and O’Connell

bit softer than what we use on a dry track.

he managed to get back on the track

was about 15 seconds ahead at that point,

posted their fourth GTS win in five ALMS

but he still had to pit one more time.”

races, while Pilgrim and Collins drove to

The Corvettes crossed the finish line

third. The Corvettes were split by the

Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race started with a light rain falling, and

out of the dry line. Fellows skated off into

and keep going.

“Fortunately the rear wing wasn’t damaged,” he said. “It hit behind the

first and second in GTS, but at the post-

rear wheel, and the damage made it over-

race weigh-in, the apparent one-two

steer a bit more. That actually seemed to

finish evaporated when the number-4

make the car a little faster.”

car didn’t come up to minimum weight and was disqualified.

“All the drivers did a great job, and it’s a shame to spoil a one-two finish,” Pratt added, “but we certainly won’t let that get us down.”

44

45

ROUND 5 GT3 GRAND PRIX CONTINUED

Fellows’ off-track excursion cost him the

“The pit crew did a great job,” said

With about 15 minutes to go, the

Pratt. “It was a green-flag stop and we

Corvette team caught another lucky break.

picked up 12 seconds or so on the Saleen.

O’Connell was in front of the overall race

That’s the kind of work that wins races.”

leader on the track and the Saleen was

It took O’Connell a few laps to get used

just behind when a full-course caution

GTS lead to Konrad, but it took him only

to the softer, wet-weather suspension

came out. The pace car picked up the race

three or four laps to catch up and move

setup on a dry track, and Terry Borcheller,

leader, and O’Connell was able to gain

out front again.

now driving the Saleen, was cutting

almost a full lap on his pursuer.

Both Corvettes stopped for tires, fuel

relentlessly into O’Connell’s lead.

“I think Johnny could have held him

ROUND 6 GRAND PRIX AT MID-OHIO MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE AUGUST 25, 2001 Teamwork Wins!

It was the first-ever ALMS race at Mid-

lead. A few minutes later, the Saleen had

third, another four-tenths back. Worse,

a wheel come loose, which put the car

continually changing track conditions

two laps down.

meant finding a good race setup was

After about an hour and 10 minutes,

mostly guesswork. As it turned out, one

both Corvettes stopped for service and

team got it right, the other guessed wrong.

driver changes.

When the two-hour,45-minute race

“That was the worst driving stint I’ve

Ohio, but for the Corvette team, it meant

started, Fellows soon realized he had

had all year,” Fellows said, “but I think

racing at a track fairly close to home, and

missed the setup in a big way. “It was

the track was coming back to us just a

and driver changes with just under an

off, but I’m just as glad we didn’t have

one they know well because of occasional

scary loose,” he said. “We were slipping

little bit by the end. That pit stop shows

hour to go. O’Connell took over from

a chance to find out,” Pratt said. “We’ve

test sessions.

and sliding all over the place. I tried to

the real depth of teamwork we’ve devel-

Fellows, and his pit crew’s fast work

been on the bad side of that same break

In practice and qualifying, however,

make some sway bar adjustments, but it

oped. The crew guys were able to make

added to his lead over the Saleen.

more than once, so I don’t mind taking

it looked as though hope of any “home

didn’t work. All I could do was hang on

big adjustments, and they did it without

this one.”

track advantage” was out the window, as

as best I could.”

losing any time in the pits!”

the Saleen dominated the timing charts.

46

Pilgrim qualified the number-4 Corvette

Pilgrim passed his teammate after

Ron Fellows qualified second in GTS,

about 10 minutes and set off in pursuit

but his time was almost 1.5 seconds off

of the Saleen. Eventually he was able to

the pace of Borcheller in the Saleen.

pass Konrad and begin opening up a

47

ROUND 6 GRAND PRIX AT MID-OHIO CONTINUED

The race now was between the Corvette teammates, and O’Connell’s pursuit of Collins was aided by a couple of full-course caution periods that bunched up the field.

“I didn’t think we were going to be able to win this one,” said O’Connell, who passed Collins with about a halfhour to go, “but we hit on a great setup during the pit stop. This team is so good … we just kept working and working to get the car right.”

“We made a big gamble on the setup and it paid off,” Pilgrim explained. “The only problem was it paid off big in the first half of the race. I just wish we could have made that charge to the front at the end of the race instead.”

48

ROUND 7 MONTEREY SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIPS LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY SEPT. 9, 2001 Down to the Wire The team’s four-race winning streak was broken in the two-hour, 45-minute race on Laguna Seca’s twisting, hilly, 2.5-mile circuit. Fellows and O’Connell drove to second place in GTS, one lap behind the Saleen of Borcheller and Konrad. Pilgrim and Collins finished third in class, on the same lap as their teammates.

In the season so far, the Saleen had shown an edge in speed at every race.

But in every race except Sebring, Corvette Racing had beaten them with great teamwork and driving, helped by the occasional gremlin or failure on the part of the

“We knew that if they ever got their

Terry Borcheller, the quicker of the two

act together and turned in a perfect race

Saleen drivers, started the race and did

they’d be tough to beat,” said Johnny

a double stint, leaving Franz Konrad to

O’Connell. “And this time they managed

drive the last 45 minutes. In the first two

a perfect race.”

hours, Borcheller built up a lead of more

“We did what we could,” said Pratt.

“We had a good pit stop strategy and the

than a lap over the Corvettes.

Fellows took the class lead briefly when

crews did great work in the pits, which got

Borcheller made his first fuel stop, but

us close. We thought if we got a caution

dropped back to second five minutes later

period late in the race we might have

when he came in for fuel and tires, and

been able to pull out a win, but it stayed

handed over to O’Connell.

green. We had to come in for a splash

Konrad took over the Saleen just before

of fuel with about a half hour to go,

the two-hour mark, which allowed the

and had to settle for second.”

Corvettes to get back on the same lap.

During the next 15 minutes, a full-course caution would have allowed the Corvettes to make their final fuel stops and have a chance to chase down Konrad. But the track stayed green, they finally had to come in for fuel, which put the Corvettes a lap down at the end.

Saleen team.

49

ROUND 7 MONTEREY SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUED

“We struggled for the whole race

ROUND 8 PETITE LE MANS ROAD ATLANTA OCTOBER 6, 2001

with the car,” said O’Connell. “Under braking, it wasn’t doing what we needed it to do, and also we were having some

Thrill and Agony In the 1,000-mile Petite Le Mans, the

In Friday’s qualifying session, Pilgrim

There was no reason to expect the mis-

won his first ALMS pole, but Fellows’

fortune that followed on the second lap

effort was cut short with a broken drive-

of the race.

shaft yoke. The thrashing of the loose

“The engine just died,” Fellows said.

shaft also did extensive damage to several

“I could smell burning wiring, so I figured

components in the powertrain, which

it was some sort of electrical problem. It

kept the crew busy making repairs and

turns out that a short in the starter motor

fitting replacements.

was sucking all the juice out of the bat-

unusual tire wear issues. At first there

ALMS season finale, Pilgrim, Collins and

Come race time at noon on Saturday,

was cloud cover, and then when the

Franck Freon scored a well-deserved and

however, all was well. The number-3 car

sun came out it was even more difficult.

hard-fought victory. Corvette Racing

had performed perfectly in the morning

radio about what to do,” Fellows contin-

We couldn’t brake when we wanted,

finished the 2001 season with six ALMS

warmup, and the number-4 car also was

ued. “I had to disconnect the starter

and we also tried using softer tires,

wins in eight races and the GTS Team

working at its best.

motor and isolate it from then rest of the

but that didn’t work either.”

Championship, while Chevrolet won

Pilgrim and Collins had almost the opposite problems to deal with on their car.

the GTS Manufacturers’ title.

But celebrations were tempered by the

“Our strategy was for the 4 car to race

tery, which killed the engine.

“The crew was directing me on the

electrical system. But then I had to get the

for the win and 3 car to just take it easy

car to a place where I could roll it down

and stay out of trouble.” said Pratt. “All

a hill and jump-start it. There was no way

knowledge that the season’s hard work

we had to do was run enough laps for

I could do that on my own. And because

“When we had the cloud layer, we

had come up short of one goal. Corvette

Ron to score points — even last-place

people helped me push it, we were dis-

couldn’t get it to handle. Later, when

number-3, driven by Fellows, O’Connell

points — and the championship was his.”

qualified. The rules are pretty clear on

the sun came out, the car came to us,

and Scott Pruett, had a disastrous week-

that: out on the course where we were,

but by then it was too late.”

end, which ultimately cost Fellows the

nobody can touch the car but the driver.”

“Our car was too tight,” said Pilgrim.

drivers’ championship.

50

51

ROUND 8 PETITE LE MANS CONTINUED

“It really was a 1,000-mile sprint race,” commented Resciniti. “We were racing a car that was basically a second or so faster per lap than we were. But everybody did

“It was one of those weekends,” said

a great job. All our pit stops were right on.

DeLong. “After a dream season we had a

In one stop, we beat the Saleen out by 11

nightmare at the end. The starter that was

seconds. It was a very satisfying way to win,

in the car when the drive shaft broke was

and for us, a great way to end the season.”

one we knew was good and reliable. But the replacement was a brand new one we’d never used before. All in all, it was just awful bad luck.”

Meanwhile, the number-4 car wasn’t having a trouble-free race, either. For most of the race it was a back-and-forth

It was the second consecutive Petite Le Mans victory for Pilgrim’s car.

“It was a hard race and we had a good battle with Terry and the Saleen for most of it,” Pilgrim said. “We just went as hard as we could and still keep it all together.”

“We’ve been battling hard all year, and

struggle between the Corvette and the

it has been a really successful season for

Saleen driven by Borcheller, Konrad

the team,” said Collins. “Repeating as

and Charlie Slater, until the Saleen was

winners of this race is bittersweet because

slowed by engine problems near the end.

of what happened to the other car, but we’re really happy we could come through with the win”

“An engine builder is in kind of a no-win situation. If the car wins, it’s a team effort; if the engine fails, there’s nowhere to hide. Thanks to Katech’s great work, we won a lot of races and had no engine-related retirements in 2001. That’s special.” — J I M M I L L E R

MECHANIC OF THE YEAR During the ALMS awards banquet at the Chateau Elan, Bill DeLong was named Mechanic of the Year.

His car, the number-3 GM Goodwrench Corvette, contributed five wins toward the manufacturer and team championships.

“When you add in Daytona and Le Mans, we had seven wins in 10 races, and two of them were 24-hour races” DeLong said. “Seasons like that don’t happen very often. But this is a great crew, and the drivers are real pros. When you have a group like this to work with, it makes the odds a lot better. This is a very motivated group, and our bad luck at the end will just make us work that much harder.”

52

53

COVER STORIES

Giving Something Back

CORVETTE RACING’S ROAD TO SUCCESS MAKES BIG NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

O U R P E O P L E B E L I E V E I N H E L P I N G O T H E R S T H R O U G H C H A R I TA B L E I N V O LV E M E N T

P

Celebrity Classic hosted by Bobby Orr,

and he is a spokesman for the Ontario

the Petite Le Mans. Auction items varied

Miller sponsored the 2001 Re\Max

Community Council on Impaired

from donated race car parts and driver

Partners 5K Run, in Royal Oak, Michigan,

Driving. Ron and Lynda also organized

apparel to sessions at several prominent

which benefits the Children’s Miracle

a pledge drive on Ron’s website in con-

racing schools. Johnny’s auction raised

Network in support of the Beaumont

junction with Petite Le Mans, which

more than $25,000 for the United Way

Children’s Pediatric Center, as well as a

raised more than $14,000 for the New

September 11 Fund. Johnny’s organiza-

conference for the Prevent Child Abuse In

York Twin Towers Fund.

tion also supports Guest House, a social

formative years of their driving careers.

ratt & Miller, and its individual team members, are strong believers

which benefits the Oshawa General

in donating time and money to

Hospital and the Durham Region YMCA,

auction on the Friday evening before

support worthy causes. Pratt &

Johnny O’Connell hosted a charity

America organization. Pratt & Miller also

Andy Pilgrim has been conducting

supports the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer,

a series of driver safety talks with classes

the Wixom, Mich., Police Department, the

at Cooper City (Florida) High School for

Against Drunk Driving organization, and

Motorsport Hall of Fame in Novi, Mich.

eight years. Andy helps the students learn

is on the board of directors of Prevent

“how to survive on the streets” in the

Child Abuse In America.

Tom Mikrut organized Corvette Racing’s

services agency in Atlanta.

Chris Kneifel works with the Mothers

involvement in a 10-kilometer run in the Chicago area the day after the MidOhio American Le Mans Series race. Generous contributions from team members, plus matching Pratt & Miller donations, raised $3,000 for the Illinois Special Olympics.

Ron Fellows supports a number of charities, including Peel Partners for a Drug-Free Community, the Oshawa Golf Club

Teaching street survival skills: Andy Pilgrim makes safe-driving points with students at Cooper City High School.

Tom Mikrut spearheaded Corvette Racing’s fundraising effort for the Illinois Special Olympics.

54

Tom running 10km for the Special Olympics, before it started to hurt.

At Petite Le Mans, Corvette Racing team members showed their support for New York police and firefighters, and were heavily involved in 9-11 fundraising projects.

Tom and Bailie: Which one is the real runner?

55

WHAT

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE OF CORVETTE RACING DRIVERS, 2001

FRANCK FREON

RON FELLOWS ANDY PILGRIM

SCOTT PRUETT

K E L LY C O L L I N S

J O H N N Y O ’CO N N E L L

DALE EARNHARDT

CHRIS KNEIFEL

“Our drivers are great; they’re fast, and they

really motivate each other. But the best part is, they also are genuine, stand-up nice guys.”

— BILL DELONG, 56

C R E W C H I E F,

CORVETTE C5-R #3

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

“As different as they are, our guys

complement each other really well.

They all know what it takes to conserve a car without going too slow … and they all fit in the same seat!” — F R A N K R E S C I N I T I , C R E W C H I E F , C O R V E T T E C 5 - R # 4 57

PRATT & MILLER/ CORVETTE RACING CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, 2001

JIM MILLER OWNER

ROSS JEFFEREY CREW MEMBER

GARY PRATT OWNER

R AY G O N G L A CREW MEMBER 58

FRANK RESCINITI CREW CHIEF

DAVE ALBRIGHT CREW MEMBER

G ATROYM DDEILEEHEMU W C R E W GMME M B E R

BILL DELONG CREW CHIEF GREG HIATT CREW MEMBER

TOM MIKRUT CONTROLLER/CREW MEMBER

GRAORNY CDLEALYETEOUNW C R E W GMME M B E R

BRIAN WADE CREW MEMBER

RANDY HUGHES CREW MEMBER

GARY YOUNG CREW MEMBER

MIKE ATKINS CREW MEMBER

C HG AA RR LYI ED EDLEENEEUGWE R C R E W GMME M B E R

GRAIRCYH DEELLDEREEUDW C R E W GMME M B E R

G AD RA VY ED JE AL EMEEUS W C R E W GMME M B E R

GJ A. RR.Y RDEEDLFEIEEUL WD C R E W GMME M B E R

SGT AE RV YE DH EA LRETESUE WL L C R E W GMME M B E R

GDAARNY PDOELLAESEKUYW C R E W GMME M B E R 59

PRATT & MILLER/ CORVETTE RACING CONTINUED

PAT R I C K C A R BA RY CREW MEMBER

Frank’s toolbox

RICH FULKS CREW MEMBER

MIKE TANNEER CREW MEMBER

PA M P R I N C E CREW MEMBER

GARY DELEEUW CREW MEMBER

B O B PAY TO N CREW MEMBER

ADAM JAKUPI CREW MEMBER

ROBIN PRATT CREW MEMBER

JIM KELLEY PRS

DAVE DECKER PRS

MELANIE CORRELL TIMING & SCORING

VINNIE CIARAVINO CREW MEMBER

MARK SALICE CREW MEMBER 60

SAM VALDEZ CREW MEMBER

RALPH SIMPSON CATERING

TODD HORNIG KFC COMPOSITES 61

GM/CORVETTE RACING CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, 2001

W A L LY R E E S E GM PR

STEVE SHANNON GM

DAVE HILL GM

RICHARD BALDICK GM

NICK OLSON AP BRAKES

HERB FICHEL GM

BENOIT FROGGER GM (FRECH CONNECTION)

JOE NEGRI GM

JOHN TAUBE GOODYEAR

DAVE CORAM GM

F R A N K PA R K E R PA R K E R E N G I N E E R I N G

GARY CLAUDIO GM

KEVIN PRANGER KATECH LISA STANICK GM

GARY DELEEUW GM

62

DOUG FEHAN GM

STEVE WESOLOSKI GM

JOHN RICE GM

KEN BROWN GM

F R I T Z K AY L

RICHARD PRIESTER KATECH

WARREN FREIZE KATECH

STEVE COLE COLE PERFORMANCE

DOUG LOUTH BRD

JOE KIEFER BRD

63

WE ARE

64

FAMILY

65

… A VERY

66

BIG FAMILY

67

We Remember Dale Earnhardt The people at Corvette Racing had the THANKS FOR A REAL TEAM EFFORT Great teamwork is one of our keys to success at Pratt & Miller. It’s just the way we do things, and this 2001 yearbook is no exception. This book is “my baby,” but it couldn’t be done without the efforts of a large number of people.

I’m sure by now people at the tracks think my trusty camera is permanently attached, but when you look through this book you’ll see many absolutely stunning images contributed by these great photographers: Peter Brock John Brooks David Noels Richard Prince Rene Tanner Kevin York A very special thanks for your beautiful work.

I want to thank everyone on the team.

All of you made this book possible with your help and cooperation, but I have to single out several people in particular for their special contributions: Steve Crisp, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Tom Mikrut Bob Payton Gary Pratt Pam Prince Frank Resciniti Gary Young And finally, there’s the team who put it all together and made it happen. I think you will agree, their work speaks for itself loud and clear in these pages: Chuck McLaren, writing, editing, production coordination Ray McAllister, design Dan Kelly, Colortech Graphics, Inc., printing Elaine Kelly, proofreading We’re proud to have this special record of 2001, an extraordinary year for Pratt & Miller and Corvette Racing.

— ROBIN PRATT

honor of working with Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Two weeks later, his fatal crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 stunned and saddened the racing world, and none more so than his road-racing teammates. We had found in the seven-time Winston Cup champion both a new friend and kindred competitive spirit.

For “Big E,” driving in the 24-hour endurance race was

“He just wanted to be one of the guys on the team — that’s one of the things Dale really enjoyed about it. He fit right in.”

— GARY PRATT

something new and different. The car was more refined and sophisticated than anything he had ever raced before, and that motivated him. Even though Dale had achieved a stature higher than most in his profession, he approached the Rolex 24 knowing he had a lot to learn, and was ready, willing and eager to tackle the challenge. He looked to his fellow drivers and the crew for help and guidance. He was a team player.

Because of his stature as a racer, he was scrutinized more closely than most other drivers at Daytona, but he did his job as you would expect from a thorough professional.

His approach to going fast in a car he had never driven before was a textbook example of how to do it right. Being a superbly talented driver, Big E learned quickly and turned in an impressive performance.

When he joined the team for the Rolex 24, we were in awe of The Intimidator’s racing accomplishments. After his performance at Daytona — both in the car and interacting with the team — we felt tremendous respect and a real sense of friendship. We are sad that he will not race with us again; we are happy that he did, even just this once.

– GARY PRATT, AND THE WHOLE TEAM AT CORVETTE RACING

68

“I was lucky enough to be able to call Dale Earnhardt my friend … and I miss my friend.” — A N D Y P I L G R I M

“He was the real McCoy … very honest, very genuine, and truly one of the last of the good ol’ boys. We really thought a lot of Dale Earnhardt.” — K E L L Y C O L L I N S

“The most impressive thing about Dale was his passion for racing, and his total commitment to the team for that particular race.” — R O N F E L L O W S “Whoever named him ‘The Intimidator’ had only ever raced against him … never worked with him. It was a delight to have Dale on the team; he was that kind of guy.”

— FRANK RESCINITI

WINNERS 2001 & CHAMPIONS