Pratt & Miller 2004 Corvette Yearbook

DESIGN, DEVELOP, BUILD, RACE, WIN

U N D E F E AT E D

2 0 0 4 CHAMPIONS

A TEAM AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME

Contents

It has been a wild year. Think about it: We just got settled into our new building, and now a big addition is under construction; our Cadillac CTS-V team was in its first racing season; a new Pontiac GTO program was in development; and our Corvette customer project for the Selleslagh Racing team in Belgium continued.

A Team at the Top of its Game – Our Perfect Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 One-Two the Hard Way – 24 Hours of Le Mans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ALMS Goes Green for 2004 – Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring . . . . . . . 12 The Masters – Ron and Johnny Go 3 for 3 at Mid-Ohio . . . . . . . . . . .18 Corvettes at Rush-Hour – New England Grand Prix, Lime Rock . . . .20

In the midst of all this activity, Corvette Racing was never defeated in 2004. We had a perfect season, and those are incredibly rare in auto racing. The reason for our success is the remarkable efforts exerted by every person involved. This is a team at the top of its game, and our sincere thanks and appreciation for a job well done go out to every one of you.

Le Mans was a great comeback; we worked hard and achieved our goal.

During the year since the 2003 race we improved tremendously, and in 2004 we beat the Ferraris. Once again we put Corvette Racing at the pinnacle of endurance racing on a world stage.

Bittersweet Victory – Grand Prix of Sonoma, Infineon Raceway . . . 22 Hot One – Grand Prix of Portland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Gavin and Beretta Beat the Jinx – Toronto Grand Prix of Mosport . . 26 Two Straight – Road America 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 A Win-Win Situation – Chevy Presents Petit Le Mans . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Corvette C5-R’s Last Season Is Pefect – Laguna Seca . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Team Personals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 From the Editor / Thanks to Our Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 The Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Of course, in 2004 the competition in the American Le Mans Series wasn’t what it had been, but that posed another kind of danger.

We could have lost focus, let down and relaxed our effort, but that would not have served us well when tougher competition returns. And a let-down didn’t happen. Instead, we kept our focus, kept improving and honing our skills, working hard so we’ll be ready to take on the best in the world, any time, anywhere.

This book is a tribute to our 2004 team and the success that came from contributions made by all of you. We are proud to be part of such a great group of people. It was a wonderful final season for the C5-R Corvette, and now we can look forward to 2005 and an exciting debut season with the C6.

— Jim Miller and Gary Pratt 2

Jim Miller

Gary Pratt

Photos courtesy of Phil Binks, Dan Boyd, Richard Dole, Gregory Johnson, Robert Mochernuk, Robin Pratt, Richard Prince, Steve Robertson.

Printed with permission.

Copyright © 2004 Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. 29600 William K Smith Drive, New Hudson, MI 48165 Phone: 248-446-9800 Fax: 248-446-9020 www.prattmiller.com

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

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ONE-TWO THE HARD WAY LUCK? NOT MUCH.

24 HOURS OF LE MANS Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans, France June 12-13, 2004 QUALIFYING: 2nd GTS: Oliver Gavin, #64 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 3m49.750s (132.906 mph) 3rd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, #63 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 3m51.378s (131.971 mph)

RACE: 1st GTS (6th overall): #64 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 345 laps, Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, Jan Magnussen 2nd GTS (8th overall): #63 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 334 laps,Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Max Papis

Last year, a Ferrari spoiled Corvette Racing’s shot at three straight wins in the world’s most prestigious endurance race. Since then, the team has done an enormous amount of work in aerodynamic, engine and chassis development.

This year’s test weekend in April showed the payoff: Max Papis became the first GTS driver ever to clock a lap under 3 minutes and 50 seconds, and all told it looked as though the Corvettes had made net gains of some 6 seconds a lap.

A Corvette never has won a GTS pole at Le Mans, and this year was no different. In the June 10 qualifying sessions one of the Prodrive Ferraris clocked the fastest GTS lap at 3:49.438. Even so, everybody on the team knew they could win, if they did everything right and had a bit of luck. But not long after the race started at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, it became apparent that luck might be in short supply.

Just after the first round of pit stops, with Ron Fellows leading GTS and Oliver Gavin second, Fellows got caught out passing a GT car. He went off the track, damaged the front bodywork, and the 63 car lost five laps while the crew made repairs.

Things went fine for several hours. Gavin, Beretta and Magnussen kept the 64 car out in front, and shortly after the six-hour mark, the number-63 Corvette was up to third in class with Fellows at the wheel. This time, luck deserted him in a big way.

“I was headed toward Indianapolis at about 170 when all of a sudden I felt a vibration,” Fellows said. “I backed off, then heard a ‘poof,’ and the car spun backwards into the guardrail.”

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It was a hard hit, but Fellows was able to limp back to the pits.

Dan Binks and crew made bodywork and suspension repairs in less than 30 minutes.

Then, just after O’Connell rejoined the race, an LMP car hit him on the Mulsanne straight. He spun, but was able to get going again with some cosmetic damage. At the eight-hour mark – onethird of the race – the 64 Corvette led by a lap, with the 63 car knocked back to sixth, 13 laps behind their teammates.

The leading Corvette’s fortunes took a turn for the worse at about 1:00 a.m. An LMP car chopped Magnussen off entering a turn, sending him into a tire barrier. This time it was the Ray Gongla-led crew’s turn to replace smashed bodywork.

At the 16-hour mark a Ferrari led by six laps over Gavin, Beretta and Magnussen, but by then the 63 car was up to third in class, within five laps of their teammates. Unfortunately, O’Connell and Papis were shouldering all the driving. Fellows had suffered a concussion in his crash, and was pronounced medically unfit for the duration.

The last eight hours are always a grind, but by 10 a.m. the Corvette teams had received a shot in the arm when the leading Ferrari made a long stop for a broken suspension. Magnussen took the lead, and the 64 Corvette stayed in front from then on.

Further problems for the Ferrari moved O’Connell and Papis up to second, and after 24 hours the Corvettes crossed the finish line in an exuberant one-two formation.

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Le Mans. It’s a special place.

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

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Success here doesn’t come easily. It takes hard work and meticulous preparation.

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Practice and qualifying; cards on the table. It’s a tense time.

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

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Then there is 24 hours – 4 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday.

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It’s the toughest grind in racing.

2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

A poem by Mike West (written on an engine tag during the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans) To the racing gods I pray today To see the Vettes along their way.

Speed, endurance are the trials, The course is tough, one lap eight miles.

A simple prize we’re searching for, Black & white, nothing more.

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

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2004 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

And sometimes, there are special moments that make it all worthwhile THIS WAS CORVETTE RACING’S THIRD 24 HOURS OF LE MANS VICTORY. 11

2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 1 – MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

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ALMS GOES GREEN FOR 2004 SEBRING THREE-PEAT: SWEETER STILL

ALMS, ROUND 1 MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING Sebring International Raceway March 20, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 113.796 mph 6th GTS: Oliver Gavin, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, time disallowed

RACE: 1st GTS (4th overall): #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 329 laps, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Max Papis 6th GTS (39th overall): #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 83 laps (clutch), Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, Jan Magnussen

The 12 Hours of Sebring is a tough race to win. It took three years of hard work and disappointments before Corvette Racing came up with its first victory. But, as Ron Fellows said after that first win in 2002, “After all the disappointments and frustrations, this one is that much sweeter.”

For two and a half hours the Corvettes ran comfortably in first and second. Then, after the pit stop when Gavin began his second stint, disaster struck. The number-4 car began smoking almost immediately, and Gavin was stranded out on the course with a burned-out clutch.

Three in a row is sweeter still, especially on a track as rough and tough as Sebring.

The race’s last nine hours proceeded perfectly for the number-3 car. They cruised, and by the end Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and Max Papis were 22 laps ahead of the second-place GTS car.

In qualifying, Oliver Gavin and Ron Fellows were under Gavin’s 2003 lap record (1:59.024) from the beginning. Late in the session Fellows clocked a 1:57.052, which looked good until the session’s checkered-flag lap, when Gavin ripped off a 1:56.858 for the provisional pole.

Unfortunately, in technical inspection officials ruled that the end plates on the number-4 car’s rear wing were “out of compliance.”

Gavin’s pole time was revoked and he had to start near the back of the 44-car field.

When the race started at 10:30 Saturday morning, Gavin wasted no time. He passed 18 cars on the first lap, and after 16 minutes of running he passed Fellows for the class lead.

“Sebring is a very tough race, but we have learned how to win here,” Fellows said. “After the number-4 car’s clutch problem we were careful getting out of the pits. The track was slippery, as usual for Sebring, but our Michelin tires were impressive.”

O’Connell drove the car to the checkered flag, and became the first driver in the 52-year history of the race to achieve six class wins, one of which was an overall victory in 1994.

“I’ve had the good fortune to have good cars and be part of good teams,” O’Connell said. “I think these Corvette C5-Rs will go down as among the most important and successful cars in racing history, and it’s just fantastic to be part of it.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 1 – MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

Racers love Sebring.

It has prestige, tradition and it’s always a demanding challenge.

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 1 – MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

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12 hours on the old 3.7-mile airport circuit is a torture test – has been now for 52 years.

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 1 – MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 1 – MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

Every endurance racer in the world wants to win here.

Now Corvette Racing has won three in a row.

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 2

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THE MASTERS RON AND JOHNNY GO 3 FOR 3 At Mid-Ohio, Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell took another step toward successfully defending their GTS drivers’ championship, while Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta made it a one-two finish for Corvette Racing. Ron and Johnny have won all three times the ALMS has raced at the central Ohio circuit.

Both Corvettes smashed the three-year-old qualifying record, Gavin by more than two seconds on his way to the pole, and for the race both cars were evenly matched.

ALMS, ROUND 2 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 27, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m18.622s (103.391 mph) 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m19.148s (102.704 mph)

RACE: 1st GTS (3rd overall): #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 118 laps, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell 2nd GTS (4th overall): #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 118 laps Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta

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During the first stint, Fellows shadowed Gavin, sometimes closing in to remind his teammate that any mistake would be costly. At the first round of pit stops, Gavin pitted first, as planned, then Ron and Johnny caught a break with a full-course caution. That put the 4 car almost a full lap down. It gave O’Connell a virtually insurmountable advantage, and he finished some 33 seconds ahead of Beretta at the end of the two-hour, 45-minute race.

Gary Pratt complimented the crews on their hard work preparing for the race. “In the two weeks since Le Mans they didn’t get much of a rest,” he said. “That race wrecked a lot of parts, and we had to work extra hard to get ready for this one. It’s been tough, but we have great people.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 2

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 3 – NEW ENGLAND GRAND PRIX

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CORVETTES AT RUSH-HOUR GAVIN AND BERETTA BEAT THE TRAFFIC It was the American Le Mans Series’ first appearance at Lime Rock Park’s 1.54-mile circuit. Even though the track length is relatively short, its complexity makes it a challenge for drivers and race engineers, and the 27-car ALMS field meant plenty of traffic congestion.

ALMS, ROUND 3, NEW ENGLAND GRAND PRIX Lime Rock Park Lakeville, Connecticut July 5, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 0m51.425s (107.807 mph) 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 0m51.827s (106.971 mph) RACE: 1st GTS (4th overall): #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 160 laps, Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta 2nd GTS (5th overall): #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 160 laps Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell

Beretta gave the number-4 car its second straight ALMS pole, and in the race, after a first-lap traffic snarl that dropped the Corvettes to second and third for a short time, Beretta led for the rest of his stint. Then, it was like Mid-Ohio déja vu as the nightmare scenario replayed itself for Beretta and Gavin.

Beretta pitted under green, then the caution came out and the pace car split the two Corvettes, putting Gavin almost a lap down on O’Connell.

During his stint Gavin made up some of the deficit, but another caution allowed the number-4 car to catch up when Fellows and Beretta took over again in the final pit stops.

Shortly thereafter, Beretta pounced on a small slip by Fellows and passed him going into turn one. Fellows stayed close, but never found a good opportunity. Beretta was 3.6 seconds ahead at the finish.

“When I saw I had a clean pass at turn one I took it and then pushed to get a bit of a lead,” Beretta said. “I’ve known Ron since 1999 and we always have good, fair racing. It was exciting, the car was fantastic, and I’m proud I was able to win for our crew.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 3 – NEW ENGLAND GRAND PRIX

John Fitch, Corvette Racing team manager in the 1950’s

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 4 – GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA

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BITTERSWEET VICTORY CELEBRATION SUBDUED BY MISFORTUNE Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell came through with their third win of the year, and their fourth consecutive victory at the 2.53mile Infineon Raceway. That ties an ALMS record for most consecutive wins at a single track.

Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta qualified on the GTS pole and led much of the race, but were taken out of contention by another car. After lengthy stops for repairs they were 16 laps behind their teammates at the end, but still took third in GTS.

ALMS ROUND 4, GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California July 18, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m28.042s (103.451 mph) 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m28.234s (103.226 mph) 3rd GTS: Boris Said, #8 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m29.554s (101.704 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 102 laps 3rd GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 86 laps DNS: #8 Compuware Corvette C5-R Boris Said, Dale Earnhardt Jr., did not start

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A third Corvette was entered for this race, driven by Boris Said and NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt was slated to start the number-8 Corvette, but early in the 8 a.m. warmup session his car suddenly spun around and slammed into a barrier, then a fire erupted and quickly spread into the car’s

interior. Earnhardt was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Sacramento, where he was treated for second-degree burns on his lower legs and his chin.

The car had to be withdrawn from the race, and from the hospital Earnhardt said, “I’m bummed and disappointed I couldn’t run the race. I hope Corvette gets the victory.”

Dale got his wish. It was the 30th win in 50 starts for Corvette Racing and the C5-R. “It is kind of a bittersweet win,” Fellows added. “All of us were a little down this morning after Dale got hurt, but then we still had to get our minds on the race. We’re glad to win this one for him.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 4 – GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 5 – PORTLAND GRAND PRIX

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HOT ONE RON AND JOHNNY LEAD ANOTHER 1-2

ALMS ROUND 5, PORTLAND GRAND PRIX Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon July 25, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m09.981s (100.004 mph) 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m10.251s (99.620 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 135 laps 2nd GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 133 laps

The Pacific Northwest was suffering under 100 degree heat on qualifying day in Portland, when Olivier Beretta gave the number-4 Corvette its fourth straight pole. Ron Fellows was less than three-tenths of a second behind, and predicted a guessing game for a good race setup that would suit the cooler (low 80s) temperatures predicted for the next day.

Fellows and Beretta drove the first shift, with Beretta maintaining a comfortable lead and both drivers staying out of trouble. But trouble found Oliver Gavin in the next shift: first a cut tire, then a contact incident, a tangle with two LMP cars that forced a pit stop for damage, and a stop-and-go penalty.

That was enough for Gavin, but with Beretta back behind the wheel, there was more to come. He caught the second-place Saleen S7R but there was contact during the pass, the Saleen spun, and then it was Beretta’s turn to serve a stop-and-go penalty.

Beretta finally made it up to second late in the race when the Saleen made an extended pit stop. “The car was fantastic today but our luck was not,” he said.

Ron and Johnny cruised to the victory, more than two laps ahead at the end. “Neither of us were pleased with the handling today,” Johnny commented, “but we drove as hard as we possibly could, and things just seemed to work out.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 5 – PORTLAND GRAND PRIX

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 6 – GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT

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GAVIN AND BERETTA BEAT THE JINX CORVETTES DUEL IN MOSPORT THRILLER

ALMS ROUND 6, TORONTO GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ontario August 8, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m13.317s (120.741 mph) 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m13.329s (120.722 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 129 laps 2nd GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 129 laps

Mosport is Ron Fellows’ home track, and he and Johnny O’Connell were looking to give the fans a treat by winning there for the fourth straight year. In the end it was oh, so close, but they had to settle for second spot on the podium. Instead, teammates Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta overcame their bad-luck streak of the previous two races and took their second ALMS win of 2004.

In qualifying, Gavin won his third ALMS pole of the year (fifth for the number-4 Corvette), but he was just barely quicker than Fellows. Only 12 one-thousandths of a second separated the two Corvettes.

Gavin and O’Connell started Sunday’s two-hour, 45 minute race, with Fellows and Olivier Beretta set to drive the middle stint. The way it played out, the number-4 Corvette held the lead throughout, although sometimes not by much, but when Gavin and O’Connell took over for their second stints, Oliver enjoyed a lead of some 16 seconds. Johnny chipped away at it and gradually caught his teammate. In the final minutes of the race, Johnny closed in and dropped back as traffic played its part, and at the finish line he was a scant two tenths of a second behind.

“Both cars had a good clean race,” said Gavin. “Hats off to our crew; they won the race for us today. Johnny was pushing hard and the gap would go up and down, but it's great to be a part of another 1-2 finish. We've had some bad luck this year, so I’m really pleased we were able to win this one.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 6 – GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 7 – ROAD AMERICA 500

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TWO STRAIGHT CHEVROLET CLINCHES TITLE At Road America, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta scored their second straight win and third of the season. The back-to-back victories kept their drivers’ championship hopes alive with two races remaining, but the best news of the weekend was that Chevrolet clinched its fourth straight American Le Mans Series championship for GTS manufacturers

ALMS ROUND 7, ROAD AMERICA 500 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin August 22, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 2m00.868s (120.568 mph) 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 2m02.034s (119.416 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 77 laps 2nd GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 77 laps

The race unfolded as another flawless, clockwork-like performance

by Pratt & Miller’s two Corvette C5-R teams. And, as at Mosport, the number-4 car led from start to finish.

“Finally things are going our way,” said Gavin, thinking back on their ration of bad luck at Sonoma and Portland. “My wife and children are here today and that was a big plus. Our car was three seconds faster in the pits almost every time, so the crew helped us win. Olivier and I work so well together, and this is a very strong partnership.”

Fellows and Beretta started the race and returned for the final stint. Through most of the race the number-3 Corvette was never far behind, but in the final half-hour Beretta was able to open up a more comfortable lead. His victory margin was almost 14 seconds over Fellows.

“Hey, we’re racers; we always want to take the checkered flag,” said Fellows. “Today was no different, but today everyone at Chevrolet has won. Four championships in four years is quite a feat, and it shows this team's dedication. We’re happy for Oliver and Olivier today, and we will be back for another battle in a few weeks at Road Atlanta.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 8 – CHEVY PRESENTS PETIT LE MANS

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A WIN-WIN SITUATION RON AND JOHNNY CHAMPIONS AGAIN With the GTS championships for manufacturers and teams already secured by Chevrolet and Corvette Racing, motivation at Road Atlanta’s 1,000-mile (or 10-hour) Petit Le Mans event came from a couple of sources: pride, because Corvette had not won last year after three in a row; and the championship for drivers. Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell were tantalizingly close to clinching their second straight as a duo, and the third in a row for Ron, which would be an ALMS record.

ALMS ROUND 8, CHEVY PRESENTS PETIT LE MANS Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia September, 25, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m18.725s (116.151 mph) 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m19.144s (115.536 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, Jan Magnussen, 376 laps 2nd GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Max Papis, 375 laps

However, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta weren’t out of the title hunt, either. But even if they – along with long-distance co-pilot Jan Magnussen – did the best they could and won, if Fellows, O’Connell and Max Papis finished second, Ron and Johnny took the title. After 1,000 miles of racing, that’s exactly the way it worked out.

The number-3 Corvette led through most of the first seven hours, but the sister car was never far behind. The clincher came at the end of the Corvettes’ second-last pit stops. Gavin had taken over the 4 car and was just completing a flying lap when Fellows exited the pits after taking over from Papis.

“As I got through turn one Ron was leaving the pits,” said Oliver.

“He made it right for me, because he could have turned it on at the blend line and made it hard. We got into a whole gaggle of cars; I got around them but Ron got put in the grass. That was the turning point of the race.”

“The win would have been nice, but the championship was our priority,” said Fellows. “We had to see the big picture.

And it was great to have Max with us again. He’s always a great addition to the team.”

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2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 9 – AUDI SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS

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CORVETTE C5-R’S LAST SEASON IS PERFECT FELLOWS AND O’CONNELL TOP SEASON FINALE The Corvette C5-R retired in a blaze of glory. Pratt & Miller’s last race with the seven-year-old GTS race car was a victory, and completed an undefeated final season for a car that already had achieved great success. The C5-R won a total of 35 of its 55 races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the 12 Hours of Sebring three times, and a remarkable overall victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

ALMS ROUND 9, AUDI SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California October 16, 2004 QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m21.679s (98.640 mph) 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m22.238s (97.969 mph) RACE: 1st GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 160 laps 2nd GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 160 laps

Its last victory as a factory-backed race car was memorable, too, because it happened on the only regular ALMS circuit where the team had never won. Through the years, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca had been a puzzle the Pratt & Miller team never managed to solve … until this year, when Olivier Beretta set a new track record in his pole qualifying run, and Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell took the victory after a late-race pit-stop duel.

The four-hour race began at 4 p.m. Saturday and ran into the early hours of darkness. Only seconds after the start, both Corvettes dodged a bullet when another car spun ahead of them.

Drivers Olivier Beretta and Ron Fellows had to make some quick evasive maneuvers to avoid getting caught up in the melee. From then on, however, the race settled down for the Corvettes. For the next three hours they ran one-two, with the number-4 car leading virtually the entire time.

During the last scheduled pit stop, however, the number-3 Corvette’s crew gave O’Connell a head start, getting him out ahead of his teammates.

The outcome was made more exciting and uncertain when rain began falling during the last half-hour. With 15 minutes to go the rain was heavy enough that it made remaining on slicks a recipe for disaster. Most cars headed into the pits for rain tires, including O’Connell and Gavin. Johnny stayed in front after the exchange, and in the poor visibility of rain and darkness, held Gavin off to the checkered flag.

An emotional time Ron Fellows has been with the C5-R program from the beginning of development in 1997 and, with Andy Pilgrim, drove the car to its first victory in 2000. He has been part of 24 of the car’s wins, all but the first one with O’Connell. Driving the car to its last victory in its last race was an emotional good-bye for the veteran.

“We started off testing in the fall of 1997,” Fellows recalled, “and it’s kind of sad to see the C5-R go. But its not the end of the Corvette, just the C5-R. It’s been fantastic for me to be a part of Corvette Racing through the whole time. I’d say this is a fitting end for a really great race car.”

ENGINEERING 2 0 0 4 MILLER & PRATT

2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 9 – AUDI SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS

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TEAM AND AWARDS

PRATT

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MILLER

ENGINEERING 2 0 0 4

CORVETTE C5-R RETIRES A WINNER

PRATT

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MILLER

ENGINEERING 2 0 0 4

C5-R Success Story

GTS Manufacturers’ Championship: Chevrolet

35 wins in 55 starts

GTS Team Championship: Corvette Racing

4 GTS manufacturer championships

GTS Drivers’ Championship: Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell

4 GTS team championships

GTS Tire Manufacturers’ Championship: Michelin

3 GTS driver championships

GTS Mechanic of the Year: Dan Binks

3 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS wins

Most Popular Driver: Ron Fellows

3 12 Hours of Sebring GTS wins

Fan Appreciation Award: Doug Fehan

1 24 Hours of Daytona overall win

Hello C6-R for 2005

CORVETTE RACING, 2004: THE TEAM THAT MADE IT HAPPEN Drivers RON FELLOWS JOHNNY O’CONNELL OLIVER GAVIN OLIVIER BERETTA MAX PAPIS JAN MAGNUSSEN

Truck Drivers RICH ELDRED STEVE HARTSELL STEVE LONGHI DON MALE J.R. REDFIELD KURT RYCHENER

Team JIM MILLER GARY PRATT DAN BINKS RAY GONGLA DOUG LOUTH JOE KIEFER STEVE COLE DAVE BAREFIELD JIM DURBIN GREG HIATT BOBBY HOUGHTON RANDY HUGHES DAVID JAMES ROSS JEFFREY TOM MIKRUT CHUCK MILLER JONATHAN NICOLS ROBIN PRATT MIKE WEST GARY YOUNG MIKE ATKINS BRIAN COLANGELO BRIAN HOYE JESSE THOMPSON CHARLIE DEGENER

GM Racing Executive Team STEVE SHANNON DOUG DUCHARDT HARRY TURNER GARY CLAUDIO

Radio GARY GRUBE PHIL CURRY

Caterer RALPH SIMPSON

TEAM AND AWARDS

2004 ALMS Awards

GM Racing DOUG FEHAN STEVE WESOLOSKI JOHN RICE BRIAN GOBLE MARK CHAMBERS DONNY ATKINS REILLY BRENNAN Bosch CHRISTOPH LEHMANN Katech KEVIN PRANGER RON HELZER PRS JIM KELLY MIKE TUOMI RON ROCHELEAU

Timing and Scoring MELANIE CORRELL 37

RACE 38

TEAM PERSONALS

TEAM PERSONALS

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS General Motors Chevrolet Compuware Mobil 1 Motorola GMAC GM UAW Katech Michelin XM Satellite Radio AER and thanks also to

Carlisle Productions Eaton Fabricating KFC Composites

It just doesn’t seem like a whole year has passed since we produced our 2003 book. But if you step back and see the way our company has grown, it seems more like five years.

It is truly unbelievable. To me, this is the real-life story of the American Dream, and I guess it must be true that the harder you work the more successful you become. What a surprise!

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Most small companies can only imagine this kind of success. It took a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, tears, lots of resources, and even some luck to get where we are now … and where we will be tomorrow. I know it has been a huge change for everyone who works at Pratt & Miller, but I think everyone is handling the influx of people pretty well and seems excited about our growth and progress.

Kate McLaren, production coordination

Think about what we accomplished in 2004. Corvette Racing was never beaten … undefeated champions! That achievement is incredibly rare in auto racing. And think about what it means. It means we, as a team, were the best of the best. The office, the race team, the fab shop, the machine shop, engineering … we were the best! Every one of us can be proud of that; it’s something you can tell your kids and grandkids someday!

All of us have been lucky enough to work hard and actually make history, and I’m especially proud to have that history recorded in pictures and words here in this book. Our undefeated championship season was achieved through a combined effort from every person in the organization – even the guy who files a burr off a part, because that burr could make or break the race, or the championship. Every one of us gave 110 percent.

K&N Filters Lightnen’s Customs

Chuck McLaren, writing, editing, direction Ray McAllister, design

Dan Kelly, Colortech Graphics, Inc., printing Alleyne Kelly, proofreading

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Aleck Phil Binks Dan Boyd Richard Dole Gregory Johnson

That’s why we are the champions … every one of us!

Robert Mochernuk

Matrix Paint Systems

Robin Pratt Richard Prince

Winners every one!

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Robin Pratt

Steve Robertson

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THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dan Boyd 44

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Phil Binks

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Richard Dole

46 THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Steve Robertson 47