SPEED GT Manufacturers Champion
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Contents
CHAMPIONS FROM START TO FINISH This is something of a bittersweet year for our Team Cadillac CTS-V program. We are all saddened that it has come to an end, but of course we are extraordinarily proud that your efforts resulted in another Speed GT manufacturers championship for Cadillac. Hard work, team work, outstanding drivers, fantastic cars, and consistently superior race strategy overcame not only strong competition from Porsche and others, but also the performance balancing handicaps we were forced to endure, making this championship all the more significant.
CHAMPIONS FROM START TO FINISH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 SEBRING: FAST START FOR TEAM CADILLAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 LONG BEACH: ANOTHER PODIUM FOR PILGRIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SALT LAKE CITY: SIXTH FOR ASCHENBACH IN HIGH DESERT . . . . . . . . . 5 CHARLOTTE: TEAM CADILLAC POSTS 1-2 FINISH ON THE HIGH BANKS .6 WATKINS GLEN: ASCHENBACH SECOND AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 TORONTO: CADILLAC SECOND ON WET STREET COURSE . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The manufacturers title is the perfect way to close a phenomenally successful chapter in Pratt & Miller’s association with Cadillac. In addition to winning the very first race at Sebring back in 2004 and very last race the CTS-V competed in at Laguna Seca in 2007, the Cadillac race program won a total of 12 Speed GT races over its four-year lifespan, more than any other manufacturer. We also won two manufacturer championships and a drivers title. The incredible capabilities of Pratt & Miller’s people is what drew Cadillac to us and the winning performance our people delivered is exactly why companies like Cadillac remain so loyal to us. The continued success of the Cadillacs, Corvettes, and all of the other Pratt & Miller built racecars in America and Europe is a direct result of the engineering expertise, fabrication skills, program management, and ongoing support we offer to all of our customers. The strong growth of our OEM engineering services and the introduction of the C6RS street car stand in further testimony to the depth and diversity of Pratt & Miller’s incredible people. Your strong work ethic, drive to win, and unwavering dedication to being the best at what you do are the factors that fuel this company’s success on the track and off, and we are both extremely proud that each of you is part of the Pratt & Miller family.
MID-OHIO: STEADY PACE YIELDS THIRD AND FOURTH FOR CADILLAC 9 MOSPORT: FIRST POLE, 4th RUNNER-UP FINISH FOR ASCHENBACH . 10 ROAD ATLANTA: ONE-TWO FINISH FOR TEAM CADILLAC . . . . . . . . . . . 11 LAGUNA SECA: CADILLAC WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN SEASON FINALE . 12 2007 SPEED GT AWARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CADILLAC TEAM PERSONALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 TEAM CADILLAC: A RACING RETROSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 PONTIAC GXP.R: SHIFTING GEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 DRIVEN BY PASSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 SOLSTICE GXP: MADE FOR TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 PRATT & MILLER CARS: SPANNING THE GLOBE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 DEVELOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 BUILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 RACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
— Jim Miller and Gary Pratt
WIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 CORVID TECHNOLOGIES: IT REALLY IS ROCKET SCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . 53 PRATT & MILLER’S HISTORIC DAYTONA WIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 A LABOR OF LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Jim Miller
Gary Pratt
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SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #1 Sebring International Raceway Sebring, Florida March 16, 2007 QUALIFYING: 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 2:08.939 (103.304 mph) 5th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 2:08.970 (103.279 mph)
RACE: 2nd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 18 laps 6th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 18 laps
SEBRING: FAST START FOR TEAM CADILLAC Aschenbach Takes Second in Cadillac Debut Pratt & Miller's factory-backed Cadillac CTS-V road racing team returned to action with the 2005 SPEED GT champion Andy Pilgrim and 2006 SPEED GT champion Lawson Aschenbach on its roster. The Cadillac team also had a new look for its fourth season in the SPEED GT series with a graphics package that combined the famous Cadillac script with the team's familiar red and black colors. The 2007 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series kicked off at Sebring International Raceway, the track where Team Cadillac scored a 1-2 finish in its competition debut in March 2004. Pilgrim and Aschenbach qualified fourth and fifth respectively behind a trio of Corvettes for the season-opening race. After three consecutive runner-up finishes in Sebring by Pilgrim, this time it was 23-year-old Aschenbach who claimed runner-up honors in his first race with Team Cadillac. "We had a great run today and my Cadillac CTS-V race car was flawless," Aschenbach declared. "This is a great way to start the season with a podium finish." Aschenbach pursued race-leader Eric Curran relentlessly to the end of the 18-lap race, finishing 1.429 seconds behind Curran's red Corvette. Pilgrim was sixth across the stripe after a spirited duel with a pair of Porsches in the closing laps. "We really wanted to win this race, but the Corvettes are tough to pass," Aschenbach reported. "They're 125 pounds lighter than us and use the same engine as our Cadillac CTS-V race cars."
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Photo: D Maybury
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #2 Toyota Grand Prix Long Beach, California April 15, 2007 QUALIFYING: 1st, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:25.086 (83.266 mph) 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:25.291 (83.066 mph) 8th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:25.959 (82.420 mph)
RACE: 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 28 laps 11th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 28 laps 26th, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps
LONG BEACH: ANOTHER PODIUM FOR PILGRIM Streets Turn Mean for Fellows and Aschenbach Ron Fellows joined Team Cadillac for the Long Beach street race in the team's third CTS-V. The Canadian star was hoping to repeat his racewinning performance in 2006 when a last-lap outside pass sealed the victory for Team Cadillac. Fellows continued his mastery of the Long Beach circuit in qualifying, winning the pole with a track-record time. Andy Pilgrim claimed the outside front row starting spot as the Pratt & Miller-prepared cars qualified first and second. Fellows led the middle third of the 28-lap race before he was sidelined by an electrical problem, while Pilgrim survived the heavy traffic to finish as runner-up. Lawson Aschenbach battled back from rear of the pack to finish 11th after he was hit and spun in the first turn. Pilgrim challenged Eric Curran's Corvette for the win on the final green-flag lap after the race's second full-course caution, but couldn't pull off the pass on the bayside circuit's long front straight. "I ran Eric as hard as I could," Pilgrim reported. "It's disappointing not to win, but second place is a good finish. I didn't have the fastest car today, but I had a great handling car in the tight sections of the track."
Photos: R Prince
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SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #3 Miller Motorsports Park Tooele, Utah May 19, 2007 QUALIFYING: 7th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 2:57.498 (90.984 mph) 14th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 2:58.311 (90.569 mph)
RACE: 6th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 14 laps 11th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 14 laps
SALT LAKE CITY: SIXTH FOR ASCHENBACH IN HIGH DESERT Performance Restrictions Take a Toll on Team Cadillac Team Cadillac fought the good fight at Miller Motorsports Park as Lawson Aschenbach finished sixth and Andy Pilgrim 11th in the third round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series. Aschenbach held position throughout the 14-lap race on the immense 4.5-mile circuit, while Pilgrim rebounded from a stop-and-go penalty imposed for jumping the start. Aschenbach and Pilgrim qualified seventh and 14th respectively as series-mandated engine and weight restrictions took their toll on the Cadillac race cars' performance at the high-altitude track. Aschenbach gained a position when points-leader Eric Curran retired with an apparent mechanical problem. He then pressured the Porsche of Michael Galati for a top-five finish, but couldn't pull off the pass. "That was one of the hardest races I've ever run just to stay in the same spot!" said Aschenbach. "I pushed as hard as I could to catch Galati, but all I could do was try to out-brake him." Pilgrim incurred a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start that dropped him to 25th. Pilgrim then carved his way through the field, gaining 14 positions. It was an eventful race for the 2005 SPEED GT champion as he encountered spins and spinning cars. "I had a blast!" said Pilgrim. "The start was an honest mistake, totally my fault. At least we came out of here with some points, and we're all still in the game."
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Photo: J Machaqueiro
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #4 Lowe's Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina May 24, 2007 QUALIFYING: 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 49.478 (107.684 mph) 14th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 50.467 (105.574 mph)
RACE: 1st, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 45 laps 2nd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 45 laps
CHARLOTTE: TEAM CADILLAC POSTS 1-2 FINISH ON THE HIGH BANKS Pilgrim Takes Charge on Oval, Aschenbach Drives from 13th to Second Team Cadillac went to the heart of stock car country and came away with a one-two finish. Andy Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach finished first and second respectively on the modified 1.5-mile banked oval at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I'm thrilled – when it's your day, it's your day!" exclaimed Pilgrim after celebrating his victory with NASCAR-style donuts on the front straight. "For us to go from 13th to second and get a 1-2 finish for Cadillac is something special," said Aschenbach. "There's nothing better than a great result for Team Cadillac in front of all these NASCAR fans." The race was run in two 20-minute segments. A spin of the "Wheel of Inversion" during the intermission determined that the first two cars would be inverted for the start of the second session. Fortune smiled on Pilgrim as he started on the inside front row. He held off Porsche driver Randy Pobst in the first chicane, and then relentlessly increased his lead, winning by 11.558 seconds. Aschenbach reeled in Pobst in the closing laps to take the second spot on the podium. "The team did an outstanding job, with Lawson having to switch cars just before qualifying," said Team Cadillac technical director Lynn Bishop. "To get a victory for Cadillac in our first race here in Charlotte was a great experience."
Photos: R Prince
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SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #5 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York June 10, 2007 QUALIFYING: 1st, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:53:998 (107.370 mph) 3rd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:54:649 (106.760 mph)
RACE: 2nd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps
WATKINS GLEN: ASCHENBACH SECOND AGAIN Pilgrim Carves Through the Field to Finish Fourth Team Cadillac returned to the famed Watkins Glen International road course, the site of Cadillac’s earliest racing successes in the '50s, for the fifth round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT. Lawson Aschenbach and Andy Pilgrim finished second and fourth respectively on the historic 3.4-mile road course in upstate New York. Aschenbach's runner-up finish was his third of the season. "I want to reach that top step really soon," said Aschenbach after the race. "Team Cadillac is doing such a great job that the guys deserve to see us on top of the podium. The team gave me an absolutely perfect car to race today.” Pilgrim started on the pole, but a misstep at the start incurred a stopand-go penalty that relegated him to the back of the field. By the end of lap 14, Pilgrim had piloted his Cadillac CTS-V race car to fourth. His inspired drive through the field was enough to keep him in the lead in the drivers championship. “Aside from the jump at the start, I’m very pleased with my drive through the field today," said Pilgrim. "I focused on my driving to get back up near the front and salvage the most points I could from the race for both the manufacturers and drivers championships." Aschenbach's runner-up finish vaulted Cadillac into the lead for the manufacturers championship at the midpoint of the 10-race series.
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Photos: J Machaqueiro
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #6 Steelback GP of Toronto Toronto, Ontario July 8, 2007 QUALIFYING: 3rd, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:15:403 (83.789 mph) 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:16:096 (83.026 mph) 8th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:16:655 (82.421 mph)
RACE: 2nd, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 31 laps 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 31 laps 6th, Lawson Aschenbach, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 31 laps
TORONTO: CADILLAC SECOND ON WET STREET COURSE Hometown Hero Fellows Drives to Runner-Up Finish While the Toronto street circuit was new to the SPEED GT series, it was familiar territory for Ron Fellows. Drawing on his race-winning experience in the GM Player's Challenge and Trans-Am series at Exhibition Place, Fellows drove the No. 16 Cadillac CTS-V to a runner-up finish on the downtown streets. Fellows, Andy Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach had to cope with constantly changing weather conditions in the sixth round of the SCCA SPEED GT series. On what was predicted to be a hot and sunny day, Mother Nature delivered intermittent rain. Aschenbach and his race engineer Brad Buenting made the bold decision to switch to rain tires on the warm-up lap, while Fellows and Pilgrim stayed on dry rubber. Starting third on the grid behind a pair of Porsches, Fellows worked his way into second on the 13th lap. Pilgrim's race pace changed with the weather as he and his race engineer Ken Flory had gambled on a full dry chassis setup. "The car was a real handful in the wet conditions, but would then come right back to me as the line began to dry again," Pilgrim reported. Aschenbach, the only driver on rain tires, was turning laps a full second faster than his rivals. After his last-minute tire change, Aschenbach advanced from the back of the pack to sixth. "In the wet, my CTS-V was absolutely perfect and it was a lot of fun to drive it up through the field," he said.
Photos: R Prince
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SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #7 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio July 22, 2007 QUALIFYING: 5th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:26.408 (94.074 mph) 6th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:26.489 (93.986 mph)
RACE: 3rd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 29 laps 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 29 laps
MID OHIO: STEADY PACE YIELDS THIRD AND FOURTH FOR CADILLAC Team Cadillac Keeps Cool in Hot Championship Race The manicured Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hosted the seventh round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series. Despite the scenic setting, the 29-lap race was no romp in the park for Team Cadillac as drivers Lawson Aschenbach and Andy Pilgrim finished third and fourth respectively. Several racers ran afoul of the technical inspectors, and disqualifications moved the Cadillacs up two spots on the starting grid. Tommy Archer's Dodge finished second in the 29-lap race, but was disqualified after a post-race inspection, promoting Aschbenbach and Pilgrim to third and fourth in the official results. Pilgrim had to take evasive action at the start to avoid the stalled Porsche of Michael Galati. Desperate to make up the positions he lost at the start, Galati pressured Pilgrim in the closing laps. "This series produces that kind of great competition, when you have a serious battle for fifth place," said Pilgrim. "That was a lot of pressure, and I was just happy to hold him off at the finish." While Pilgrim was fending off the Porsche, Aschenbach had a relatively uneventful day. With the leaders out of sight and a four-second margin over his teammate, Aschenbach drove a steady race. "I got a good start, and my Cadillac really took off," Aschenbach said. "We have to set up our cars so they'll come in after a few laps because the rules require us to carry so much weight, so the leaders were able to break away. I was just trying to bring the car home in the points."
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Photos: R Prince
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #8 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada August 25, 2007 QUALIFYING: 1st, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:39.950 (88.568 mph) 4th, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:41.661 (87.077 mph) 5th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:41.921 (86.855 mph)
RACE: 2nd, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 30 laps 4th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 30 laps 21st, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 19 laps
MOSPORT: FIRST POLE, 4th RUNNER-UP FINISH FOR ASCHENBACH Team Cadillac Gains Ground in Championship Chase Team Cadillac launched a three-car assault on the Mosport International Raceway winner's circle as hometown hero Ron Fellows joined Andy Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach on the Cadillac roster. Aschenbach captured his first SCCA SPEED GT pole as the track went from wet to dry during qualifying. Fellows qualified fourth and Pilgrim fifth for the 50-minute race. The race began on a damp track under threatening skies, but the rain held off. The start was chaotic as both Aschenbach and Randy Pobst, the No. 2 qualifier, stalled as the starting lights went out. Fellows tried to avoid the motionless Porsche in front of him, but contact between the two severely damaged both cars. The Team Cadillac crew made quick repairs and Fellows rejoined the race, ultimately finishing in 21st place. "I tried to go around him but didn't want to get off in the wet grass," Fellows explained. "I clipped his left rear with my right front." Meanwhile the racing at the front of pack was fast and furious. With Eric Curran's Corvette in the lead, Aschenbach battled Michael Galati's Porsche for second. "We came up behind lapped traffic, Michael checked up a bit and I dove under him in Turn 5B," Aschenbach reported. "I'd been planning that pass for a couple of laps, just waiting for the right moment." Pilgrim was under intense pressure from Brian Kupinski throughout the race, and held off the Corvette driver to finish fourth. Photos: J Machaqueiro
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SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #9 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia October 5, 2007 QUALIFYING: 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:26.551 (105.648 mph) 4th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:26.551 (105.648 mph) 6th, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:26.797 (105.349 mph)
RACE: 1st, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps 2nd, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps 7th, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 22 laps
ROAD ATLANTA: ONE-TWO FINISH FOR TEAM CADILLAC Aschenbach Gets First Win in Wet and Wild Race Lawson Aschenbach and Ron Fellows raced to a one-two finish for Team Cadillac in a bizarre and chaotic race at Road Atlanta. After several multi-car accidents, a downpour, and a red-flag period, the race was reduced to a 10-minute sprint on a rain-soaked track. Fellows showed his mastery in the wet, passing the Porsche of race leader Randy Pobst on the next-to-last lap. He was followed by Aschenbach, who then took the lead on the final circuit. "It feels so good to get that first win!" exclaimed Aschenbach. "After four seconds and a third, finally we get a first. I couldn't be happier for Team Cadillac after all we've had to overcome this year." A multi-car crash at the back of the grid blocked the track as the race started. After an extended cleanup, the race went green just as heavy rain began to fall. Fellows pitted for rain tires, and as the deluge soaked the circuit, cars were soon spinning. Still on dry tires, Aschenbach and Pilgrim both slid off in the Esses, but were able to continue back to the pits for wet-weather tires. Officials finally red-flagged the race. With the race's 50-minute time limit expired, the race was extended for 10 minutes. Fellows promptly moved to second at the restart with Aschenbach close behind. The Canadian took the lead from Randy Pobst's Porsche on the 21st lap with a pass in the fast Turn 1. "I've had a little practice driving in the rain at Le Mans this year," Fellows said. "I'd just aim the car at the right place in the puddles."
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Photos: R Prince
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT, RACE #10 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California October 21, 2007 QUALIFYING: 2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:29.764 (89.775 mph) 4th, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:30.209 (89.312 mph) 8th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 1:30.720 (88.809 mph)
RACE: 1st, Andy Pilgrim, #8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 28 laps 6th, Lawson Aschenbach, #1 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 28 laps 7th, Ron Fellows, #16 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/OnStar Cadillac CTS-V, 28 laps
LAGUNA SECA: CADILLAC WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN SEASON FINALE Pilgrim Clinches Manufacturers Title for Cadillac with Victory With the SCCA SPEED GT championships on the line, it all came down to 50 minutes of racing at Laguna Seca. Andy Pilgrim propelled Cadillac to the manufacturers championship with a 1.883-second victory over Randy Pobst's Porsche. Cadillac won its second manufacturers title in three years, Pilgrim finished second in the drivers championship also Lawson Aschenbach was third. Pilgrim started on the outside front row alongside points-leader Randy Pobst and patiently stalked his rival, pouncing on the 21st lap to take the lead in the Andretti Hairpin. "Even though that wasn't my best corner, I stuck it in there and that was it," Pilgrim said. While Pilgrim controlled the race at the front, Aschenbach was in a pitched four-car battle. The 120 pounds of success ballast that he was carrying eventually took its toll, and he finished sixth. "It was a tough race carrying so much REWARDS weight," Aschenbach explained. "Team Cadillac did a great job as always, and it was a dream come true to race with them this year." Fellows protected Aschenbach's position in the closing laps to ensure that Cadillac would win the manufacturers championship. "Andy had things covered at the front, and if something had happened to him, Lawson and I were sixth and seventh," Fellows said. "It was like playing a deep back with a two touchdown lead." Photos: R Prince
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2007 SPEED GT AWARDS
Speed GT Manufacturers Championship: Cadillac DRIVERS LAWSON ASCHENBACH RON FELLOWS ANDY PILGRIM TEAM JIM MILLER GARY PRATT TOM MIKRUT LYNN BISHOP DAVE ALBRIGHT NEVILLE AGASS JEFF BATES BRAD BUENTING TOM DIX KEN FLORY MIKE HASS GREG HIATT BRIAN HOYE JASON LADD DAVID MATTE CHAD MONROE SERGIO FLORES-PEREZ ROBIN PRATT RICH PRIESTER BRIAN TRINGAL
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TIMING AND SCORING MELANIE CORRELL KATECH TOM NICKOU HOSPITALITY MARSHA READ GM RACING BRENT DEWAR MARK KENT STEVE WESOLOSKI DAVE SPITZER GREG PRIOR JIM GEHRINGER JAMES BISHAR JIM LAFONTAINE RICHARD PRINCE RICK VOEGELIN KIP WASENKO CADILLAC JIM TAYLOR TIM O’NEIL KEVIN SMITH
Photos: D Maybury
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TEAM CADILLAC: A RACING RETROSPECTIVE
Pratt & Miller and Cadillac Were on Top of the World in the SCCA World Challenge Driver Andy Pilgrim said it all in the winner's circle after Team Cadillac's final race in 2007: "Cadillac rules!" Cadillac did indeed dominate the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT for the four years that Cadillac competed in the production-based road racing series. Pratt & Miller transformed the Cadillac CTS-V four-door sedan into a fearsome racing machine that was capable of beating Porsches, Vipers, and Corvettes on the track. Pratt & Miller personnel were intimately involved in the Team Cadillac program from its inception, providing design, engineering, fabrication, and trackside support services. Pratt & Miller used an arsenal of high-tech tools to turn the production CTS-V into a racing thoroughbred. Working within the guidelines established by SCCA officials, the body was subtly modified to lower its center of gravity and accommodate wide racing tires. Sophisticated computer simulations provided essential information on engine cooling, air management, and chassis setups. Pratt & Miller engineers developed a redesigned front fascia and vented hood that improved brake and engine cooling while enhancing downforce. Fabricators fashioned an adjustable carbon fiber rear wing with complex compound curves to balance the race car's aerodynamic performance. The Pratt & Miller-prepared Cadillac CTS-V was a winner right out of the box. Cadillac drivers Max Angelelli and Andy Pilgrim raced to a 1-2 finish in the team's competition debut in Sebring, Fla., in March 2004. Despite harsh performance penalties subsequently imposed by SCCA officials, the team scored two more victories and Cadillac finished second in the manufacturers championship. Cadillac's sophomore season in the 2005 SPEED GT series saw Angelelli, Max Papis and Ron Fellows score four victories in 11 races in the black CTS-V race cars, highlighted by a 1-2-3 finish at Road Atlanta. That sterling performance earned the manufacturers championship for Cadillac and the drivers title for Andy Pilgrim. Although additional performance handicaps adversely affected the Cadillac race cars in 2006, Fellows and Pilgrim still tallied two more
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Photos: R Prince, J Machaqueiro, G P Johnson
victories for the team. Cadillac rebounded with another championship season in 2007, scoring three victories (including 1-2 finishes on the high-banked Lowe's Motor Speedway modified oval and on the rainsoaked Road Atlanta circuit) that propelled Cadillac to its second manufacturers title in three years. Drivers Andy Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach finished second and third respectively in the drivers championship. The Cadillac motorsports program challenged public perceptions about the Cadillac brand by demonstrating the marque's performance capabilities in head-to-head competition with legendary sports cars. Pratt & Miller supported this successful effort by providing world-class engineering, design, fabrication, and technical services that made Team Cadillac the standard of excellence in the SCCA World Challenge series.
TEAM CADILLAC ACHIEVEMENTS 2004 – 2007 Seasons Manufacturers championships: 2005, 2007 Drivers championships: 2005 (Andy Pilgrim) Total races: 41 Victories: 12 (most manufacturer wins) Podium finishes: 38 Poles: 10 Fastest laps: 13
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PONTIAC GXP.R: SHIFTING GEARS Pratt & Miller Develops a New Generation of Pontiac Road Racers Pontiac performance had a new look in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in 2007 with the introduction of the Pontiac GXP.R. The Pratt & Miller-built GXP.R represented the next step in the evolution of Pontiac's championship-winning road racing program that began with the introduction of the Pontiac GTO.R in 2005. By the time the GTO.R was retired after winning the 2006 GT championship, Pratt & Miller had already designed, developed, tested and validated its successor, the GXP.R. Pratt & Miller engineers retained the look of the production GXP while creating a potent racing platform. Built to the specifications of the Grand-Am GT class, the GXP.R combined a rear-wheel-drive chassis with a powerful race-prepared LS2 GM small-block V-8. Lightweight carbon fiber body panels reduced overall weight, while a fabricated tubular steel frame provided a solid foundation for Pontiac's new-generation race car. Artfully sculpted fender flares and a rear wing gave the GXP.R an aggressive appearance while enhancing its high-speed aerodynamics. Leighton Reese's two-car Banner Racing team carried Pontiac's flag in Grand-Am GT competition in 2007. Reese and teammate Tim Lewis Jr. scored the GXP.R's first victory at Lime Rock Park in May. Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins piloted the team's second GXP.R to six poles and two GT class victories. Edwards and Collins finished second in the drivers championship, and Banner Racing was runner-up in the GT team standings. Backed by Pratt & Miller's experience and expertise, the GXP.R's first season in competition was a very good year for Pontiac.
DRIVERS PAUL EDWARDS KELLY COLLINS LEIGHTON REESE TIM LEWIS JR. ANDY PILGRIM JOHNNY O’CONNELL TEAM JIM MILLER GARY PRATT TOM MIKRUT CHUCK HOUGHTON KYLE MILLAY 21
BRIAN HOYE SERGIO FLOREZ GREG HIATT LYNN BISHOP JASON LADD ALEX ROBERGE BRIAN TRINGAL DAVID JAMES KATECH TOM PAYN GM RACING BRENT DEWAR MARK KENT
STEVE WESOLOSKI JIM LUTZ BRIAN THOMPSON GREG PRIOR JAMES BISHAR PONTIAC JOHN LARSON JIM BUNNELL MARK-HANS RICHER CRAIG BIERLEY STEVE SITEK DAVE PETTIT ABBY MARSDEN Photos: R Prince, J Machaqueiro
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DRIVEN BY PASSION
Racing is not a job; It’s who we are and what we do Racing is not just a job for the men and women of Pratt & Miller; it’s a total commitment and a way of life. Many of our employees grew up in racing families and learned from an early age to appreciate the value of teamwork, the discipline needed to race at any level, and the incomparable thrill of seeing the checkered flag wave. Today many of our employees carry on the generations old tradition of competing - and winning - in all manner of motorsport. Whether it’s an occasional Friday night at the local drag strip, a regional karting series, a Sports Car Club of America national title chase, or the quest to reach the top step on the podium at Le Mans, racing to win at any level is incredibly hard work. The hours are long, the time away from home can be very difficult, and the stress that comes with striving for perfection day in and day out is more than ordinary people can bear. But nobody in the Pratt & Miller family is an ordinary person. Each and every person here is truly extraordinary, and the same burning passion for the sport that drives many of our employees to do their own racing also motivates them to help make Pratt & Miller the phenomenal success story that it is.
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MIKE ATKINS
GARY PRATT
CHARLIE DEGENER'S GRANDFATHER AUGUST DEGENER WITH HENRY FORD Photo courtey of: The Collections of the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
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JIM LUTZ
DAN BINKS
KEN FLORY
KEN FLORY: SHOWROOM STOCK B NATIONAL CHAMPION
BILL DELONG
RICK VOEGELIN
BOB EDGAR
BRAD BUENTING
BRIAN WADE
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ROBIN PRATT
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CHRIS LADOUCEUR
DAVE MARIN & CHAD MONROE
24 HOURS OF LEMONS: ROB COOPER, GENE MARTINDALE, BLAIR SONNEN, CHUCK HOUGHTON, BRAD BUENTING, LYNN BISHOP, JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ
BILL DELONG
BOB PAYTON
GREG ZEIGLER
CHARLIE DEGENER & DOUG FEHAN
TOM DIEHM
BLAIR SONNEN
DAN POLASKY
HARRISON GILETTE
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SOLSTICE GXP: MADE FOR TV
Pratt & Miller-Prepared Pontiacs Star in SPEED TV Series Put 10 aspiring race car drivers in 10 identically prepared Pontiac Solstice GXP convertibles, post a $100,000 prize and a shot at a professional driving gig, and you have a recipe for a new kind of reality television show. When SPEED TV and Pontiac teamed up to present SETUP, a multi-part series on the inner workings of motorsports, they turned to Pratt & Miller for the show's real stars – the Solstice GXP race cars. The made-for-TV series featured amateur drivers competing at California's Willow Springs Raceway. In addition to their lap times, participants were also judged on their ability to woo sponsors and communicate with their team. Jeremy Croiset, a 27-year-old racer from Tehachapi, Calif., won the $100,000 prize and a test in Banner Racing's Pratt & Miller-built Pontiac GXP.R at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course under the watchful eyes of professional driver Kelly Collins. Pratt & Miller prepared a dozen 2007 Solstice GXP turbocharged twoseaters for the series, outfitting the cars with SCCA-approved performance and safety equipment, including roll cages, safety belts, and competition exhaust systems. Each team of competitors then had to come up with the best setup for the track, with Pratt & Miller technical personnel on hand to ensure that the cars were safe and reliable. "We were looking for an opportunity to showcase the performance credentials of our Solstice GXP, and this concept was clearly the right fit for Pontiac," said Steve Sitek, Pontiac Director of Motorsports. "Nothing speaks to the credibility of a performance machine like racing."
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Photos: C Ladouceur, R Pratt
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PRATT & MILLER CARS: SPANNING THE GLOBE Pratt & Miller Customer Cars Race to Win Pratt & Miller's reputation for excellence extends around the world. While the company is famous for its association with GM's championship-winning factory teams, independent Pratt & Miller customers are also successful in a variety of international road racing series. Pratt & Miller's worldwide success is built on a foundation of sophisticated engineering and thoughtful design. Pratt & Miller provides parts, people and technology to keep these teams running at the front. Pratt & Miller race cars aren't just fast; they're also reliable, durable, and easy to maintain and service. In the FIA GT series, Carsport Phoenix drivers Mike Heizemans and Jean Denis Delatraz won the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa endurance race in a Pratt & Miller-built Corvette C6.R, scoring the first overall victory for Chevrolet in a European 24-hour race. Customer-owned Corvettes finished first, third, sixth and 10th at the famous SpaFrancorchamps circuit in the wooded Ardennes hills. The Carsport C6.R also won the FIA race in Nogaro, France after qualifying 10th, while the team's C5-R driven by Anthony Kumpen and Bert Longin scored four podium finishes during the 2007 season. The PSI Experience team ran a partial schedule in the FIA GT series, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the first race in China. SRT campaigned a C5-R on a limited schedule, finishing third in the Citation Cup competition run in conjunction with the FIA GT series. Luc Alphand Aventures (LAA) was a standout in the European Le Mans Series with a pair of Corvettes from Pratt & Miller. Luc Alphand, Jerome Policand, and Patrice Goueslard were joined by Corvette Racing factory drivers Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in a Corvette C6.R at several races. Jean Luc Blanchemain, Vincent Vosse, and Sebastien Dumez campaigned a C5-R. The LAA team finished first and third at historic Monza, and placed second in the championship with their Corvette C6.R. Alphand's team also campaigned a Pratt & Miller Corvette C5-R in the French GT series, with Policand and Gabriel Baltazard scoring two podium finishes and taking fourth in the championship. PSI Experience finished third in the French GT series with a C6.R on the strength of four podium finishes, and SRT finished eighth in the standings after five podium finishes with its pair of Corvette C5-Rs. Pratt & Miller supports its customer teams with components, technical services, and advanced engineering. The results are a matter of record.
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Photos: R Prince, Vimages.com, Florian Gatenbein, Dirk Theimann, Evers Media, Joos Custers, Dorsey Patrick
CARSPORT PHOENIX
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
RACERS EDGE MOTORSPORTS
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
PSI EXPERIENCE
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LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
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RACERS EDGE MOTORSPORTS
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
PSI EXPERIENCE
PSI EXPERIENCE
CARSPORT PHOENIX
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
PEKA
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CARSPORT PHOENIX
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
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PEKA
PSI EXPERIENCE
PSI EXPERIENCE
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
CARSPORT PHOENIX
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS NASCAR Stock Car Pratt & Miller Built Road Race Chassis
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS NASCAR Stock Car Pratt & Miller Built Road Race Chassis
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES
2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS NASCAR Stock Car Pratt & Miller Built Road Race Chassis
RACERS EDGE MOTORSPORTS
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DESIGN • DEVELOP • BUILD • RACE • WIN Another phenomenally successful year vividly demonstrates that Pratt & Miller's range of design, engineering, fabrication, and race program management capabilities are among the best in the world. The company offers full vehicle kinematics and compliance testing, vehicle and component mass-inertia testing, seven-post ride analysis, full and fractional scale wind tunnel development, and vehicle dynamics and evaluation testing. Advanced computational fluid dynamics analysis (CFD) tools are used to analyze aerodynamic impacts and flow field structures of vehicles. In addition, a highly sophisticated proprietary ADAMS (Automated Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems) model for virtual track simulations accelerates the development of new vehicles and components. Pratt & Miller’s fabrication and build capabilities bring even the most advanced designs to fruition on time and within budget. Component, system, and complete vehicle fabrication and assembly benefit from highly trained and experienced people utilizing the most advanced tools and techniques found anywhere. Pratt & Miller’s ability to effectively manage race programs is demonstrated by the performance of its Corvette and Cadillac CTS-V teams, as well as its various customer car programs. In 2007 Cadillac racing won its second manufacturers title and Corvette racing once again swept the ALMS driver, team and manufacturer championships. The company’s winning race record goes back many years, with multiple championships in a wide variety of racing venues, five class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and an overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In addition to Pratt & Miller’s headquarters in New Hudson, Michigan, other company facilities include the Mooresville, North Carolina Corvid offices, which house 40 engineers and a wealth a ultra-sophisticated equipment including a 460-processor supercomputer.
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Photos: C Ladouceur, G P Johnson
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DESIGN
From Concept to Solution There are dreamers, and there are doers. It takes both to shepherd an idea from concept to reality. A great idea is useless if it can't be realized; a great design is fruitless if doesn't perform. At Pratt & Miller, we fuse form and function. Then we test the final result in the demanding arena of motorsports. Our strategy for success embraces five steps: design, develop, build, race, and win. Easy to describe, but difficult to achieve. Forged in the crucible of competition, this disciplined approach is equally effective in OEM automotive, military, and specialty design projects. It begins with an idea. Whether it's a new component, a new process, or a new application, our experienced design staff thoroughly analyzes the project, employing the most sophisticated tools and techniques available. Our design process can create "virtual" parts that range from a simple bracket to a complete vehicle. Our intelligent design solutions integrate CAD (computer-aided design), CAE (computer-aided engineering), and CFD (computational fluid dynamics). Our design engineers are proficient in powerful software programs such as Unigraphics NX, Autodesk, SolidWorks and ANSYS finite element analysis. Our resources include a FARO Technologies laser scanner that can digitize complex surfaces such as the body panels of the Corvette C6RS supercar and a fused deposition modeling (FDM) rapid prototyping machine that can create sample parts. Backed by leading edge equipment and world-class designers, the hallmarks of Pratt & Miller design solutions are efficiency, accuracy, performance, and timeliness.
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Photos: C Ladouceur, G P Johnson
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DEVELOP
Pushing the Envelope to Maximize Design Potential The second phase of the Pratt & Miller process is development. We employ advanced computer engineering tools and dedicated personnel to develop newly designed vehicles to their maximum potential. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and vehicle dynamics simulation (VDS) are the first steps in our development program. These sophisticated techniques are fully integrated with Pratt & Miller's proprietary automated dynamic analysis of mechanical systems model (ADAMS), kinematics, vehicle and component mass inertia testing, seven-post rig analysis, full and fractional scale wind tunnel development, and finite element analysis (FEA). Together these technologies help ensure that Pratt & Miller's engineering staff provides clients with the most advanced level of analysis possible. Pratt & Miller's unmatched over-the-road development experience complements these advanced computer-assisted engineering tools. Nowhere is this more evident than in our racing programs, which have spotlighted the company's success on the global stage of motorsports. This powerful combination of unrivaled engineering and championship-winning experience enables Pratt & Miller to offer clients the most comprehensive, innovative, cost-effective, time-efficient, and results-oriented development solutions possible.
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Photos: R Prince, C Ladouceur
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BUILD
Transforming Concept into Reality After an idea is converted into a viable design and validated through our development tools, Pratt & Miller's fabrication and assembly teams transform it into reality. We have aggressively expanded our fabrication and assembly capabilities. Today the Pratt & Miller headquarters in New Hudson, Mich., is a world-class automotive engineering business with dedicated fabrication and assembly divisions. The techniques employed by Pratt & Miller demand that personnel have specialist skills and high levels of proficiency across numerous disciplines. The company continuously invests the resources necessary to employ a workforce with the required experience, expertise, and dedication. Backed by an intelligently designed infrastructure and highly sophisticated equipment, Pratt & Miller technicians produce everything from individual components to complete road and race cars. And because the fabrication and assembly divisions are fully integrated with Pratt & Miller's design and development services, clients receive unrivalled accuracy, efficiency, and performance.
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Photos: C Ladouceur, G P Johnson
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RACE
Putting Our Designs to the Ultimate Test Top-level racing is a demanding and unforgiving business. The fact that the checkered flag is black and white is not an accident; in competition there is no gray area. Meticulous preparation and flawless execution yield success. Anything less results in failure. That is why the culture and discipline of racing are founding principles at Pratt & Miller. Motorsports unites every aspect of our business. Competition sharpens our focus by combining our engineering capabilities, research and development programs, project management skills, and on-track competition to maximize performance at every level. Our primary race program is the championship-winning Corvette Racing team, run on behalf of General Motors. This dedicated race operation within Pratt & Miller demonstrates our understanding of the value of experienced, professional personnel who can work together as a seamless team. An unwavering commitment to winning ensures that Pratt & Miller can provide clients with professional motorsport technicians and engineers who have the insight, skills, and passion to deliver success.
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Photos: R Prince
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WIN
Achieving Success on the World Stage Pratt & Miller has evolved from a small business designing and building race cars into an international engineering powerhouse. Today Pratt & Miller is recognized around the world as a formidable force in both motorsports and high-level engineering. Winning is the essential last step in Pratt & Miller's business plan. Winning validates that our design, development, build, and racing programs have met their objectives. Our racing achievements include multiple wins and championship titles at the most prestigious production based racing events in America and Europe: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona, Sebring 12hour, and many more. The Pratt & Miller team has played a key role in seven consecutive GT1 manufacturer and team championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series. The Corvette team has scored 63 wins in 90 races, including an overall victory in the 2001 Daytona 24-hour race and five GT titles in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Pratt & Miller's Team Cadillac program in the SCCA World Challenge GT delivered two manufacturers championships and 12 victories for Cadillac in four years. Pratt & Miller-built Pontiacs earned manufacturer, team and driver championships in Grand-Am road racing. Independent teams using Pratt & Miller-prepared vehicles have won races across Europe. Design. Develop. Build. Race. Win. That's what we do at Pratt & Miller.
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Photos: R Prince, J Machaqueiro
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CORVID TECHNOLOGIES: IT REALLY IS ROCKET SCIENCE
Corvid Brings Cutting Edge Technology to Pratt & Miller Based in the heart of stock car country in Mooresville, N.C., Corvid Technologies is a cornerstone of Pratt & Miller's scientific approach to problem solving. Originally conceived to bring state-of-the-art engineering and high-performance computing to the racing industry, Corvid has expanded its customer base to military and aerospace clients such as the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program. Corvid supports a variety of GM Racing programs in the ALMS, SCCA, Grand-Am, and NASCAR racing series. One of the most powerful implements in Corvid's engineering toolbox is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) – a "virtual wind tunnel" that mathematically simulates airflow around a vehicle. The aerodynamics of the championship-winning Corvette C6.R race car were developed entirely on a computer screen using Corvid's CFD programs. This sophisticated technology is influencing the design of both racing and production automobiles. Armed with an in-house supercomputer, Corvid is able to apply massive computing power to solve difficult problems in finite element analysis, shock physics, and structural mechanics. Corvid's portfolio also includes applied tool development, experimental test support, and theoretical research. More information on Corvid Technologies is available at: www.corvidtechnologies.com.
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Photos: Ginny Darcey
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PRATT& MILLER’S HISTORIC DAYTONA WIN Superb Car Preperation and Outstanding Teamwork Yield Overall Victory The big news story out of Daytona prior to the start of the 2001 Rolex 24 Hour race was the driver lineup in the Pratt & Miller built #2 C5-R. Corvette Racing regulars Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins were joined by NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. But after the race was over all attention shifted to the #3 C5-R, driven by Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel, Franck Freon, and Johnny O’Connell. Superb preparation by the Pratt & Miller crew, consistently great driving, and outstanding teamwork enabled the #3 GTS class machine to defy more powerful prototype class cars, overcome inclement weather, and get past mechanical gremlins to achieve an astounding overall victory. The 39th running of the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona started in dry weather but heavy, dark clouds overhead foreshadowed what was to come. When the rain began to fall three hours in, the #2 C5-R enjoyed a comfortable lead in GTS and held 6th position overall behind five prototypes. The #2 car kept climbing up the order, with Franck Freon taking it to 5th overall after 6 hours of racing; Ron Fellows moving up to fourth two hours later and Chris Kneifel making it to 3rd at the half-race mark. While C5-R #2 kept creeping up the order, its sister Corvette had to deal with several problems, including a broken half-shaft. Once that was fixed both cars made it through the 13-hour long Florida night without any other issues except for a precautionary change of the ECU on the #2 car after the heavy rain started to affect the electronics. Three and a half hours from the end, C5-R #2 Corvette moved into first overall after the leading prototype suffered an engine failure. Twenty-four wet and grueling hours after it began, Fellows took the checkered flag. "It makes up for last year," the Canadian driver said with a smile. In 2000 the team missed out on the overall victory by a mere 32 seconds. Teammate Johnny O’Connell added another important win to his tally. "I’ve won Sebring outright and won my class in Le Mans, so this makes it three wins in the three most important endurance races in the world. This is my best win ever. I can’t say enough about Pratt & Miller and about General Motors. It’s unbelievable! We had a very good car, four very smart drivers and that’s what it takes to win a 24-hour race." Chris Kneifel agreed with O’Connell: "This win is a tribute to the great racing effort of GM, Pratt & Miller and the great car that is the Corvette. We think of it as America’s greatest sportscar, but today it became the world’s greatest sportscar. There’s nothing like winning this event in a Corvette!" Corvette Team Manager Gary Pratt summed up the weekend: "Finishing 1st and 2nd in GTS is a fantastic result by itself, but winning this race outright with a GT car is unbelievable. The victory is a tribute to the depth of talent and dedication of everyone at Pratt & Miller!"
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Photos: R Prince, P Brock
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MANAGEMENT JIM MILLER GARY PRATT TOM MIKRUT ENGINEERING LYNN BISHOP DOUG LOUTH GONZALO BAEZ BENJAMIN BRADY BRAD BUENTING WILL CARTER STEVE COLE KEN FLORY PAUL-ANDRE HEBERT CHUCK HOUGHTON JOE KIEFER JUSTIN LIN KYLE MILLAY STEF MONTRESOR RICH PRIESTER JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ STUART TAYLOR CAD/DESIGN GARY LATHAM TOM DIEHM JEREMY FOUST DEREK GALLO JAMES JARRETT MICHAEL KURYLO JOHN LANKES DARREN MUELLER BOB PAYTON BLAIR SONNEN
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MACHINISTS RON CLAYTON BLAKE BROOKS PAUL FOLLETT DAN POLASKY DON SCHMIDT SAM VALDEZ RYAN WADE ENGINEERING SERVICES JESPER SLATTENGREN NITIN TALEKAR BRANDON WIDMER IT/CAE TOOLS & METHODS PERIANNAN KUMARAN ROB COOPER DAVID LAY JONATHAN NICOLS JOSHUA RAYMOND MIKE SULLIVAN PRASHANTH VAKATI JAY WRIGHT PURCHASING CUSTOMER CAR SALES MIKE ATKINS RUSTY ELLIOT TONY GUBACZ JASON MOEHLE ALEX ROBERGE ROB WALKER MAINTENANCE JR REDFIELD STEVE HARTSELL
PUBLIC RELATIONS ROBIN PRATT CHRIS LADOUCEUR JFM KATHLEEN BAER MAUREEN FISHER FRANK SILZER MADELINE SPAKAUSKY MANUFACTURING BILL DELONG JEFF CAMPBELL KEVIN CAPARELLA BOB CHAPMAN VINCENT CIARAVINO GREG HIATT SAM HOWARD ADEM JAKUPI MARK SALICE PAUL SWINDLEHURST BILL TAYLOR BRIAN WADE ROCCO WILSON GREG ZIEGLER COMPOSITE CHARLES DEGENER BOB EDGAR DARRYL GLYNN BRAD LAFEVRE MATHEW LOISELLE
RACE SHOP C6.R DAN BINKS DEAN DOHERTY JIM DURBIN RICH ELDRED NEAL EVERHART HARRISON GIILLETTE RAY GONGLA BRIAN HOYE DAVID JAMES ROSS JEFFREY STEVE LONGHI DON MALE DAVE MARIN FRANK PARKER KURT RYCHENER MIKE WEST GARY YOUNG RACE SHOP CTS DAVID ALBRIGHT NEVILLE AGASS TOM DIX SERGIO FLORES-PEREZ MIKE HASS JASON LADD DAVE MATTE CHAD MONROE BRYAN TRINGAL FRONT OFFICE KATI HOLLIER LLOYETTA ATKINS LISA MARTELLO SHARON RIGGS
NORTH CAROLINA ENGINEERING Chris Gilligan Rachael Garfinkle Kevin Bayless John Collier Jr Doug Kirby Christopher McMillan Jackie Mohrfeld CORVID ENGINEERING DAVID ROBINSON BRIAN ADAMS ANDREW ATTARDO NARENDRA BELIGANUR JIMMY CARPENTER JOHN COGAR CAMERON DEMPSTER STEVE ELLISON AARON HERRNSTEIN ANNE KURTZ ANDREW LLOYD SCOTT LUSTED JULIE MARKHAM GAURAV MATHUR CHRIS McMILLAN ROB NANCE LARRY SCHWALBE ALLEN SHIRLEY SEAN TREADWAY DEREK VAUGHAN AARON WARD JENNA WORSHAM MICHAEL WORSHAM XUDONG XIAO
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Richard Prince, writing, editing, Robin Pratt, Chris Ladouceur, editing, Rick Voegelin, writing,
A Labor of Love
John Machaqueiro, art direction, design
I never intended to become the Pratt & Miller historian. It just happened. In the beginning, my goal was simply to document the efforts of an incredibly talented and skillful group of people. Now after producing seven editions of the Pratt & Miller yearbook, I realize that this team has indeed made history. I suppose that makes me a historian. Pratt & Miller started with a dream, and the pursuit of that dream has taken us to winner's circles from Long Beach to Le Mans. I'm pleased that the help of some very gifted photographers and designers, we have captured this amazing journey in words and pictures. Time moves at lightning speed in racing. At the track and in the shop, there is always another race to prepare for, another deadline to meet, another emergency to handle. Seasons pass in a blur. In the midst of this perpetual motion, it's sometimes easy to overlook the incredible efforts made by every member of the Pratt & Miller team. This book is my attempt to make time stand still for a moment. I want to put the spotlight on everyone who contributes to the success of Pratt & Miller. People often ask me, "What does Pratt & Miller do?" Instead of trying to explain all of the diverse series and classes where our cars and teams compete, I give them a yearbook. They see the tracks, the technology, and the people who make this business work. Then they understand what Pratt & Miller does. I am so proud of every person who is part of the Pratt & Miller family. This book is about them.
Dan Kelly, Colortech Graphics, Inc., printing Alleyne Kelly, proofreading
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS Peter Brock Joos Custers Ginny Darcey Colleen Egan Jurgen Evers Jim Fets Florian Gatenbein Gregory P Johnson Chris Ladouceur John Machaqueiro Darren Maybury Evers Media Robert Mochernuk Dorsey Patrick Robin Pratt Richard Prince Steve Robertson Denis Tanney Dirk Theimann Vimages.com Copyright Š 2007 Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. All rights reserved.
Robin Pratt
Pratt & Miller Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. 29600 William K Smith Dr., New Hudson, MI 48165 Phone: 248-446-9800 Fax: 248-446-9020 www.prattmiller.com
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