Pirelli is reporting that its P Zero racing tires successfully conquered hot and humid Florida weather at the notoriously tough 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course during the July 3 Brumos Porsche 250.
Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas won a series-leading sixth race of the season in their No. 01 TELMEX/Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley Daytona Prototype. Andy Lally scored his third GT win of the season in the No. 66 TRG Porsche GT3, this time partnering with veteran road racer RJ Valentine for the victory.
“Daytona and Homestead-Miami are probably the toughest tracks on tires in the series, but I was happy today with the Pirellis,” says Pruett. “They stayed consistent; we were able to run strong and had no tire issues.”
Although Pruett and Rojas had what appeared to be a smooth run to the checkered flag, other competitors were involved in several off-track contact incidents that resulted in a clutter of debris.
“We had no puncture scares at all, and there was a lot of stuff on the track,” Pruett recounts. “Especially at the bus stop chicane, I mean, guys just clean out the bus stop and there is sand and rocks and gravel and parts all over the place, but the Pirellis were tough enough to get us through it: No issues.”
Lally raced side-by-side in the late stages of the race with the No. 94 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 that scored its first win at Mid-Ohio one race ago with Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand. The close competition and intensity of the racing forced Lally to push his Pirellis to the extreme.
“I really had to hustle in my last stint and went hard and had to make up some time; the Pirellis took all of the abuse I could dish out,” Lally says. “This is a really tough track when we come to Daytona in July because, unlike the normal stress that we have at the Rolex 24 with the banking and all of that stuff, we have all of that added with really high heat and humidity. The tires did a good job and I am real thankful that the Pirellis were able to stay under our Porsche and help us win here.”
As multiple repeat race winners this season, the victories by the No. 01 and No. 66 teams could produce a potential record Pirelli P Zero Club total bonus payout of $45,000 at the next Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at New Jersey Motorsports Park on July 18. The event can be seen live on the Speed Channel on Sunday, July 18 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
For more information, visit www.us.pirelli.com.
