Tucker, Level 5 Team Shine at Mosport; Set up Championship Showdown in Season Finale

A challenging beginning to the weekend turned into a solid finish for Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and the Level 5 Motorsports team Sunday at Mosport International Raceway. Tucker and Bouchut drove the No. 55 Microsoft-sponsored ORECA FLM09 to second place in the LMPC class in the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport, setting up a championship showdown in the season finale in October.

The No. 55 car started from the sixth position after making only two qualifying laps on Saturday. After a last-minute, pre-race engine change, Tucker and Bouchut made their way through the field and finished just 18 seconds behind Gunnar Jeannette.

Tucker and Jeannette are tied atop LMPC point standings heading into the season's final event, the 13th annual Petit Le Mans, set for October 2 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Another strong performance from the team will be required for Tucker and Level 5 to claim the inaugural LMPC title.

"It was a tough weekend for the Level 5 Motorsports team. Getting on the podium really speaks to the determination of everyone in this organization," said Tucker, who started the race in the No. 55 and finished it in the No. 95 ORECA FLM09. "We battled a lot of adversity. We were able to hang in there and made up a lot of ground during the race. Now, it's on to Road Atlanta and a chance to win the championship."

A red flag after a crash between two GTC cars with 29 minutes left delayed the event. The accident took out approximately 60 feet of guardrail, prompting officials to wave the yellow flag and then the checkered flag once the race got back under way.

Andy Wallace began the race in the No. 95 Microsoft Office-sponsored entry. Tucker took over the seat of that car with approximately an hour left, and brought it home to a fourth-place finish in the LMPC class.

Level 5 Motorsports' ALMS team will take a four-week break to prepare for the season finale at Road Atlanta.

"We have put ourselves in a position to win a championship. That is what we have been working for all season long," said Level 5 Motorsports Team Manager David Stone. "The team has responded to a great deal of adversity with a lot of poise and confidence. Scott has done an unbelievable job behind the wheel, and Christophe and Andy have been phenomenal, too."

Next weekend, Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports is set to participate in the regular season finale for the Ferrari Challenge Series at Watkins Glen International as Tucker has his eyes set on a championship in that series as well.

 

 

 

About Microsoft Office 2010

The Microsoft® Office system provides tools to help people quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, organize and search for information in one place, and keep everything in one place, all with enhanced security. www.office.microsoft.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com

About Level 5 Motorsports

Level 5 Motorsports has fielded successful entries in the American Le Mans Series, NASCAR Grand Am Series, Ferrari Challenge Series and the Sports Car Club of America since 2005. Owner and driver Scott Tucker has earned national championships and numerous podium finishes in his illustrious driving career.

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Bouchut Turns Fast Lap in Qualifying to Pace Level 5 Motorsports Effort

Level 5 Motorsports' Christophe Bouchut turned his fastest lap of the weekend Saturday afternoon during qualifying for the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. He will start from the fifth position in the LMPC class for Sunday's American Le Mans Series race at Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.

Bouchut drove the No. 55 Microsoft Office-sponsored ORECA FLM 09 to a fast lap of 1:12.260 around the 10-turn, 2.4-mile road course. Bouchut will be joined in the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 Sunday by teammate Scott Tucker, the leader in the LMPC point standings, who will also co-pilot the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 with Andy Wallace.

The No. 95 car, driven by Tucker, was involved in an on-track incident near the end of the final practice session Saturday. While other cars completed as many as 12 laps during the 20-minute qualifying session, the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 completed only two laps and will start from the sixth position in the LMPC class Sunday.

"After the incident, we were happy to simply get the No. 95 back out there to qualify," said Level 5 Motorsports Team Manager David Stone. "Christophe turned in some great laps during qualifying, the best the car has run all weekend. The pace will be a bit slower during the race, and we're confident that our talented and experienced drivers we'll be able to make up some ground during a 2 hour, 45-minute event."

Luis Diaz earned the top spot in LMPC qualifying with a fast lap of 1:11.455.

With two races remaining in the American Le Mans Series season, Tucker leads Gunnar Jeannette by four points in the LMPC standings.

"We're on top of the standings, and that's where we want to be," Tucker said. "Our goal is to leave Mosport with the lead heading into the season finale. That means we've got some work to do Sunday. We know the Level 5 Motorsports team will be up the challenge."

The season will conclude October 2 with the 13th annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. It is third endurance race on the 2010 schedule and the first since May in Monterrey, California.

Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports will also participate in a Ferrari Challenge Series race at Watkins Glen International September 3-5.

The green flag for the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport is scheduled to wave Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast by the SPEED Channel on a tape-delayed basis, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

 

About Microsoft Office 2010

The Microsoft® Office system provides tools to help people quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, organize and search for information in one place, and keep everything in one place, all with enhanced security. www.office.microsoft.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com

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Tucker, Level 5 Motorsports Roar in Mosport in First Place

With two races remaining in the season, Scott Tucker can almost see the finish line ahead. On the other side, an American Le Mans Series LMPC championship awaits.

Tucker leads the ALMS LMPC standings by four points over Gunnar Jeannette coming into this weekend's Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The season will conclude in October with the 13th annual Petit Le Mans.

Tucker's lead closed by seven points following last weekend's race at Road America in Wisconsin after a series of problems relegated the team to a third-place finish -- a solid finish but disappointing to a team focused on winning.

"Things are getting interesting for the championship. However, we're leading the points, so we're still the team to beat," said Tucker, who will co-drive both the No. 55 and No. 95 Microsoft Office-sponsored ORECA FLM09 this weekend at Mosport. "Our main goal is obviously to get another victory. If we do that, then the points take care of themselves going into the last race of the year.

"I'm looking forward to getting to Mosport to race. I know that the Level 5 Motorsports team will give us great cars and we'll be well-prepared when it comes time to qualify and race."

Mosport Speedway is a 10-turn, 2.4-mile road course. This weekend will be the only time the American Le Mans Series will race outside the United States in 2010.

"Mosport is a very fast racetrack, one of the fastest on our schedule," said Level 5 Motorsports Team Manager David Stone. "The track demands a lot of the car so we know we've got to be prepared."

Joining Tucker as usual will be Christophe Bouchut, in the No. 55, and Andy Wallace in the No. 95.

A 20-minute qualifying session for the LMPC cars for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is set for 4:50 p.m. ET Saturday. The green flag is scheduled to wave Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast by the SPEED Channel on a tape-delayed basis, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

The ALMS season finale is set for October 2 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. It is third endurance race on the 2010 schedule and the first since May in Monterrey, California.

"We will have some time off to think about that one," Tucker said. "But, we will continue to stay focused on our ultimate goal -- winning a championship."

Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports will also participate in a Ferrari Challenge Series race at Watkins Glen International September 3-5.

 

 

About Microsoft Office 2010

The Microsoft® Office system provides tools to help people quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, organize and search for information in one place, and keep everything in one place, all with enhanced security. www.office.microsoft.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com

About Level 5 Motorsports

Level 5 Motorsports has fielded successful entries in the American Le Mans Series, NASCAR Grand Am Series, Ferrari Challenge Series and the Sports Car Club of America since 2005. Owner and driver Scott Tucker has earned national championships and numerous podium finishes in his illustrious driving career.

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Level 5 Team Fights for Podium Finish at Road America

EKLHART LAKE, Wis. -- Championship teams know how to overcome adversity. Scott Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports did that this weekend at Road America in the American Le Mans Series Time Warner Road Race Showcase.

After myriad engine problems hampered the Level 5 team's effort throughout the weekend, Tucker brought the No. 95 Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored ORECA FLM09 home in third place in the LMPC class Sunday. The finish allowed him to hold on to a four-point advantage over Gunnar Jeannette in the ALMS LMPC standings with two races remaining on the 2010 schedule.

A 20-second penalty for too many men over the wall during a pit stop with nearly an hour remaining in the 2-hour, 45-minute race also hurt the team's chances for a top-2 LMPC class finish. Jeannette won the LMPC class, taking the checkered flag in the No. 99 ORECA FLM09 by more than 21 seconds over Luis Diaz.

"You don't like to have penalties like that. But, in this case, our guys were just a bit overzealous," Level 5 Team Manager David Stone said. "The penalty really took us out of the opportunity to win.

"It was really incredible. It was a super human effort by those guys just to keep us in the hunt. They deserve a lot of credit and thanks for that."

Most of the Level 5 Motorsports crew went more than 38 hours without sleep after two engine failures on Friday and another on Saturday.

Andy Wallace started the race in the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 and ran up front in the LMPC class for several laps. An extended caution period with nearly an hour to go prompted the Level 5 team to pit, with Tucker taking over the seat.

It was during that pit stop that the Level 5 team was hit with the 20-second penalty. That allowed Jeannette to move into the lead and put Tucker back in fourth in the LMPC running order.

Tucker made up one spot prior to the checkered flag.

"We had a lot of things to overcome this weekend. It seemed like it was one thing or another," Tucker said. "Unfortunately, things like that happen. We hung in there and we came out of here still in the lead in the standings, and that's all that matters right now. We're still focused on winning a championship."

The No. 55 ORECA FLM09 encountered some tough luck Sunday. During the first half of the race, Tucker was involved in an accident that saw a GT car hit him from behind. The damage was too extensive for the Level 5 Motorsports team to repair.

Christophe Bouchut, co-driver of the No. 55 ORECA FLM09, did not get an opportunity to drive Sunday and didn't score any points.

Following this weekend's race, the American Le Mans Series visits Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, August 27-29, before the season finale 13th annual Petit Le Mans at Road America in Braselton, Georgia, September 29-October 2.

"We've got a lot of work to do before we get to Canada next week," Stone said. "We've got a wrecked car to repair before Wednesday, and we're going to have to thrash to get it done. We'll see what happens. Mosport is a fast track like Road America. It's going to be interesting to see what happens."

About Microsoft Office 2010

The Microsoft® Office system provides tools to help people quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, organize and search for information in one place, and keep everything in one place, all with enhanced security. www.office.microsoft.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com

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Level 5 Team Whips Engine Problems with Solid Qualifying Effort

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- After overcoming major adversity throughout the weekend, the Level 5 Motorsports team, with Andy Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 95 ORECA FLM 09, will start fourth in the LMPC class in the American Le Mans Series' Time Warner Road Race Showcase at Road America.

Engine problems on both Friday and Saturday hampered the Level 5 Motorsports effort. However, Wallace qualified the Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored No. 95 O in a time of 2:00.740 around the 4.045-mile, 14-turn road course.

"Sometimes, things just happen. But, it's the teams that have guts and character that come through it," said Scott Tucker, co-driver of the No. 95. "This Level 5 team has shown a lot of that this weekend, and that's why we're a championship contender."

On Friday, both of the team's cars, the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 and the No. 95 ORECA FLM09, encountered engine failure. New engines were sent overnight to the team in Eklhart Lake on Saturday morning. The team worked non-stop Saturday to prepare the cars for practice and qualifying.

"I can't say enough about how the team has responded under these circumstances," Level 5 Motorsports team manager David Stone said. "It's a testament to this team and its dedication to win a championship. They're all hungry and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal."

In Saturday's first practice session, the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 unexpectedly lost another engine. The car did not participate in the final practice session and did not qualify. The Level 5 Motorsports team, however, intends to get the car ready to race on Sunday.

In Saturday's final practice session prior to qualifying, Tucker and Wallace were third on the LMPC speed chart with a best lap of 2:02.279.

Tucker leads the LMPC standings and carries an 11-point advantage over Gunnar Jeannette into Sunday's race. Christophe Bouchut, Tucker's Level 5 Motorsports teammate and co-driver of the No. 55, is third in the standings, 13 points behind Tucker. Andy Wallace co-drives the No. 95 with Tucker.

The Time Warner Road Race Showcase is the seventh of nine races on the 2010 ALMS schedule. Tucker has scored four LMPC class victories in the first six events.

Tucker hopes to continue his success at Road America. In September 2009, he drove to victory in the T1 race in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship Runoffs at Road America.

Road America is the longest track on the ALMS schedule. It is the third-fastest track on the schedule, but with the fastest corner speed.

The green flag is scheduled to wave Sunday for the Time Warner Road Race Showcase at 3:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live by the SPEED Channel, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

Following this weekend's race, the American Le Mans Series visits Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, August 27-29, before the season finale 13th annual Petit Le Mans at Road America in Braselton, Georgia, September 29-October 2.

About Microsoft Office 2010

The Microsoft® Office system provides tools to help people quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations, organize and search for information in one place, and keep everything in one place, all with enhanced security. www.office.microsoft.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com

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