Scott Tucker, the most successful racer in Ferrari Challenge history, has been selected to assist Ferrari S.p.A. in the development of their next generation of supercars and road cars. Tucker was personally invited to be a factory test pilot by Ferrari's CEO, Amedeo Felisa on January 14th.

"This is a tremendous honor," Tucker said. "As a long-time Ferrari driver, being asked to help develop the next-generation of Maranello supercars is truly a thrill. My experience behind the wheel of many Ferrari GT race cars should be a great asset to the process."

Tucker will first put the 599XX, a racing derivative of the successful front engine 12-cylinder GT car, through its paces at North America's Homestead-Miami Speedway. When Mr. Amedeo invited Tucker he thanked him for "being among our most valuable clients." One of only seven drivers, and the sole worldwide Ferrari Challenge driver, he is testing the car in a private session and exhibition, the first ever to be held on American soil. Future test sessions will occur at notable race tracks on nearly every continent, providing Ferrari with valuable feedback which they will use to refine and develop next generation technologies for the company's race and road cars.

This latest round of testing among a select group of international drivers is yet another step in a complex process for the legendary manufacturer. Last month, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit outside of Valencia, Spain, the 599XX made its on-track debut with F1 driver Felipe Massa behind the wheel. This weekend's North American debut will feature another select group of experienced Ferrari drivers putting the car through its paces.

Tucker is in South Florida for the opening round of the 2010 Ferrari Challenge Series. In 2009, Tucker bested all other drivers finishing on the podium in every race and chalking up an unmatched 11 race victories.

"Last season was incredible," Tucker said. "We're excited to return to the track in the F430 Challenge car. But, I have to tell you, getting the chance to shake down the 599XX Prototype in 2010 is something I am really looking forward to as well."

In addition to running in the Ferrari Challenge Championship, Tucker's Level 5 Motorsports competes in the Grand America Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series. This weekend's activities come during a hectic March for the team as the first three weekends in the month see Tucker and the team at the track in each respective series.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The two-car team of Level 5 Motorsports battled a strong field and tough circuit in the Grand Prix of Miami Saturday and proved it was equal to the challenge. Both of the team's Crown Royal Cask No. 16 BMW Riley Daytona Prototype entries had strong runs, but were victims of racing misfortunes that put an end to their hopes of podium finish.

Team owner and driver Scott Tucker started the race in the No. 55 entry and spent time in both of the team's cars, sharing the driving duties with IndyCar Series standout Ryan Hunter-Reay in the No. 95 and journeyman driver Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55. Both cars started strong and seemed poised to finish strong until a separate problems put them behind the eight ball.

After starting 6th and leading two laps early in the race, the No. 95, with Hunter-Reay behind the wheel, went off track in turn 1 as the car developed handling issues. That forced the team into the pits a little more than an hour into the race for repairs. Despite that setback, the team rallied as Tucker took over the badly-damaged car and regained many of the spots they lost while the team repaired the car. He brought the car home 14th in class and 19th overall, an impressive accomplishment given the shape of the car.

But, that stellar performance came after Tucker was forced into the pits for a penalty as the No. 55 car was black-flagged for missing the

Grand-Am mandated driver-change window due to an in-car radio failure. Tucker was embroiled in fierce racing and the crew was unable to direct him into the pits due the faulty radio. That penalty was enough to put the team a lap down, a deficit that they were unable to overcome.

"It was tough out there today," said Tucker. "You've got a tough track, tough competition and changing conditions as the day wore on. On top of that, we lose radio communication -- of all things -- and we paid a steep price for that. We're happy with the performance of both cars considering all of that. We had two cars that should have been in contention at the end."

Bouchut, who competed in the entire 2009 season with Tucker in the No. 55, produced yet another steady performance posting lap times in that rivaled the leaders during the race. He took over driving duties in the car as Tucker moved to the No. 95. The sports car racing veteran has been a model of consistency and has helped the team remain a threat to win each time they take to the track.

Coming into the Grand Prix of Miami, the Level 5 Motorsports team was riding high after a podium finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. A strong finish in the most prestigious sports car event in North America proved the team was prepared to rise to any challenge.

"This team consistently brings strong equipment -- every race," said Tucker. "This team is as good as they come and I couldn't be more proud of them. We showed a lot of heart today."

Veteran racer Scott Pruett took his Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley to victory for his 23rd career Grand Am race win. Pruett was had to hold off a late race challenge by David Donohue after a late caution brought the field together for a restart.

The Level 5 team and Tucker return to Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend to put his Ferrari F430 Challenge car to the test in the 2010 Ferrari Challenge Series. Tucker found Victory Lane more than any other driver in the series in 2009 and looks to continue his winning ways this year.

The Level 5 team then leaves Homestead-Miami Speedway, but they don't have far to go as they compete in just two weeks in the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring at nearby Sebring International Raceway. The team will field two entries in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class in the historic race.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America's greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

ABOUT DIAGEO Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After a strong qualifying run at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Level 5 Motorsports team is ready to carry momentum into Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team is coming off a podium finish at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January and the two-car team has a strong track record on this challenging 2.3-mile road course. Owner/driver Scott Tucker qualified the No. 55 Daytona Prototype 14th, and it was IndyCar standout Ryan Hunter-Reay qualifying the No. 95 Daytona Prototype in sixth-place. Tucker will spend time in both cars as veteran Christophe Bouchut rounds out the driver line-up in the No. 55 DP.

"We are thrilled with our qualifying run. Ryan did a great job landing at sixth," Tucker said. "We love racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Thanks to our run here last year, our drivers have a great deal of experience at this track. That will count when we get on the track Saturday. "We are out to prove something here this weekend and I think we're on our way."

Tucker turned in a speed of 112.756 mph (1:13.433). Hunter-Reay set a best-lap speed of 114.45 mph (1:12.346) in the No. 95.

The Level 5 Motorsports team is looking forward to continuing their good luck at Homestead-Miami Speedway when the green flag waves Saturday. In 2009, with Tucker performung double-duty – spending time behind the wheel in both cars – the BMW Rileys ran consistently in the top of the field and finished exceptionally well. The team looked to have its first victory in sight when late-race challenges relegated the No. 55 and No. 95 to sixth- and 11th-place finishes respectively.

Returning to the site of their first event as a two-car effort -- and near victory -- means great expectations for the team.

"The team still has momentum from 2009," Tucker said. "What we did at Daytona just made us hungrier. We're ready to win a race, and we know we're capable of doing that at Homestead." This weekend's Grand Prix of Miami brings together an impressive array of sports car drivers with stars from all walks of racing. The challenging circuit offers great racing and a true test of driving skill -- a test that Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team have already proven they pass.

The Level 5 cars will start up front with Darren Law and David Donohue in the No. 59 Porsche Riley. Rounding out the top five are John Fogarty and Alex Gurney in the No. 99, Brian Frisselle and Michael Valiante in the No. 6, Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett in the No. 01, and Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli in the No. 10. The Grand Prix of Miami will get under way Saturday, March 6, at Homestead-Miami Speedway and will be broadcast on SPEED starting at 5 p.m. EST. For more information and updates throughout the weekend, visit level5motorsports.com.

ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - When the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series came to Homestead-Miami Speedway last October, the Level 5 Daytona Prototype team and owner / driver Scott Tucker were on a roll. In an impressive showing, the team's BMW-powered Riley had not finished outside the top 10 in any previous event during the 2009 season.

The team entered two cars with strong driver rosters: Tucker and veteran Christophe Bouchut, in their familiar roles as the co-drivers of the No. 55 DP, were joined by IndyCar standout Ryan Hunter-Reay with the addition of the No. 95 to the stable.

After the team qualified fifth and 13th with the two entries, an impressive run saw both cars atop the leaderboard during the race with the team's first race win in sight. However, an ill-timed caution flag and a challenging call in the pits relegated the No. 55 to a sixth-place finish and an 11th-place finish for the No. 95.

"We were certainly pleased with that run," said Tucker of the season- ending performance at Homestead. "But the finish was not what that effort deserved. Running up top with both cars showed that we were the team to beat -- no doubt."

This weekend marks the return of the Rolex Series to South Florida and the Level 5 team is looking for redemption. Once again, the stellar line-up of Tucker, Bouchut and Hunter-Reay make the trip to Homestead- Miami while trying to continue a positive trend. The team is coming off yet another strong finish in the 2010 campaign's season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the series' most prestigious event. Again, the BMW Rileys performed exceptionally well. With Tucker doing double- duty - taking shifts in both cars - it was the No. 95 this time enjoying the podium ceremony and a third-place finish. The No. 55 finished a respectable ninth despite engine troubles late in the event.

"Obviously, we were thrilled to be on the podium at Daytona," said Tucker. "The team picked up where we left off last year and we're poised for more great things. But we're really feeling like we've got something to prove at Homestead. We focused right now on getting to the top of the podium and this weekend would be very fitting place to do that."

Last fall's Grand Prix of Miami marked the first time the line-up of Tucker, Bouchut and Hunter-Reay competed and it has proven to be a great combination as Tucker splits his time between the two entries - both of which are to be considered contenders any given weekend. Returning to the site of their first event as a two-car effort - and near victory - means great expectations for the team.

"Everyone is determined to see these cars run up front," said Team Manger David Stone. "We've got drivers who have proven they can put the car in a position to win and we've got to ensure they have the equipment to keep them there."

This weekend's Grand Prix of Miami will once again be a "Who's Who" of sports car racing with stars from all walks of racing competing on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn road course. The challenging circuit offers great racing and a true test of driving skill - a test that Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team have already proven they pass.

"We come to the track to win. Period," said Tucker. "That's what is on our mind from the minute we unload the cars until the checkered flag flies. We're proud of our great record of strong finishes. But the top of the podium is the goal."

The Grand Prix of Miami will be held Saturday, March 6, at Homestead- Miami Speedway. For more information and updates throughout the weekend, visit level5motorsports.com .