Level 5 Motorsports News - ALMS

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

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:59:00 -0400

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.

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

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:33:00 -0400

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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

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

Tucker, Level 5 Motorsports Roar in Mosport in First Place

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:50:00 -0400

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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

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 Team Fights for Podium Finish at Road America

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:06:00 -0400

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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

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

Level 5 Team Whips Engine Problems with Solid Qualifying Effort

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:15:00 -0400

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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.

About Microsoft Office 2010

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

Level 5 Motorsports and Microsoft Office 2010: Fast friends

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:18:00 -0400

As one of the premier teams in the American Le Mans Series' Le Mans Prototype Challenge, Level 5 Motorsports knows that it takes teamwork to mount a successful campaign in the highly competitive world of professional motorsports. That is what makes having Microsoft Office 2010 part of the team so important.

"This is well beyond a typical race car-sponsor relationship," Level 5 owner / driver Scott Tucker said. "We've allowed them into our operation to see how we use Office 2010 to support our team. And they, in turn, have helped us get even more out of the software. That certainly helps us get the most out of our efforts, which translates into winning races." With Microsoft Office on board since the season-opener at Florida's Sebring International Raceway, the Level 5 team has been on quite a roll. The team has four victories and sits atop the point standings. But, heading into this inaugural season for the LMPC in the American Le Mans Series, there were many unknowns.

"This team brought a lot of racing experience to the table, but certainly the new car presented us all with quite a learning curve," Tucker said. "Our success on the track shows the professionalism of this whole team."

That professionalism and experience attracted Microsoft Office and fueled this unique sponsorship program, the first of its kind for Microsoft Office. The platform was developed by Level 5's marketing and communications agency, Anthem Media Group.

"We knew we had a unique opportunity with Microsoft Office," said Brian Weaver, CEO of Anthem Media Group. "We were able to tailor this program around their very specific set of objectives and drive tremendous value through this relationship."

The exposure earned by the multiple-race-winning team is only the beginning for Microsoft Office. The software giant, and Microsoft service partner Core BTS, has become embedded with Level 5 Motorsports to experience first-hand the demands of running the organization.

"Certainly we were attracted to this sponsorship for the traditional reasons: great exposure for our products. But, we also saw that we could do something rather unique with this opportunity," said Chris Barry, Director in Microsoft Office. "We wanted to show how Office 2010 could help even the highly technical, fast-paced business of racing be more productive."

The hands-on approach for Microsoft Office was essential to understanding the day-to-day needs of the team. From office personnel, to crew members to drivers --Office 2010 is a part of nearly every facet of the team's activities.

"There are more moving parts to this operation than most people realize," said David Stone, Team Manager for Level 5. "Microsoft Office and Core BTS got an up-close view of what the race team is all about. And, they certainly have a product capable of supporting this effort."

For their part, Core BTS was thrilled to have the chance to undertake such a project.

"In my 17 years of consulting, I have helped many businesses leverage Microsoft platforms in a variety of different ways," said Nicholas Morris, Vice President of Enterprise Architecture, Core BTS. "But nothing has inspired us quite like the opportunity with Level 5. It became apparent while developing the solution that Office 2010 presented a real competitive advantage for the team and provided an excellent platform for rapid development."

This weekend, as the ALMS races at Wisconsin's Road America, Microsoft Officials and the Core BTS team will be trackside as Level 5 race competes at the highest level.

"We're looking forward to seeing just how this incredible organization puts all of the planning into action," Barry said. "We'll be looking to help them find even more ways that Microsoft products can help."

The result of this weekend's activities, and the months of work that have gone into this program, will be a series of video case studies that will demonstrate the power of Microsoft Office to support any business. Those videos and the supporting information will be made available to IT professionals and other users of Microsoft Office later this summer.

"If you think Office 2010 solutions are only relevant within office buildings, the solution we implemented for Level 5 shoots that idea right out the window," added Tim McKellips, Solutions Architect with Core BTS. "It is truly amazing what the product can do for any organization, race teams included, when applied intelligently to their unique needs."

About Microsoft Office 2010

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 Core BTS

Core BTS, Inc. is a leading business transformation company, providing organizations comprehensive IT solutions through True Lifecycle Management. Across the breadth of Core's competencies in data center, security, application development, collaboration, managed services and Inacom Learning practices, Core maintains a unique and consistent methodology that begins with business analysis, continues with scope and deployment, and closes with hands-on training and ongoing support.

Core brings clients the expertise, availability, knowledge and talent of more than 350 skilled professionals. Core BTS is headquartered in Madison, WI, with offices across the Midwest and East Coast. For more information, visit www.corebts.com.

About Level 5 Motorsports

Level 5 Motorsports Shoots for Continued Success at Road America

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:21:00 -0400

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Simply the mention of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, brings a huge smile to the face of Level 5 Motorsports' Scott Tucker. It is the site of Tucker's first major racing championship.

It is also the site of this weekend's Time Warner Road Race Showcase, the seventh of nine races on the 2010 American Le Mans Series schedule. It's a track where Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports will look to continue their quest for yet another championship trophy.

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

"There is no doubt that I've got some fond memories of Road America," said Tucker, who brings an 11-point advantage in the ALMS LMPC standings into Sunday's 2-hour, 45-minute event. "It had always been a dream of mine to win a racing championship, and we got the job done at Road America last year.

"We know how to win at Road America, so we would like to do that again this weekend in the American Le Mans Series."

Tucker and Christophe Bouchut, who have scored four victories in six ALMS races this season, will pilot the Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored No. 55 ORECA FLM09 this weekend. Level 5 Motorsports' second car, the No. 95 ORECA FLM09, will be piloted by Tucker and Andy Wallace.

Road America, a 4.045-mile road course, is the longest track on the ALMS schedule. It sports 14 turns, nine to the right and five to the left. It is the third-fastest track on the schedule, but with the fastest corner speed.

This weekend is also special for Level 5 Motorsports as official's from Microsoft -- the team's sponsor -- will be on hand to experience for themselves the excitement of the American Le Mans Series. Level 5 and Microsoft have spent several months deploying Office 2010 software solutions within the Level 5 organization. This weekend is a continuation of that effort, the result of which will be shared with IT professionals and other users of Microsoft Office through video case studies.

A 20-minute qualifying sessions for the LMPC cars for the Time Warner Road Race Showcase is set for Saturday at 4:40 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled to wave Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live by the SPEED Channel, beginning at 3:05 p.m. ET.

Following this weekend's event, there will be two races left on the ALMS schedule. The 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

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

Level 5 Extends Point Lead With History-Making Win at Mid-Ohio

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:03:00 -0400

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After setting a track record and earning the pole for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge, Level 5 Motorsports drivers Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut backed up that performance with a dominating LMPC class win and the team's second overall podium finish in the 2010 American Le Mans Series. The win also marked an amazing milestone for Bouchut who recorded his 100th career victory.

"I was pushing because nothing other than a win would do for us today," said Bouchut. "I'm proud to get such a big win with this team."

The two-hour and 45-minute endurance event saw incredible action in all classes, including the Le Mans Prototype Challenge where Level 5 enjoys a sizable point lead. Tucker and Bouchut proved once again that their No. 55 Microsoft Office 2010 ORECA FLM09 was the class of the field.

"What a great day for the whole Level 5 organization," said Tucker, who drove both the No. 55 and the team's other LMPC car, the No. 95, in today's event. "I'm thrilled for Christophe and I'm glad to have him as part of our team."

Bouchut's career in sports car racing ranks among the best the sport has ever seen. Starting with his three French karting championships in the 80s, he quickly added a Formula Ford Championship and three French Formula 3 Championships. In 1993, he was part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Peugeut team. He followed that up with a win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1995 and the 24 Hours of Spa in 2002. He has won the Porsche Cup four times and the FIA GT Championship three times en route to this remarkable total of 100 global wins.

"Today was a good day for this whole team," Bouchut said. "We've got our focus on the championship so I hope to get a few more wins this year."

In his time behind the wheel of the No. 55, Tucker posted strong lap times and navigated on-track incidents to benefit from well-timed pit stops.

"Our strategy paid off well today, too," Tucker said. "We avoided trouble and took advantage of the full-course yellows to get ourselves in the best position possible."

Tucker was joined by veteran Andy Wallace and the duo drove the No. 95 to a fifth-place finish in the LMPC class, and a strong eighth-place finish overall. Unlike the 55, the 95 car fell victim to ill-timed cautions and tire issues that hampered their runs.

"We struggled a bit with the 95 this weekend," Tucker said. "We were down on straight-line speed and had some back luck. But the team put the usual effort into getting it better and better and we had a good finish."

This weekend's event will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on CBS, August 15, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

ALMS events remain at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (August 20-22), Mosport in Canada (August 27-29), and the Petit Le Mans endurance race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia (September 29-October 2).

About Microsoft Office 2010

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

Level 5 Motorsports Sets New Course Record in Capturing Pole at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:52:00 -0400

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Scott Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team set a new track record in qualifying and will start on the pole at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in Saturday's Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. The No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored Le Mans Prototype Challenge entry driven by Christophe Bouchut ran a fastest lap of 115.906 for a best-in-class lap.

Bouchut raced to an early lead in the qualifying session, then was passed by Tucker in the No. 95 entry. The teammates traded the point several times. Then, with about about 10 minutes remaining, Bouchut set the fastest lap time and held on to take the pole position.

"It is a nice feeling again to be on pole position," Bouchut said. "The car is running very well today, and thanks to Level 5 for the hard work. One of the challenges tomorrow will be getting around other cars. The traffic in the U.S. is very hard to predict. It's very hard for us to overtake and that is a challenge at each circuit. It's important not to make mistakes when you try to overtake."

The result was especially satisfying for two reasons. First, the car was almost completely rebuilt after it suffered damage during the race at Lime Rock Park in late July. Second, the car suffered a power loss with Tucker behind the wheel during today's practice session immediately prior to qualifying. He pulled the car off and stopped at Turn 9.

"The car just lost power," Tucker said. "I think we were actually tapped by a GT car causing the No. 55 to hit the wall."

The car was taken to the paddock for repairs on the back of a truck, but was ready in time to qualify for tomorrow's race.

Tucker qualified the No. 95 car sixth in the LMPC class, with a time of 1:18.339.

"This team bounced back after some technical difficulties," Tucker said. "We'll come out even stronger tomorrow. We will be looking for a win in tomorrow's race, which will increase our lead in the point standings."

When the green flag waves Saturday, Tucker will team with Bouchut in the No. 55. He will also perform double duty while racing behind the wheel of the No. 95 with teammate Andy Wallace.

This is the third pole the team has won during the 2010 ALMS season. They also claimed three checkered flags at Sebring, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park while finishing second on the Streets of Long Beach, California.

The duo has a four-point lead in the LMPC standings over Gunnar Jeannette.

This weekend's event will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on CBS, August 15, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

About Microsoft Office 2010

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

Level 5 Motorsports Looks to Extend Championship Points Lead at Mid-Ohio

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:46:00 -0400

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Scott Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team bring the points lead and a history of success into the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend, the seventh stop of the American Le Mans Series season. Tucker will team with renowned drivers Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored Le Mans Prototype Challenge entry and Andy Wallace in the team's second entry -- the No. 95 -- in the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge.

Level 5 Motorsports is following up its dominant showing at Connecticut's Lime Rock Park, where the team set a track record in qualifying on the pole, then went on to a strong third-place finish in the LMPC class. Tucker and Bouchut hold first and third place in the point standings, bookending the second-place driver Gunnar Jeannette.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a classic circuit in the truest sense. The 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course has challenged the tenacity of the world's top drivers for more than four decades. This event marks the start of the ALMS championship run as the first of three races in a four-week span.

"I am really looking forward to racing Mid-Ohio with this LMPC car," Tucker said. "We have had tremendous showings so far this season, and expect to have a great weekend here. We've got a good feel for this track and I think this car will be great to race here."

The team has been collecting accolades all season. First, they earned a podium spot for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the Grand American Rolex Series event at Daytona International Speedway in January. Since then, owner / driver Scott Tucker has won four Ferrari Challenge Series races in 2010 and leads the point standings in that prestigious series. In this the inaugural season for the Le Mans Prototype Challenge, Tucker and Bouchut have set numerous track records in races and qualifying.

"We are looking forward to getting in the car this weekend," Tucker said. "This team has proven it can get the job done and we're always eager to get on the track and show what we can do."

This weekend's event will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on CBS, August 15, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

About Microsoft Office 2010

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

Tucker, Level 5 Battle to Solid Finish at Lime Rock Park

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:04:00 -0400

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Despite difficult weather conditions all weekend at Lime Rock Park, Scott Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team fought to a strong third-place finish in the LMP Challenge class in Saturday's American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix.

With temperatures soaring into the 90s and the humidity making it feel much hotter Saturday, Tucker brought the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 home behind Gunnar Jeanette and Elton Julian, drivers of the No. 99 ORECA FLM09, and Alex Figge and Tom Popadopoulous, drivers of the No. 52 ORECA FLM09. The third-place finish in the LMP Challenge class allowed Tucker to maintain his lead in the ALMS championship standings.

Tucker continues to lead the LMPC standings over Jeanette and Level 5 Motorsports teammate Christophe Bouchut.

Tucker took over the seat of the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 for Andy Wallace -- who started fourth in class -- just past the halfway point of the 2-hour, 45-minute event at the 1.5-mile, 10-turn road course. He spun out shortly after on Lap 82, but didn't lose any ground among LMPC competitors.

"Andy did well for us the first half of the race. When I jumped in the car, we continued to stay steady," Tucker said. "We didn't get up there and challenge for the victory today, which is disappointing. But, we came home with a good finish."

With heavy rain coming down Friday, Bouchut set a track qualifying record of 1:02.020 for the LMP Challenge class in the No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports ORECA FLM09. The car never made a lap, however, as Bouchut suffered an accident in practice Saturday morning, keeping the car out of competition Saturday.

"That was a tough break for all of us," Tucker said. "The team prepared two really good race cars and we were looking to put another one in the victory column. It was unfortunate what happened in practice. But, we will put this past us, move on to the next race and continue our quest for a championship." Tucker and Bouchut came into the American Le Mans Grand Prix with an 11-point lead over Jeannette in the LMPC standings.

A rebroadcast of the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix will be shown Sunday evening, July 25, at midnight on the SPEED Channel.

The Level 5 Motorsports team will take a week off from the American Le Mans Series before returning to action for the sixth race of the season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course August 5-7. The race will be broadcast live on the SPEED Channel.

ALMS events also remain at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (August 20-22), Mosport in Canada (August 27-29), and the Petit Le Mans endurance race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on September 29-October 2.

Tucker and Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports will participate in a pair of races in the Ferrari Challenge Series on July 31 and August 1 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Level 5 Qualifies on Pole in ALMS Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock, Sets New Course Record

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:43:00 -0400

Bouchut, Tucker Turn in Record-Setting Qualifying Runs at Lime Rock In a very soggy day at the track, Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut turned in impressive qualifying runs at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, Friday afternoon. Tucker ran a solid lap of 1:05.617 and qualified the No. 95 Level 5 Motorsports ORECA FLM09 at fourth in Saturday's Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. Bouchut led the field for the session, qualifying the No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports ORECA FLM09 in the first spot with a new-course record time of 1:03.020 for the LMP Challenge class.

Tucker will team with Bouchut, in the No. 55. He will also spend time behind the wheel of the No. 95 car with teammate Andy Wallace. During the afternoon practice session, Bouchut put up the best-in-class lap time in the No. 55 LMPC Oreca FLM09. His time of 1:04.980 put him at the top for the session. Bouchut overcame a spin in wet conditions and rallied to start in first in class.

Tucker and Bouchut come into this weekend's 2-hour, 45-minute race having won three of the first four ALMS events in 2010. They have taken checkered flags at Sebring, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park while finishing second on the Streets of Long Beach, California.

The duo has an 11-point lead in the LMPC standings over Gunnar Jeannette before starting the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. The 1.5-mile, 10-turn road course has developed a reputation as a track where passing comes at a premium. That is what made Friday's qualifying session so crucial.

"Starting up front in the LMP Challenge class was a priority because it's very difficult to pass at this track," Tucker said. Both Tucker and Bouchut will make their first starts at historic Lime Rock Park this weekend.

The green flag is scheduled to wave on the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on the SPEED Channel beginning at 2 p.m. ET, with a re-broadcast scheduled for Sunday at midnight.

The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix is the fifth of nine races in the American Le Mans Series in 2010. Events remain at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (August 5-7), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (August 20-22), Mosport in Canada (August 27-29), and the Petit Le Mans endurance race in Braselton, Georgia (September 29-October 2).

Level 5 Team Brings Momentum, Points Lead to Lime Rock

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:58:00 -0400

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Scott Tucker is never one to back down from a good challenge. He and the Level 5 Motorsports team will be faced with yet another this weekend when the American Le Mans Series visits Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.

This is Tucker's first visit to the 1.5-mile, 10-turn road course. But, then, new tracks have never bothered him before.

"Lime Rock Park is a shorter road course than most of the ones on which we race," Tucker said. "It presents unique challenges for a driver. It's a narrow track, so it's not easy to pass. In turn, it's not easy to be passed.

"Therefore, we need to be able to qualify well. We need to start up front in our class, and that's what we intend to do."

Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team come into the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix - a 2-hour, 45-minute event - on a roll and in first place in the LMP Challenge class standings. The team has won three of the first four races of the 2010 season, including two weeks ago at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

Tucker and Christophe Bouchut, who will drive the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 this weekend at Lime Rock, lead the LMPC standings by 11 points over Gunnar Jeannette and by 27 points over third-place Elton Julian.

The team's second car, the No. 95 ORECA FLM09, will be piloted by veteran Andy Wallace and Tucker. Wallace has driven the last two American Le Mans Series events for Level 5 Motorsports.

"We've got a great deal of momentum coming into Lime Rock," said Level 5 Motorsports Team Manager David Stone. "We need to be able to maintain that. Scott has never raced at Lime Rock and neither has Christophe. Andy hasn't been there to race in about 10 years.

"But, nobody else has raced an LMPC car at Lime Rock, so I don't think anybody has an advantage going in. There is one exception, of course, and that's Scott and his tenacity to get to Victory Lane. That's an advantage for us."

Tucker and Bouchut have won ALMS races this season at Sebring, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park. The tandem finished second on the Streets of Long Beach, California.

Prior to coming to Lime Rock this week, the Level 5 Motorsports team will be at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York for a test session in preparation for a Ferrari Challenge Series race later this year.

A 20-minute qualifying session for the LMPC class is scheduled for Friday beginning at 4:40 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled to wave on the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on the SPEED Channel beginning at 2 p.m. ET, with a re-broadcast scheduled for Sunday at midnight.

Tucker Leads Level 5 to Third ALMS Victory; Bouchut Posts 99th Career Win

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:47:00 -0400

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Scott Tucker counts Miller Motorsports Park among his favorite race tracks. Nothing will change his attitude after he and the Level 5 Motorsports team won the LMP Challenge class at the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix American Le Mans Series race Sunday.

Driving the No. 55 ORECA FLM09, Tucker and Christophe Bouchut dominated the LMPC class, taking the checkered flag a lap ahead of the No. 99 Green Earth Technologies ORECA FLM09 of Gunnar Jeanette and Christian Zugel. In the process, the Level 5 Motorsports duo extended its lead in the ALMS LMPC class point standings.

Tucker's victory was his second this season at Miller Motorsports Park. He also won here in the Ferrrari Challenge Series earlier this year and finished second in the other race that weekend.

"I love coming here. I love winning here," Tucker said of the 3.05- mile, 14-turn road course. "It's a great place to race and we seem to run very well when we come here. We started from behind in the LMPC class, but we were able to overcome that and get another victory. This is turning out to be a great season for the Level 5 Motorsports team in the American Le Mans Series."

The win also put Bouchut one step closer to a major career milestone as he is now just one win away from a remarkable 100 professional race wins."

"It is hard for me to believe," said Bouchut of his 99th win. "I have had a good bit of success and I am certainly proud to be able to part of this winning team. Every win is special. It never gets old."

The victory was the third this season in ALMS for Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team. The team also won the LMPC class at the 12 Hours of Sebring and at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, both endurance events.

The No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports team qualified second in class on Saturday behind the Green Earth Technologies team.

"We've proven we can do very well in the endurance races. Now, we've got a victory in one of the shorter events, and it's pretty sweet," said Level 5 Motorsports team engineer David Stone. "Scott certainly knows his way around Miller Motorsports Park, and that's a big advantage for us. His experience here was a huge factor. Christophe also knows his stuff here. You couldn't ask for a better run."

Level 5 Motorsports' second entry, the No. 95 ORECA FLM09 driven by Tucker and veteran Andy Wallace, finished fourth in class, one lap behind.

With five races remaining on the schedule, the Level 5 Motorsports team is looking strong in its bid to win a historic championship in only its first season in the American Le Mans Series.

"From my first days as a racer, I've closely watched the American Le Mans Series," Tucker said. "It's always been my goal to win a championship here. We've certainly still got a lot of work to do. But, I'm very pleased about the start we've had. Three victories in four races isn't too bad at all."

The American Le Mans Series season continues on July 23-24 with the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Events remain at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; Mosport in Ontario, Canada; and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

Tucker / Level 5 Qualify Strong, Look For Continued Success in Utah

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:11:00 -0400

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Level 5 Motorsports drivers Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut entered the American LeMans Series Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix atop the point standings and with every intention of staying there. After a strong qualifying run, they appear ready to do just that.

Tucker and Bouchut will start second in the LMPC class just two-tenths of a second behind Gunnar Jeannette and Christian Zugel. The Level 5 drivers lead the LMPC standings by seven points over Jeannette and Elton Julian coming into Sunday's 2 hour, 45-minute race.

"This is a tough, demanding race," Tucker said. "It's hard to pass so you need to have a good starting position. We've done that so now we have to prepare to get it done under race conditions."

Tucker will drive the No. 55 ORECA FLM09 prototype with Bouchut for Level 5. He will again see double-duty as he shares the driving responsibilities with veteran Andy Wallace in team's second LMPC entry, the No. 95.

Wallace, who competed for Level 5 at Mazda Raceway Leguna Seca in May, finished third last month in the LMP2 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's most prestigious and competitive sports car race. That podium finish added to an already impressive resume that includes three Rolex 24 At Daytona championships, two wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and one Petit LeMans victory.

"I'm thrilled to have Andy back in the car with us," Tucker said. "He's been a great asset to the team."

The American LeMans Series pays a visit to the Miller Motorsports Park road course in Tooele, Utah, where Tucker won earlier this year and finished second in another race in the Ferrari Challenge Series. The track is one of the longest road courses on the American LeMans Series schedule. With a 14-turn layout, the track is 3.05 miles in length.

"We know the course well," Tucker said. "Some of the corners are very challenging and you're racing into them at high speeds. You have to find the places to pass and be prepared to take advantage of any opportunity you get."

The green flag is scheduled to drop for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix at 4:35 p.m. ET Sunday with television coverage provided by SPEED.