Backstretch Motorsports

Rojas takes pole by .029 seconds, German Pierre Kaffer takes Rolex GT pole

MEXICO CITY (April 18, 2008) - Memo Rojas will start on the pole for his home race Saturday (SPEED, Live, 4 p.m. ET), the Mexico City 250 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 after setting a track record in his No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley.

Currently leading the point standings by 13, Rojas - who has won the opening two Rolex Series races - notched a time of 1:19.508 (113.196 mph), nearly a second-and-a-half faster than last year’s pole time. The pole was Rojas’ first in 16 career starts, and the team’s first since last September at Miller Motorsports Park. In addition to collecting the XPEL Pole Award, Rojas and co-driver Scott Pruett also hope for their third straight win to start 2008.

Outside front row starter Mark Wilkins also earned his first career front row start, taking second with a time of 1:19.537 (113.155 mph), only .029 seconds behind Rojas. The co-driver of the No. 61 AIM Autosport Exchange Traded Gold Ford Riley will co-drive the car with Brian Frisselle, and the team is looking for its first career victory on the 2.5-mile, 14-turn track.

Rolex Sports Car Series
Starting Grid - POS
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Mexico City
April 17-19, 2008
Pos No Class Car Team Starting Drv Drivers Listed on Car
1 01 DP Lexus Riley TELMEX Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Memo Rojas Scott Pruett Memo Rojas
2 61 DP Ford Riley AIM Autosport Mark Wilkins Brian Frisselle Mark Wilkins
3 58 DP Porsche Riley Brumos Porsche David Donohue Darren Law David Donohue
4 99 DP Pontiac Riley Bob Stallings/ Riley-Matthew Jon Fogarty Jon Fogarty Alex Gurney
5 47 DP Ford Dallara Doran Racing Burt Frisselle Burt Frisselle Gabriele Gardel
6 10 DP Pontiac Dallara SunTrust Racing Michael Valiante Max Angelelli Michael Valiante
7 76 DP Pontiac Lola Krohn Racing Nic Jonsson Nic Jonsson Ricardo Zonta
8 16 DP Pontiac Coyote Cheever Racing Bobbi Matteo Antonio Garcia Bobbi Matteo
9 60 DP Ford Riley Michael Shank Racing Mark Patterson Mark Patterson Oswaldo Negri Jr
10 3 DP Lexus Riley Southard Motorsports Shane Lewis Shane Lewis Bill Lester
11 23 DP Porsche Crawford Alex Job Racing Bill Auberlen Bill Auberlen Joey Hand
12 7 DP BMW Riley Rum Bum Racing Gene Sigal Matt Plumb Gene Sigal
13 6 DP Ford Riley Michael Shank Racing John Pew John Pew Ian James
14 77 DP Ford Dallara Doran Racing Brad Jaeger Memo Gidley Brad Jaeger
15 91 DP Pontiac Riley Bob Stallings/ Riley-Matthews Jim Matthews Jim Matthews Marc Goossens
16 2 DP BMW Riley SAMAX Henri Zogaib Henri Zogaib Ryan Dalziel
17 59 DP Porsche Riley Brumos Porsche/ Kendall JC France JC France Joao Barbosa
18 75 DP Pontiac Lola Krohn Racing Tracy Krohn Tracy Krohn Eric van de Poele
19 87 GT Porsche GT3 Cup Farnbacher Loles Racing Pierre Kaffer Pierre Kaffer Dirk Werner
20 07 GT Pontiac GXP.R Banner Racing Kelly Collins Paul Edwards Kelly Collins
21 69 GT Mazda RX-8 SpeedSource Jeff Segal Emil Assentato Jeff Segal Nick Longhi
22 57 GT Pontiac GXP.R Stevenson Motorsports Andrew Davis Robin Liddell Andrew Davis
23 70 GT Mazda RX-8 SpeedSource Nick Ham Sylvain Tremblay Nick Ham
24 86 GT Porsche GT3 Cup Farnbacher Loles Racing Eric Lux Eric Lux Leh Keen
25 72 GT Pontiac GXP.R Autohaus Motorsports Tim Lewis Jr Lawson Aschenbac Tim Lewis Jr
26 30 GT Mazda RX-8 Racers Edge Motorsports Craig Stone Jameson Riley Craig Stone
27 21 GT Pontiac GTO.R Matt Connolly Motorsports Pepe Montano Matt Connolly Pepe Montano Diego Alessi
28 06 GT Pontiac GXP.R Banner Racing Leighton Reese Ron Fellows Leighton Reese
29 27 GT Porsche GT3 Cup O’Connell Racing Kevin Roush Kevin O’Connell Kevin Roush
30 66 GT Porsche GT3 Cup TRG Ted Ballou Bryce Miller Ted Ballou
31 67 GT Porsche GT3 Cup TRG Tim George Jr Tim George Jr Spencer Pumpelly