by Joe Jennings
4/9/2010 Leeds, Ala. – Ricky Taylor and Jonathan Bomarito scored doubles in Rolex Sports Car Series qualifications at Barber Motorsports Park on Friday — earning their first pole positions and setting track records. The qualifications set the starting field for Saturday’s Porsche 250 that will be telecast live by SPEED at 1:30 p.m. ET. Taylor, son of veteran driver and owner Wayne Taylor, pushed his SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara to the top of the speed charts in Daytona Prototype qualifications with a record-shattering run of 103.989 miles per hour around the pristine 2.3-mile road course. “It is fantastic to get my first pole,” Taylor said. “This SunTrust team gives me the best equipment every weekend, and it is nice to finally put it up there. Of all the tracks this is one of the most important to start on the pole.” Previously, Taylor’s best qualification effort had been a fifth fastest. Said Wayne Taylor of his son’s accomplishment, “It is just incredible. It was a tough decision this year to put Ricky in the car, as people questioned whether he had the ability. Max (Angelelli) and everyone at SunTrust were behind the move to see what he can do.” Co-driver Angelelli said, “It is great and very well deserved. He worked very hard, and I can only congratulate, as he did everything by himself.” Antonio Garcia put the Spirit of Daytona Racing Porsche Coyote on the outside of the front row with a speed of 103.940 mph. Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice co-drives the car. “It is okay to be on the outside, and anything can happen during our race. It is a long race,” Garcia said. “In Grand-Am, this is my first time to qualify this year and my best effort ever. Buddy (Rice) could have done the same thing as the car has been improved so much since Daytona.” Third fastest qualifier was Memo Rojas in the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Riley. For Rojas, his top speed was 103.600 mph. Veteran driver Scott Pruett co-drives with Rojas. Jon Fogarty and co-driver Alex Gurney timed fourth in the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley with Dion von Moltke and Memo Gidley fifth in the Doran Racing Ford Dallara. On the last lap of qualifications, von Moltke heavily impacted a wall, causing considerable damage to the car. Brian Frisselle and Michael Valiante were sixth fastest in a Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley. Six of the 13 qualifiers broke the single-lap qualification standard held by Valiante. Bomarito set the pace in GT qualifying, gaining the pole position in the abbreviated GT class timed runs. Due to schedule conflicts, the GT session was shortened from 15 minutes to five minutes, giving teams three laps to make their mark.
Driving the Speed Source Mazda RX-8, Bomarito set the pace on the last lap with a speed of 95.379 mph, knocking Jordan Taylor from the top spot. “I love qualifying, and the last lap was an exciting one,” the California driver said. “We only had three laps to get it done. On the second lap, I was stuck in traffic, but on the last lap, I had a clean track and was pushing hard. Everyone tries to maxi Taylor persevered for second fastest in another Mazda RX-8 followed by James Gue in a third Mazda RX-8. 16 GT cars made a qualification run.