Uneventful is often an underrated positive. Tony Burgess and Chris McMurry started second and finished second in the #16 Dyson Racing Lola Mazda at today’s American Le Mans Series race at the Circuit of the Americas. The car ran with no mechanical issues and the drives were mistake free. The race was run without a single yellow and the last time that happened was in May of 2009 at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
It was a textbook race at the newest permanent road course in the U.S. Chris McMurry started the late afternoon race. Fifty minutes into the two hour and forty-five minute race, Chris stopped for fuel, tires and driver change to Tony Burgess.
Toward the end of Tony’s stint, team manager Michael White radioed and asked how he was doing, to which he replied. “I could do this all day.” Tony came in for the last stop an hour and forty-eight minutes into the race and Chris got back in to finish the race.
Tony enjoyed his run. “This is one of those tracks where the more you race on it, the more you see how it works and certainly that was the case today,” commented Burgess. “My drive today was actually quite conservative. With the weather this week, plus it being our first time here, we were a little behind the curve in terms of proper practice. Even if you sort out the track during the race, that does not mean that you can take chances. So it is always best not to overextend yourself or the car.”
“I was more relaxed in the car for my second stint,” said McMurry. “We were in fuel conservation mode for most of the last stint, but we were still able to run 1:57′s. We tried a different tire compound during the second stint and I think it was a bit sturdier and faster. I had some good fun with the Muscle Milk car for five or six laps. I cheated and turned it back to a richer setting so we could run with them and that was good fun. So it was a really great day. The team did a fantastic job and the car was easy to drive: it behaved the whole race as it did in qualifying. I really enjoy driving this car; I wish I could do it for other ten or twenty years!”
Source : Dyson Racing