Hot News & Press from Doran Racing

Thursday Practice Report: #77

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 28 - Matteo Bobbi and Fabrizio Gollin took their first
laps at Barber Motorsports Park Thursday morning and did a few more Thursday
afternoon for a total of two hours of practice today in preparation for
Sunday's Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant Rolex series race.

Although no official times were released, the scoreboard showed that their
Doran Racing Crown Royal Special Reserve DORAN JE4 Ford No. 77 was ninth overall
in the afternoon practice session.

It was very hot and humid, and thunderstorms are predicted each afternoon. 
Thursday's activities were all held in the dry, however.

Quotes follow:

Fabrizio Gollin: "I'm so happy. I think the second half of the season is
going to be much better for us. 

"This track is very challenging.  There are a lot of blind corners, and a lot
of fast corners. It's very technical.

"It's very different racing here than in Europe. Now I understand more the
mindset of what is going to happen each day and what we will be working on.  I
know my competitors better too. It's very important to know who you have in
front of you and what they're likely to do. Now I'm more American I guess, and
it's making me more relaxed.  It's like a family."

Matteo Bobbi: "I like the track and I like our new engine.  We have a big
problem with heat though; we will have to solve that before the race.  I could
only go about six laps due to the heat in the cockpit.  But the team is working
on it and I'm sure they'll have that fixed before the race.  We just got this
engine, and we didn't have time to do everything we want to do yet.

"The track is very challenging.  It is important to know where the line is. 
We're happy about how the day went, and we're very positive about the weekend.
I think our chances are good."



Thursday Practice Report: #44

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 28 - Bobby Labonte and Roberto Moreno got introduced
to Barber Motorsports Park Thursday in a special test day prior to Sunday's
Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant Rolex series race.

No official times were released, but unofficially their Doran Labonte Racing
Daytona USA DORAN JE4 Pontiac No. 44 was 11th in the afternoon session.

It is hot and humid in the Birmingham area.  Thunderstorms are predicted each
afternoon, but none occurred Thursday.

Quotes follow:

Bobby Labonte: "This is my first time here, so I'm just trying to learn the
track.  I wish I could take my go-kart out there and run the track in that a
few times.  Tonight I'll think about what I learned here today, and hopefully
we'll go even faster tomorrow.

"This is a cool place. It's a lot of fun.

"We did a spring change and the understeer was better in the afternoon, but I
think the brakes were fading a little.  But I didn't hit anything, so I think
it was pretty good."

Roberto Moreno: "This is my first time here.  It's a beautiful facility.  The
track is very challenging.  It has a lot of blind turns.

"I'm very impressed with the way the team and the car works.  It was great
for a first day.  I'm looking forward to the second."