Hot News & Press from Doran Racing

No. 44 Friday practice report from Barber Motorsports Park

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 29 - Bobby Labonte and Roberto Moreno both logged laps
in Doran Labonte Racing's Daytona USA DORAN JE4 Pontiac No. 44 at Barber
Motorsports Park Friday as practice officially opened in preparation for Sunday's
Porsche 250 presented by Bradley Arant Rolex series race.

The entry was 19th in the first practice session Friday morning when its
fastest lap was timed in 1:24.346 (98.167 mph). It was 10th in the Friday
afternoon session when it was even faster with a 1:23.987  (98.587 mph).

"Our car isn't the fastest, but the drivers are happy with it because we
think we have a good car for the race," said crew chief John Wright after the
afternoon session.

It was overcast, hot and humid all day. About an hour and a half after the
afternoon session concluded the skies opened up, so the track will be green
tomorrow morning when practice resumes at 10 a.m.

That will run until 11 a.m., and then both drivers are scheduled to appear at
a press conference Saturday morning from 11 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and an
autograph session immediately after that from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 
Qualifying is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. The drivers said they think Labonte will
qualify the car, although that decision won't be official until team owner Kevin
Doran makes the official decision and nomination at 10:50 a.m. Saturday.

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No. 77 Friday practice report from Barber Motorsports Park

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 29 - The Crown Royal Special Reserve DORAN JE4 Ford
No. 77 of Matteo Bobbi and Fabrizio Gollin was 10th in the first official
practice session Friday at Barber Motorsports Park and sixth in the afternoon
practice session as the Doran Racing team prepared for Sunday's Porsche 250
presented by Bradley Arant Rolex series race.

The team's fastest lap in the morning was a 1:22.868 (99.918 mph).  Its
fastest lap in the afternoon was a 1:23.515 (99.144 mph).

"We're happy!" both drivers said after the afternoon session.  "We'll be even
happier with a good finish in the race on Sunday though," Gollin added.

Although it was overcast, hot and humid all day, Bobbi said that the team has
already made the car cooler than it was on the test day Thursday.  "Sunday's
race will be very hot though," he noted.

The team also worked hard to make the car's new engine quieter after it was
one of several Daytona Prototypes cited for excessive noise in the first
practice session.

About an hour and a half after practice concluded Friday a thunderstorm hit
the area, so the track will be green when practice resumes at 10 a.m.  Bobbi
will be in the car for qualifying at 1:15 p.m.

Both drivers have some demanding travel plans immediately after Sunday's
race. They're both scheduled to fly from Birmingham to Atlanta three hours after
the race, and from Atlanta they'll go straight to Paris on Air France.  Bobbi
will then fly to Milan, Italy, while Gollin will catch a plane for Venice,
Italy.

"The challenge will be getting a shower after the race and before the
flights," Gollin noted.