Andy Lally posted a best lap at 50.176 seconds (93.272 mph) in the No. 41 Carlsen Porsche/Mitchell Global Porsche 997 during Friday’s Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series test day at Iowa Speedway to top the time charts in preparation for the inaugural KONI Challenge event on the 1.3-mile road course on Saturday.
Lally, the defending Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve GT co-champion, is sharing the No. 41 machine with Ted Ballou as part of a four-car effort for the TRG team. The No. 41 machine was the quickest of 33 Grand Sport (GS) class cars to participate in the test day.
“The track is a tight and twisty road course that’s going to make for some exciting racing come tomorrow, ” Lally said. “The whole TRG crew and all of our cars are running fast. To put up fast time of the day was really pleasing, I’m sure, for (team owner) Kevin (Buckler) and the guys after all the hard work they’ve done to get these cars ready for the season. The guys have been in the shop a lot of hours and working their butts off. It was a wonderful way to end the day today, and hopefully we can finish up tomorrow the same way. ”
Second-quickest on the day was Jeff Segal in the No. 09 Fresh From Florida/Automatic Racing BMW M3 with a lap at 50.206 seconds (93.216 mph). Segal is sharing the No. 09 machine with Jep Thornton. Boris Said was third-quickest at 50.251 seconds (93.132 mph) in the No. 80 Said Head Performance/Kinetic Motorsports BMW M3 he is sharing with Bryan Ortiz. The No. 20 Horsepower Ranch Porsche 997 shared by Ross Thompson and Hugh Plumb was fourth at 50.323 seconds (92.999 mph), and the No. 49 Marcus Motorsports Porsche 997 of co-drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Jimmy Locke completed the top five at 50.324 seconds (92.997 mph).
