Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Ready For ALMS Debut

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will make its eagerly anticipated debut in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) on March 17 as the 2007 season opens with one of North America’s premier endurance races – the 55th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The driving duo of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz are ready to challenge after a promising pre-season testing campaign with the team’s new No. 15 Acura-powered Lola LMP2 sports car. They will be joined by David Martinez who will serve as a third driver for Lowe’s Fernandez Racing in the historic event.

Of Note:

The team’s entry in ALMS competition follows a successful debut in sports car competition for Lowe’s Fernandez Racing, which was established in 2006

Fernandez entered sports car competition last year after a successful 12-year career at the top levels of open-wheel racing; he claimed an overall race win, qualifying race win and five top-five finishes in all in Grand-Am competition

Diaz brings the most sports car experience to the team with eight wins in three years of competition and the 2006 team championship in Grand-Am competition

Long-time friends who were competitors last season, Fernandez and Diaz are finally paired as teammates – it is a partnership that almost came to fruition in 2002 when Diaz substituted for an injured Fernandez in the Mexico City Champ Car race and was later named as the team’s official test driver

With the addition of fellow countryman David Martinez to its line-up this week, Lowe’s Fernandez Racing brings a true “Team Mexico” effort to Sebring

FERNANDEZ ON PRE-SEASON PREPARATIONS: “In all my years, I have never had an off-season of testing go as smoothly. We married a brand-new Acura LM V-8 engine with the Lola chassis and from the first lap it has been a great pairing. It is a true testament to the talent and dedication of everyone at HPD [Honda Performance Development], Lola and also Lowe’s Fernandez Racing. ”

FERNANDEZ ON THE TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING: “Thanks to Acura, we had a preview of what to expect in the race when we came to Sebring last month for a 12-hour simulation race between the three Acura-powered teams which we won. It was a good exercise that helped us to learn what the challenges of a 12-hour race will be and what elements can hurt us. As I’ve said, this is an important race for not only our great partners at Lowe’s, but everyone at Acura as they make their sports car debut. I feel we have an extremely competitive effort in place. ”

FERNANDEZ ON HIS FIRST GREEN FLAG AT SEBRING: “I have been testing at Sebring for so many years but have never raced here. Saturday’s race will definitely be special for me on a lot of levels. Two of my idols – Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez – raced here in the early ‘60s and Pedro won here in 1963 and ’64. I am coming here at a different stage in my career, but it means a lot to me to come here and try to do what these guys did. This is a beautiful form of racing and it is very special to start at Sebring; an honor. This is a race that every driver wants to win and have on their resume. ”

DIAZ ON HIS FIRST RACE WITH THE TEAM: “I am thoroughly enjoying this next step of my career. Adrian has always been one of my heroes, and I have learned so much in the time we have spent together in the off-season in testing, training together, going to appearances for Lowe’s – it’s just been a great experience. I feel really at-home with everyone on the team. The 12-hour simulation test we did in February was the best test that I have ever participated in during my career. I am just really excited for the start of the season. ”

DIAZ ON THE CHALLENGES OF SEBRING: “This is definitely one of the most difficult tracks that I have ever driven. It is super-fast and super-bumpy and hard on the equipment and the drivers. We were able to run a very strong pace in testing and, while I know the race is going to be tough, I think we have a lot of confidence going in. I have never raced at Sebring, so I am looking forward to it. ”

MARTINEZ ON HIS FIRST SPORTS CAR EXPERIENCE: “I have been racing open-wheel cars for all of my career so the 12-hour simulation test was my first time in this type of car. Obviously, Adrian and Luis were a big help with my learning curve. In the end, the car felt very comfortable for me and I think the team has a great package. The driver changes were pretty easy for me because we are all close in size. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to the race. ”

About the Drivers:

Adrian Fernandez… is a veteran of a 12-year career at the top levels of open-wheel competition, winning in both Champ Car (CART) and IndyCar Series competition with a career record that includes 194 starts, 11 wins and 25 podiums… debuted in sports car competition in 2006, winning the Mid-Ohio Rolex Sports Car Series race and claiming four additional top-five finishes… began competing in select NASCAR Busch Series events in 2005, driving for Team Lowe’s Racing and Hendrick Motorsports and most recently finished ninth in the Busch race at Mexico City on March 4… finished fifth in the IndyCar Series championship in his inaugural season in 2004 with three wins and six top-five finishes… missed the 2000 Champ Car championship crown by only 10 points, finishing second in the series… has garnered numerous awards over the years including “Athlete of the Year in Mexico”… named one of Mexico’s 300 most influential people by a national magazine in 2006… 43 years old from Mexico City…resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., with wife Catalina.

Luis Diaz… debuted in sports car competition in 2004 and has claimed eight wins over the past three years as well as Rolex Sports Car Series Team Championship honors in 2006 and a second-place result in the driver championship co-driving with Scott Pruett… was named “Driver of the Year” in Mexico in 2006… won the Mexico Formula 3 championship in 1998… earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Mexican Indy Lights Pan-American Championship, Mexico Formula 3 Championship and Formula Reynard Series Mexico… U. S. open-wheel success includes a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Atlantic championship… began racing go-karts at the age of 12, winning several national championships… 29 years old from Mexico City… resides in Toluca, Mexico, with wife Carolina… nickname is “Chapulín” (Cha-poo-leen) which means grasshopper.

David Martinez… finished fifth in Atlantic Series competition the past two years… was the only driver to complete every lap of Atlantic competition in 2006… made his Champ Car debut in Mexico City last November, claiming the best qualifying effort by a debut driver in 2006 Champ Car competition with a ninth-place start en route to a strong run to finish ninth… raced in Europe in 2004 in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup… won the 2003 Mexican Formula Renault Championship… finished fourth in the 2003 Barber Pro Series Championship… was the 1999 Mexican Formula 3 Rookie of the Year… began his career in karting in 1991… 25 year old from Monterrey, Mexico.

About the #15 Lowe’s Acura Lola:

Powered by the new Acura LM V-8 engine designed and developed by HPD [Honda Performance Development], Honda’s wholly-owned racing subsidiary based in Santa Clarita, Calif. Chassis is the Lola B05/40 LMP2 sportscar

Tires are Michelin

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Key Personnel:

Tom Anderson, co-owner/managing director (founded Fernández Racing with Fernandez in 2000) Steve Miller, general manager (seventh year with the team; reunited with Diaz who he worked with in 2000 in Indy Lights)

Mike Sales, team manager (as a chief mechanic, has had a decade long relationship with Adrian Fernandez which includes victories in Champ Car, IndyCar Series and Grand-Am competition)

John Ward, race engineer (is in is eighth year as a race engineer for Adrian Fernandez; designer of many Eagle chassis for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers including the Eagle Mk III IMSA GTP car which won the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 1992 and 1993)

Tony Leith, chief mechanic (was a lead and chief mechanic in ALMS in the late ‘90s with Panoz Motorsports – team won the Petit Le Mans)

Vince Bass, mechanic (grew up in Sebring, Fla., graduating from Sebring High School and attending South Florida Community College in Sebring; he began his racing career at Sebring International Raceway with the Skip Barber Racing School in 1993)