CAMARO Z/28.R AT INDIANAPOLIS: Pole Position for Matt Bell, Stevenson Motorsports
Two Camaros in top four spots following qualifying for Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
· Third consecutive Grand Sport pole position for Camaro Z/28.R
· Bell, Lally coming off first victory of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
· Eric Curran qualifies fourth, Andrew Davis seventh for Friday’s Brickyard Sports Car Challenge
INDIANAPOLIS (July 24, 2014) – The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R continued its strong performance in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge’s Grand Sport (GS) class Thursday with a third consecutive pole position in its debut year. Stevenson Motorsports’ Matt Bell was the fastest qualifier at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 9 Camaro with a lap of 1:34.821 (92.600 mph).
Developed alongside its production counterpart, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R incorporates the same performance elements that make the 2014 Camaro Z/28 the most track-capable Camaro ever. The Z/28.R is also powered by the same LS7 7.0L V-8 engine as the production Z/28.
Two Camaro Z/28.Rs make up the front two rows of Friday’s 2:35 p.m. ET race that marks the eighth round of this year’s Continental Tire series. Eric Curran, the pole-winner at Watkins Glen, was fourth in the CKS Autosport Camaro Z/28.R at 1:35.023 (92.403 mph).
“Congratulations to Matt Bell and the Stevenson Motorsports team on today’s pole position in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. “The continual and dedicated efforts of Chevrolet Racing, its technical partners and our Camaro Z/28.R teams is reaping the benefit with poles, wins and excellent race performance. We are looking forward to a strong race tomorrow.”
A victory two weeks ago by Bell and Andy Lally at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park furthered Chevrolet’s lead in the GS Manufacturer championship battle. The Camaro Z/28.R has three victories this season. Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis were victorious earlier this season at both Sebring and Watkins Glen.
MATT BELL, NO. 9 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R
ON HIS QUALIFYING RUN:
“These Continental tires are doing great as far as working here. This track is very abrasive; it’s also very slick that is why it’s abrasive. The Camaro Z/28.R was amazing. They nailed the setup. The tires were just starting to fall off. The best strategy that we talked about was literally just get it done in two laps, save these tires for the race. We didn’t want to let them get over 240 degrees because after that point they start to fall off as soon as you get back on them again. We don’t want to put the big heat cycle on them.”
STRATEGY FOR THE START OF THE RACE:
“Go fast and don’t crash. We were here before and I think we went on to have like an 18-second lead at some point. I wouldn’t mind if we had that strategy, but it’s not really up to me. The car is good over a long run. A lot of our competitors are also good over a long run. A lot of the guys are also good over two laps and then they fall off. My strategy would be to hammer down early. Once everything settles in, cruise around, save fuel, save tires and save brakes.”