Grand-Am: Tracy wants payback for 2006 heartbreak

 
Crash.net

January 8, 2007

 

Champ Car star Paul Tracy is out to avenge the disappointment of retirement from the 2006 Daytona 24 Hours – when he made all the early running at the wheel of the Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley – with victory in this year's event.

The Canadian will be reunited with ex-Forsythe Racing Champ Carv team-mate A.J. Allmendinger for the endurance classic, and says although he is doubly motivated for the challenge that lies ahead, he knows it will also be doubly difficult with a highly-competitive field and relentless round-the-clock pace.

"I think any time you've got a full field of cars it's going to make the race even tougher," the 2003 Champ Car title-winner acknowledged. "This year there's been a host of rule changes that everybody has had to deal with, including no traction control. I think that's probably one of the biggest factors.

"It's going to put the car a lot more into the drivers' hands and separate in terms of the competitiveness of the field. Traction control makes it easier for guys who are a little less experienced. Without that now, it's going to be tougher with more mistakes and far more opportunity to capitalise on that. I think it's going to be a