Coming off exciting test finishes at the Roar ahead of 24, Scott Tucker-owned Level 5 Motorsports had one important thing in mind: Make Daytona count. The most significant races of the year, the Daytona 24 also was the first on Level 5's schedule, and the team wasted little time entering a winning mindset.
"We brought the dogs to the hunt," said team manager David Stone. "Hopefully they'll do a great job; it'd be huge for this team to come off the start of the year with a huge win at a race like Daytona."
The Microsoft Office-sponsored Level 5 entered its No. 95 and No. 55 in the race, which began at 3:30 in the afternoon, running throughout the night and in to the next day. Temperature variation and daylight are other reasons a team must consider beyond the usual race checklist at a 24-hour stint.
To get an idea of the winning mindset of Level 5 Motorsports, consider this: Tucker amazing team declined to qualify the two cars in the race, accepting the dead-last start position over spending pre-race time in a qualifier. Said an auto mechanic: "Qualifying for a 24-hour race is completely meaningless. Anything that's not directly related to winning this race, we're going to opt out of."
At the start of the race, Tucker's No. 95 got caught in a stack-up on the end of the pack, forcing it to head to pit. Cornered in with no exit available, the bump couldn't be avoided-a frustrating turn of events for the Level 5 team. Tucker got back on the track in enough time to make up some for that loss before passing the wheel to his teammates.
Christophe Bouchut took the Level 5 car towards the front of the pack and held there for a couple of laps. "Things were running very well, and lap after lap was great," Bouchut reported. Bouchut is one of the most successful endurance drivers and a past winner of the Daytona 24. He's been with the Level 5 team since its 2008 season and earned his 100th career victory this past year.
Just before Luis Diaz took over just after the sun went down, he told commentators he was looking forward to the lap. The initial driver of the team to experience the low temperatures , Luis entered the track right after a great pit stop. The race was his debut with Level 5 Motorsports. Previously, he'd been voted "Most Popular Driver" in 2009. "Scott Tucker really puts together a great driver lineup," said a commentator. Not only is the roster stacked with talent and skill, but the driver order maximizes the Level 5 team's achievement, with consistency throughout.
Although Tucker's entire team delivered outstanding performances, it wasn't quite enough to get Level 5 on the podium. The Madison, Wisc.-based team finished 8th overall. "This team has really grown," said a commenter. "[The finish] doesn't show any lack of determination, mechanical ability or driving ability. It's just a tough race to win, and we're looking forward to a great season."
After wrapping up the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Level 5 Motorsports team looked ahead to a race half its time, the 12 Hours of Sebring.
"We brought the dogs to the hunt," said team manager David Stone. "Hopefully they'll do a great job; it'd be huge for this team to come off the start of the year with a huge win at a race like Daytona."
The Microsoft Office-sponsored Level 5 entered its No. 95 and No. 55 in the race, which began at 3:30 in the afternoon, running throughout the night and in to the next day. Temperature variation and daylight are other reasons a team must consider beyond the usual race checklist at a 24-hour stint.
To get an idea of the winning mindset of Level 5 Motorsports, consider this: Tucker amazing team declined to qualify the two cars in the race, accepting the dead-last start position over spending pre-race time in a qualifier. Said an auto mechanic: "Qualifying for a 24-hour race is completely meaningless. Anything that's not directly related to winning this race, we're going to opt out of."
At the start of the race, Tucker's No. 95 got caught in a stack-up on the end of the pack, forcing it to head to pit. Cornered in with no exit available, the bump couldn't be avoided-a frustrating turn of events for the Level 5 team. Tucker got back on the track in enough time to make up some for that loss before passing the wheel to his teammates.
Christophe Bouchut took the Level 5 car towards the front of the pack and held there for a couple of laps. "Things were running very well, and lap after lap was great," Bouchut reported. Bouchut is one of the most successful endurance drivers and a past winner of the Daytona 24. He's been with the Level 5 team since its 2008 season and earned his 100th career victory this past year.
Just before Luis Diaz took over just after the sun went down, he told commentators he was looking forward to the lap. The initial driver of the team to experience the low temperatures , Luis entered the track right after a great pit stop. The race was his debut with Level 5 Motorsports. Previously, he'd been voted "Most Popular Driver" in 2009. "Scott Tucker really puts together a great driver lineup," said a commentator. Not only is the roster stacked with talent and skill, but the driver order maximizes the Level 5 team's achievement, with consistency throughout.
Although Tucker's entire team delivered outstanding performances, it wasn't quite enough to get Level 5 on the podium. The Madison, Wisc.-based team finished 8th overall. "This team has really grown," said a commenter. "[The finish] doesn't show any lack of determination, mechanical ability or driving ability. It's just a tough race to win, and we're looking forward to a great season."
After wrapping up the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Level 5 Motorsports team looked ahead to a race half its time, the 12 Hours of Sebring.
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