Honda, Michael Shank Racing Claim Pole for Rolex 24 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Oswaldo "Oz" Negri piloted his Honda-powered Michael Shank Racing Ligier prototype to the pole position on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona, the opening round of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The Brazilian claimed the top spot in the 53-car field with a best lap of 1m39.194s, which put him just over a tenth of a second clear of Scott Dixon's 1m39.302s in the faster of two Chip Ganassi Racing Riley-Fords. Scott Pruett in the second Ganassi entry will start third, followed by the Action Express Coyote Corvette of Joao Barbosa. Andy Meyrick rounded out the top five qualifiers in the unique Delta Wing Coupe.

The Florida-based Tequila Patrón ESM team debuted two new HPD ARX-04b Hondas at Daytona, as Honda Performance Development follows up the highly successful ARX-03 line of open-cockpit prototypes with a new coupe design, incorporating the latest developments in safety and aerodynamics.

Johannes von Overbeek qualified the #2 HPD-Honda 12^th in the prototype division as the ESM team continued to develop the new coupe. However, the #1 car was unable to qualify today after a manufacturing flaw in the bell housing was discovered following the morning practice session. The car is expected to resume practice tomorrow and will start the Rolex 24 from the rear of the field.

Both ESM machines and the Shank entry utilize the production-based 2.8-liter Honda HR28TT V6 engine, developed for competition by HPD from the Honda "J35" series of passenger vehicle V6 engines, with improvements including twin turbochargers. Key production-based components include the block and cylinder heads, direct-injection fuel system, valve train components, drive-by-wire throttle, alternator, sensors and fasteners. The engine even utilizes a stock Honda oil filter.

Video News Releases from this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona and companion Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race can be found on the "Honda Racing/HPD Trackside" YouTube channel produced by the Carolinas Production Group. CPG is providing video highlights packages following Honda Racing/HPD events during the 2015 season. The video packages can be found at: youtube.com/hondaracingtrackside and www.hpd.honda.com.

The "twice around the clock" Rolex 24 at Daytona starts Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT, with live television coverage of the opening two hours on the Fox Network, and additional coverage throughout the race on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.

Allen Miller (Project Leader, Honda Performance Development) on Daytona qualifying: "It's nice to get the pole in only our second time at Daytona. Congratulations to Mike Shank and his entire team on an outstanding effort. Although we've had some 'new car' issues with the ARX-04bs, the Tequila Patrón ESM team is quickly coming to grips with the coupes. We had a great run of success with the team and the previous-generation, open-cockpit HPD cars, so I'm confident that together, we'll quickly get them up to speed. Almost anything can happen in a 24-hour race, but we're confident we have a strong lineup for the weekend, and we're looking forward to the start of the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship."

Oz Negri (#60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier-Honda) pole qualifier: "We do have a really good package with the Honda engine. I knew the field would be very close in the cooler temperature, but I promise you that I took everything that the car had. Michael [Shank, team owner] was asking me for two tenths or three tenths, and I thought, 'Man!'. I already had a few 'moments' at the Bus Stop [chicane]. We're still learning the car and you always want more, to do better. The pole is great for bragging rights today, but the real deal is to be there [at the finish on] Sunday."

Rolex 24 at Daytona Qualifying Report

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SOURCE Honda Performance Development

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