American Le Mans Series

Lowe’s Fernández Racing aiming for Mid-Ohio podium

© American Le Mans Series

Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz return to one of their favorite circuits on the 2008 ALMS schedule this weekend as the series prepares for the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Fernandez and Diaz bring a wealth of experience to the permanent road course located within the rolling hills of Lexington, Ohio, combining for a total of 18 career starts.

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will be chasing its third consecutive podium at Mid-Ohio. The team captured its first sports car victory at the circuit in 2006 in Grand-Am competition, and claimed the second of three 2007 podium visits at Mid-Ohio.

Following a fourth-place finish last weekend at Lime Rock Park, Fernandez and Diaz have moved to seventh in the championship standings, 10 points outside the top five.

Race Notes:
* Circuit – 2.258 mile, 13-turn permanent road course
* Saturday’s race will last 2 hours 45 minutes with a 2:10 EST start
* A driver may not drive more than two hours total in the race

Of Note:
* Lowe’s Fernandez Racing last tested at Mid-Ohio on June 9 and 10 of this year
* The team finished third in class and fourth overall at Mid-Ohio last year
* Fernandez owns two victories at Mid-Ohio with wins in Champ Car (1998) and Grand-Am (2006); nine of his 11 career starts at Mid-Ohio have netted top-10 finishes including five top-five results
* Diaz has three podium finishes in seven career starts at Mid-Ohio with a third and second-place finish in Grand-Am competition in 2004 and 2005 respectively, and an ALMS podium last year
* Lowe’s Fernandez Racing claimed its first win in sports car competition at Mid-Ohio in 2006
* Following five rounds of ALMS competition, Fernandez and Diaz sit seventh in the standings, 10 points outside the top five
* Fernandez and Diaz claimed three podiums and six top-five results in their ALMS debut last season

Fernandez on his past success at Mid-Ohio: “I have so many special memories from racing at Mid-Ohio all these years. I first raced here back in Indy Lights in 1992. I won here in 1998 in Champ Car after a great battle with my teammate at Patrick Racing, Scott Pruett. And our win here two years ago in Grand-Am was so satisfying because we came from the back of the grid. It is a track that I thoroughly enjoy and it is fantastic to drive in these cars. The atmosphere with all the families that come out for the weekend makes it even more special.”

Diaz on expectations for the weekend: “We have very high expectations for the weekend. Adrian and I both have a lot of experience here and so does the team. We were strong all weekend last year and had a very good test here last month. I think we will definitely be challenging for the podium and hopefully our first win this weekend. We haven’t had a lot of luck on our side so far this year but I feel that we are definitely going to turn things around in the second half of the season. We picked up some good points last weekend even though we had a problem in the race. We just need to keep working hard and doing what we are doing and we will get there.”