Raises $3000 For Cancer Survivors

Sometimes just finishing a race has to be taken as a positive in motor racing. That was the case for Guy Cosmo and the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Patron Ferrari crew at Road America this week running in the Time Warner Cable Sports Car Showcase and round 6 of the American Le Mans Series.

"Well, I'm not sure I can say our luck has turned around," laughed an upbeat Cosmo, "but we did finish, and we didn't get hit this time! It's a small step, but at least a step in the right direction."

Early practice sessions had Cosmo running among the quickest in the field. The team was implementing a new paddle shifter system this week and were still working through some issues. Later in qualifying, Guy got held up in traffic and then cut down a tire.

"Our No. 02 ESM Patron Ferrari was strong all weekend again," noted Cosmo. "We had cut a tire in qualifying and opted for a new set of tires for the race. Even though we started at the back of the pack,  the choice played out well for us."

The choice was a good one indeed. Cosmo took the green flag jumped out early quickly moving the No. 02 Ferrari 458 to 5th in class. An incredible feat given the size and competitiveness of the field.

"During my first stint I went from last place practically passing the entire field up to 5th place in GT," said Guy. "That just proves the speed we had. Then when Ed [Brown] got in, he turned his best times of the weekend. Then during my final double-stint I turned our quickest race laps. Unfortunately it wasn't enough pace. We ultimately went down a lap and settled for 11th."

The Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase featured the closest overall finish [0.112 sec.] in the history of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The outcome was the latest in seven years of thrilling Road America finishes. The total margin of victory in ALMS overall races in Elkhart Lake now stands at 9.509 seconds.

"It was an intense race with some really close battles out there," Guy added. "Road America is without-a-doubt one of my favorite tracks. Tackling the fierce field of GT competition in the American Le Mans Series at this circuit - and doing it in an ESM Ferrari 458, supported by Tequila Patron - made for one of the most enjoyable drives of my life."

"We are making progress as a team," Cosmo continued. "We're really gelling on the No. 02 side. Obviously, I had hoped for a better result this weekend, but I know we're close. Success at this level takes time, and our time will be here soon."

In off-track activities, Guy was pleased to be a participant in the Tour de Road America, an annual event benefitting cancer survivors through LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic.

"The Tour de Road America was a blast," said Guy. "I completed two laps around the famed Road America race circuit, which is over 4 miles in length, with A LOT of elevation change and uphill stretches! So I completed just over 8 miles the night before the race, and boy were my legs sore - but not too sore to drive nearly 3 hours of the 4-hour race in my Extreme Speed Motorsports / Tequila Patron Ferrari 458 GT"

"I really can't thank everyone enough for supporting my efforts to help raise money for the Tour de Road America," added Guy. "Through generous donations we raised over $3,000 in funds that go directly to help the fight against cancer."

Guy and the No. 02 ESM Patron Ferrari crew will be back when the American Le Mans Series returns to the Atlantic seaboard with the first running of the Baltimore Grand Prix Saturday, September 3, 4:30 p.m. ET. The circuit in downtown Baltimore will run along the city`s Inner Harbor, making the venue one of the most picturesque in ALMS history. The race will be streamed live on ESPN3.com beginning at 4:15 p.m. ET, Sept. 3 and air with a tape delayed feature on ABC at 4 p.m. ET, Sept. 4