;)
Due to Friday's inclement weather, practice was limited and qualifying was suspended. IMSA officials were forced to set the grid based on current points standings. Given the #02 Ferrari's tough luck at Sebring, the team started deep in the field.
"The weekend was really a let-down," said Guy Cosmo. "I get so excited coming to Long Beach. I'm so pumped up for the event and do a lot of additional preparation. This year the weather put a big damper on the only scheduled test session. Although we did drive a few laps in the wet, our qualifying session was canceled. This meant we had to start the race according to championship points. A bummer for sure, though it was the same for everyone else."
When Cosmo took the wheel about half-way into the race, the #02 Patron Ferrari was two laps down. At that point, Guy began picking off other cars in an attempt to pick up positions.
"As expected," noted Cosmo, "the #02 ESM/Patrón Ferrari was quick - really quick. I was running times just as fast, and faster than the lead GT cars. I know we would have had been in the mix. Had it not been for the rough start, I could have raced for a podium finish. But, not this time. It was just a disappointing weekend all around. All you can do is put it behind you and get prepared for the next race. I know we've got a good car and we've got a fresh start."
With Laguna in just a few weeks, the team can prepare knowing they've got a good car, a good team and they'll race on a track made for quality racing.
"Putting my personal disappointment aside," said Guy, "I'm very happy for the guys on the #01 team. They ran strong the whole race, led a bunch of laps and took the third step on the podium. The teams first podium of the 2012 season. ESM is strong and we're only going to get stronger. On to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!"
Next up for the team is the American Le Mans Series Monterey Presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Lagun Seca, May 10-12. The six-hour event gets underway at 1:15PM EST and will air Sunday, May 13 at 5:00PM EST on ESPN2.
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year drives the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Patrón Ferrari. Cosmo is a race record-holder at Mid-Ohio (for fastest lap in the GTC series, which he set in 2009 in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup). Cosmo has 38 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 18 times and has been on the winner’s podium twice. In addition to being an accomplished driver, Cosmo is also a highly sought-after driving instructor. Follow Guy through the racing weekend on Twitter @guycosmo and on Facebook.
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is the world`s leading sports car championship and is recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing. In the tradition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, multiple classes of cars - purpose-built prototypes and production-based Grand Touring automobiles - race on the track at the same time to create compelling race action and constant passing. All cars in the Series compete using one of five approved alternative fuels or energy sources: clean sulfur-free diesel, cellulosic E85 or E10, Isobutanol and electric hybrid technologies. The Series has more automobile marques involved than any other major race series in the world as manufacturers develop relevant technologies on track that transfer directly to the customer showroom. The ALMS competes at North America`s premier road racing tracks and selected temporary street circuits in major urban markets.