Portland

July 30, 2005 — The longest period of time for team members is the time it takes to tear down and load up after losing a hard fought victory with the end of the race in sight. James Weaver coasted to a stop two laps from the end with fuel pressure problems while leading the American Le Mans race at Portland International Raceway today. Weaver ended up third in the #16 Thetford/Norcold Lola while Chris Dyson finished second in the #20 car. Dyson Racing led 134 of the 138 lap race and was one, two for over three quarters of the race with Andy Wallace taking the honors of the fastest lap. Wallace also moves up to second in the points, only eleven points out of first.

Both Dyson Racing cars started from the front row. Pole winner Andy Wallace took the lead and held it until Butch Leitzinger dived under Wallace at the first turn Festival Curves and took the point on lap ten. They circled nose to tail for the first 54 laps. During the first full course yellow, both cars pitted for fuel, tires, and driver change. James Weaver took over from Leitzigner and retained the lead with Chris Dyson right behind. Weaver relinquished the lead on lap 83 when he had to come in for a new battery. The stop under green put him a lap down, but he was good to go on fuel to the end. He got his lap back under a full course yellow on lap 92 and ran down the third place Audi on lap 104 and it was again a Dyson one, two with Weaver going around Dyson three laps later. The Audi pulled a Tony Stewart move on Dyson 13 laps from the end, diving to the inside going into the Festival Curves. “There was no way Pirro was going to get by me unless there was a problem,” recalled Dyson. “The paddle shifter acted up and he muscled by. Unfortunately, it ended up being a pass for the lead when James retired. The racing gods gave them a gift today.”

Dyson Racing takes a two week break and will showcase their resiliency at Road America August 19- 21. “Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.” – William A. Ward