UPDATE from Qualifying - Daytona

[AZhitman]

There's not a lot to report, but on the first practice session, the car got a good shakedown, running strong. Both Brian and Joey are happy with the driveability of the Team HLM G35GT, and they were in the top 10 on a wet track.



During the second session they experienced a power loss which was quickly traced back to the timing chain tensioner. Unfortunately, this resulted in floated valves, necessitating an engine change.

This prevented the G from making the first round of qualifying, so they'll have to qualify tomorrow. The top 20 cars were locked in today, so the best we can hope for is 21st starting spot... but it’s a long race.

Let's wish Bryan and Joey the best of luck tomorrow - Let's get ready to RUMBLE!

[maxhopper]

Show 'em all what the tail lights look like! Good luck qualifying.

[corey240]

damn a hole motor change? that sucks but good luck guys, you need to run that on the vir full course someday!

EDIT: I just saw a couple posts down you were just there lol my bad.

[AZhitman]

Well, not a great day for Team HLM or the G35GT... During morning practice, Joey turned a 53-second lap without really trying which is pretty impressive - We were looking forward to a good qualifying lap.

After cycling all the other drivers through the car to get everybody comfortable, Joey went out for the official qualifying.

After the first lap, we lost another motor!!

Since we're not sure what's going on, and the other motor is already toast, we are going to put the mule motor back in for the race.

Fortunately the one lap the car DID complete, it qualified for the race... Although we are going to be deep in the field, with a mule motor, it's a long race.

Let's hope the G35GT can stay out of trouble, and that the drivers can pilot it to a respectable finish!

[EZcheese15]

Well I finally made it into the track after arguing with the credentials office for 4 hours this morning. Long story short, but we waiting in line 2 times, both 2 hours each wait before we had our credentials. Because Grand-Am's credential office has never heard of a computer, and everything is run off of hand-written notes, they lost the credential list for HLM, told us we weren't on it, then we came back an hour later (and a 2 hour wait again) to find out that we were on it. After all the drama, we finally made it into the track abaut 30 seconds before the race started. The race was already going before we found a parking spot, but alast, we have made it.

Because the team is busy with racing, here is what I know so far, all via 2nd hand word.

The source of the blown motor has supposedly been traced back to an overheating problem, which has since been corrected. The team apparently started dead last, with 73 on the grid. At this point, last word is that they are 50th overall. So they are going in the write direction! Bryan told me of all the problems so far, but as he said it "hey, the race is 24 hours, a lot can happen." That's the best way to think about a race like this. Heck, if you car can endure 24 hours of full throttle racing, you have a good chance of placing pretty decent. I'll keep you guys updated as soon as I hear more!

[audtatious]

As of right now, they are in 16th position in the GT class and 40th position overall. John Lewis is the driver and the current lap times are being done in just under 2 minutes each at an average 107mph. At this time, 3 hours and 41 minutes have passed in the race.

I have yet to see the car on TV tho...

Here is a link for the live updated list. The Team_HLM Infiniti is car number 45 in the GT class

http://www.livetiming.net/role...246PM

[maxhopper]

Speed seems to only be focusing on the DP cars/drivers; but I have seen the HLM G35 twice so far. The first time was when one of the DP cars that was being talked about passed it, and the second was during a brief glimpse of a big snarl in the first set of turn - the G35 went through the grass to avoid the trouble, and kept on going.

[audtatious]

I've only seen it once during the close of the first session when they were showing some highlights. It was in the middle being passed left and right by the DP cars.

Yes, most of the coverage has thus far been the DP's.

[MagikDragon]

ahh flames....



and a butt shot

[AZhitman]

At the 4 hour mark, the Team HLM / NICOclub G35 was in 38th position overall, and in GT they were sitting in 16th.

According to Joey and Bryan, the car is running fine.... They had a tire issue that lost some time, and an issue in the early part of the race where the engine was flat on the top end. This was traced back to a lamba sensor. Once that was corrected it came back to full power.

Both Joey and Brian have been able to turn competitive lap times with the race leaders. "We are just trying to keep our nose clean and stay out of trouble", says Joey.

Keep rocking, guys! We're all watching and pulling for you!!!

[EZcheese15]

Well, latest update isn't much of an update at all. As you can see, Matt posted the link for the live timing board, which is the same thing we're watching here at the track. I would post up some photos, but so far I don't have any good ones. Fortunatly, the car has seen no garage time since the race has started, so it's been hard to get any good pictures. Hopefully when the sun comes up I'll be able to snap some good photos.

We've heard that they may come into the garage for a brake change in about an hour or so, so maybe we'll catch them in the act.

[audtatious]

Good deal

You hanging with the team?

[EZcheese15]

Bad news....team HLM is out of the race.

Around 11:30 EDT, motor #3 for the weekend killed itself. After blowing two motors before the race (one due to a timing chain tensioner, and the other due to overheating--which was fixed), they only had one motor left to last throughout the 24 hours. On hour 10 of the race, another timing chain tensioner broke and left the car to finish after lap 230. An unfortunate result for the team's 1st race, but at least we know where the weak part of the engine is. Better luck next time!

[EZcheese15]

Here a couple pics I snapped of the car on the track:

And here are a couple from the garage right before they packed it up for the end of the day:

[Dano]

Oh man, that really sucks to hear I really enjoyed seeing it out on the track though!!!!!!!x10

-Dan

[AZhitman]

Damn Infiniti timing chain issues...

Well, it made the track, and it ran well while it lasted - Here's to the next race!!!!

[Dano]

Here, here!!!

-Dan

[Bubba1]

Here, here!!!

-Dan

Yeah, I was watching it for several hours yesterday, and caught a few glimpses of the G35. Unfortunately the tv coverage is so heavily biased toward the DP class and the NASCAR/Indy drivers. It's a shame, the best stories are in the GT class.

I predict HLM will grab a podium in the next race. For a 1st effort in a new car, they were competitive, so major props. In addition to HLM, I've also been rooting for the #70 Porsche GT3 (Randy Pobst).

[Dano]

Yep, Pobst rocks.

I can't wait for the next race of the G35!

-Dan

[nismofly]

Joel the #70 pobst was in was one of the speedsource rx-8's...i believe he ended up in 7th or so

s14boy's friend (Ian Baas) ended up getting caught up in that first lap GT wreck, little bit of a change from last year when he won it with pobst in the 36 gt3

the playboy team that was supposed to run a 350 ended up finishing 9th in their old porsche

HLM did good for their first time out, by the end of the season id say youll be seeing them a lot more, obviously just some minor stuff to work out

the biasing towards DP normally happens during the 24, the rest of the season youll be seeing a lot more GT coverage

[nismofly]

btw who else is coming to watkins glen for the 6 hour...i know you want to

[Sput]

btw who else is coming to watkins glen for the 6 hour...i know you want to