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Scott Tucker, team owner and driver for Level 5 Motorsports in the LMPC class of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, has had about as much success as possible through two races.
Today he talks about the first two rounds of 2010, being tied for the class championship lead and racing for the second time this season on the California coast – this time the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón next week at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Q&A with Level 5 Motorsports’ owner and driver
Q: You are one of three classes (LMP, GT, LMPC) to hold a championship tie going into the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón. What is the mindset going into a race like this?
ST: We knew it was going to be a very tight points race this year. For the inaugural year of LMPC, I think all the competitors have delivered a great show for American Le Mans Series fans. The Level 5 engineers have really been taking extra time to prepare the cars. As a team we’ve been focused on winning this championship from the outset and we’ll continue to put our car in the best position possible for points.
Q: Have you been in this situation before?
ST: Yes. In 2008 and 2009 I competed in the Ferrari Challenge Series and was in this same exact situation. We were fighting every race for the overall lead in a very tight championship. I’m actually in the same scenario again this year in the Ferrari Challenge series. We just regained the points lead earlier this month after a win at Infineon Raceway.
Q: How important is this race given the fact that it is the last race featuring extra points until Petit Le Mans?
ST: It’s important, but it is the same for everyone.
Q: In preparation for next week’s six-hour race, how beneficial it is to have an extra two hours in the cockpit compared to the four-hour race in 2009?
ST: Having an extra two hours on track can be a huge advantage for an experienced team. Though we strive to run a clean race, extra time provides a better opportunity to overcome any little mistakes or situations that always seem to pop-up during these longer endurance races.
Q: What are the benefits of a six-hour enduro, especially when you are to have seat time in both the No. 55 and No. 95?
ST: There are quite a few benefits. One – having the extra seat time in a racing environment. Two – having two cars which allows for experimentation with different setups. Three – having the learning curve shortened. And of course it maximizes the efficiency of the track time allowed for a driver.
Q: How does it feel to compete in back-to-back races in California?
ST: It’s great. The guys really are enjoying the weather and of course these California tracks are home to some of our best results. The Level 5 crew hasn’t had much of a break. We’ve been working on the LMPC cars but also had two races in another series so we’ve been extremely busy. We’ve been stationed in California for quite a while now!
The six-hour American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is set for 2:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 22. CBS Sports will broadcast the race from 1:30 to 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 29. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.
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