Legacy Secured: Performance Tech Ends Season Opener On Podium

Subtitle: Alon, Versteeg Finish Top Five

SEBRING, Fla. (March 19, 2015) – Performance Tech Motorsports continued their legacy at Sebring International Raceway with driver Joel Janco finishing on podium in the season opener of the Cooper Tire Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series.

With Janco’s L1 Masters second place finish Performance Tech has now finished on Podium at Sebring five years running.

“It’s great to continue the legacy, Janco said. “We thought we had a good chance to at least podium if not win. We tried our best; we were smart about our race. This is my best finish ever in IMSA Lites, I’m very happy about that.” 

Teammates Robert Alon and Austin Versteeg finished in the top five after a final yellow flag cut short their charge to the front.

Alon qualified second but had to start fifth due to a penalty given after his car’s transponder failed to transmit the time of his fastest lap.

After the green flag Alon smoothly moved into the fourth position and was quickly gaining on the No. 2 8Star Motorsports car. At the fifteen-minute mark of the thirty-minute sprint Alon had secured the third position. Rough racing ensued between his No. 00 the No. 2 and the No. 10 of JDC Motorsports. Alon was pushed back into the fourth position.

Alon finished fourth after a final caution ended Alon’s charge to the front.

“There was a lot of rough racing upfront,” said Alon. “I did my best to keep myself clean. It was definitely a tough fight, I saw a few cars lose it and go off track. I think I made contact with one of the cars when he came back on track. It was unfortunate that we had to finish under yellow. I would have liked a shot with a restart. Tomorrow should be a good race.”

Rookie Versteeg finished his first Prototype Lites race in fifth place. Versteeg was left wanting more out of his No. 16 Prototype Lites car after he qualified 10th. As quickly as teammate Alon moved up in position so did Versteeg.

Versteeg moved from 10th to ninth on the first lap passing the No. 77 of ONE Motorsports. He benefitted by keeping his composure as he passed traffic through the hectic race showing his maturity. Versteeg picked off position after position and soon caught up to Alon who was in fourth. However, his hunt was also cut short with the final caution of the race.

“It was a really strong drive and I feel good,” Versteeg said. “There was a lot more I could have done in the beginning of the race to get the car where I needed it to be. I made an adjustment about halfway through, and then it was good.

“I got stuck behind a car and when I went for the pass I didn’t commit all the way so I lost some time there. When I finally got passed to chase down third and fourth the second yellow came out and we finished under caution.”

Team Principal Brent O’Neill is content with the results of his Prototype Lites drivers and is expecting more in Race Two.

“They did great out there today and it’s awesome to see Joel on podium,” O’Neill said. “It was unfortunate that Robert couldn’t have started from second but he did a great job. He’s made a lot of progress since last season. He had a tough race out there, so did Austin.

“Here’s a kid who almost didn’t get to race because of his age and he finished in the top five. With Race One under their belts, I think the guys have a great shot at podium tomorrow.”

Race Two for Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda takes place tomorrow, Friday, March 20 at 8:45 a.m. Race Two will be a 45-minute sprint and the final race of the Sebring weekend.

For updates from Performance Tech Motorsports follow the team on Twitter at @Perf_Tech and Facebook.