Velox motorsport was in full attack mode when qualifying began Saturday.  Driver coach Shane Lewis and pilot Gerry Vento had a plan in place.  When the green flag fell Vento remained on pit lane waiting for a clearing in the 32 car field.  When the team saw fit Vento was given  the "all clear".  " The Yokohama spec tire we run on here seems to fall off pace only 3 or 4 laps, so the window of opportunity is very slim" commented Jeff Bye.  

 Vento was able to lay down a time on lap 1 to place him in the field.  Lap 2 was even quicker by a few tenths.  However, lap 3 came to a screeching halt in turn 7 when the car swapped ends and was lost in a huge cloud of Salt Lake dust.  Loosing no time at all the XO Cafe Patron entry emerged from the cloud and headed toward pit lane.  Upon arrival the crew realized that all 4 tires were flat spotted. 

 The Imsa code on this occurrence is that only one tire may be changed out or you forfit your qualifying session.  The crew quickly chose to change out the right front tire as it appeared to be the worst.  Mechanic Tom Allen quickly sprang to action with an air hose and began the ever important process of removing all foreign material from radiators, air ducts and the brake system. Loosing no more than 2 laps the Patron/Westec  entry was back on track.  "We made a quick decision to only change the right front. We are only allowed to change one tire here so we are taking a gamble in hopes Gerry can better his lap time......the car is going to vibrate very badly.....I hope he can hang on." commented Jeff Bye.   As the checkered flag fell Vento was able to place a lap 3 tenths of a second faster than his earlier lap.  " I have been pushing harder and harder there all week.  As soon as I turned in I knew I had my hands full.  I almost caught it but came up a little short." added Vento.

To add salt to their wounds the team realized after returning to the garage that the flat spot on the right rear was quite deep as well.  The team soon decides to start the race on a fresh set of tires giving them the final place on the starting grid according to Imsa code. "We are in good shape really. Starting the race on fresh rubber is a good thing here despite the grid position. I'm confident we will give them a run for their money." Jeff Bye.