O'Connell Brings the World of Sports Car Racing Home - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

gaijin · 09-14-2004

O'CONNELL BRINGS THE WORLD OF SPORTS CAR RACING HOME TO GEORGIA

Braselton, GA - Johnny O'Connell's career as a professional racing driver has taken him to many parts of the world, and he has lived in several different states, but he has never liked an area better than his current address in Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia.

The 42-year-old O'Connell, a native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has lived in Flowery Branch since 1999 and has no intention of leaving, even when his racing career is over.

O'Connell has been racing professionally since 1986 and is on the verge of adding to his racing accomplishments as he prepares to compete in Chevy presents Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta Sep. 22-25. The driver for the factory Chevrolet Corvette team can clinch his second consecutive American Le Mans Series GTS class driving championship if he and co-drivers Ron Fellows and Max Papis finish either first or second in their class in the 1,000-mile sports car endurance racing event.

"We've already won the manufacturer's championship for Chevrolet and the team championship for Corvette Racing, so the driver's championship is the next order of business," said O'Connell, who has four wins this season in the seven ALMS events that have been held. He finished second in the other three.

"Ron and I won the championship together last year and it was great to be able to share it with him," he said. "He's not only a great teammate but also a great person. We'll have Max with us at Petit because it's a long race and we need three drivers. He helped us win at Sebring this year and he did a great job in the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

O'Connell and Fellows have been co-drivers for the Corvette team since 2001 and have scored 19 wins together in the ALMS, as well as two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fellows won the ALMS GTS driving title alone in 2002, and then a change in the points system allowing co-drivers to share the title made them champions together last year.

Fellows is on the verge of becoming the first driver in the six-year history of the ALMS to win three championships.

But there is still a race to run, and O'Connell would like nothing better than to win the championship at his home track. He lives less than five miles from Road Atlanta and counts the win that he and Fellows earned in the 2002 Petit Le Mans as one of his favorites.

"Anytime you can sleep in your own bed on the night before a big endurance race, it's an advantage," said O'Connell. "Plus I really like racing at Road Atlanta. It's got aspects that drivers really like, including high-speed turns, elevation changes and good passing zones."

O'Connell will be extra busy the week of Petit Le Mans as he operates his annual Johnny O'Connell Charity Auction. Held on the night before the race in the Road Atlanta infield, the auction includes items donated by various racing teams and drivers. Proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia and to The Guest House, a home for Alzheimer's patients located in Gainesville, Ga.

"It's a busy time that week but it's all worth it," he said. "Winning the race and the championship in one day will be even better."

EVENT INFORMATION

Chevy presents Petit Le Mans will get the green flag at 12 noon (Eastern) on Saturday, September 25. The race will cover 1,000 miles, or 10 hours, whichever comes first on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta circuit. Qualifying will be held on Friday, Sept. 24, along with an ALMS Fan Forum and an open paddock autograph session featuring all ALMS drivers. ALMS cars will also practice on Wednesday and Thursday of race week.

The race will be televised live in North America by the SPEED Channel and in Europe by MotorsTV. American Le Mans Series Radio will have live coverage of qualifying and the race that can be heard online at www.americanlemans.com.

Ticket information for the event is available online at www.americanlemans.com or by calling the Road Atlanta ticket office at (800) 849-RACE.

09-14-2004	#1
gaijin Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Road Atlanta Posts: 371	O'Connell Brings the World of Sports Car Racing Home O'CONNELL BRINGS THE WORLD OF SPORTS CAR RACING HOME TO GEORGIA Braselton, GA - Johnny O'Connell's career as a professional racing driver has taken him to many parts of the world, and he has lived in several different states, but he has never liked an area better than his current address in Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia. The 42-year-old O'Connell, a native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has lived in Flowery Branch since 1999 and has no intention of leaving, even when his racing career is over. O'Connell has been racing professionally since 1986 and is on the verge of adding to his racing accomplishments as he prepares to compete in Chevy presents Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta Sep. 22-25. The driver for the factory Chevrolet Corvette team can clinch his second consecutive American Le Mans Series GTS class driving championship if he and co-drivers Ron Fellows and Max Papis finish either first or second in their class in the 1,000-mile sports car endurance racing event. "We've already won the manufacturer's championship for Chevrolet and the team championship for Corvette Racing, so the driver's championship is the next order of business," said O'Connell, who has four wins this season in the seven ALMS events that have been held. He finished second in the other three. "Ron and I won the championship together last year and it was great to be able to share it with him," he said. "He's not only a great teammate but also a great person. We'll have Max with us at Petit because it's a long race and we need three drivers. He helped us win at Sebring this year and he did a great job in the 24 Hours of Le Mans." O'Connell and Fellows have been co-drivers for the Corvette team since 2001 and have scored 19 wins together in the ALMS, as well as two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fellows won the ALMS GTS driving title alone in 2002, and then a change in the points system allowing co-drivers to share the title made them champions together last year. Fellows is on the verge of becoming the first driver in the six-year history of the ALMS to win three championships. But there is still a race to run, and O'Connell would like nothing better than to win the championship at his home track. He lives less than five miles from Road Atlanta and counts the win that he and Fellows earned in the 2002 Petit Le Mans as one of his favorites. "Anytime you can sleep in your own bed on the night before a big endurance race, it's an advantage," said O'Connell. "Plus I really like racing at Road Atlanta. It's got aspects that drivers really like, including high-speed turns, elevation changes and good passing zones." O'Connell will be extra busy the week of Petit Le Mans as he operates his annual Johnny O'Connell Charity Auction. Held on the night before the race in the Road Atlanta infield, the auction includes items donated by various racing teams and drivers. Proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia and to The Guest House, a home for Alzheimer's patients located in Gainesville, Ga. "It's a busy time that week but it's all worth it," he said. "Winning the race and the championship in one day will be even better." EVENT INFORMATION Chevy presents Petit Le Mans will get the green flag at 12 noon (Eastern) on Saturday, September 25. The race will cover 1,000 miles, or 10 hours, whichever comes first on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta circuit. Qualifying will be held on Friday, Sept. 24, along with an ALMS Fan Forum and an open paddock autograph session featuring all ALMS drivers. ALMS cars will also practice on Wednesday and Thursday of race week. The race will be televised live in North America by the SPEED Channel and in Europe by MotorsTV. American Le Mans Series Radio will have live coverage of qualifying and the race that can be heard online at www.americanlemans.com. Ticket information for the event is available online at www.americanlemans.com or by calling the Road Atlanta ticket office at (800) 849-RACE.