It was a near-perfect run for Tomy Drissi and Kyle Marcelli in the No. 37 Intersport Racing Alvin and the Chipmumks: Chipwrecked / Muscle Milk / Lafarge / DynaPep LMPC car as they dominated their class taking the top spot on the podium and third overall at the American Le Mans Series Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.
The LMPC race started with a three-way battle with the No. 06, No. 63 and the No. 37 car of Tomy Drissi. Drissi turned in a picture perfect start falling into lock step with the leaders, staying out of the turn one melee and holding firm ground through another charge of traffic into turn two. On lap 14 Tomy grabbed the lead with the No. 06 car falling by the way side. Ultimately the No. 6 went in for a lengthy pit stop dropping the car well down the order and out of contention.
From that point on Tomy Drissi navigated the streets of Baltimore with ease. At 57 minutes and according to schedule, Tomy brought the car in for a driver change and fuel only. The decision to double stint the tires would widen the lead for the team and prove to be unsurmountable for any of their LMPC challengers. Tomy and Kyle, who were winners in round five at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, ran the rest of the race unchallenged for their second win of the season and fourth podium for the year. The win was truly a near perfect team effort.
“The track was really, really difficult,” Drissi said of the 2.1-mile street circuit along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. “With the risk you take for a second here, tenth there, another tenth there, you have to keep your ego in check. I got it [lap time] down to race pace during my stint after settling in. So then it was about delivering a good car to Kyle to let him drive it in.”
“I think going into a temporary circuit on a weekend like this, you have to come in with a well-prepared car,” added Kyle Marcelli. “We unloaded off the trailer with a baseline. We sat in the board room and picked what we wanted to do. I knew my job was to bring the car home and maintain the lead that I knew Tomy would bring us…. I kept my nose clean and did what I could to get by trying to be as clean and lean as possible. Our pace was really close for overall finish, but we had our own issues getting out of the pits, it took me three times to get the starter working, otherwise we might have been able to get out in front of the Dysons.”
“You can’t say enough about Brian [Alder] and the Intersport crew,” added Tomy. “I always refer to Intersport as the little giant slayers. Both Jon and Clint Field drive all out and the team works the same way. This is just so much fun being with people that are all working together for the same goal. And I can’t say enough about Kyle… he’s so fast and so consistent. Everyone here makes me want to bring my best… you just don’t want to be the guy that lets the team down. This was a great weekend for us.”
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will make a cross country trip to California for round eight at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The ModSpace American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón will go green Sept. 16 at 1:30 PM (PT). The race will air on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 17 and be carried live on ESPN3 beginning at 12:50 PM.
Tomy Drissi is an American driver and Trans Am Champion. His driver experience includes ALMS, Trans-Am, NASCAR and Speed World Challenge. Born December 9 in Hollywood, California, Tomy owns an advertising firm that produces upcoming film displays for cinemas. Drissi’s first racing experience in motorsports was street racing on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills. His professional racing career highlights include; 1999 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year, 2000 Trans-Am BBS Most Improved Driver, 2000 Trans-Am Crew of the Year and Trans-Am Champion. In 2010 Tomy competed in Trans-Am competing in 7 rounds and taking 1 win, 1 pole, 3 podiums, 4 Top Fives, 7 Top Tens; He also competed in the American Le Mans Series LMP1 class at Mid-Ohio finishing 3rd. Tomy is married to Lacy Livingston Drissi.
Find out more about Tomy at http://www.tomydrissi.com or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tomydrissi/. You can follow Tomy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tomydrissi.
Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 : Chip-wrecked. In theatres December 16 2011
“On vacation aboard a luxury cruise ship, Alvin, Simon, Theodore and the Chipettes are up to their usual antics, turning the ship into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a desert island. As Dave Seville frantically searches for his AWOL charges, the ‘Munks and Chipettes do what they do best – sing, dance and wreak havoc. But they’re in for a surprise when they embark on an island adventure with their new friend – a castaway who’s more than a match for The Chipmunks and The Chipettes.”
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is the world`s leading sports car championship and is recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing. In the tradition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, multiple classes of cars – purpose-built prototypes and production-based Grand Touring automobiles – race on the track at the same time to create compelling race action and constant passing. All cars in the Series compete using one of five approved alternative fuels or energy sources: clean sulfur-free diesel, cellulosic E85 or E10, Isobutanol and electric hybrid technologies. The Series has more automobile marques involved than any other major race series in the world as manufacturers develop relevant technologies on track that transfer directly to the customer showroom. The ALMS competes at North America`s premier road racing tracks and selected temporary street circuits in major urban markets.