Racetrack Insider - News and Views of the Motorsports Industry from Insiders Drew Patey and Buddy Judy

Angelelli Wins Grand AM at Montreal

Weather was the key factor in the Grand AM Rolex Sports Car series race at Montreal on Saturday afternoon. The rain that had been on and off all morning settled in just before the start of the 67 lap contest so all of the teams decided to start on rain tires. But this is Montreal and the weather does change. About 10 laps in - the rain let up and all of the front runners duct into the pits for slicks. The battle was now on between the Penske, Gainsco and Sun Trust teams. Each team played the weather as the rain came and went throughout the afternoon. At the end it was Max Angelelli who decided to stay out for that one extra lap that made the difference. Staying out on the slick tires put Angelelli's Sun Trust team up one lap and gave him the win. With only two races remaining, Angelelli - who led the final 12 of 67 laps at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - and co-driver Brian Frisselle are tied for second with the Ganassi team of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, five points behind leaders Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty (274-269). Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard combined to lead 38 laps in the Penske Racing Porsche Riley and finished second behind Angelelli. Alex Gurney took the final podium position on the final lap in the Gainsco Pontiac. Scott Pruett and Rojas were among the teams caught out by the changing weather conditions, finishing 10th. Robin Liddell passed Andy Lally for the lead and then led the final 18 laps to give the Stevenson Automotive Pontiac its second consecutive Montreal 200 Acxiom GT victory and third win of the season. The Rolex Sports Car series will now get two weeks off before heading to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.