PR1/Mathiasen Suffers a Bad Break in Baltimore
 
Gearbox failure prematurely ends PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports' Baltimore Grand Prix - September 4, 2011, Baltimore, MD

After suffering a tumultuous qualifying session for the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports was hoping to put their bad luck behind them. Unfortunately, after only a quarter of the total race distance, the #52 Quest Software/ Future Electronics/ MOBOTIX/ LKM/ Freescale/ Hewlett-Packard Company/ Oreca FLM09 sustained a catastrophic gearbox failure while crossing the trolley tracks that stretch across the city circuit's Pratt Street straightaway.

Starting from P21 overall, Ken Dobson shot down the front straight into turn one when a traffic jam of GT machinery forced the Sonoma, CA, resident to bring the #52 to a grinding halt. Dobson was immediately struck from behind by another competitor resulting in minor damage to the front splitter and severe rear bodywork damage. Undeterred, Dobson drove on and had just cracked into the top five in the LMPC class standings when he piloted the #52 over the extremely bumpy trolley tracks and immediately felt and heard a loud mechanical failure. PR1/Mathiasen Team Principal, Bobby Oergel, ordered Dobson back to the pits where the rear engine cover was removed for inspection. Within moments, the gearbox was diagnosed with an internal failure, ending PR1/Mathiasen's chances to rejoin the race.

After the turn one incident, Dobson felt that the car was in good shape and was confident of being able to make up lost track position.
"Turn one was just one of those situations where there's not enough track for everyone," Dobson said. "But the damage wasn't affecting our lap times at all. If anything, I just needed to get back to the task at hand and put it out of my mind. That's what I was working towards when I went through the chicane the same way I've gone all week, started to go over the tracks the same way, but as soon as I went over, I could tell something was wrong. At first I thought it was the clutch slipping, but really the entire drive train just felt terrible. Once I heard Bobby say that the gearbox was done, my heart sank. We have a lot of VIPs from Quest Software here and I'm so appreciative of their support. They deserved more and we'll be sure to make sure we get them a top finish at our next event at Laguna."
Ryan Lewis, of Royston, Hertfordshire, England, was unable to turn a single lap during the race and was equally frustrated with today's finish.
"As always, PR1/Mathiasen worked tirelessly to deliver during a truly difficult situation," Lewis explained. "The whole weekend has been a challenge while dealing with a first-time street circuit. We knew that things would be rough out there, but as you can see, the bumps were just too much to deal with today. I hate it for all the guys and for all of our supporters. We showed tremendous potential in the practice sessions and I know that we could have been on the podium today. It's just one of those deals."

PR1/Mathiasen Team Principal, Bobby Oergel, will have his team ready for the next race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
"Ultimately, there's not much that you can do in these situations," Oergel said. "The car was ran well within the manufacturers specification and it drove extremely well in the practice sessions. We were worried that the track surface would be an issue, but we had no indication that any of the car's vital systems were threatened this weekend. Looking at the on-board footage, you can see that Ken took the normal line at a normal rate of speed. The gear box just let go on us and kept us from scoring another great finish. The boys will have it back together in time for the next six-hour race at Laguna though. We always run well there."

The penultimate round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón schedule, the ModSpace American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patron at the historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, will be shown live on September 17, 2011 on ESPN3.com at 1:15pm PT.
Potential partners interested in the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón LMPC program can contact the team directly at pr1motorsports@aol.com or at (559) 277-1300.

About Quest Software:
Quest creates simple-to-use IT management software that saves time and money across virtual, physical, and cloud environments. Their award-winning products and time-saving services ease the toughest IT challenges for more than 100,000 customers worldwide. Customers need simpler ways to do powerful things. That's what Quest has delivered since 1987.
The company is focused on technology innovation that delivers real value and cost savings, fast. Customers can rely on Quest to meet just about any IT management need with their breadth of smart, award-winning products and time-saving services. Whether customers are working with Windows, databases and applications, or in physical, virtual or cloud environments — customers are covered. Customers will be amazed how their innovative yet practical solutions will transform IT operations and boost staff productivity higher than ever imagined – and all from a solid company that's been helping organizations large and small since 1987.
www.quest.com

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About DLT Solutions
Let DLT Solutions help your government agency or business overcome real-world challenges through its broad selection of best-in-class information technology products and superior services available on your procurement vehicle of choice.
The same vendor-centric model on which DLT was founded in 1991 still holds true today. DLT carries only the top software and hardware manufacturers in each market segment and distinguishes itself by focusing our efforts on obtaining deep subject matter expertise and process integration with those world-class manufacturers.
www.dlt.com
About Future Electronics:
Future Electronics is a global leader in electronic components distribution, recognized as one of the most respected and innovative companies in the industry. Headquartered in Montreal, and operating in 41 countries, Future Elecronics has earned an impressive reputation for the strength of its commercial and technical competencies, through all stages of the design production cycle, and for developing efficient, comprehensive global supply chain solutions. Globally integrated, Future Electronics has one worlwide IT infrastructure providing real time inventory availability and access, while enabling all integrations of operations, sales and marketing worlwide.
Future Electronics is pleased to introduce the most comprehensive, user friendly and informative web site in the industry. Visit FutureElectronics.com and enjoy shopping for all your component needs 24/7; American orders placed by midnight can be delivered the next morning. Future Electronics is ushering in a new era in online component selection at FutureElectronics.com, empowering engineers by providing domain expert information and advice, combined with vivid imagery and an extensive library of reference material. FutureElectronics.com boasts the most intuitive navigation engine built on top of the richest, most relevant product information in the industry today.
Offering the highest level of service, the most advanced engineering/design capabilities and technical solutions, and the largest available-to-sell inventory in the world, the company's mission is always to Delight the Customer.
About MOBOTIX:
When MOBOTIX developed the first weatherproof web cam with digital image sensors and an integrated PC back in 1999, no one could ever have imagined the impact this would have on the future of video surveillance. The transmission of video streams over computer networks finally enabled video technology to depart from the restrictions of a TV standard which had applied for 60 years, bringing it in line with the megapixel image quality of modern-day digital cameras. MOBOTIX is the only network camera manufacturer to date that is capable of storing smooth high-resolution video streams with 1536 lines instead of the usual 288, including sound. The new technology isn't just more powerful in all areas, it also has two decisive advantages: it is more cost-effective than traditional CCTV video technology and more multi-functional thanks to its integrated computer and network connection. Visit www.mobotix.com for more information.
About Freescale Semiconductor:
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2007 sales of $5.7 billion (USD).
Freescale is the world's No. 1 supplier of automotive semiconductors, with more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. Freescale's sensors, analog products and 8-, 16- and 32-bit MCU families provide intelligence and connectivity for advanced safety, body electronics, chassis, engine control, powertrain, driver information and telematics.
www.freescale.com
About HP:
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly referred to as HP, is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was founded in a one-car garage in Palo Alto by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, and is now one of the world's largest information technology companies, operating in nearly every country. HP specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, data storage, and networking hardware, designing software and delivering services. Major product lines include personal computing devices, enterprise servers, related storage devices, as well as a diverse range of printers and other imaging products. HP markets its products to households, small- to medium-sized businesses and enterprises directly as well as via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors.
www.hp.com
About PR1 Motorsports:
In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec and professional sports cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1 Motorsports drivers, and partners, also enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team information can be found at: www.PR1Motorsports.com
Press contact: Eric Wildt at (707) 480-7350 or ericwildt01@mac.com
Photo Credit: Jamey Price
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