Paddock Talk: Practice at Detroit Belle Isle

[Bruce Nunnally]

With the track essentially dry after morning rains, Johnny O’Connell, of Flowery Branch, Ga., and Andy Lee, of Colorado Springs, Colo., gave the hometown fans of Detroit muscle something to cheer about in Friday’s second Pirelli World Challenge practice. The 30-minute session was the final practice before Saturday qualifying for the Cadillac V-Series Challenge at Belle Isle, part of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

O’Connell’s No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V turned a lap of 1:27.659 (85.422 mph) at the 14-turn, 2.08-mile circuit to lead the session. The GT-class Drivers’ Championship leader was the second quickest car in the morning’s rainy practice.

“We’re excited,” O’Connell said. “This street race is the only place in the world where you’re guaranteed that your boss is watching you. You’re on the race track and you can see the RenCen [the GM Renaissance Center] in the background. We’ve had an awesome season so far, which is really the result of everyone Cadillac Racing in the offseason doing their homework.”

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Qualifying Saturday 10:15am

Race Saturday 2:45pm

Race2 Sunday 11:45am

Broadcast: NBC Sports, Saturday, July 7th at 5-7PM eastern.

Live video: http://www.world-challengetv.com/

http://www.world-challenge.com/event/index.php?ID=9134#timing

[Bruce Nunnally]

Practice laps:

Join Team Cadillac drivers Andy Pilgrim and Johnny O'Connell as they prepare to take on the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

[Texas Jim]

Love watching them run laps on the wet track.