Sebastien Bourdais – No. 5 Action Express Racing – Pole Position for Prototypes
“It was a good run. This morning we couldn’t put a lap together because traffic was a big difficulty. It was very hard to get a read on the car in practice because you couldn’t do three consecutive corners without encountering traffic so it’s tough to know exactly what the balance of the car is and to get in the rhythm.
“It’s not going to be any easier tomorrow during the race but at least we have a definite read on how the car is in qualifying. We could put some laps together and I guess we were pretty spot on. Overall the car was quite enjoyable to drive and I just took my time and put some laps together. I’m very happy for the Action Express and Corvette team. We’re in a good place to start after Daytona. The pole is very satisfying but we’ll reset for tomorrow and see where we end up in the race.”
Ricky Taylor – No.10 Wayne Taylor Racing- Third in Prototypes
“Through practice, we never knew where we really were because of traffic. The last (practice) session, we ended up quite far in the back, but I think this proves we have a really good car. Now, we have a good picture of where everybody is. We obviously have work to do to catch the 5, but I think with the three drivers we have in our car, and having the best team on the pit lane, we’re good even though we’re third in speed in qualifying. It’s definitely been a cool day.
“It’s hard to believe three hours ago I was sitting in Dad’s (Sebring International Raceway) Hall of Fame induction ceremony, thinking about qualifying. He’s had a pole here and he’s not stopped rubbing that in my face, so I had that carrot dangling in front of me during qualifying. Obviously, the team did a good job and gave me a good car. I’m really looking forward to racing here tomorrow in these cars for the first time.”
Michael Christensen – No.912 Porsche North America – Pole Position in GTLM
“It’s the first time for me here (at Sebring) and the first time on the pole. We just need to drive as hard as possible. When the class is close like this, it’s going to be a long, long race. You have to keep a cool head as a driver and work well as a team over the wall.”
Oliver Gavin – No.4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R – Fourth in GTLM
“It was a very close session. The Porsche obviously came out and put down a great lap. It was kind of a strange session because from the Conti (Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge) race before us, there was rubber or whatever that was still on the track.
“Our car was quite different to drive. It was unusual in the way the fronts came in before the rears did. We never really got that matched up, and I think that if we had managed to get that matched up, we would have had an even better shot at getting pole. But it was a clean run, no traffic or anything.
“ I think the circuit is going to get very different before the race. You are constantly fighting with that here. The wind direction changes as well so now it is blowing us down the backstretch. Blowing you in to Turn One; blowing you out of 17; all those things you have to take into account. We are reasonably happy with the car, and looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
