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Home , 2000 24 Hours of Daytona, 2003 12 Hours of Sebring, 2003 24 Hours of Daytona, Andy Pilgrim, Go Green Racing, Grand Prix of Portland

DESIGN, DEVELOP, BUILD, RACE, WIN

UNDEFEATED

2004

CHAMPIONS A TEAM AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME Contents

It has been a wild year. Think about it: We just got settled into our new A Team at the Top of its Game – Our Perfect Season ...... 2 Photos courtesy of Phil Binks, building, and now a big addition is under construction; our CTS-V One-Two the Hard Way – ...... 4 Dan Boyd, team was in its first racing season; a new Pontiac GTO program was in ALMS Goes Green for 2004 – Mobil 1 ...... 12 Richard Dole, development; and our Corvette customer project for the Selleslagh Racing Gregory Johnson, The Masters – Ron and Johnny Go 3 for 3 at Mid-Ohio ...... 18 Robert Mochernuk, team in Belgium continued. Robin Pratt, Corvettes at Rush-Hour – New England Grand Prix, Lime Rock . . . .20 Richard Prince, In the midst of all this activity, Corvette Racing was never defeated in Bittersweet Victory – , Infineon Raceway . . . 22 Steve Robertson. 2004. We had a perfect season, and those are incredibly rare in auto Printed with permission. Hot One – ...... 24 racing. The reason for our success is the remarkable efforts exerted by Copyright © 2004 Pratt every person involved. This is a team at the top of its game, and our Gavin and Beretta Beat the Jinx – Toronto Grand Prix of Mosport . . 26 & Miller Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. sincere thanks and appreciation for a job well done go out to every Two Straight – 500 ...... 28 All rights reserved. one of you. A Win-Win Situation – Chevy Presents ...... 30 Pratt & Miller Engineering Le Mans was a great comeback; we worked hard and achieved our goal. Corvette C5-R’s Last Season Is Pefect – Laguna Seca ...... 34 & Fabrication, Inc. 29600 William K Smith Drive, During the year since the 2003 race we improved tremendously, and in Team Personals ...... 38 New Hudson, MI 48165 2004 we beat the . Once again we put Corvette Racing at the From the Editor / Thanks to Our Sponsors ...... 42 Phone: 248-446-9800 pinnacle of endurance racing on a world stage. Fax: 248-446-9020 The Photographers ...... 44 www.prattmiller.com Of course, in 2004 the competition in the wasn’t what it had been, but that posed another kind of danger. We could have lost focus, let down and relaxed our effort, but that would not have served us well when tougher competition returns. And a let-down didn’t happen. Instead, we kept our focus, kept improving and honing our skills, working hard so we’ll be ready to take on the best in the world, any time, anywhere.

This book is a tribute to our 2004 team and the success that came from contributions made by all of you. We are proud to be part of such a great group of people. It was a wonderful final season for the C5-R Corvette, and now we can look forward to 2005 and an exciting debut season with the C6.

— Jim Miller and Gary Pratt Jim Miller Gary Pratt

2 3 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A

M ONE-TWO THE HARD WAY E L

F It was a hard hit, but Fellows was able to limp back to the pits. O LUCK? NOT MUCH. Dan Binks and crew made bodywork and suspension repairs in S Last year, a spoiled

R Corvette Racing’s shot at three less than 30 minutes. U

O straight wins in the world’s Then, just after O’Connell rejoined the race, an LMP car hit him H 24 HOURS OF LE MANS most prestigious endurance on the Mulsanne straight. He spun, but was able to get going 4 Circuit de la Sarthe race. Since then, the team has 2 Le Mans, France done an enormous amount of again with some cosmetic damage. At the eight-hour mark – one- 4 June 12-13, 2004 third of the race – the 64 Corvette led by a lap, with the 63 car 0 work in aerodynamic, engine

0 and chassis development. knocked back to sixth, 13 laps behind their teammates. 2 QUALIFYING: This year’s test weekend in The leading Corvette’s fortunes took a turn for the worse at 2nd GTS: , about 1:00 a.m. An LMP car chopped Magnussen off entering #64 Compuware Corvette C5-R, April showed the payoff: Max 3m49.750s Papis became the first GTS a turn, sending him into a tire barrier. This time it was the Ray (132.906 mph) driver ever to clock a lap under Gongla-led crew’s turn to replace smashed bodywork. 3rd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, 3 minutes and 50 seconds, #63 Compuware Corvette C5-R, and all told it looked as though At the 16-hour mark a Ferrari led by six laps over Gavin, 3m51.378s the Corvettes had made net Beretta and Magnussen, but by then the 63 car was up to third (131.971 mph) gains of some 6 seconds a lap. in class, within five laps of their teammates. Unfortunately, O’Connell and Papis were shouldering all the driving. Fellows RACE: A Corvette never has won a GTS pole at Le Mans, and this year had suffered a concussion in his crash, and was pronounced 1st GTS (6th overall): was no different. In the June 10 qualifying sessions one of the medically unfit for the duration. #64 Compuware Corvette Ferraris clocked the fastest GTS lap at 3:49.438. Even C5-R, 345 laps, Oliver Gavin, The last eight hours are always a grind, but by 10 a.m. the , so, everybody on the team knew they could win, if they did every- thing right and had a bit of luck. But not long after the race start- Corvette teams had received a shot in the arm when the leading 2nd GTS (8th overall): Ferrari made a long stop for a broken suspension. Magnussen #63 Compuware Corvette ed at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, it became apparent that luck might C5-R, 334 laps,, be in short supply. took the lead, and the 64 Corvette stayed in front from then on. Johnny O’Connell, Further problems for the Ferrari moved O’Connell and Papis up Just after the first round of pit stops, with Ron Fellows leading to second, and after 24 hours the Corvettes crossed the finish GTS and Oliver Gavin second, Fellows got caught out passing line in an exuberant one-two formation. a GT car. He went off the track, damaged the front bodywork, and the 63 car lost five laps while the crew made repairs.

Things went fine for several hours. Gavin, Beretta and Magnussen kept the 64 car out in front, and shortly after the six-hour mark, the number-63 Corvette was up to third in class with Fellows at the wheel. This time, luck deserted him in a big way.

“I was headed toward Indianapolis at about 170 when all of a sudden I felt a vibration,” Fellows said. “I backed off, then heard a ‘poof,’ and the car spun backwards into the guardrail.”

4 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 2 4 H O U R S O F L E M A N S

Le Mans. It’s a special place.

5 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A M E L F

O Success here doesn’t come easily. It takes hard work and meticulous preparation. S R U O H 4 2 4 0 0 2

6 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 2 4 H O U R S O F L E M A N S

Practice and qualifying; cards on the table. It’s a tense time. 7 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A M E L F O S R U O H 4 2 4 0 0 2 Then there is 24 hours – 4 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday.

8 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 2 4 H O U R S O F L E A poem by Mike West (written on an engine tag during M A

the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans) N S To the racing gods I pray today To see the Vettes along their way. It’s the toughest grind in racing. Speed, endurance are the trials, The course is tough, one lap eight miles. A simple prize we’re searching for, Black & white, nothing more.

9 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A M E L F O S R U O H 4 2 4 0 0 2

10 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 2 4 H O U R S O F L E M A N S

And sometimes, there are special moments that make it all worthwhile THIS WAS CORVETTE RACING’S THIRD 24 HOURS OF LE MANS VICTORY.

11 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 G N I R

B ALMS GOES GREEN FOR 2004 E S

F SEBRING THREE-PEAT: SWEETER STILL O The 12 Hours of Sebring is a tough race to win. It took three For two and a half hours the Corvettes ran comfortably in first S

R years of hard work and disappointments before Corvette Racing and second. Then, after the when Gavin began his

U came up with its first victory. But, as Ron Fellows said after second stint, disaster struck. The number-4 car began smoking O that first win in 2002, “After all the disappointments and almost immediately, and Gavin was stranded out on the course H frustrations, this one is that much sweeter.” with a burned-out clutch. 2 1

1 Three in a row is sweeter still, especially on a track as rough The race’s last nine hours proceeded perfectly for the number-3

L and tough as Sebring. car. They cruised, and by the end Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell I

B and Max Papis were 22 laps ahead of the second-place GTS car. O ALMS, ROUND 1 In qualifying, Oliver Gavin and Ron Fellows were under Gavin’s M 2003 lap record (1:59.024) from the beginning. Late in the “Sebring is a very tough race, but we have learned how to win

– MOBIL 1 session Fellows clocked a 1:57.052, which looked good until here,” Fellows said. “After the number-4 car’s clutch problem

1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING the session’s checkered-flag lap, when Gavin ripped off a we were careful getting out of the pits. The track was slippery,

D Sebring International 1:56.858 for the provisional pole. as usual for Sebring, but our Michelin tires were impressive.” N Raceway U

O March 20, 2004 Unfortunately, in technical inspection officials ruled that the end O’Connell drove the car to the checkered flag, and became the

R plates on the number-4 car’s rear wing were “out of compliance.” first driver in the 52-year history of the race to achieve six class , Gavin’s pole time was revoked and he had to start near the back wins, one of which was an overall victory in 1994. S QUALIFYING: E of the 44-car field. I 1st GTS: Ron Fellows,

R “I’ve had the good fortune to have good cars and be part of #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, E 113.796 mph When the race started at 10:30 Saturday morning, Gavin good teams,” O’Connell said. “I think these Corvette C5-Rs S wasted no time. He passed 18 cars on the first lap, and after will go down as among the most important and successful

S 6th GTS: Oliver Gavin, 16 minutes of running he passed Fellows for the class lead. cars in racing history, and it’s just fantastic to be part of it.”

N #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

A time disallowed M E

L RACE: 1st GTS (4th overall): N #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, A 329 laps, C

I Ron Fellows, Johnny R O’Connell, Max Papis E

M 6th GTS (39th overall):

A #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

4 83 laps (clutch),

0 Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 0 Jan Magnussen 2

12 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N Racers love Sebring. S S E R

It has prestige, tradition and it’s I E S , always a demanding challenge. R O U N D 1 – M O B I L 1 1 2 H O U R S O F S E B R I N G

13 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 G N I R B E S F O S R U O H 2 1 1 L I B O M – 1 D N U O R , S E I R E S

S 12 hours on the old 3.7-mile airport circuit is a torture test – has been now for 52 years. N A M E L N A C I R E M A 4 0 0 2

14 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N S S E R I E S , R O U N D 1 – M O B I L 1 1 2 H O U R S O F S E B R I N G

15 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 G N I R B E S F O S R U O H 2 1 1 L I B O M – 1 D N U O R , S E I R E S S N A M E L N A C I R E M A 4 0 0 2

16 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N S S E R I E S , R O U N D 1 – M O B I L 1 1 2 H O U R S O F S E B R I N Every endurance racer in the world G wants to win here. Now Corvette Racing has won three in a row. 17 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 D N

U THE MASTERS O R

, RON AND JOHNNY GO 3 FOR 3 S E

I At Mid-Ohio, Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell took another step

R toward successfully defending their GTS drivers’ championship, E while Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta made it a one-two finish S for Corvette Racing. Ron and Johnny have won all three times S

N the ALMS has raced at the central Ohio circuit. A

M Both Corvettes smashed the three-year-old qualifying record, E Gavin by more than two seconds on his way to the pole, and L for the race both cars were evenly matched. N A

C During the first stint, Fellows shadowed Gavin, sometimes closing I

R in to remind his teammate that any mistake would be costly. At

E the first round of pit stops, Gavin pitted first, as planned, then M Ron and Johnny caught a break with a full-course caution. That A put the 4 car almost a full lap down. It gave O’Connell a virtually 4

0 ALMS, ROUND 2 insurmountable advantage, and he finished some 33 seconds 0

2 Mid-Ohio ahead of Beretta at the end of the two-hour, 45-minute race. Sports Car Course June 27, 2004 Gary Pratt complimented the crews on their hard work preparing for the race. “In the two weeks since Le Mans they didn’t get much of a rest,” he said. “That race wrecked a lot of parts, QUALIFYING: and we had to work extra hard to get ready for this one. It’s 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, been tough, but we have great people.” #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m18.622s (103.391 mph) 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m19.148s (102.704 mph)

RACE: 1st GTS (3rd overall): #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 118 laps, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell 2nd GTS (4th overall): #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 118 laps Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta

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19 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 X I R P CORVETTES AT RUSH-HOUR D N A

R GAVIN AND BERETTA BEAT THE TRAFFIC G It was the American Le Mans Series’ first appearance at Lime During his stint Gavin made up some of the deficit, but another D Rock Park’s 1.54-mile circuit. Even though the track length is caution allowed the number-4 car to catch up when Fellows and N

A relatively short, its complexity makes it a challenge for drivers Beretta took over again in the final pit stops.

L and race engineers, and the 27-car ALMS field meant plenty G

N of traffic congestion. Shortly thereafter, Beretta pounced on a small slip by Fellows

E and passed him going into turn one. Fellows stayed close, but

W Beretta gave the number-4 car its second straight ALMS pole, never found a good opportunity. Beretta was 3.6 seconds ahead

E and in the race, after a first-lap traffic snarl that dropped the at the finish. N ALMS, ROUND 3, Corvettes to second and third for a short time, Beretta led for – NEW ENGLAND the rest of his stint. Then, it was like Mid-Ohio déja vu as the “When I saw I had a clean pass at turn one I took it and 3 GRAND PRIX nightmare scenario replayed itself for Beretta and Gavin. then pushed to get a bit of a lead,” Beretta said. “I’ve known D Beretta pitted under green, then the caution came out and Ron since 1999 and we always have good, fair racing. It was

N the pace car split the two Corvettes, putting Gavin almost exciting, the car was fantastic, and I’m proud I was able to U Lakeville, Connecticut

O a lap down on O’Connell. win for our crew.” July 5, 2004 R ,

S QUALIFYING:

E 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, I #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, R

E 0m51.425s (107.807 mph) S 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, #3

S Compuware Corvette C5-R, N 0m51.827s (106.971 mph) A M

E RACE:

L 1st GTS (4th overall): #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, N

A 160 laps,

C Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta I

R 2nd GTS (5th overall): E #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, M 160 laps A Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell 4 0 0 2

20 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N S S E R I E S , R O U N

John Fitch, Corvette Racing D team manager in the 1950’s 3 – N E W E N G L A N D G R A N D P R I X

21 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 A M O

N BITTERSWEET VICTORY O S

F CELEBRATION SUBDUED BY MISFORTUNE O

X Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell came through with their third interior. Earnhardt was transported by helicopter to a hospital I win of the year, and their fourth consecutive victory at the 2.53- in Sacramento, where he was treated for second-degree burns R

P mile Infineon Raceway. That ties an ALMS record for most on his lower legs and his chin.

D consecutive wins at a single track.

N The car had to be withdrawn from the race, and from the hospital A Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta qualified on the GTS pole and Earnhardt said, “I’m bummed and disappointed I couldn’t run R

G led much of the race, but were taken out of contention by anoth- the race. I hope Corvette gets the victory.”

– er car. After lengthy stops for repairs they were 16 laps behind

4 their teammates at the end, but still took third in GTS. Dale got his wish. It was the 30th win in 50 starts for Corvette Racing and the C5-R. D ALMS ROUND 4,

N A third Corvette was entered for this race, driven by

U GRAND PRIX and NASCAR star Jr. Earnhardt was slated to “It is kind of a bittersweet win,” Fellows added. “All of us O

R OF SONOMA start the number-8 Corvette, but early in the 8 a.m. warmup were a little down this morning after Dale got hurt, but then

, Infineon Raceway session his car suddenly spun around and slammed into a we still had to get our minds on the race. We’re glad to win S Sonoma, California barrier, then a fire erupted and quickly spread into the car’s this one for him.” E I July 18, 2004 R E

S QUALIFYING: 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, S #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, N

A 1m28.042s (103.451 mph)

M 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows,

E #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

L 1m28.234s (103.226 mph)

N 3rd GTS: Boris Said,

A #8 Compuware Corvette C5-R, C

I 1m29.554s (101.704 mph) R E

M RACE:

A 1st GTS:

4 #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R 0 Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 0

2 102 laps 3rd GTS: #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 86 laps DNS: #8 Compuware Corvette C5-R Boris Said, Dale Earnhardt Jr., did not start

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23 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 X I R P HOT ONE D N A

R RON AND JOHNNY LEAD ANOTHER 1-2 G The Pacific Northwest was suffering under 100 degree heat That was enough for Gavin, but with Beretta back behind the D on qualifying day in Portland, when Olivier Beretta gave the wheel, there was more to come. He caught the second-place N

A number-4 Corvette its fourth straight pole. Ron Fellows was less S7R but there was contact during the pass, the Saleen

L than three-tenths of a second behind, and predicted a guessing spun, and then it was Beretta’s turn to serve a stop-and-go penalty. T

R game for a good race setup that would suit the cooler (low 80s)

O temperatures predicted for the next day. Beretta finally made it up to second late in the race when the P ALMS ROUND 5, Saleen made an extended pit stop. “The car was fantastic today – Fellows and Beretta drove the first shift, with Beretta maintaining but our luck was not,” he said. 5 Portland International a comfortable lead and both drivers staying out of trouble. But D Raceway trouble found Oliver Gavin in the next shift: first a cut tire, then Ron and Johnny cruised to the victory, more than two laps ahead N

U Portland, Oregon a contact incident, a tangle with two LMP cars that forced a pit at the end. “Neither of us were pleased with the handling today,”

O July 25, 2004 stop for damage, and a stop-and-go penalty. Johnny commented, “but we drove as hard as we possibly could, R and things just seemed to work out.” , QUALIFYING: S

E 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, I #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, R 1m09.981s (100.004 mph) E

S 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows,

S #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

N 1m10.251s (99.620 mph) A M RACE: E

L 1st GTS: #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R N Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, A

C 135 laps I

R 2nd GTS:

E #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R

M Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta,

A 133 laps 4 0 0 2

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25 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 T R O P

S GAVIN AND BERETTA O M F

O BEAT THE JINX X I

R CORVETTES DUEL IN MOSPORT THRILLER P

D Mosport is Ron Fellows’ home track, and he and Johnny

N O’Connell were looking to give the fans a treat by winning A there for the fourth straight year. In the end it was oh, so close, R

G but they had to settle for second spot on the podium. Instead,

– teammates Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta overcame their

6 bad-luck streak of the previous two races and took their ALMS ROUND 6,

D second ALMS win of 2004.

N TORONTO GRAND PRIX U In qualifying, Gavin won his third ALMS pole of the year (fifth O OF MOSPORT

R for the number-4 Corvette), but he was just barely quicker than Mosport International , Fellows. Only 12 one-thousandths of a second separated the

S Raceway two Corvettes. E

I Bowmanville, Ontario

R August 8, 2004

E Gavin and O’Connell started Sunday’s two-hour, 45 minute race, S QUALIFYING: with Fellows and Olivier Beretta set to drive the middle stint. The

S 1st GTS: Oliver Gavin, way it played out, the number-4 Corvette held the lead through- N #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, out, although sometimes not by much, but when Gavin and A 1m13.317s (120.741 mph)

M O’Connell took over for their second stints, Oliver enjoyed a lead 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows,

E of some 16 seconds. Johnny chipped away at it and gradually #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, L caught his teammate. In the final minutes of the race, Johnny 1m13.329s (120.722 mph)

N closed in and dropped back as traffic played its part, and at the

A finish line he was a scant two tenths of a second behind. C

I RACE: R 1st GTS: “Both cars had a good clean race,” said Gavin. “Hats off to our E #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R M Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, crew; they won the race for us today. Johnny was pushing hard A 129 laps and the gap would go up and down, but it's great to be a part

4 of another 1-2 finish. We've had some bad luck this year, so I’m

0 2nd GTS:

0 #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R really pleased we were able to win this one.” 2 Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 129 laps

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27 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 0 0 5 A

C TWO STRAIGHT I R

E CLINCHES TITLE M

A At Road America, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta scored their

D second straight win and third of the season. The back-to-back A victories kept their drivers’ championship hopes alive with two O

R races remaining, but the best news of the weekend was that

– Chevrolet clinched its fourth straight American Le Mans Series

7 championship for GTS manufacturers D

N The race unfolded as another flawless, clockwork-like performance

U by Pratt & Miller’s two Corvette C5-R teams. And, as at Mosport, O the number-4 car led from start to finish. R ALMS ROUND 7, ,

S ROAD AMERICA 500 “Finally things are going our way,” said Gavin, thinking back E

I Road America on their ration of bad luck at Sonoma and Portland. “My wife R Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

E and children are here today and that was a big plus. Our car

S August 22, 2004 was three seconds faster in the pits almost every time, so the

S crew helped us win. Olivier and I work so well together, and QUALIFYING: N this is a very strong partnership.”

A 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta,

M #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 2m00.868s (120.568 mph) Fellows and Beretta started the race and returned for the final E

L 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell, stint. Through most of the race the number-3 Corvette was never #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

N far behind, but in the final half-hour Beretta was able to open

A 2m02.034s (119.416 mph) up a more comfortable lead. His victory margin was almost 14 C

I seconds over Fellows. R RACE: E 1st GTS:

M “Hey, we’re racers; we always want to take the checkered flag,”

A #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R said Fellows. “Today was no different, but today everyone at Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 4 Chevrolet has won. Four championships in four years is quite

0 77 laps

0 a feat, and it shows this team's dedication. We’re happy for 2 2nd GTS: Oliver and Olivier today, and we will be back for another battle #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, in a few weeks at .” 77 laps

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29 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A

M A WIN-WIN SITUATION E L

T RON AND JOHNNY CHAMPIONS AGAIN I T

E With the GTS championships for manufacturers and teams “As I got through turn one Ron was leaving the pits,” said Oliver.

P already secured by Chevrolet and Corvette Racing, motivation “He made it right for me, because he could have turned it on at

S at Road Atlanta’s 1,000-mile (or 10-hour) Petit Le Mans event the blend line and made it hard. We got into a whole gaggle of T came from a couple of sources: pride, because Corvette had cars; I got around them but Ron got put in the grass. That was N

E not won last year after three in a row; and the championship the turning point of the race.” S

E for drivers. Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell were tantalizingly

R close to clinching their second straight as a duo, and the third “The win would have been nice, but the championship was P in a row for Ron, which would be an ALMS record. our priority,” said Fellows. “We had to see the big picture. Y

V And it was great to have Max with us again. He’s always

E However, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta weren’t out of the a great addition to the team.” H title hunt, either. But even if they – along with long-distance C

– ALMS ROUND 8, co-pilot Jan Magnussen – did the best they could and won, if

8 Fellows, O’Connell and Max Papis finished second, Ron and CHEVY PRESENTS Johnny took the title. After 1,000 miles of racing, that’s exactly D

N PETIT LE MANS the way it worked out. U

O Road Atlanta

R Braselton, Georgia The number-3 Corvette led through most of the first seven hours, , September, 25, 2004 but the sister car was never far behind. The clincher came at the S

E end of the Corvettes’ second-last pit stops. Gavin had taken over I QUALIFYING: the 4 car and was just completing a flying lap when Fellows exit- R

E 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, ed the pits after taking over from Papis.

S #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R, 1m18.725s (116.151 mph) S

N 2nd GTS: Ron Fellows, A #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R, M 1m19.144s (115.536 mph) E L

N RACE:

A 1st GTS:

C #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R I

R Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta,

E Jan Magnussen,

M 376 laps A 2nd GTS: 4

0 #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R

0 Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, 2 Max Papis, 375 laps

30 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N S S E R I E S , R O U N D 8 – C H E V Y P R E S E N T S P E T I T L E M A N S

31 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S N A M E L T I T E P S T N E S E R P Y V E H C – 8 D N U O R , S E I R E S S N A M E L N A C I R E M A 4 0 0 2

32 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 2 0 0 4 A M E R I C A N L E M A N S S E R I E S , R O U N D 8 – C H E V Y P R E S E N T S P E T I T L E M A N S

33 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S P I H

S CORVETTE C5-R’S LAST SEASON IS PERFECT N O I

P FELLOWS AND O’CONNELL TOP SEASON FINALE M

A The Corvette C5-R retired in a blaze of glory. Pratt & Miller’s During the last scheduled pit stop, however, the number-3 H last race with the seven-year-old GTS race car was a victory, Corvette’s crew gave O’Connell a head start, getting him out C and completed an undefeated final season for a car that already ahead of his teammates. R

A had achieved great success. The C5-R won a total of 35 of its

C 55 races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the The outcome was made more exciting and uncertain when rain

S 12 Hours of Sebring three times, and a remarkable overall victory began falling during the last half-hour. With 15 minutes to go T

R in the . the rain was heavy enough that it made remaining on slicks a O recipe for disaster. Most cars headed into the pits for rain tires, P

S Its last victory as a factory-backed race car was memorable, too, including O’Connell and Gavin. Johnny stayed in front after the

I because it happened on the only regular ALMS circuit where the exchange, and in the poor visibility of rain and darkness, held D

U team had never won. Through the years, Raceway Laguna Gavin off to the checkered flag.

A Seca had been a puzzle the Pratt & Miller team never managed

– ALMS ROUND 9, to solve … until this year, when Olivier Beretta set a new track An emotional time

9 SPORTS CAR record in his pole qualifying run, and Ron Fellows and Johnny Ron Fellows has been with the C5-R program from the beginning D CHAMPIONSHIPS O’Connell took the victory after a late-race pit-stop duel. of development in 1997 and, with , drove the car to N its first victory in 2000. He has been part of 24 of the car’s wins, U Mazda Raceway

O Laguna Seca The four-hour race began at 4 p.m. Saturday and ran into the all but the first one with O’Connell. Driving the car to its last R early hours of darkness. Only seconds after the start, both victory in its last race was an emotional good-bye for the veteran.

, Monterey, California

S October 16, 2004 Corvettes dodged a bullet when another car spun ahead of them. E

I Drivers Olivier Beretta and Ron Fellows had to make some quick “We started off testing in the fall of 1997,” Fellows recalled,

R QUALIFYING: evasive maneuvers to avoid getting caught up in the melee. From “and it’s kind of sad to see the C5-R go. But its not the end of E 1st GTS: Olivier Beretta, S then on, however, the race settled down for the Corvettes. For the the Corvette, just the C5-R. It’s been fantastic for me to be a part #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

S next three hours they ran one-two, with the number-4 car leading of Corvette Racing through the whole time. I’d say this is a fitting 1m21.679s (98.640 mph) N virtually the entire time. end for a really great race car.”

A 2nd GTS: Johnny O’Connell,

M #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R,

E 1m22.238s (97.969 mph) L

N RACE: A

C 1st GTS: I #3 Compuware Corvette C5-R R

E Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,

M 160 laps A 2nd GTS: 4 #4 Compuware Corvette C5-R 0

0 Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, 2 160 laps

34 2004 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND 9 – AUDI SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 35 2004 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING MILLER & PRATT PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 S D R A CORVETTE C5-R RETIRES A WINNER W A D N A M A E T

36 PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING 2004 T E

2004 ALMS Awards C5-R Success Story CORVETTE RACING, 2004: A M

THE TEAM THAT MADE IT HAPPEN A GTS Manufacturers’ Championship: Chevrolet 35 wins in 55 starts N Drivers Truck Drivers D

RON FELLOWS RICH ELDRED A JOHNNY O’CONNELL STEVE HARTSELL W

GTS Team Championship: Corvette Racing 4 GTS manufacturer championships A

OLIVER GAVIN STEVE LONGHI R OLIVIER BERETTA DON MALE D S GTS Drivers’ Championship: Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell 4 GTS team championships MAX PAPIS J.R. REDFIELD JAN MAGNUSSEN KURT RYCHENER

GTS Tire Manufacturers’ Championship: Michelin 3 GTS driver championships Team GM Racing JIM MILLER Executive Team GARY PRATT STEVE SHANNON GTS Mechanic of the Year: Dan Binks 3 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS wins DAN BINKS DOUG DUCHARDT RAY GONGLA HARRY TURNER DOUG LOUTH GARY CLAUDIO Most Popular Driver: Ron Fellows 3 12 Hours of Sebring GTS wins JOE KIEFER GM Racing STEVE COLE DOUG FEHAN DAVE BAREFIELD Fan Appreciation Award: Doug Fehan 1 24 Hours of Daytona overall win STEVE WESOLOSKI JIM DURBIN JOHN RICE GREG HIATT BRIAN GOBLE BOBBY HOUGHTON MARK CHAMBERS RANDY HUGHES DONNY ATKINS DAVID JAMES REILLY BRENNAN ROSS JEFFREY TOM MIKRUT Bosch CHUCK MILLER CHRISTOPH LEHMANN JONATHAN NICOLS ROBIN PRATT Katech MIKE WEST KEVIN PRANGER GARY YOUNG RON HELZER MIKE ATKINS BRIAN COLANGELO PRS BRIAN HOYE JIM KELLY JESSE THOMPSON MIKE TUOMI CHARLIE DEGENER RON ROCHELEAU

Radio Caterer GARY GRUBE RALPH SIMPSON PHIL CURRY

Timing and Scoring Hello C6-R for 2005 MELANIE CORRELL

37 E C A

R TEAM PERSONALS

38 T E A M P E R S O N A L S

39 40 41 THANKS TO LETTER FROM THE EDITOR OUR SPONSORS

General Motors It just doesn’t seem like a whole year has passed since we THE PRODUCTION TEAM produced our 2003 book. But if you step back and see the Chevrolet way our company has grown, it seems more like five years. Chuck McLaren, It is truly unbelievable. To me, this is the real-life story of the American writing, editing, direction Compuware Dream, and I guess it must be true that the harder you work the more successful you become. What a surprise! Ray McAllister, Mobil 1 design Motorola Most small companies can only imagine this kind of success. It took a lot Kate McLaren, of hard work, blood, sweat, tears, lots of resources, and even some luck to production coordination GMAC get where we are now … and where we will be tomorrow. I know it has been Dan Kelly, GM UAW a huge change for everyone who works at Pratt & Miller, but I think everyone Colortech Graphics, Inc., is handling the influx of people pretty well and seems excited about our printing growth and progress. Katech Alleyne Kelly, proofreading Michelin Think about what we accomplished in 2004. Corvette Racing was never beaten … undefeated champions! That achievement is incredibly rare in XM Satellite Radio . And think about what it means. It means we, as a team, were AER the best of the best. The office, the race team, the fab shop, the machine shop, engineering … we were the best! Every one of us can be proud of that; it’s something you can tell your kids and grandkids someday! THE PHOTOGRAPHERS and thanks also to All of us have been lucky enough to work hard and actually make history, Greg Aleck Carlisle Productions and I’m especially proud to have that history recorded in pictures and words here in this book. Our undefeated championship season was achieved through Phil Binks Eaton Fabricating a combined effort from every person in the organization – even the guy who Dan Boyd KFC Composites files a burr off a part, because that burr could make or break the race, or the championship. Every one of us gave 110 percent. Richard Dole K&N Filters Gregory Johnson That’s why we are the champions … every one of us! Lightnen’s Customs Robert Mochernuk Matrix Paint Systems Robin Pratt Richard Prince Winners every one! Robin Pratt Steve Robertson

42 43 S R E H

P THE A R G O

T PHOTOGRAPHERS O H P E H T

Dan Boyd

44 T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R S

Phil Binks

45 S R E H P A R G O T O H P E H T

Richard Dole

46 T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R S

Steve Robertson

47