Rolex series may add Indy stop

TOOELE — If things go as planned, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series could add a venue considered the mecca of motor sports as a future circuit for its yearly races.

Grand-Am officials took a preliminary step to establishing more of a presence at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway — home of the annual Indy 500 — when they staged a test run there two weeks ago.

Nine Grand-Am teams — the majority of which raced in the Utah 250 at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday — participated in the test, which featured a pair of two hour sessions and amounted to approximately 100 laps. Racers mostly followed the Formula One course, although they did go through turn one and the long straightaway on the fabled oval circuit.

If this were considered an audition for a future Grand-Am race at Indy, an encore performance could be just around the corner.

"We had a lot of fans actually show up to watch," said Utah 250 co-winner Jon Fogarty, one of the participants in the test. "There's a lot of enthusiasm for road racing in those parts. It was cool."

Grand-Am veteran Scott Pruett has seen his share of races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pruett has competed in the Indy 500 several times and has also run in NASCAR races on the track. After taking a Daytona Prototype sports car back to his old stomping grounds, Pruett feels confident a Grand-Am race could offer excitement comparable to the higher profile races already staged there.

"The speeds were awesome," Pruett said. "Indy is all about speed. We were running close to 190 miles per hour on the straightaway and the track seemed to work itself real nice for the adaption of our cars going there."

LAMB EXTENDS WINNING STREAK: After not competing in the first SCCA Mazda MX-5 Cup race of the 2009 season, Todd Lamb had tons of ground to make up just to climb into contention for a championship. Thanks to a record-setting hot streak, Lamb has become the driver others are trying to catch.

Lamb captured his seventh straight MX-5 Cup victory early Saturday afternoon. The Atlanta resident edged out Michigan racer Marc Miller by 6.077 seconds to extend his overall lead in the points standings. Lamb now has 447 points compared to 432 for Miller.

In addition to winning the main race, Lamb earned his sixth pole position in the last seven races during qualifying on Saturday morning.PULLING DOUBLE DUTY: Even though he came to Utah primarily so he could compete in the Dew Tour this weekend, Bucky Lasek took a little time out to make a trek out to Miller Motorsports Park and race in the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge.

Lasek qualified 16th out of 24 drivers and finished 13th in the 45-minute support race staged on Saturday afternoon. His participation doesn't mean Lasek is pondering trading in his skateboard for a race car — especially after winning his second skateboarding vert final this year on Friday.

"Skating is my priority," Lasek said. "Skating is my love. But as far as hobbies go outside skating, (car racing is first)."

Andrew Caddell was the winner in the Mustang Challenge. finishing 7.023 seconds ahead of Ted Anthony, Jr. to claim the victory.

EMAIL: jcoon@desnews.com