Park Place Proves Everything’s Bigger In Texas

For Park Place Motorsports, two Porsches are good and three are even better – especially when the Dallas-based team’s is racing figuratively in its own backyard. For Park Place Motorsports, two Porsches are good and three are even better – especially when the Dallas-based team’s racing figuratively in its own backyard. Park Place made its GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class debut in January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona with mixed results. The team, led by Daytona, Le Mans and Sebring winner Patrick Long, was fast in testing and practice but beset by problems in the twice-around-the-clock race itself. The team’s two cars finished 14th and 16th in class although both recorded laps consistent with the GT leaders despite being laps behind.

Long and co-driver Patrick Lindsey return to the wheel of the team’s No. 73 Porsche GT3 for Saturday’s GRAND-AM of the Americas presented by GAINSCO and TOTAL at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Also entered is the No. 72 tandem of Mike Skeen and Mike Vess.

A third No. 71 Porsche will be helmed by Dallas-area drivers Jason Hart and John McCutchen II. The paint scheme on third car – dubbed “The Heart Car” – will feature Godstone Ranch Motorsports and the non-profit organization’s support of the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR program. It marks the AHA’s first appearance on a race vehicle since the organization was founded in 1915.

As part of the Hands-Only CPR campaign, Godstone’s goal is to raise awareness about the simple life saving technique. “We want HOCPR to be as common knowledge as 911 is to nearly every man, woman and child in the United States,” said McCutchen, whose wife Karen Garrett, a world-class sculptor, founded Godstone Ranch in 2009.

“Hopefully, every fan watching us race will note the three simple steps to saving a life: call 911, push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of ‘Stayin’ Alive.'”

“There’s been a lot of work to do since Daytona. Fortunately, that’s kept my focus and has made the time go by quickly, but I’m ready to get back in the driver’s seat,” said Lindsey. “Being the first race at a brand new track, there will be a lot to do this weekend in Austin from a driver’s standpoint, building our setup pretty much from scratch because we have no baseline for it.

“It can be a difficult task for the drivers and engineers, but it’s going to be the same for everybody, so that levels the playing field in a big way.”

The inaugural GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race in Austin can be seen on SPEED at 5:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, March 2. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series event will be broadcast by SPEED at 4 p.m. ET on March 9.
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