The Championship Team
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
2002
The Championship Team
CONTENTS
Tribute to a Team of Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
The Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
2002 Season Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Repeat Performance – 24 Hours of Le Mans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
United We Stand – Persian Gulf Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
That Much Sweeter – 12 Hours of Sebring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
ALMS, Sears Point to Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Final Victory in a Remarkable Season – Petit Le Mans . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Dreams and Legends, by Gary Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Awards, Celebrations and Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Pratt & Miller: Design, Develop, Build, Race, Win . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
A Word from Robin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Thanks to Our Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Photos courtesy of Peter
Brock, John Brooks, David
Noels, Robin Pratt, Richard
Prince, René Tanner.
Printed with permission.
The Championship Team,
copyright © 2002
Pratt & Miller Engineering
& Fabrication
All rights reserved
PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING & FABRICATION, INC.
29600 WILLIAM K. SMITH DRIVE,
NEW HUDSON, MI 48165
PHONE: 248-446-9800
FAX: 248-446-9020
WWW.PRATTMILLER.COM
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C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
Tribute to a Team of Champions
S U C C E S S like we achieved in 2002 comes down to a team of really good people doing
their jobs very, very well. In the following pages, we’re proud to present our team in photos
from this season — doing what they do best.
In 2002, their best surpassed even our remarkably successful 2001 season. We won 10 of 11
races, starting with the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring in March, and finishing with the Petit Le
Mans at Road Atlanta in October. Those were two jewels of the GTS triple crown, and in June
we added the big one, with our second consecutive victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Even more remarkable was the fact that eight of our 10 victories were one-two finishes.
That shows how high the level of quality and commitment is throughout our team. It also
represents a lot of hard work and resourcefulness. At Le Mans, for instance, Andy, Kelly
and Franck took second place in spite of a setback as serious as a punctured oil pan.
Ingenuity and great teamwork overcame that potential disaster in short order.
Several times this year we beat faster cars simply because we have a highly skilled,
experienced team that has been together a long time, and who work together really well.
Thanks to you, we won another GTS Team Championship and Chevrolet added a second
straight manufacturers’ title. A special salute goes to Ron Fellows, winner of the GTS championship for drivers, and to Bill DeLong, GTS Mechanic of the Year for the second year in a row.
Those personal achievements highlight their own abilities, but Ron and Bill would be the first
to say that their awards reflect the skills and hard work of everyone on the team.
We are proud to be part of this extraordinary group of people.
Congratulations to all for a job well done.
— Jim Miller and Gary Pratt
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
“We function as one team
with two cars, and whichever car wins,
Corvette Racing wins.”
— Gary Pratt
4
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
Gary Pratt
Jim Miller
5
T H E
RON FELLOWS
C H A M P I O N S H I P
JOHNNY O’CONNELL
6
T E A M
2 0 0 2
OLIVER GAVIN
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
BILL DELONG
DAVE ALBRIGHT
7
DOUG LOUTH
STEVE COLE
DAVID JAMES
GARY YOUNG
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
MIKE ATKINS
RON CLAYTON
ROB COOPER
TOM MIKRUT
CHARLIE
DEGENER
JIM DURBIN
JR REDFIELD
8
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
9
T E A M
2 0 0 2
T H E
ANDY PILGRIM
C H A M P I O N S H I P
KELLY COLLINS
T E A M
2 0 0 2
FRANCK FREON
10
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
JOE KIEFER
ROSS JEFFREY
RAY GONGLA
GREG HIATT
MIKE TANNER
11
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
TOM DIEHM
RICH ELDRED
T E A M
2 0 0 2
LYNN BISHOP
DAN POLASKY
RANDY HUGHES
STEVE HARTSELL
DON MALE
12
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
13
T E A M
2 0 0 2
T H E
DAVE DECKER, PRS
JIM KELLY, PRS
MELANIE CORRELL,
TIMING & SCORING
ROBIN PRATT
C H A M P I O N S H I P
FRANK PARKER,
PARKER ENGINEERING
T E A M
2 0 0 2
SCOTT BENTHAM,
BOSCH MOTORSPORTS
14
NICK OLSON,
AP RACING
JOHN TAUBE,
GOODYEAR
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
GARY GRUBE,
MOTOROLA
T E A M
2 0 0 2
KEVIN PRANGER,
KATECH
RON HELZER,
KATECH
DEAN PELLETIER,
KATECH
WARREN FRIEZE & FRITZ KAYLE, KATECH
VANGIE BOSWELL,
PROMOTIONS IN MOTION
15
DARYL CLASEN,
COMPETITION GRAPHICS
RALPH SIMPSON,
CATERING
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
STEVE SHANNON,
GM RACING
16
HERB FISHEL,
GM RACING
T H E
DAVE HILL,
GM RACING
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
GARY CLAUDIO,
GM RACING
RICHARD BALDICK,
GM RACING
DOUG FEHAN,
GM RACING
STEVE WESOLOSKI,
GM RACING
2 0 0 2
JOE NEGRI,
GM RACING
JOHN RICE,
GM RACING
LISA STANICK,
GM RACING
RICHARD PRIESTER,
GM RACING
GARY DELEEUW,
GM RACING
WALLY REESE,
GM RACING
17
BENOIT FROGER
GM RACING
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
The Photographers
RICHARD PRINCE
18
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
PETER BROCK
19
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
JOHN BROOKS
20
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
DAVID NOELS
21
T E A M
2 0 0 2
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 4
ROAD AMERICA 500
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin • July 7, 2002
RACE:
1st, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 109 laps
2nd, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Oliver Gavin,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 108 laps
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 116.305 mph
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 115.651 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS
SERIES, RACE 6
GRAND PRIX DE
TROIS RIVIÈRES
Trois-Rivières, Quebec,
Canada • August 3, 2002
RACE:
1st, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins
#4 Corvette C5-R, 155 laps
2nd, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 153 laps
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 86.235 mph
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 85.875 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 2
GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA
Sears Point Raceway • Sonoma, California • May 19, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 81 laps
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 80 laps
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 99.452 mph
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 99.259 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 3
GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO
Lexington, Ohio • June 30, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 106 laps,
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 105 laps,
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 1m22.066s
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 1m22.196s
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 8
MONTEREY SPORTS CAR
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Laguna Seca Raceway • Monterey, California
September 22, 2002
RACE:
3rd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 102 laps
5th, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell
#3 Corvette C5-R, 41 laps,
QUALIFYING:
3rd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 95.499 mph
4th, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 95.260 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 1
MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING
Sebring, Florida March 16, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Oliver Gavin,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 317 laps,
4th, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Franck Freon,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 306 laps
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 111.279 mph
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 111.056 mph
22
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 10
AUDI PRESENTS PETIT LE MANS
Road Atlanta • Brazelton, Georgia
October 12, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Oliver Gavin,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 362 laps
3rd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Franck Freon,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 357 laps
Qualifying:
2nd, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 113.14 mph
4th, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 112.29 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 7
MAIL2WEB.COM GRAND PRIX
AT MOSPORT
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada • August 18, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 113 laps
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 112 laps
QUALIFYING:
2nd, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 116.15 mph
3rd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 115.45 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 5
24 HOURS OF LE MANS
Le Mans, France • June 15-16, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Oliver Gavin,
#63 Corvette C5-R, 335 laps
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Franck Freon,
#64 Corvette C5-R, 331 laps
QUALIFYING:
2nd, Oliver Gavin, #63 Corvette C5-R, 3m54.903s
5th, Andy Pilgrim, #64 Corvette C5-R, 3m57.972s
THE CADILLAC GRAND PRIX
OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
RFK Stadium Circuit • Washington, D.C.
July 21, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 131 laps,
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 130 laps,
QUALIFYING:
1st, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 86.870 mph
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 86.187 mph
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, RACE 9
CADILLAC AMERICAN
LE MANS CHALLENGE
Miami, Florida • October 5, 2002
RACE:
1st, Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell,
#3 Corvette C5-R, 119 laps,
2nd, Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins,
#4 Corvette C5-R, 118 laps
QUALIFYING:
2nd, Ron Fellows, #3 Corvette C5-R, 70.801 mph
3rd, Andy Pilgrim, #4 Corvette C5-R, 70.289 mph
The 2002 Season
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C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
Repeat Performance
Second Le Mans victory shows the team’s quality
I n 2 0 0 2 , Corvette Racing joined the rare few teams who have climbed to the top of the
Le Mans victory podium two years in a row, occupying the first- and second-place spots both
times. The repeat performance made a resounding statement about the quality of the team.
“The whole team functioned really, really well,” said Gary Pratt, team manager. “The people
on our crews — and most of our drivers, too — have been working together for a long time, and
that kind of continuity really pays off in a long race when clear, precise communication is critical.
We couldn’t have asked for a much more trouble-free race if we had written the script ourselves.”
Smoothly run 24 hour races don’t happen by chance, however. They come from hard work
and meticulous preparation that reduces any bad “racing luck” to a minimum.
TEST DAYS: A WINING STRATEGY
On the traditional pre-event test day, Sunday, May 5, teams had a chance to shake down their
equipment and get re-acquainted with the 8.6-mile track … and also have a look at the capabilities of their competitors.
Based on fastest laps, the Corvettes were third and fourth on the GTS timing charts, behind
a Ferrari 550 Maranello and a Dodge Viper, but Pratt’s strategy didn’t require setting the fastest
one-off lap time.
“We’re actually not that concerned about the faster times by the Ferrari and Viper,” he
commented. “We were focusing on long runs, not a qualifying setup, and those cars were
running some sprints. Comparing long runs to long runs, I believe we had the best times,
so we’re happy about that. When it comes to qualifying in June, we’ll give them a run for it.
We may or may not get the pole, but we’ll be a lot closer than we were in this session.”
One aspect of the Ferrari’s performance in particular got the Corvette camp’s attention.
“The Ferrari has very impressive top speed,” noted Andy Pilgrim. “It was hitting 210 mph
on the long straights. That’s up there with the Audis.”
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
Le Mans 24 Hours, continued
NEW TWISTS
A section of the track after the Dunlop bridge
was changed from a straightaway to a series
of fast left and right turns leading into the
“esses.” This made the track about 275 meters
longer — 13.880 km instead of 13.605. But
even so the Corvettes were able to lap the
circuit quicker than last year.
“We were consistently about four seconds
faster,” said Pratt. “So our development
program definitely is working; the cars are
getting better, which is the way it has to be.
The competition doesn’t stand still for you.”
QUALIFYING: OLLIE IN THE DARK
For the main event, June 15-16, Corvette
Racing’s major competition was the Prodrive
Ferrari, which had shown very high straightaway
speeds in the May pre-qualifying session. The
situation was no different when it came to the
race. In qualifying, the Ferrari posted a blistering
time of 3:54.091. The
Corvette contingent
could only hope to
get close, but through
most of qualifying all
the other top GTS
cars were in the 3:57s.
Continued on page 28
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
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United We Stand
Persian Gulf Military Tour
May 6-11, 2002
After the Le Mans test, several members of
the Corvette Racing team, including all six
drivers, traveled to the Persian Gulf and spent
five days visiting military installations. The
goodwill tour was developed by GM Racing
in association with the U.S. Navy’s Morale,
Welfare and Recreation Division. At the various stops, the drivers signed autographs, met
military personnel and toured the facilities.
Gary Claudio, GM Racing group marketing
manager, was instrumental in organizing the trip, which included visits to the aircraft carrier
USS John F. Kennedy and the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Jefferson City.
“It gave me a whole new respect for the level of dedication of our military,” said Doug Fehan.
“These are young people, 18 to 24 mostly, working 12- to 16-hour shifts … 110-degree heat in
the daytime, noise, danger … and they really appreciated our visit. They are out there for sixmonth rotations, and they’re very excited and enthusiastic to have this kind of contact with
home. It was just a very moving experience.”
“I was truly impressed by the level of enthusiasm and dedication of these young people,” said
Andy Pilgrim. “The way they accept responsibility, their focus, hard work … we just don’t get an
appreciation for what these people are doing unless we see it first-hand.
“The other thing we don’t get a sense of is the global scale of this operation,” Pilgrim added. “There
were 30 or 40 countries represented out there. Oliver Gavin got to meet some Royal Marines, Franck
Freon saw a French ship, Ron met Canadians. There is a real world purpose to this war on terrorism.”
Ron Fellows summed up the sentiments of all his teammates regarding the people they visited: “It was an honor to meet them. We wish them well.”
27
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
Le Mans 24 Hours, continued
Then, after dark when the track was cooler, the team sent Oliver
Gavin out in the number 63 car with a set of soft-compound race tires.
As Ron Fellows said, “Ollie held his breath for eight-and-a-half miles and
laid down a number.”
His time was 3:54.903, just under a second behind the Ferrari, but
it moved the Corvette up three or four spots in the starting order.
“Between Tertre Rouge and the end of the Mulsanne (what used
to be the four-mile long Mulsanne straight, now broken up by two
chicanes) that Ferrari was three seconds faster than we were,” noted
Pratt. “We could go longer on a tank of fuel, and our pit stops were
quicker, but that three-seconds a lap of straight-line speed was going
to be tough to beat.”
STICK TO THE PLAN
What ultimately won the race for Corvette was reliability.
“Our strategy was to maintain the pace we had planned,” said Pratt.
“The pace they set was faster than we wanted to go, and we stuck to
our plan. We didn’t believe they could go 24 hours, and as it turned
out, we were right.”
The Ferrari dropped out with mechanical problems just past the
12-hour mark.
“They were definitely on a different strategy from ours,” commented
Fellows. “Maybe they were trying to get us to go faster than we wanted,
or maybe they knew it wasn’t going to last 24 hours and were just
running as hard as they could for as long as they could. Who knows?
What I do know from following that car around is they were running
a low-drag, low-downforce aero package but it still had a lot of grip.
We were much better under braking, and that’s downforce.
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
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T E A M
2 0 0 2
T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
Le Mans 24 Hours, continued
SICK PUPPY
“Credit goes to Dr. Greg Somerville, who’s with the TrackMed group
The only unforeseen circumstance that slowed the 63 car’s run to
victory was a cut tire during one of Gavin’s stints. Fortunately, it did
that looks after us. He had me on an IV and taking anti-nausea medication,
little collateral damage and cost the team minimal time.
and that got me going again pretty quickly. Johnny and Ollie did a great
job picking up the slack. The whole thing was just a great team effort.”
However, Fellows was put out of commission during the middle part
All told, the 63 Corvette completed 335 laps, four more than the 64
of the race with a bout of food poisoning.
car in second place. They were 11th and 13th overall, respectively.
“I was one sick puppy there for a while,” Ron said. “It kept me from
driving two or three stints between midnight and about six a.m., and
then I was fine.
“THE FRENCH PATROL” AEROBATIC TEAM WERE GUESTS OF CORVETTE RACING
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
A LITTLE SWEAT AND EPOXY
The 64 car’s run also was smooth, with two notable exceptions that
“It was a new transmission with very little mileage on it,” said Ray
account for the four-lap deficit.
Gongla, who was in his second race as the car’s crew chief. “There are
The first happened early in the race, when the transmission kept
a few places on that track where you’re doing seriously hard braking
jumping out of gear.
from high speed, so fourth and sixth gears are getting pulled on real
hard. We just needed to put in stiffer détente springs, but that operation
is a bit tricky because it’s mostly done by feel when the transmission’s
in the car, and there are hot oil lines in the way, too.
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C H A M P I O N S H I P
Le Mans 24 Hours, continued
“Once we got that done we got into a good
rhythm and everything was fine until early
Sunday morning. During a pit stop the rightfront wheel nut must have got kicked under
the car. When it came down off the jacks we
heard this crack. The wheel nut had punctured
the oil pan.”
Oil was gushing from a hole about an inch
long, and if there ever was cause for a panic
situation, this was it. However, the crew
stayed calm and in control; they wheeled
the car into the garage and came up with
an ingenious solution.
“We figured that, since the sump operates
with a vacuum system, if we started the
engine the oil would stop running out … and
it worked. With the engine running we were
able to get the hole cleaned up, then we used
quick-setting epoxy and bits of paper towel to
plug it up. We kept layering that stuff and got
it sealed. We weren’t sure how long it would
last, but it went the rest of the race, which
was almost 10 hours.”
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T H E
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
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A CAR THAT LIKES TO WIN
The 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans was almost the
last hurrah for the two race cars the team used.
New, lighter and somewhat better handling
Corvettes had made their debut at Sears Point,
and would be used for the rest of the season,
except Miami, in which the Le Mans winning
cars would see service one last time.
“This was the best race yet for that car,”
said Fellows about the C5-R that had some
27,000 race miles on it. “Johnny, Ollie and I
agreed that it had very driveable balance that
always stayed the same, and that’s unusual.
The brakes were perfect, and it was the best
long-distance engine we’ve ever run. We
couldn’t feel any difference between practice
and the race. It was just a very strong piece,
and real reliable.”
“We’ve had great reliability in our last four
24-hour races,” commented Bill DeLong,
talking about their runs that include three
straight victories, including the overall win in
last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. “I guess this
car just likes to win.”
33
T H E
2002
SEASON OPENER
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
That Much Sweeter
Corvette wins 12 Hours of Sebring … at last!
T H E 12 H O U R S O F S E B R I N G was run for the 50th time this year … 50 years of
tradition as one of the premier events in road racing. And finally, Corvette Racing scored the one
big victory that had eluded them. Now the team has won all three of the world’s most prestigious
endurance races — 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
BRUTAL HEAT
At Sebring, endurance always is the key, because 12 hours on the old 3.7-mile airport circuit
is a torture test — always has been. The track’s bumps and surface changes beat up on the cars
and drivers, and sometimes the Florida springtime weather throws its own form of punishment
into the ring. Sometimes it is torrential rain, sometimes heat, sometimes fog. This year it was
heat, and it was brutal.
The race ran from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., so the hottest part of the day was not long
after the start.
“The outside temperature was 98 degrees and it was humid,” said Johnny O’Connell, whose
body core temperature was almost 104 degrees after his first driving shift, working in cockpit
temperatures close to 160 degrees. “We had all prepared for it as best we could, but no matter
what you do, your body just isn’t used to it. The first shift was the worst. Then it seems like you
kind of get acclimated … and later in the afternoon it cools off a bit.”
0
34
0
T H E
BATTLING CORVETTES?
C H A M P I O N S H I P
T E A M
2 0 0 2
“My biggest problem was going to be letting
In the first half of the race it looked as though
them race each other at the end,” Pratt added,
the battle for the win was going to be
“but that wasn’t the way it worked out.”
between the two Corvettes. They ran together
The cars ran first and second for most of the
on their planned race pace, even letting a
first eight hours, until Andy Pilgrim’s throttle
Dodge Viper (3rd-place finishers Christophe
stuck and he ended up in a tire wall.
Bouchut and Vincent Vosse) lead for a time
in the first hour.
“We knew we were going to make up time
“I lifted off for the turn and it started to slow
down, but the throttle stuck part-way open,”
Pilgrim explained. “I got into the marbles and
on our pit stops,” said Gary Pratt, Corvette
then it was all over. There was nothing to do
Racing team manager, “and sure enough, we
but ride it out. The front end took some seri-
were 30 or 40 seconds ahead after the first stop.
ous damage when we hit the tire wall.”
0
35
0
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12 Hours of Sebring, continued
Pilgrim was able to limp back to the pits, where his crew replaced
the front bodywork and associated wiring, plumbing and fluids.
That put the number-4 car about 12 laps down. They raced hard
the rest of the way, but had to settle for fourth in class.
CRUISING
The number-3 Corvette’s race was virtually textbook perfect.
“Our biggest obstacle was the heat,” said Fellows. “We had a good
race going with the 4 car until Andy’s throttle stuck, and then we got
a pretty big lead. For the last few hours we were just cruising. The car
ran perfectly, Johnny and Oliver did great jobs, so did our crew, and
the Goodyear tires were exactly what we needed. We ran some of
our fastest laps near the end of our driving stints.”
“When you get a clean race like that it says a lot about the crew
guys,” noted O’Connell. “That’s where the credit goes. We just didn’t
have any problems. “
Gary Pratt admitted that holding a comfortable lead
presents its own kind of nervous tension.
“You want them to take it easy on the equipment,
but not go so slowly they get out of their rhythm,”
he said. “That can get a driver into trouble. They also
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start hearing things that might turn into problems. Toward the end of
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“But the engines in both cars never missed a beat … Katech
this race they were reporting all kinds of little noises and vibrations …
did a great job,” Pratt added. “And those Goodyears were the
the sort of things they wouldn’t even have noticed if they’d been racing
best, most consistent tires we’ve ever had.”
hard for a position.
SWEET VICTORY
In the end, the victory margin for Fellows, O’Connell and Gavin
was eight laps, and they couldn’t have been happier.
“The whole team has worked really hard to win this race,” O’Connell
said, “and the hard work has paid off. This whole program is just getting
better and better.”
“We’ve tried three times before to win Sebring and we’ve come
close,” said Fellows, “but there has always been something that set
us back. Not this time. I said last year that we would win this race,
and it would be that much sweeter when we did. Well, it is!”
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2002 RACE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
SEARS POINT: IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
The Pratt & Miller team achieved an unqualified
success in the competition debut of their two
ROAD AMERICA: 1-2 AGAIN, BUT DIFFERENT ORDER
new Corvette C5-R race cars. The newest gen-
On Road America’s fast, technically challenging four-mile circuit,
eration of C5-R started first and second in GTS
Corvette Racing chalked up a fourth consecutive 1-2 finish (including
and finished the same way in the Grand Prix of
the 24 Hours of Le Mans). This time, however, it was Andy Pilgrim
Sonoma, on Sears Point’s 2.52-mile road course.
and Kelly Collins on the top step of the podium after the four-hour,
15-minute race. Fellows, O’Connell and Oliver Gavin were relegated
Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell scored the win, with Andy Pilgrim
to second by a faulty window net fastener.
and Kelly Collins second after a lively duel with the Konrad Racing
Saleen S7R. O’Connell rounded out a perfect weekend for Corvette
Racing late in the two-hour, 45-minute event, when he posted the
WASHINGTON: A CAPITAL RACE
fastest GTS race lap.
The race in the nation’s capital was two hours and 45 minutes on the
1.66-mile temporary circuit that snaked through the vast parking areas
MID-OHIO: BEATING THE HEAT
of RFK Stadium. When it was all over, Corvette Racing had scored its
Mid-Ohio’s park-like circuit is a great place for Pratt & Miller’s “family
fourth one-two finish in the five ALMS races so far.
day,” and this year’s summer day was fine for picnicking in the shade
This time, Lady Luck smiled on the number 3 C5-R of Ron Fellows
of a hospitality tent. But, with temperatures in the low 90s, it definitely
and Johnny O’Connell, when a flat tire could have cost them the victory.
was on the hot and humid side for racing. In the end, though, Corvette
And, ever the elusive companion, she dealt Pilgrim and Collins a bad
Racing beat the heat and the competition, scoring its third consecutive
break with boiling brakes during a pit stop, putting them a lap down
one-two finish. After two hours and 45 minutes of racing, Fellows’ and
on their teammates.
O’Connell’s number 3 Corvette was a lap ahead of the number-4 car
driven by Pilgrim and Collins. The margin, however, does not reflect
how close the two cars are. It had
everything to do with freak circumstances as the race played
out, including Andy being hit and
spun out by an LMP900 car.
38
TROIS-RIVIÈRES: ELATION AND FRUSTRATION
Three hours on the narrow, bumpy, often greasy Trois-Rivières race
track was bound to shake up the field, and few cars escaped unscathed.
LAGUNA SECA: THE STREAK ENDS
One that got through relatively trouble-free was the winning number-4
Corvette Racing was three races short of a full-season win sweep when
GM Goodwrench Corvette C5-R driven by Andy Pilgrim and Kelly
the team headed west for round eight. Everybody knew it wouldn’t
Collins. One that didn’t was its sister car, driven by Ron Fellows and
be easy. The Prodrive Ferrari that had been so quick at the 24 Hours
Johnny O’Connell, who took second and, given his close encounter with
of Le Mans would be there, making the competition tougher than ever.
The way it played out, Fellows got punted into a gravel trap, escaped,
the barriers, were happy to get the runner-up spot.
but damage to the exhaust system set the bodywork on fire shortly
MOSPORT: CANADIAN SWEEP
after O’Connell took over. Collins took the lead after the last round
The American Le Mans Series drew Mosport International Raceway’s
of pit stops, but making it to the end on fuel was a gamble that didn’t
biggest crowd in 25 years. They enjoyed beautiful summer weather and
pay off, and the 4-car finished third.
cheered on local favorite Ron Fellows. Fellows and O’Connell gave the
huge crowd plenty to cheer about, scoring victory number five in the
MIAMI: COMEBACK VICTORY
series and number six for the season, counting the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The second-last race of 2002 was a brawl. The large field duked
it out on the tightest course of the season — 15 turns crammed into
In a reversal of the Trois-Rivières result, teammates Pilgrim and Collins
a 1.57-mile downtown Miami track. It was narrow, bumpy, slippery
drove their number-4 Corvette to second in GTS.
in spots, and difficult to pass. Fellows and O’Connell put together a
Gary Pratt summed up a happy Mosport experience: “We had a
relatively trouble-free run to victory, but Pilgrim and Collins had to fight
flawless weekend, and another 1-2 result for the team.”
back from a stop-and-go penalty to take second. “We fell a little short,”
said Collins. “We had close racing with the Ferrari all day and we took
lots of chances, but the car was great on that rough track.”
“I think the drive of the race goes
to Kelly,” commented Fellows. “He
was really hauling it, racing with the
Ferrari, and when he needed to, he
was able to pull away.”
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SEASON FINALE
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Final Victory in a Remarkable Season
I N 2 0 0 2 , Corvette Racing won the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans race
started to fade when the 4-car’s engine developed a high-speed miss
for the third straight year. The only difference this year was the number
and they began to fall back, ultimately to third in GTS.
on the car that scored the victory. In 2000 and 2001, Andy Pilgrim,
Kelly Collins and Franck Freon won in the number-4 Corvette. In ’02,
TIRE CHOICE
the number 3 car, driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and Oliver
Fellows, O’Connell and Gavin kept soldiering steadily on. By the six hour
Gavin, finally made it to victory lane at Road Atlanta.
mark they were up to second place, but still a lap down on the Ferrari.
Then it got interesting.
It was by no means easy. It took a tremendous effort by drivers and
First, the Ferrari made a longer-than-normal pit stop for suspension
crew, and the result was in doubt until the final moments of the race.
repairs, which put the 3-car in the lead by
MEMORIES OF ’01
more than a lap.
For the crew of the number 3 Corvette, the first order of business
Tomas Enge, driving the Ferrari, charged
was clinching the drivers’ championship for Ron Fellows. Memories
hard and passed Fellows to unlap himself.
of a year earlier were still haunting the team, when Fellows saw the
Fellows still was able to maintain a healthy
title vanish from his grasp. This time, after qualifying a close second to
lead of almost a minute, until he cut a tire
the Prodrive Ferrari, Fellows started the race and drove at a controlled,
with just under 30 minutes to go. The pit
careful pace for the first 25 laps.
stop put Enge back in the lead by about
“Those first 25 laps were critical,” said Gary Pratt, “because that’s
20 seconds, but Ron had a secret weapon
what Ron had to complete to score points and clinch the championship.
wrapped around his wheels.
It was a big relief when we got that over with. Then we could go!”
Pilgrim, Collins and Freon were already going pretty well. They
were battling the Prodrive Ferrari for the lead, and in fact led a fair
share of the first three hours.
“The Ferrari was the fastest car, but we had a better pit stop strategy.
That gave us the lead and helped keep us up front,” Pratt explained.
Andy Pilgrim was enthusiastic. “I had a wonderful first stint,” he said.
“No problems. I hope it stays that way all day.”
Unfortunately, it didn’t, and his hopes for a third consecutive victory
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Petit Le Mans, continued
Dreams and Legends
“Mike Atkins coordinates tires for us,”
What a way to finish off the year, with
Fellows explained, “and a little earlier he had
a down-to-the-wire victory by Corvette
called for a set of ‘310s’ to be mounted up.
Racing in the Petit Le Mans … and
That’s a tire Goodyear developed to use at
by the number-3 car! This after the
Le Mans at night, but we weren’t sure how
disappointment of a year ago, when
long they would last on this track.”
Ron Fellows’ dream of a drivers’ championship was cut short in
“Mike, Bill DeLong and Steve Cole made
the opening laps. This time, it was reminiscent of the number-4
the call to put them on,” Pratt said. “I really
car beating the Viper, almost on the last lap, in 2000.
didn’t think they would last, but it was our
only shot at running down the Ferrari.”
This year, the 3 car’s crew shrugged off the jinx from a year ago,
won the drivers’ championship on lap 25, then battled it out with the
Prodrive Ferrari to take the checkered flag at the end. I think every-
PRESSURE TACTICS
one agrees it was one of the most exciting races of the year.
Fellows took big chunks out of the Ferrari’s
lead every lap. With 20 minutes to go, the
Actually, shrugging off the jinx started at Sebring, where historically we hadn’t had a whole lot of luck. Then we went on to a one-two
gap was 12 seconds. A lap later it was down
finish at the most prestigious road race in the world — the 24 Hours
to 9.8, two laps more and it was 6.9 seconds,
of Le Mans. The nearly perfect run by Corvette Racing continued for
then 3.9. With five minutes to go Fellows
the rest of the season, except at Laguna Seca. There we were hit
had the Ferrari in sight, the margin a little
with all our bad luck for the season, with one car catching fire due
over two seconds.
“I saw what happened,” Ron said. “He went
to crash damage and the other having fuel pickup problems.
to pass a slower car and they made contact,
I remember Ron’s little speech at our team luncheon at the
beginning of the season. He gave us a challenge, saying “let’s
and I guess that cut a tire. I saw his car do
win ’em all.” Well, with 10 wins in 11 races, we almost did that.
a little wiggle, then I saw sparks … and then
It’ll probably be more difficult next year, but that’s what makes it
I sailed on past.”
“It was a great way to finish the day and
special. We’re building the legend, and making dreams come true.
the season. After the disappointment at this
Gary Young
race last year, I have to say I appreciate what
Mechanic, number-3 Corvette
happened this time a lot more.”
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WHAT A RACE; WHAT A YEAR
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“I can’t say enough about our crews and the job they did all year,” said
“It was an amazing race,” said Johnny O’Connell, “with two teams
Pratt. “We had a lot of one-two finishes, and the competition only beat us
pushing as hard as they could. The most exciting moment of the
once all year. We function as one team with two cars, and whichever car
year was watching Ron put pressure on Tom.
wins, Corvette Racing wins. Now we have about one day to enjoy all
“I’m also very happy Ron won the championship,” Johnny added.
this, and then we get on with working toward next year.”
“He’s worked so hard for the Corvette team over the years. We have
mutual respect, and even though he won the championship, I’ll feel
my name is right there with his.”
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Awards, Celebrations, and Fun
2002 Awards
ALMS GTS Team Championship: Corvette Racing
ALMS GTS Manufacturers’ Championship: Chevrolet
ALMS GTS Tire Manufacturers’ Championship: Goodyear
ALMS GTS Drivers’ Championship: Ron Fellows
ALMS GTS Mechanic of the Year: Bill DeLong
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Awards, Celebrations, and Fun,
C H A M P I O N S H I P
continued
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Design, Develop,
Build, Race, Win
At Pratt & Miller Engineering, automotive programs go
all the way from a blank sheet of paper to victory circle.
BASICS WORK BEST
T H E B U S I N E S S operates on the leading edge of automotive technology. They have
facilities where highly skilled and motivated people work with advanced equipment, including
some of the most sophisticated computer engineering tools in the world.
For all that, Jim Miller and Gary Pratt stick to some old-fashioned basics when it comes to the
way they run their business. They have a simple credo that serves as an operating philosophy,
guiding principle, and a set of goals rolled into one: First, satisfy the customers; second, create
an environment where people enjoy working and know they have an opportunity to grow
and advance professionally; and third, be profitable.
“Those are the things that have proven to work,” says Jim Miller, the Chicago-based
businessman who joined Gary Pratt to form Pratt & Miller Engineering in 1989. “And with
diligent application of our talents, we have been very successful at what we’re doing.”
continued
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Design, Develop, Build, Race, Win
continued
WHEN THE GREEN FLAG DROPS …
Pratt & Miller’s racing programs are the ones that get high visibility. And that’s good, but it’s
also risky. If you fail, there’s no place to hide. Success is measured in black-and-white numbers
on the results sheet.
And based on those criteria, it’s hard to overstate the success of Pratt & Miller Engineering.
In 2002 they entered 11 races and won 10 of them, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the
DAN POLASKY
second year in a row, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and completed a three-peat in the Petit Le Mans
at Road Atlanta.
The company’s victories on the racetrack are tangible reminders of its success as a business
enterprise, which has come through sound planning and investment, as well as the expertise
and hard work of the team they have assembled.
INVESTMENTS FOR SUCCESS
Early in 2002, Pratt & Miller moved its headquarters from a local industrial park site into a
new, 35,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility designed to meet the company’s needs for the
foreseeable future. It’s a place that looks like the nerve center of a top-line automotive engineering business, where they can showcase
JEFF OLDHAM, BILL DELONG
their achievements and, more important,
have effective spaces for all the various
engineering and fabrication operations.
It’s right in line with their operating
philosophy, because it has created a
better environment in which to work.
“We’re investing in our ability to do our
jobs better, to grow in the future, and to
ensure that we stay on the leading edge
MARK SALICE
LLOYETTA ATKINS, PAM PRINCE, ROBIN PRATT
of our industry,” says Miller.
continued
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Design & Engineering Staff
Machine & Fabrication
DOUG LOUTH, LYNN BISHOP
VINCE CIARAVINO
BRIAN WADE
BOB PAYTON,
TOM DIEHM
DAVID ROBINSON, JIM CARPENTER,
ANDREW ATTARDO, CHRIS GILLIGAN
JOE KIEFER
BRAD BUENTING
SAM VALDEZ
RON CLAYTON
BEN BRADY
ROB COOPER
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Design, Develop, Build, Race, Win
continued
Another such investment in 2002 was the integration of Aletheon Technologies into the Pratt
& Miller organization, adding an extensive new set of core engineering capabilities. With a highly
trained and experienced engineering staff, and sophisticated computer hardware and software,
Aletheon excels in the application of advanced engineering tools, including CAD, CAE, Vehicle
Dynamics Simulation, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and virtual prototyping and development.
The new facilities include a damper and hydraulics lab in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and a Mooresville,
North Carolina office housing a 170-processor super computer used to simulate missile systems
for the U.S. Navy, in addition to other aerodynamics work.
The talents and expertise provided by Aletheon complement the capabilities Pratt & Miller
already has in place. They add a new dimension to the services Pratt & Miller has to offer its
customers, which presently include all of Detroit’s big three automakers — General Motors,
Ford and DaimlerChrysler.
A WINNING MIND-SET
Pratt & Miller now is positioned among a very small group of North American companies,
with proven capabilities to design, develop, build, race, and especially to win.
It sounds exciting, but any racer will tell you that the glamour and excitement are the tip of
the iceberg. The rest is hard work, and a lot of it, with time and quality demands that are intense.
A nine-to-five job it most definitely is not. The green flag is going to drop on a certain time on
a certain day; delays and excuses simply aren’t part of the deal.
The skills and can-do attitude it takes to win at the upper levels of professional racing transfer
well to non-racing automotive projects, too.
“We approach our work with much more intensity than a company that doesn’t have a racinginspired mind-set,” says Miller, “and we apply that same level of intensity to every project in
which we are engaged.”
That approach adds a vital element to Pratt & Miller’s formula for success, whether a
customer’s goal is to win on the racetrack or in the automotive marketplace — or both.
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A Word From Robin
For the past three years it has been my
Our people truly are a team of champions!
good fortune to put together this Pratt
I would like to give special thanks and appreciation to all the wives
& Miller/Corvette Racing Team Yearbook.
and families who support us. The schedule is sometimes very hectic
I started it because I felt our team was
to say the least, and family time sometimes is sacrificed.
doing something significant, which needed
I also want to thank everyone who helped with compiling and
to be documented. I was lucky enough to
producing this book. The list is so long we’d never fit everybody in,
find the right people—namely Chuck
so, plainly and simply, thank you!
McLaren and his team—to take my photos and those of a few
I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I have enjoyed putting
great photographers, and create this book.
it together for you.
I believe that everyone on the team appreciates having this yearbook
Sincerely,
to look back on, and really see what champions they all are. One
Robin Pratt
amazing thing I have discovered is the camaraderie of the crew.
I’m sure you’ve heard the term ‘one for all and all for one.’
Well, even though we run two cars, and there is—and should be—
competition between the cars, when the going gets tough
everyone stands together.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM:
What makes our team the champi-
Chuck McLaren, writing, editing, direction
ons they are can easily be seen on the
Ray McAllister, design
faces of every Pratt & Miller employ-
Kate McLaren, production coordination
ee. I call it pride. As you look though
Dan Kelly, Colortech Graphics, Inc., printing
this book you will see what I mean.
Alleyne Kelly, proofreading
When we go to a race, every person
on our team — at the track and back
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS:
at the shop — has an active interest in
Peter Brock
achieving success. From fine tuning
John Brooks
every part we need for the race cars,
David Noels
to making sure the flights and rooms are booked,
Robin Pratt
we are a team. That, my friends, is the difference.
Richard Prince
René Tanner
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Thanks To Our Sponsors
GM
Chevrolet
Corvette
GM Goodwrench
GMAC
Goodyear
AER
Katech
AC Delco
UAW
Mobil 1
Motorola
Tehama
Hella
OZ Wheels
Eaton Fab
You make all this possible!
The Pratt & Miller team extends a special thanks to
Doug Fehan (r), Corvette Racing Program Manager,
and Gary Claudio (l) GM Racing Manager, Motorsports
Marketing, for their hard work and dedication.
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PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING & FABRICATION, INC. • 29600 WILLIAM K. SMITH DRIVE, • NEW HUDSON, MI 48165 • PHONE: 248-446-9800 • FAX: 248-446-9020 • WWW.PRATTMILLER.COM