Constantine Claims Pole for Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Fresh From Florida 200

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 24, 2008) - Fall-Line Motorsports driver Tommy Constantine put together a strong two-lap effort in Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series qualifying Thursday evening at Daytona International Speedway, coming away with the pole for Friday's three-hour Fresh From Florida 200, which starts at 2:15 p.m.

Constantine took the No. 46 Playboy/Vervel/TASER/Palms BMW M3 to a best lap time of 2:05.085 (102.458) over the 15-minute qualifying session, cruising to the pole more than a half second ahead of outside front row starter Andy Hauck III. The effort, which came in light rain, marked the first KONI Challenge pole for Constantine, who debuted in the series in 2006.

"We saw the rain coming and we knew that we had to get a fast lap in right away," Constantine said. "We really went for it right away on cold tires, knowing that the track was getting wetter and wetter. There were actually a couple of corners that were slightly wet, even on the first lap, so we knew that would affect the lap time. We went for it everywhere we could, until it got worse and everybody had to stop.

"It's great to be here, because we had such a bad year last year, with bad luck and mechanical problems," Constantine continued. "We were just happy that the car started this year, and the Fall-Line guys have done an amazing job. For us to be as good as we are here on a high-horsepower track, we are looking to the shorter tracks that suit this car even more."

Final KONI Challenge Series practice is scheduled for 10 a.m. before the three-hour Fresh From Florida 200, starting at 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Source http://www.grand-am.com/koni/news/index.cfm?cid=13654.