LEXINGTON, Oh — Perhaps not since the Revolutionary War has the Union Jack been planted on Ohio soil — but young Jonny Cocker took the  Judd powered Lola Team Drayson car around the Mid Ohio circuit with the fastest time for the qualifying session turning a lap of 1:10.034 (116.069 mph) Friday. It was the first ALMS pole for the team and sixth different pole winner in six races. The time was not only top time of the day but it was also a new track record.

Cocker and the Drayson Team had turned fast laps during practice practice earlier in the day and with Cocker pushing on the “go-juice” the Green Dragon went to the front of the class for the first time this season. Along side the British Team will be the Dyson Racing Lola B09 with a Mazda powerplant, that appeared to have the pole position locked up before Cocker made his late session charge. Cocker toppped the Mazda by .932 second.

During the previous day the Muscle Milk Porsche had a serious crash apparently due to a mechanical failure that cause driver Greg Pickett to drive into the tire wall at high speed, flipping the car and taking the team out of the race. Pickett only suffered minor bumps and bruises but the car will need to be rebuilt for the next race of the series.

In third in qualifying was the Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-1c Honda but this was not to be there day as Simon Pagenaud was unable to run with the top dogs on this day. Cocker and team owner and co-driver Paul Drayson will have their hands full on the Mid-Ohio course as the team has had its trouble getting through a race without having mechanical problems.

In the GT class it was the Ferarris that set the top time with the Corvettes in third and fourth. The top eight GT cars were within one second of each other.

All photos by Dave R. Johnson.