Polar opposites for the Ferraris as Risi's No. 61 starts from the rear of the grid while the No. 01 Extreme Speed car starts from the outside of the front row in GT. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Here are a few notes and tidbits hours before the start of the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix.

• After qualifying third in GT class yesterday, the #61 Risi Competizione Ferrari of F1 veteran Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander is being sent to the back of the 34-car grid for a ride height violation at technical inspection. Vilander will start the car and try to haul it through the field and into contention before handing off to “Fisi” at the first stop.

• World Cup interest is high in the paddock here at the Miller Motorsports Park especially for Black Swan Porsche GTC driver Jeroen Bleekmoelen of The Netherlands. Co-driver Tim Pappas will start the race with Jeroen doing the second stint, perhaps so he can watch the game?

• After suffering significant damage to the rear of the car in a blaze during Saturday morning practice, the #17 Falken Porsche has been repaired and made a successful systems check on track early today.

• Drayson Racing team owner/driver Paul Drayson showed excellent domestic public relations skills this week. After a foot injury meant he was unable to race this weekend, Drayson deferred his travel by a few days in order to accompany his wife and their five children on the trip to Utah from the U.K. Jonny Cocker and super-sub Emanuele Pirro will start the race from the front row.

• Johannes van Overbeek qualified the Extreme Speed Ferrari on the front row of the GT category for the second consecutive race. He and team owner/co-driver Scott Sharp are anxious to put their black and green Patron Ferrari on the podium in just the team’s fourth race.