Four-Time AGPLB Winner/IndyCar Champion, NBC Presenter Paul Tracy Lending Expertise To KTM GT4 America Racer Nicolai Elghanayan

Nicolai Elghanayan at speed at the St Petersburg Pirelli GT4 race in March. The rookie will have the coaching expertise of Paul Tracy for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. Photo: Chris Green

Four-Time AGPLB Winner/IndyCar Champion, NBC Presenter Paul Tracy Lending Expertise To KTM GT4 America Racer Nicolai Elghanayan

(Long Beach, CA) When racing in the highly competitive Pirelli GT4 America Sprint series, part of SRO’s Blancpain GT World Challenge America, teams look for every advantage for a leg up on the competition. For this year’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, The Marco Polo Motorsports/KTM X-Bow team have come loaded for bear — with a coach who has intimate experience with the circuit.

Today John Mueller of Muellerized Inc, chief engineer/race strategist for the Marco Polo/KTM X-Bow outfit, announced that 2003 IndyCar Champion and four-time AGPLB winner, Paul Tracy, will spend part of his weekend, away from the NBC Sports booth, coaching the young KTM driver, Nicolai Elghanayan, on the intricacies of the legendary circuit. Mueller is very excited about the weekend pairing.

“We welcome the opportunity to have one of the best racers to have driven these streets of Long Beach to play a critical role with our team. The pairing of Nicolai’s immense speed with Paul’s racecraft, mid engine vehicle setup knowledge and winning record at this track gives our Marco Polo Motorsports team the edge we have been seeking for our hometown race. We are thrilled at the prospect of working with Paul, and appreciate his willingness to help our team excel this weekend!”

Tracy, who retired from racing in 2010, lends his unique and expert perspective to the IndyCar broadcasts on NBC Sports, has a wealth of knowledge to share with Nicolai Elghanayan as the full time GT4 driver makes his first appearance during the 45th AGPLB weekend. To get in touch with Tracy for this special assignment, Mueller called in a favor from friend and Trans-Am Champion Tommy Kendall, who gladly put the two together.

Elghanayan was equally enthusiastic, “I am looking forward to working with Paul. It's the edge I need over the other drivers on such an unfamiliar course for myself. Paul's insight on this course will help boost my confidence. I want to perform well in front of my home crowd and I couldn't of asked for a better tutor than THE Paul Tracy.”

After a horrendous crash at St. Petersburg in the season opener, Elghanayan was forced to finish the weekend with the spare 2017 car. This chassis has since been updated to the latest “Evo” 2018 model year specification, tested at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park and ran successfully during the LBGP media day. The team is expecting delivery of a brand new chassis for the next round at Virginia International Raceway. Nicolai is a two time Lotus Cup USA champion, winning 76% of his career starts after hiring the Muellerized team in 2015, SCCA runoffs podium finisher 2018, finished second at the KTM x-bow battle at Misano World Circuit Italy 2018 and 4-time podium finisher in the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge, winning the Lime Rock event overall from pole position as an amateur driver.

The Marco Polo Motorsports/KTM X-Bow enjoys great partnerships with Muellerized, Craftsman Transporters, Tahirh Justice Center, Scuderia Rare Parts, Ferrari Electronics, Kollin Altomare Architects, and Performance & Racing Tech Talk.