DAGYS: You’ve sacrificed a lot in life to fuel your dream of having a competitive team, that can be vying for race wins. What will it take to step up your program to the next level?

GIGLIOTTI: Sacrificed is an understatement. I can (and will) write a book someday that will surely make the new breed of drivers feel like they have traveled a five-star life of luxury compared to what I have done to get to this level. And, we are not even at a level that most would aspire to. Being at the bottom of the fast segment of the class is not our aspiration. It is just a starting point. Only cash will allow the team and our Corvette to keep moving.

LG's Dunlop-shod, V8-powered Riley Corvette is just one of the many car-engine-tire combinations in the GT2 category. (John Thawley)

DAGYS: The GT2 category has been ultra competitive with seven manufacturers currently represented. Do you feel IMSA has gotten the “Balance of Performance” correct?

GIGLIOTTI: IMSA has the hardest job of all. Seriously, think about it: mid-engine, rear-engine, front-engine, V8, Flat-6, 4-cam, 2-cam, 4-valve, 2-valve, pushrod etc. How do you balance the different combinations in GT2? It can't be easy. All in all, I think they are always working and approaching equality. The Panoz and Riley Corvette and BMW all had 25kg weight concessions, but only the Panoz and Corvette have restrictor concessions. When you look at St. Pete, you'd have to conclude that they are close.

Also keep in mind that they are trying to equalize tires as well. Sure, that part could be eliminated with a spec tire, but who would want to follow Formula One’s lead? The tire factor does not show up in the fastest lap but rather in the number of laps close to that fastest lap. So you can see how that throws a curve ball into the equations.

DAGYS: How did not getting an entry to Le Mans affect the program as a whole?

GIGLIOTTI: That was a big blow to our season plans. We knew that the Riley/GM conflict played a role as it is not settled. We feel, however, that their conflict should not have been a factor against the LG Motorsport entry. We are just a customer of Riley. We are not Riley. At this point it seems GM essentially refuses to acknowledge the existence of our car. Given the fact we've never received any help, it's hard to understand why they seem to be putting obstacles in the way of our effort. It's highly unusual and sure seems counter productive.

DAGYS: Would you ever consider running something else than a Corvette in the ALMS given the right opportunity?

GIGLIOTTI: Given the right opportunity we would consider anything. After all, it's business. But for now, our business is Corvettes.

Gigliotti is hopeful to run more races this season, but it's all dependent on funding. (John Thawley)

People often ask about my future. I have to respond that I don’t have much of a driving future, just a past. I am not auditioning for a position as a driver on a factory team. When I was young and worthy, I was passed up because of my truthful commentary (big mouth). So the only future I expect to have is that of car and team owner. I spent my time when I was young, living in barns, hanging about race shops, even working for free; All in exchange for being able to build my own car to race. It's just like business, if you can’t find a job, start your own company and hire yourself.

In 1979, I bought a Super Vee engine from Tom Milner to put into a Super Vee that I built myself. I could only find enough money to race it two times. I've been doing that in racing for 35 years. I like to say, “I built my company from nothing and grew it to a state of extreme poverty!”

My 25-year-old son, Louis, is now the head of our LG Motorsports operation. He has come to nearly every race since he was 4 years old. He has learned a lot. More people know him than they ever knew me. He is an asset to the racing community and I couldn't be more proud of him.

So at this point, compared to where we've been, racing in the ALMS is a piece of cake.

DAGYS: You’re provisionally on the entry list for Long Beach, but said you won’t make the trip unless additional funding is found. Has the good run last week made your phone ring any more than before?

GIGLIOTTI: With the TV time that we got and the job we did for Whelen Engineering, we hope there might be an opening that would allow us to fashion a working partnership that would allow for Eric and LG Motorsports and continue with the series. Barring that or another funded driver, it appears we will not be at Long Beach.