The Odd Couple? JC France and Joao Barbosa

At first glance, JC France and Joao Barbosa don't seem to have a lot in common. France is a definite "Type A" personality, while the mild-mannered Barbosa could easily be overlooked by an observer visiting the Grand-Am paddock.

However, the two new co-drivers have found a lot in common when they get behind the wheel of the No. 59 Brumos Porsche Riley.

"I've taken the role this year of having Barbosa in the car and let him completely do the setup," France said. "Me and Hurley (Haywood) were fighting back and forth over the setup of the car last year. What worked for me didn't necessarily work for him. But what Barbosa sets up generally works for me, and I'm usually able to work up a few positions in every race. Then, he gets in and just goes. Joao's getting comfortable in the car now. He's getting it set up how he likes it, and he's been absolutely flying at the finish. But we just keep having little mistakes and penalties."

The Portuguese driver has also had a calming effect on France.

"I've been trying to calm my aggressions down, too," France said. "The best thing I can do to get us a good position is not battling with people and beating the car up. The car needs to have all the aero tidbits on it and all four wheels pointing in the same direction."

France and Barbosa had their streak of consecutive top-10 finishes ended with a 12th-place result in the Crown Royal 200 at The Glen. However, the team of the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley has plenty of reasons to celebrate.

France and Barbosa have worked their way to a tie for seventh in the point standings, while the No. 59 car is fourth in the team points. After a season-worst 13th at Virginia International Raceway, the pair rolled off six straight top 10s, including fourths at the Brumos Porsche 250 and Montreal. Barbosa also recorded the fastest lap of the race at both Montreal and Watkins Glen, passing eventual Mark Wilkins during the closing laps of the Crown Royal 200 to get one of his laps back.

"I made a bad call at The Glen starting on rain tires," France said. "I felt horrible not giving him the car in better position. He should he up there fighting for the win, not fighting to get laps back."

Only three races remain on the 2008 schedule - at Infineon Raceway, New Jersey Motorsports Park and Miller Motorsports Park. Barbosa will be racing at all three venues for the first time.

"He seems to pick stuff up pretty quick, so I'm not worried about that," France said. "We also can share stuff with the No. 58 team, so we should be pretty good."

France, meanwhile, has taken the lead in the Jim Trueman Award standings. He now has 2,924 points, 41 markers ahead of Mark Patterson. Jim Matthews, who has dominated the standings for much of the season, has fallen 93 points behind Patterson, while John Pew is only 65 points behind Matthews. The award is presented annually to the top "gentleman driver" in the Daytona Prototypes, with criteria including championship points and miles driven.

"It's pretty cool," France said. "It's the first time I've ever led it, and I'm pretty excited. I was expected to be a little behind (Mark) Patterson still."

The team directly in front of the No. 59 in the standings is the No. 58 Brumos Porsche Riley of David Donohue and Darren Law. They've finished fifth or better in the last seven races and have been on the podium in five of the last six events.

"We both keep climbing up in the points," France said. "This is the first time since '03 that we've had both cars in the top five in the points. I just wish Bob Snodgrass was still here to see that. He'd be happy as hell."

(Sketch of JC France by driver Mark Patterson)

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