Brian Monprode, Michelin tire technician

born: Toms River, N.J., USA
current residence: Oxford, Mich., USA
unique note: Monprode has a bachelor’s degree electrical engineering and a master’s physics.
race day duty: tire engineer
major accomplishments: Member of 2005 and 2006 ALMS GT2 Championship team, 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, 2005 Le Mans runner-up and nine ALMS class victories. Member of the 2007 Utah Grand Prix GT2 winning effort with Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing.

bio brief
Brian Monprode signed on with Petersen/White Lightning in 2004 as the Michelin tire engineer. He guides the team's tire choices before and during races. He's also on the spot in the pits, closely monitoring tire performance during the race. Monprode has been racing for eight years, two of them on a pit crew for a Porsche team in ALMS and Grand American. The last three years, he's been a Michelin tire engineer. He has helped Petersen/White Lightning to nine ALMS GT2 class victories including the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans in 2005 and '06. Monprode's work has also led to the 2005 ALMS GT2 Team, Driver and IMSA Cup titles and 2006 ALMS Driver and IMSA Cup championships, a 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans GT victory and a runner-up position in GT2 there in '05.

away from the track
Born in 1960, Monprode oversees on-site quality at all of Michelin's North American new vehicle manufacturers- his latest assignment in a 19-year stint with the world's largest tiremaker. On the home front, Monprode lives in Oxford, Mich., outside of Detroit. He's married with two young children and is a graduate of the University of Florida.