Vasco Rossi of Siena, Italy, has been having the time of his life. He is trucking throughout the U.S. and Canada at the wheel of the Team Olive Garden-Coca Cola Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS-class racer transport. The vehicle carries the race car to all the American LeMans Series (ALMS) races.

The transport turns heads, too. While most teams use U.S. drivers and American conventional trucks, Team Olive Garden is true to its heritage with their Italian-made Renault cab-over tractor, Renault motor and European tri-axle trailer.

The 13-foot high tractor stood out from the other transporters like an emerald beacon in the paddock of Road America earlier this year, the beautiful 4-mile road circuit in the Kettle Moraine region of Wisconsin, an hour north of Milwaukee. There I met Vasco, who speaks little English, while I speak no Italian.

"This is how it is at your inspection points," he said as we communicated with gestures and papers more than words. He communicates with the DOT that way. The rig is spec'd European-style for 38.6 metric tons (about 85,000 lbs) but here, with its 4 x 2 tractor and 3-axle trailer, it is limited to 77,000 lbs. At first that caused problems at the scales, but the team learned to adjust and Vasco learned how to communicate with the DOT.

In Europe, Vasco is limited to 80 kilometers per hour, about 50 mph. He proudly showed me the new speedometer they fitted (reading up to 100 mph/160 kph) so he could travel in the US. Running with the other teams from track to track, he has legally and happily driven up to 70 mph, staying within the speed limit. Race transporters are too visible to do otherwise. Vasco likes our travel centers, and T/A is among his favorites. "We have nothing like your truck plazas, where everything is just for trucks and drivers. In Europe, we share stopping places with the cars."

For the record, the Team Olive Garden Ferrari came in third in class at Road America, behind the two series-leading GM Goodwrench Corvette C-5R racers. The ALMS cars also raced at Mazda Raceway in Monterey, Calif., and Road Atlanta, Braselton Ga., and will return to Road America next July 4th weekend. This year or next, you may see Vasco and his Renault at a truckstop or on the road. The rig is hard to miss.