2009 Sebring 12 Hours

[Dino Scuderia]

Here's the qualy result.

http://www.americanlemans.com/events...%20Sebring.pdf

[Ferrer]

you have Barcelona in a couple of weeks

I do, I do.

[RacingManiac]

The telling thing in that sheet, is that both Acuras did their fastest lap in the final ones of their 11 lap run. While Audi and Peugeot both went for only 3-5 laps run total....The diesels weren't even pushed that hard in quali....opting basically for 1 or 2 flier....

I'd bet the Acura's pace on cold tire will be a lot slower....that "rear" tire on the front is not able to come up to temp fast enough.

[Ferrer]

Scott Dixon on pole for Acura/de Ferran. The diesels can be beaten.

Go petrol!

[Dino Scuderia]

Curiously, the pole time is slower than I thought, since the fastest lap this week was R15's 1:43s on Monday.......

I'd still pick R15 to win...

Apparently the track was just slower because some of the GT2's ran 2'02's during the week...so they were off too.

[Wouter Melissen]

The R15 from Sebring this week: 2009 Audi R15 TDI - Images, Specifications and Information

[Rockefella]

Less than three tenths seperate first through fifth.. interesting. Should make for a good Sunday.

[Dino Scuderia]

Less than three tenths seperate first through fifth.. interesting. Should make for a good Sunday.

But the race is Saturday.

[Rockefella]

But the race is Saturday.

Shows how well tuned in I am to ALMS. I thought it started Saturday afternoon and ended on Sunday morning. Was mistaken.

[Dino Scuderia]

I thought it started Saturday afternoon and ended on Sunday morning.

Maybe this is your drinking schedule?

[Rockefella]

Maybe this is your drinking schedule?

Sounds about right.

[f6fhellcat13]

Knowing next to nothing about endurance racing, I think that the diesels will walk right on by the gas cars during the race from less pit stops etc...
I was hoping for stronger gasoline competition for the R15 and Pugs.

[Dino Scuderia]

Melo finally made it to the States....to New York...now he has to fly to Florida but he will miss night practice so they will not let him drive tomorrow night during the race.

However if Risi wants to take a grid penalty and start from the back Melo can drive the whole race but he'll only have morning practice in the car.

I bet they take the penalty because having Melo in the car is a psychological weight on the minds of the other teams as well as having his speed behind the wheel.

[RacingManiac]

and his audasity of running people off the track in the last corner for the win....hahah....

[Kitdy]

I think a sad showing for Dyson - first thing I heard about them from Hindy was provisional pole but then they are 1.8 seconds off pole in the Lola which at this point simply does not look like it can keep up with the Lowe's Acura. I thought LMP2 might be interesting - but then again, Dyson were slow with the RS Spyder and are probably even worse off with a privateer chassis - though it may well be backed by a powerful engine. For a second, LMP2 looked interesting to me and while there is a possibility it may be close in points if the ARX is not reliable, I still don't think it will be interesting as I can't see a lot of wheel to wheel racing. Or am I jumping the gun in saying this?

Does it again need to be mentioned that after Sebring that the only interesting class is gonna be GT2 unless you want to watch the Acuras fight each other (barring Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca where Audi is(?) showing up). Enjoy Sebring and hope it's a classic as the ALMS does not look good for the rest of the season outside GT2.