2007 American LeMans Series

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Green flag expected next lap; several teams continuing to pit as the safety car makes its' way around the bumpy road course here at Sebring.........

ALMS Radio currently discussing the fact that, while everyone expected Acura to do well, no one thought they'd challenge for P1 overall; everbody's watching to see who gets the advantage, Pirro in the Audi or Kanaan in the Acura........

Green! Green! Green! Kanaan nailed the restart........he passed four cars on the way down to Turn 1! Less than a second btwn the Audi and Acura

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ALMS Radio saying that "the key for Kanaan will be catching the Audi in the twisty bits of the track", as the Audi has the Acura down cold on speed


Going over to GT-1, less than a second separates the two C-6Rs' of Max Papis and Ron Fellows.........

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Race control reporting a full-course caution for fluid and debris on the track; one of the Flying Lizard Ferrari 430GT's has slowed; possibly a tire puncture

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And we're back to green!

Talk about having......stones; on the Speed Channel broadcast, one of the Audi motorsport bosses was asked about the technology in the R10 TDI and how it relates to their street cars.........his response(paraphrasing), "Unlike Formula 1, whose teams will one day be held accountable for their lack of relevance to the motoring public, our cars have technology which you'll see in our (street vehicles) within 18 months."

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Time: 7 hrs., 47:08 (70% mark @ 164 laps)

1} (LMP-1)#2 Emanuele Pirro, Audi R10 TDI..............................235 laps
2} (LMP-2)#26 Tony Kanaan, Acura ARX-01..............................-6.902 sec
3} (LMP-2)#15 Adrian Fernandez, Lola B05-40/Acura.................-7 laps
4} (LMP-2)#7 Helio Castroneves, Porsche RS Spyder.................-11 laps
5} (LMP-1)#1 Tom Kristensen, Audi R10 TDI.............................-12 laps
6} (LMP-2)#16 Butch Leitzinger, Porsche RS Spyder..................-14 laps
7} (GT-1)#4 Max Papis, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R......................-16 laps
8} (GT-1)#3 Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R...............-16 laps
9} (LMP-2)#9 Stefan Johansson, Acura ARX-01.........................-17 laps
10} (LMP-2)#6 Sascha Maasen, Porsche RS Spyder...................-21 laps

top GT-2 runner........#62 Mika Salo, Ferrari 430GT, -23 laps

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With just over two hours remaining.............
Time: 9 hrs., 51 mins., 56 secs.(70% mark @ 206 laps)

1} (LMP-1)#2 Marco Werner, Audi R10 TDI................................295 laps
2} (LMP-2)#26 Tony Kanaan, Acura ARX-01...............................-32.103 sec
3} (LMP-2)#15 Luis Diaz, Lola B05-40/Acura..............................-7 laps
4} (LMP-1)#1 Allan McNish, Audi R10 TDI..................................-12 laps
5} (LMP-2)#7 Timo Bernhard, Porsche RS Spyder......................-12 laps
6} (LMP-2)#8 Duncan Dayton, Acura ARX-01.............................-17 laps
7} (GT-1)#4 Olivier Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R................-18 laps
8} (GT-1)#3 Ron Fellows, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R....................-18 laps
9} (LMP-2)#16 Andy Lally, Porsche RS Spyder...........................-22 laps
10} (LMP-2)#27 Eric van der Poele, Lola B05-40/Judd................-24 laps

top GT-2 runner........#62 Jaime Melo, Ferrari 430GT, -27 laps(12th overall)

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Various interviews done on webcast/television...........

ALMS Radio(Globecast Radio)............just finished interviewing Tom Slunecka of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council(EPIC) on their ethanol programs in ALMS and the IRL; also interviewed the Captain, Roger Penske on their ALMS program for 2007

Speed Channel(domestic US television)..........they've interviewed(via pit reporters Calvin Fish and Andrew Marriott) AGR co-owner Kim Green and HPD(Honda Performance Development) boss Robert Clarke(Clarke seemed especially impressed w/the run their three Acura teams have had today)

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Race control reporting that the AGR Acura is now P1 overall, due to Audi Sport pitting then-leader Marco Werner for fuel/tires...........

ALMS Radio having a bit of a running joke/argument over whether it is "full darkness" or "twilight"

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Some driver changes of note in the past few minutes.............

#63(Team Modena)...................Liz Halliday(Antonio Garcia)
#27(Horag Racing)....................Didier Theys(Eric van der Poele)



ALMS Radio reporting both Corvette C-6R's have made stops w/driver changes for both cars

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Another exciting 12 Hours of Sebring is now in the history books, and there were some certainies and surprises up and down the paddock.......

~~Another notch in Audi's belt..........Once again, the dominance of Audi Sport North America rose to the fore as the R10 TDI of Emanuele Pirro, Marco Werner and Frank Biela easily won the LMP-1 class

~~Acura 1, Porsche 0.............One of the questions going into Sebring was whether the new Acuras' were up to the task; not only were they, but it was the Acura ARX-01 of Andretti-Green Racing and drivers Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan who won in LMP-2......and, had troubles in the last hour not come up, would've kept up pressure on the Audi R10

~~Another Corvette victory..........Once again, the battle btwn. Corvette and Aston Martin went to the Corvette, as Max Papis, Olvier Gavin and Olivier Beretta easily won the GT-1 class

~~Battling down to the end............I suspect come Christmas time that Jaime Melo and Jorg Bergmeister won't be exchanging Christmas cards, as the two put on a hellacious' amt. of beatin'-n'-bangin' in the late stages of the race, including the last lap; in the end, though, it was Melo and the boys from Risi Competizione who won the day in their Ferrari 430GT over Bergmeister and the Porsche 911 GT3 from Flying Lizard


Congratulations to all the winners!!!

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Current ALMS Standings............

LMP-1 Drivers' Standings(top-10+)......................
t-1st}[1]Marco Werner..................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Emanuele Pirro................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[3]Frank Biela......................................26 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Tom Kristensen................................22 pts
t-4th}[5]Rinaldo Capello................................22 pts
t-4th}[6]Allan McNish....................................22 pts
t-7th}[7]Clint Field........................................19 pts
t-7th}[8]Jon Field..........................................19 pts
t-7th}[9]Richard Berry...................................19 pts
t-10th}[10]Chris McMurry..............................16 pts
t-10th}[11]Bryan Willman..............................16 pts
t-10th}[12]Michael Lewis................................16 pts

LMP-1 Engine Stdgs.........................
1st} Audi R10................................................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Judd.....................................................19 pts
3rd} AER.......................................................16 pts

LMP-1 Chassis Stdgs........................
1st] Audi........................................................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Creation.................................................19 pts
3rd} Lola........................................................16 pts



LMP-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10+).................
t-1st}[1]Bryan Herta.......................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Tony Kanaan......................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[3]Dario Franchitti...................................26 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Adrian Fernandez................................22 pts
t-4th}[5]Luis Diaz............................................22 pts
t-6th}[6]Romain Dumas...................................19 pts
t-6th}[7]Timo Bernhard....................................19 pts
t-6th}[8]Helio Castroneves................................19 pts
t-9th}[9]David Brabham....................................16 pts
t-9th}[10]Stefan Johansson...............................16 pts
t-9th}[11]Duncan Dayton..................................16 pts

LMP-2 Engine Standings.....................
1st} Acura.......................................................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Porsche...................................................19 pts
3rd} Judd........................................................10 pts

LMP-2 Chassis Stdgs.....................
1st} Acura ARX-01............................................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Lola.........................................................22 pts
3rd} Porsche....................................................19 pts



GT-1 Drivers' Standings(top-10-)..................................
t-1st}[1]Oliver Gavin.........................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Olivier Beretta......................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[3]Max Papis.............................................26 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Ron Fellows..........................................22 pts
t-4th}[5]Johnny O'Connell..................................22 pts
t-4th}[6]Jan Magnussen.....................................22 pts
t-7th}[7]Liz Halliday...........................................19 pts
t-7th}[8]Darren Turner.......................................19 pts
t-7th}[9]Antonio Garcia......................................19 pts

GT-1 Constructors Stdgs...................
1st} Chevrolet Corvette C-6R.............................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Aston Martin DBR9.....................................19 pts



GT-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10+)..............................
t-1st}[1]Mika Salo..............................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Johnny Mowlem.....................................26 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[3]Jaime Melo............................................26 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Jorg Bergmeister...................................22 pts
t-4th}[5]Johannes van Overbeek.........................22 pts
t-4th}[6]Marc Lieb..............................................22 pts
t-7th}[7]Wolf Henzler..........................................19 pts
t-7th}[8]Patrick Long...........................................19 pts
t-7th}[9]Robin Liddell...........................................19 pts
t-10th}[10]Pierre Ehret........................................16 pts
t-10th}[11]Lars-Erik Nelsen..................................16 pts
t-10th}[12]Dirk Werner........................................16 pts

GT-2 Constructors' Stdgs........................
1st} Ferrari 430GT...............................................26 pts(1 win)
2nd} Porsche 911 GT3..........................................22 pts
3rd} Spyker Sqdn..................................................7 pts

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When all the dust settled from the 2:45 min. Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg......yes, once again an Audi R10 TDI had taken the overall victory, with drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello; it wasn't all good, though, as Petersen/White Lightning driver Tomas Enge was taken to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in a hard crash late in the race(Enge is currently listed in stable condition)........

LMP-1/1st} Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello, #3 Audi Sport North America, Audi R10 TDI
LMP-1/2nd} Emanuele Pirro, Marco Werner, #7 Audi Sport North America, Audi R10 TDI
LMP-1/3rd} Clint Field, Richard Berry, #11 Klein Tools Creation CA06/Judd

LMP-2/1st} Ryan Briscoe, Sascha Maasen, #2 DHL Global Mail Porsche RS Spyder
LMP-2/2nd} Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, #1 DHL Global Mail Porsche RS Spyder
LMP-2/3rd} David Brabham, Stefan Johansson, Duncan Dayton, #6 Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01

GT-1/1st} Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin, #13 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C-6R
GT-1/2nd} Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, #14 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C-6R(drive shaft failure)

GT-2/1st} Jaime Melo, Mika Salo, #16 Ferrari of Houston Ferrari 430GT
GT-2/2nd} Johannes van Overbeek, Jorg Bergmeister, #19 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3
GT-2/3rd} Joey Hand, Bill Auberlen, #21 PTG Panoz Esperante GTLM

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Current ALMS Standings...................
LMP-1 Drivers' Standings(top-10+)...........................
t-1st}[1]Emanuele Pirro......................................42 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Rinaldo Capello......................................42 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[3]Marco Werner........................................42 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[4]Allan McNish..........................................42 pts(1 win)
t-5th}[5]Jon Field...............................................32 pts
t-5th}[6]Clint Field.............................................32 pts
t-5th}[7]Richard Berry........................................32 pts
8th} Frank Biela.................................................26 pts(1 win)
9th} Tom Kristensen...........................................22 pts
t-10th}[10]Michael Lewis.....................................16 pts
t-10th}[11]Bryan Willman....................................16 pts
t-10th}[12]Chris McMurry....................................16 pts

LMP-1 Engine Stdgs....................
1st} Audi R10.....................................................46 pts(2 wins)
2nd} Judd...........................................................32 pts
3rd} AER............................................................16 pts

LMP-1 Chassis Stdgs....................
1st} Audi............................................................46 pts(2 wins)
2nd} Creation.....................................................32 pts
3rd} Lola............................................................16 pts



LMP-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10+)..............................
t-1st}[1]Romain Dumas........................................35 pts
t-1st}[2]Timo Bernhard.........................................35 pts
t-3rd}[3]Adrian Fernandez.....................................32 pts
t-3rd}[4]Luis Diaz.................................................32 pts
5th} Bryan Herta..................................................30 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[6]Ryan Briscoe...........................................29 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[7]David Brabham........................................29 pts
t-6th}[8]Sascha Maasen........................................29 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[9]Stefan Johansson.....................................29 pts
t-10th}[10]Tony Kanaan........................................26 pts(1 win)
t-10th}[11]Dario Franchitti.....................................26 pts(1 win)

LMP-2 Engine Stdgs..................
t-1st}[1]Acura.........................................................39 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Porsche......................................................39 pts(1 win)
3rd} Judd................................................................10 pts

LMP-2 Chassis Stdgs..................
t-1st}[1]Acura ARX-01..............................................39 pts(1 win)
t-1st}[2]Porsche RS Spyder.......................................39 pts(1 win)
3rd} Lola..................................................................32 pts



GT-1 Drivers' Standings(top-10-)..................................
t-1st}[1]Oliver Gavin.................................................46 pts(2 wins)
t-1st}[2]Olivier Beretta...............................................46 pts(2 wins)
3rd} Max Papis..........................................................26 pts(1 win)
t-4th}[4]Jan Magnussen..............................................22 pts
t-4th}[5]Ron Fellows...................................................22 pts
t-4th}[6]Johnny O'Connell...........................................22 pts
t-7th}[7]Liz Halliday....................................................19 pts
t-7th}[8]Darren Turner................................................19 pts
t-7th}[9]Antonio Garcia...............................................19 pts

GT-1 Manufacturers Stdgs...........
1st} Chevrolet Corvette C-6R......................................46 pts(2 wins)
2nd} Aston Martin DBR9..............................................19 pts



GT-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10)....................................
t-1st}[1]Miko Salo......................................................46 pts(2 wins)
t-1st}[2]Jaime Melo....................................................46 pts(2 wins)
t-3rd}[3]Jorg Bergmeister...........................................38 pts
t-3rd}[4]Johannes van Overbeek.................................38 pts
t-5th}[5]Wolf Henzler..................................................27 pts
t-5th}[6]Robin Liddell..................................................27 pts
7th} Johnny Mowlem...................................................26 pts(1 win)
8th} Marc Lieb............................................................22 pts
t-9th}[9]Jim Tafel.......................................................20 pts
t-9th}[10]Dominc Farnbacher......................................20 pts

GT-2 Manufacturers' Stdgs.............
1st} Ferrari 430GT......................................................46 pts(2 wins)
2nd} Porsche 911 GT3.................................................38 pts
3rd} Panoz Esperante GTLM.........................................13 pts
4th} Spyker Sqdn........................................................7 pts

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Updated ALMS Standings following Long Beach........

LMP-1 Driver's Standings(top-10)....................................
t-1st}[1]Rinaldo Capello..................................82 pts(3 wins)
t-1st}[2]Allan McNish.......................................82 pts(3 wins)
t-3rd}[3]Emanuele Pirro...................................74 pts(1 win)
t-3rd}[4]Marco Werner.....................................74 pts(1 win)
5th} Clint Field.................................................58 pts
6th} Jon Field...................................................45 pts
7th} Richard Berry............................................32 pts
t-8th}[8]Frank Biela..........................................26 pts(1 win)
t-8th}[9]Michael Lewis.......................................26 pts
t-8th}[10]Chris McMurry....................................26 pts

LMP-1 Engine Stdgs...........................
1st} Audi R10...................................................86 pts(4 wins)
2nd} Judd.........................................................58 pts
3rd} AER..........................................................26 pts

LMP-1 Chassis Stdgs..........................
1st} Audi..........................................................86 pts(4 wins)
2nd} Creation...................................................58 pts
3rd} Lola..........................................................26 pts


LMP-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10+).................................
t-1st}[1]Romain Dumas.......................................75 pts(2 wins)
t-1st}[2]Timo Bernhard........................................75 pts(2 wins)
t-3rd}[3]Sascha Maasen.......................................58 pts(1 win)
t-3rd}[4]Ryan Briscoe..........................................58 pts(1 win)
5th} Bryan Herta.................................................52 pts(1 win)
t-6th}[6]Stefan Johansson....................................49 pts
t-6th}[7]David Brabham.......................................49 pts
t-8th}[8]Andy Wallace..........................................41 pts
t-8th}[9]Butch Leitzinger.......................................41 pts
t-10th}[10]Luis Diaz.............................................40 pts
t-10th}[11]Adrian Fernandez.................................40 pts

LMP-2 Engine Stdgs..........................
1st} Porsche.......................................................79 pts(3 wins)
2nd} Acura.........................................................65 pts(1 win)
3rd} Judd...........................................................10 pts
4th} Mazda..........................................................6 pts

LMP-2 Chassis Stdgs..........................
1st} Porsche RS Spyder......................................79 pts(3 wins)
2nd} Acura ARX-01............................................65 pts(1 win)
3rd} Lola...........................................................40 pts


GT-1 Drivers' Standings(top-10-).......................................
t-1st}[1]Oliver Gavin...........................................82 pts(3 wins)
t-1st}[2]Olivier Beretta........................................82 pts(3 wins)
t-3rd}[3]Jan Magnussen......................................58 pts(1 win)
t-3rd}[4]Johnny O'Connell...................................58 pts(1 win)
5th} Max Papis...................................................26 pts(1 win)
6th} Ron Fellows.................................................22 pts
t-7th}[7]Liz Halliday............................................19 pts
t-7th}[8]Antonio Garcia.......................................19 pts
t-7th}[9]Darren Turner........................................19 pts

GT-1 Manufacturers' Stdgs...................................
1st} Chevrolet Corvette C-6R...............................86 pts(4 wins)
2nd} Aston Martin DBR9.......................................19 pts



GT-2 Drivers' Standings(top-10+)...................................
t-1st}[1]Mika Salo................................................86 pts(4 wins)
t-1st}[2]Jaime Melo..............................................86 pts(4 wins)
t-3rd}[3]Jorg Bergmeister.....................................56 pts
t-3rd}[4]Johannes van Overbeek...........................56 pts
t-5th}[5]Wolf Henzler............................................50 pts
t-5th}[6]Robin Liddell............................................50 pts
7th} Patrick Long..................................................35 pts
8th} Darren Law...................................................34 pts
9th} Johnny Mowlem.............................................26 pts(1 win)
t-10th}[10]Jim Tafel..............................................24 pts
t-10th}[11]Dominic Farnbacher..............................24 pts

GT-2 Manufacturers' Stdgs.....................
1st} Ferrari 430GT................................................86 pts(4 wins)
2nd} Porsche 911 GT3...........................................70 pts
3rd} Panoz Esperante GTLM...................................25 pts
4th} Spyker Sqdn..................................................7 pts

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~~Penske Racing drivers Ryan Briscoe(left) and Sascha Maasen(right) celebrate winning both the LMP-2 class and overall race victories at this past weekend's Larry H. Miller Grand Prix of Utah

Top-3 from each class.................
LMP-1/1st} Rinaldo Capello, Allan McNish, Audi R10 TDI, Audi Sport NA(2nd overall)
LMP-1/2nd} Emanuele Pirro, Marco Werner, Audi R10 TDI, Audi Sport NA(6th overall)
LMP-1/3rd} Jon Field, Clint Field, Richard Berry, Creation CA06/Judd, Intersport Racing(10th overall)

LMP-2/1st} Ryan Briscoe, Sascha Maasen, Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing(1st overall)
LMP-2/2nd} Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing(3rd overall)
LMP-2/3rd} Butch Leitzinger, Andy Wallace, Porsche RS Spyder, Dyson Racing(4th overall)

GT-1/1st} Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R, Corvette Racing(8th overall)
GT-1/2nd} Jan Magnussen, Johnny O'Connell, Chevrolet Corvette C-6R, Corvette Racing(9th overall)
note....only two GT-1 entries participated in race

GT-2/1st} Tomas Enge, Darren Turner, Ferrari 430GT, Petersen/White Lightning Racing(11th overall)
GT-2/2nd} Jorg Bergmeister, Johannes van Overbeek, Porsche 911 GT3, Flying Lizard Racing(12th overall)
GT-2/3rd} Wolf Henzler, Robin Liddell, Porsche 911 GT3, Tafel Racing(13th overall)