I'm still unsure of how Acura (LMP1) will do tomorrow, they put up solid qualifying results, but after watching a program on their LMP2 to LMP1 move and learning that their secret to success is to use four rear tires I am a bit skeptical. Having a larger contact patch is great in theory, but will it win them races instantly?
More info on the ARX-02A located here.
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There will be an interesting battle in every category besides the obvious(GT1). Dyson seems surprisingly strong with the Mazda/Lola and who's to say Audi wont have it's own teething issues on its first race? I'm with you for BMW. Hopefully they can prove themselves somehow.
And to spice things up - could Panoz be making a comeback with a new chassis?
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090319/ALMS/903199991Leave a comment:
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Bets for class win:
LMP1: Audi R15 TDI (Capello/Kristensen/McNish)
LMP2: Acura AX-01B (Fernandez/Diaz)
GT1: One of those homo Corvettes.
GT2: Porsche 911 RSR (Bergmeister/Long/Lieb)
I'd really like to see BMW establish some solid results in their inaugural race, but being realistic, a class podium might be as far as they get. IMO, the real racing this year will be in GT2 (and maybe, maybe LMP1 depending on how strong Acura is.)
I'm psyched for Saturday's race, make sure you guys remember to check ESPN tonight at 9:00 PM EST.Leave a comment:
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The Official ALMS Thread
I know there has to be some fans on here. Qualifying times are in and it looks like the diesel juggernauts managed to lose pole position to one of the new Acuras. Though this doesn't mean much yet in an endurance race, it's still impressive to see the different approach Acura took with a petrol engine and manage to prove itself on it's first event so far.
Things don't look as bright for the BMWs though. =\
1 1 66 P1 de Ferran/Pagenaud/Dixon 1:45.278 126.522 11 -.--- 11 Acura ARX 02a
2 2 2 P1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish 1:45.360 126.424 7 0.082 9 Audi R15 / TDI
3 3 07 P1 Minassian/Lamy/Klien 1:45.462 126.301 2 0.184 3 Peugeot 908
4 4 1 P1 Luhr/Rockenfeller/Werner 1:45.551 126.195 4 0.273 5 Audi R15 / TDI
5 5 08 P1 Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais 1:45.559 126.185 1 0.281 2 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP
6 6 9 P1 Brabham/Sharp/Franchitti 1:46.504 125.066 10 1.226 11 Acura ARX 02a
7 1 15 P2 Fernandez/Diaz 1:49.686 121.438 2 4.408 4 Acura ARX-01B
8 2 16 P2 Dyson/Smith/Lally 1:51.534 119.425 8 6.256 10 Lola B09 86 Mazda
9 7 12 P1 Willman/McMurry/Burgess 1:51.598 119.357 10 6.320 11 Lola B06/10
10 3 20 P2 Leitzinger/Franchitti/Devlin 1:51.840 119.099 8 6.562 11 Lola B08 86 Mazda
11 1 4 GT1 Beretta/Gavin/Faessler 1:57.882 112.994 2 12.604 4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
12 2 3 GT1 Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia 1:58.203 112.687 3 12.925 4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
13 1 87 GT2 Henzler/Werner/Lietz 2:03.051 108.248 2 17.773 6 Porsche 911 RSR
14 2 45 GT2 Bergmeister/Long/Lieb 2:03.433 107.913 3 18.155 5 Porsche 911 RSR
15 3 95 GT2 Companc/Russo/Bruni 2:03.487 107.866 5 18.209 7 Ferrari 430 GT
16 4 62 GT2 Melo/Kaffer/Salo 2:03.829 107.568 8 18.551 9 Ferrari 430 Berlinetta GT
17 5 40 GT2 D.Robertson/A.Robertson/Murry 2:04.333 107.132 3 19.055 5 Doran Ford GT-R
18 6 21 GT2 Farnbacher/James/TBA 2:04.437 107.042 7 19.159 8 Panoz Esperante
19 7 90 GT2 Hand/Auberlen 2:04.566 106.931 4 19.288 6 BMW E92 M3
20 8 11 GT2 Feinberg/Hall/Holt 2:05.619 106.035 5 20.341 6 Dodge Viper
21 9 007 GT2 Drayson/Cocker/Bell 2:05.692 105.973 4 20.414 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT
22 10 18 GT2 N.Pastorelli/Stuck/Stuck 2:05.805 105.878 7 20.527 8 Porsche 911 RSR
23 11 28 GT2 Gigliotti/Curran/Molo 2:06.678 105.148 9 21.400 10 Chevrolet Riley Corvette
24 12 61 GT2 Krohn/Jonsson/van de Poele 2:08.386 103.750 6 23.108 8 Ferrari 430 Berlinetta GT
25 13 44 GT2 Law/Neiman/van Overbeek 2:10.912 101.748 2 25.634 10 Porsche 911 RSR
26 14 5 GT2 Westbrook/Basseng/David -.--- --- 0 0 Porsche 911 RSR
27 8 37 P1 J.Field/C.Field/Ducote -.--- --- 0 0 Lola B06/10
28 15 92 GT2 Mueller/Milner -.--- --- 0 0 BMW E92 M3
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