MOBIL 1 TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING PIT NOTES - PAGES 6-7

American Le Mans Series Pit Notes
55th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
Pages 6-7

ALMS Mandatory Night Practice – (scheduled 90-minute session):

Originally scheduled for 7:45 pm EDT, a massive thunderstorm ripped through the area around 6:00 pm leaving the track wet with standing water. The start of the session has been delayed until at least 8:10 pm.

During the storm, half of the side canopy from the transporter of the #37-P1 Creation/CA06H/Judd was lifted off the ground and folded like a piece of paper. A crew member was trying to hold the canopy down, and according to witnesses in the Corvette truck, was lifted over the entire length of the enclosed area and deposited behind the paddock, over one of the concrete walls. The crew member was taken to the infield care center, but did not seem to be seriously injured.

Richard Berry (#37-P1 Creation/CA06H/Judd), "It has not been a good day. This is not something you can predict. We were already going to be working on the car all day tomorrow (after the qualification accident), but now we have to deal with this too. Not having a good week."

At 8:30 pm, green flag.

At 8:33 pm, car #21-GT2 Panoz Esperante GTLM returns to the pits after being warned for driving without any lights.

At 8:34 pm, car #22-GT2 Panoz Esperante GTLM left the pits without a lugnut and lost a wheel at turn 12.

At 8:37 pm, 17 of the 34 cars have posted times.

At 8:39 pm, red flag all, to move the #22-GT2 Panoz Esperante GTLM to a safe position. The team has brought a wheel and jack to the car to try and get it going where it stopped.

At 8:43 pm, green flag.

Michael Andretti, owner #26-P2 Acura/ARX-01a "Things are going pretty good. Especially now, compared to where we were six months ago. We think we can contend for the win in class, but we will really need some help for an overall win, although that is not out of the question." (Did you bring your suit and helmet just in case?) "No, the line in front of me of people that want to drive this car is too long!"

At 9:00 pm, 30 of the 34 cars have posted times. #32-GT2 Ferrari 430GT is in the pits, but has not practiced. #37-P1 Creation/CA06H/Judd will not practice due to damage from earlier in the day. #22-GT2 Panoz Esperante GTLM did not complete an entire lap earlier in the session, and #45-GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is in the pits, but has not posted a time.

At 9:10 pm, 31 of the 34 cars have posted times (#37 Creation/CA06H/Judd will not practice).

At 9:16 pm, so far, all of the teams have practiced on wet tires. The dry tires are in the pits, but our crew has not seen anyone come or go with dry weather tires tonight.

Adrian Fernandez (#15-P2 Lola/B06-43/Acura) "So far, so good. Things are really going well. Dealing with traffic is an entirely different thing for us. We definitely have to be very, very careful with other classes and other drivers on the track. I'm very happy to be here, the team is happy to be here and we are very happy to be working with Acura." (so you think you have a chance at the overall win?) "Hey, we did at the simulation!"

Tony Kanaan (#26-P2 Acura/ARX-01a) "I think its very tough to compare the LMP2 Acura prototype car to the open wheel car. These prototype cars are much bigger making them a lot different. They are a lot of fun to drive though. This whole program has been a very nice experience. I get to experience the Sebring atmosphere and the sports car atmosphere. I am focused now on getting ready to drive this car but come Saturday night, I'll focus on my Indy car and for the season."

Darren Law (#44-GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) "The track conditions are not great, but there are no puddles, its just wet and slick all over. Everybody is staying out on the rains so they can get the required number of laps and not hurt the car. Otherwise, we just puttzing around."

At 9:38 pm, red flag all. Dindo Capello (#1-P1 Audi AG/R10/TDI) has stopped on course at turn 12, apparently trying to avoid conact with another car in turn 11. The Audi is heavily damaged and will be brought back on a flat bed tow. Capello is out of the car and ok. Further updates on the car tomorrow morning.

At 9:49 pm, green flag (11 minutes remaining in the session).

At 10:00 pm, checkered flag.

Top three in class (mostly on rain tires, driver listed is last driver of record):

1: (1) #1-P1 (Audi AG/R10/TDI) Rinaldo Capello 2:01.602
2: (2) #2-P1 (Audi AG/R10/TDI) Emanuele Pirro 2:01.711
3: (10) #12-P1 (Lola/EX257 AER) Michael Lewis 2:15.868

1: (3) #9-P2 (Acura/ARX-01a) Duncan Dayton 2:02.030
2: (4) #26-P2 (Acura/ARX-01a) Tony Kanaan 2:04.855
3: (5) #6-P2 (Porsche RS Spyder) Sascha Maassen 2:06.758

1: (13) #63-GT1 (Aston Martin DBR9) Liz Halliday 2:18.433
2: (15) #3-GT1 (Corvette C6.R) Jan Magnussen 2:20.971
3: (25) #4-GT1 (Corvette C6.R) Max Papis 2:26.539

1: (12) #85-GT2 (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) Lars Nielsen 2:18.330
2: (14) #54-GT2 (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) Tim Pappas 2:18.809
3: (16) #32-GT2 (Ferrari 430GT) Jose Maria Lopez 2:21.465

Next session: Combined practice at 9:55am Friday.