"A Battle From the First to the 12th Hour"

Words from Rinaldo Capello, who along with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish (above, in the post race news conference), won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a brand new Audi R15/TDI clean diesel powered LeMans Prototype 1 machine. McNish drove the last few laps, and benefited from the team's strategic thinking on fueling, while being chased by the Peugeot Diesel driven by Franck Montagny, Stephane Sarrazin and 4 time Champ Car Champion and present Formula One driver Sebastien Bourdais. The Audi beat the Peugeot by 22.27 seconds at the end of 383 laps--longest distance for any of the 57 editions of this race.

Adrian Fernandez was the top finishing Acura prototype--his LMP 2 ARX-01B was first in class and 4th overall.

The pole winning car driven by Scott Dixon, Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud-- the new Acura ARX-02a lasted about 9 hours before falling out with mechanical teething problems finishing 18th overall. The Acura ARX-02a driven by Dario Franchitti, Scott Sharp and David Brabham lasted a little longer, finishing 15th. So the HPD folks will get to work before St. Petersburg, in two weeks.

The Audis and Peugeots won't be seen for a while at other American LeMans Series weekends--a pity, since those cars demonstrate how a diesel can be made to run and run quickly, as well as reliably.

Normally when race cars pass where you sit, you look up to see who is going by. With both the Peugeot and Audi turbo diesels running so quiet, you would look up when you didn't hear anything.

We'll catch up with the ALMS in a couple weeks, when we get to see both Dixon and Dario Franchitti (Dario's brother Marino Franchitti runs in the ALMS) work their day jobs--driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.

We get to veg for a couple days before heading back to the office. If events dictate, we'll blog about them, but will most certainly send a Tweet on Twitter to nudge you about our "Race-Talk" and "Radio-Road-Test" programs. Here's how to find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/msrnet

Greetings from St. Pete with Snapshots

Top--one of the fuel tanks in the pits for the American LeMans Series race here. This particular type of racing fuel is related to E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) which is becoming more available at pumps near you. Cellulosic ethanol is made from wood, which if you think about it, makes a lot of sense...because the pressure to use corn stocks to make ethanol could be lessened. The Corvettes and Aston Martins will run on the cellulosic ethanol blend this weekend.

Second--one of the aforementioned Corvettes getting ready to practice before qualifying later today.

Third--The overall winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring for the "Captain", Roger Penske. This car is driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas.

Bottom--the #7 Motorola Dallara Honda driven by Danica Patrick getting the thrice-over by the Andretti Green Racing team after practice. Justin Wilson (yep-one of those former Champ Car drivers who are now IndyCar series drivers) was the fastest in the first practice, clocking in at 102.014 miles an hour. Twenty six cars practiced. Patrick's car turned only 23 laps, with a best speed of 99.121 miles an hour.

Please remember that practice makes perfect...but in racing..it doesn't count until the green flag flies.

Saturday, 3/31/2007, from St. Petersburg

Dan Wheldon crashed his car in practice for IndyCar qualifying later this afternoon...it's the second hard whack he has taken in successive weeks. Wheldon's OK, not so the car. Dario Franchitti hit in Turn 8...he's also OK.

The GT American LeMans series cars are louder than the LeMans, Sebring and 2006 LeMans Prototype 1 championship winning 12 cylinder Audi R10 TDi diesel powered LMP1 car. No diesel clatter, smoke or anything like the stereotypical truck diesel from the tailpipe of either Audi.

We'll add a picture or two from our travels later on.

Paul Kaminski

11:34 am

Add Tony Kanaan to the crashers...he was the fastest IndyCar qualifier, crashed in the Fast Six session to decide the pole. Kanaan's time was scratched because he brought out the yellow; defending winner Helio Castroneves from Team Penske (above, after post qualifying news conference) sets a track record of 105.052 miles an hour to win the pole. Marco Andretti starts 2nd.

3:44 pm

Pictures from the Pit & Paddock at St. Petersburg's Honda Indy Grand Prix and Acura Sports Car Challenge

Top--The Andretti-Green Racing Acura ARX-01a (LeMans Prototype 2 winner at Sebring) driven by Bryan Herta, and Marino Franchitti (Dario's brother). The car will start 5th in Saturday's American LeMans Series street debut for 2007. Penske Racing's Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard start their Porsche RS Spyder on the pole (102.794 miles per hour).

Middle--The Audi R10 TDi diesel (LeMans Prototype 1 winner at Sebring), driven by Rinaldo Capello, Alan McNish and the ace of LeMans (24 Hours), 4 time winner Tom Kristensen. The car will start 3rd overall (102.184 miles per hour). McNish qualified the car, but crashed during qualifying.

Bottom--Tony Kanaan's 7-11 Dallara Honda after the first practice session.

IndyCar Top 2 in Combined Qualifying--Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan were 1-2. The 2 time Indy 500 winner clocked in with a 105.192 mile per hour lap; Kanaan a tick slower at 105.043 mph.

That's it for Friday; Saturday is pole day for the IndyCars and race day for the American Le Mans cars.

Paul Kaminski

3/30/2007