ALMS Lime Rock - *spoiler*

back to racing in ALMS this weekend (this is the first we've missed being there in a few years)- here's some info for qualifying today . .(live timing is also on imsaracing.net) - entry list is slim only 19 cars on the grid - (4) P1 (5) P2 (10) GT2 (5) ALMS Challenge, interesting is the competitor bulletin from IMSA stating the Porsche P2 runs ACO. Looks like next year there will probably be only two classes in ALMS - Prototype and GT.


After a two-month break, the American Le Mans Series returns to Lime Rock Park for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. Live Streaming of qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday on SPEEDtv.com offers fans a unique online viewing opportunity.

Live streaming qualifying presented by Michelin will allow fans worldwide to follow all of the action online Friday with audio commentary from Radio Show Limited’s John Hindhaugh and live video coverage of the prototype and GT qualifying sessions.

Visit SPEEDtv.com to see the Connecticut-based Acura LMP1 of Patrón Highcroft Racing and Farnbacher Loles Racing’s Porsche GT2 try to capture pole in front of their families and sponsors. The Patrón Highcroft team won the thrilling 2008 race after a late pass by reigning Le Mans winner David Brabham, one that also gave Acura its first overall victory in the Series.

It’s also the home race for New York-based Dyson Racing and New Jersey-based BMW North America. Dyson’s Mazda-powered Lola coupes will be gunning for pole as will BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team after recent tests have shown the M3’s V8 is faster than ever.

The Corsa Motorsports team will also run its unique Ginetta-Zytek using hybrid-electric power to boost the performance of the V8 engine, the first time hybrid power has been used since the Panoz Q9 car paved the way with the alternative energy source more than a decade ago at the inaugural Petit Le Mans.

Also after qualifying, join Chris Dyson and Guy Smith for a live SPEEDtv.com chat at 5:15 p.m. ET.

The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 18. The race will air live on SPEED. American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche and Live Timing & Scoring will be available at Racehub on americanlemans.com. You also can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes). An RSS feed of Series news also is available.

The race also will mark the fifth round of the MICHELIN® Green X® Challenge.



Carol

 

De Ferran Motorsports' Simon Pagenaud beat Highcroft rival David Brabham to pole position as the American Le Mans Series resumed at Lime Rock.

The two LMP1 Acuras had a frenetic battle for pole around the short track, with Brabham looking uncatchable early on before Pagenaud produced a 46.971s lap that gave him first place by nearly four tenths of a second. Despite Brabham's best efforts, fading tyres and increasing drizzle meant the Highcroft driver could not get any closer.

Adrian Fernandez completed another Acura one-two-three as he took LMP2 pole for his eponymous team, a few tenths ahead of the Dyson Lola-Mazdas.

The Corsa Ginetta-Zytek will start sixth for its first race in full hybrid configuration.

Jaime Melo put Risi Ferrari on top in GT2 by just 0.064s over Flying Lizard Porsche's Patrick Long. The latter repeatedly closed in on Melo's early provisional pole lap, then edged ahead, only for Melo to respond with a 54.665s to reclaim the class top spot.

 

The ALMs is just not the same any more,they ruined it by changing the P2 rules . Two cars fighting for overall, that will be worth watching. Not!

 

The real ones here at Elkhart are more awesome!

 

I cannot wait to see/hear them tomorrow (Sunday).

On a different note, I love the ALMS, but were the Acura's even racing anyone. I was trying to write a brief with the race on in the background and from what I could tell, it was just the two Acuras in P1 with no one else in sight for the overall win. Am I correct??

Mark

 

Pagenaud crossed the finish line in his Acura ARX-02a 43.776 seconds ahead of David Brabham, who appeared to be on his way to a second straight Lime Rock victory with Patrón Highcroft Racing teammate Scott Sharp. A punctured tire with 13 minutes left ended those hopes.


American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix
Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.
Saturday’s results
1. (1) Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France; Acura ARX-02a (1, P1), 184.
2. (2) Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; David Brabham, Australia; Acura ARX-02a (2, P1), 184.
3. (6) Johnny Mowlem, England; Stefan Johansson, Sweden; Ginetta-Zytek 09HS (3, P1), 177.
4. (4) Marino Franchitti, Scotland; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Lola B09 86 Mazda (1, P2), 172.
5. (10) Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Jörg Bergmeister, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (1, GT2), 167.
6. (8) Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Tony Burgess, Canada; Lola B06/10 AER (4, P1), 166.
7. (3) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Acura ARX-01B (2, P2), 166.
8. (9) Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Jaime Melo, Brazil; Ferrari F430 GT (2, GT2), 166.
9. (12) Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; BMW E92 M3 (3, GT2), 166.
10. (11) Bryce Miller, Hoboken, NJ; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (4, GT2), 165.
11. (15) Johannes Stuck, Austria; Richard Westbrook, England; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (5, GT2), 163.
12. (16) Ian James, England; Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; Panoz Esperante GTLM Ford (6, GT2), 163.
13. (18) Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (7, GT2), 159.
14. (17) Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chris Hall, Daytona, FL; Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (8, GT2), 158.
15. (23) Adam Pecorari, Aston, PA; Gunnar Van der Steur, Chesapeake City, MD; Radical SR9 AER (3, P2), 157.
16. (14) David Murry, Cumming, GA; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT MK 7 (9, GT2), 153.
17. (19) Wesley Hoagland, Tustin, CA; Bob Faieta, Tujunga, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (1, C), 149.
18. (21) Ed Brown, Las Vegas, NV; Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2, C), 146.
19. (22) Donald Pickering, Reno, NV; Nick Parker, Seattle, WA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (3, C), 144.
20. (20) Melanie Snow, Pleasant Grove, UT; Martin Snow, Pleasant Grove, UT; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (4, C), 142.
21. (13) Tommy Milner, Leesburg, VA; Dirk Müller, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (10, GT2), 142.
22. (7) Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Chapman Ducote, Miami, FL; Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B06/10 AER (5, P1), 139, Drivetrain.
23. (5) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Lola B09 86 Mazda (4, P2), 63, Electrical.
24. (24) Guy Cosmo, Long Island, NY; John Baker, New York, NY; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (5, C), 52, Mechanical.

 

Wasn't it the same last year with Audi?

 

It's a shame they've had to bring in the GT3 Cup cars to fill out the field.

Great for the GT3 Cup guys, though. They've got their own series, plus ALMS and Speed WC GT. You could get a metric tonne of racing in this season.

Looking forward to seeing what the GT2 Corvettes do at Mid-Ohio.

 

No, at least the P2 cars were competitive for over all win in 07 and 08, now with the rule change they aren't. I loved to watch that David vs Goliath formatt. You now have a boring series at the top level with less cars, their talking about changing the rules again for 2010 because this, they should have left things alone. Audi was crying that if the P2 cars weren't slowed down they leave, the P2's were handicapped this year and Audi left any way.

 

rule change proposed is for one prototype class and a gt class - obviously here in the us gt1 is dead (and was a joke with the vettes and everytime they got beaten by Aston there was a "competition adjustment" - don't blame Dave Richards for leaving here), fortunately in Europe it isn't a dead class. Don't worry next year as the P1 teams will be in irl most likely joined by a p2 team. ALMS will be mainly a gt race. Audi didn't leave because of the p2 cars!

Carol

 

I know Audi didn't leave because of the P2 cars, all I'm saying is the competition and racing was so much better in 07 & 08 with the P2's capable was winning over-all. GT1 had the Saleens also which they did a "competition adjustment" with them to. IMSA knows how to shoot themselves in the foot, they can't leave a good thing alone. I wrote them many times that they were going in the wrong direction. What they should do is one proto class something like Grand AM but with better looking cars (open and closed top) and more power. They need to get the cost down to make it more attractive

 

Just got a chance to watch this race last night. Pretty good for the Acuras and Mazdas. The GT was sort of expected, and too bad for Guy in the Challenge class. It was a very interesting race in the last 30 min.

 

wondered where you were!! I didn't watch it on Saturday - doing other things but did have live timing on and checked that periodically - doing same as you, only we stopped the recorder yesterday with about 30 minutes to go, will watch remainder one of these nights! the Spyder didn't show up...wonder if it will appear at Mid-Ohio? Guy did well in the Challenge class, oop's came with driver change as I recall.

Carol

Spa 24h is this weekend - one heck of a driver line-up - Phoenix Audi R8LMS running G2 class there this weekend and (3) MC-12's running GT1. Definitely will be watching that this weekend - F1 Hungary too this weekend.

 

Results?

 

post #7

 

Ya my shift changed so I'm working nights now, and I'm away from the desk (FINALLY!). I don't get as much time on FChat but I will be able to catch the races now. I'm very excited for Spa and to see the MC12's again. Hope all is well.

 

I'll do some digging and see where we can see the race via some sort of streaming and probably www.ris-timing.be is where we'll find live timing.

Carol

 

Nice, thanks Carol.