Maserati on the podium!

There may have been no "true" Ferraris in today's ALMS race at Road Atlanta, but the sole Maserati MC12, really a Ferrari in disguise, did distinguish itself by finishing third in the GT1 class, behind the factory Corvettes and ahead of the Saleen and Viper.

In my 30 years of racegoing, this is the first time I got to see a Maserati race car that wasn't a vintage machine like a 250F or a Birdcage. Congrats to the Maserati for making the podium in only their second American race.

(And congrats also to the homestanding Panoz team for finally dealing a defeat to Porsche in GT2.)

 

The MC12 in person is so much better than the pictures. It appears too large to me in the pictures, with large overhangs. Almost as though the after end is just an add on.

However, all of this changes in person...she is a like a beautiful woman, love at first sight, and the sound at speed, the bang and flames as the gears change, the sexy shape speeding out of sight and over the hill at Raod Atlanta...

 

Yes, the Maserati was on the podium and it was well deserved. However, if the Aston Martins hadn't stayed home it probably would have been a different story.

Congratulations to IMSA for penalizing the Porsche for punting the Panoz off the track. Its about time someone stepped up and penalized drivers who use force when talent won't get the job done.