April
2002
Audi
prepares Le Mans defence
Audi
Sport UK Press Release, 26th April: Audi begins the countdown
for a successful defence of its Le Mans 24 Hour motor race title
by contesting important warm-up trials in France on Sunday 5
May. The German prestige car manufacturer is bidding to win
the annual, classic round-the-clock marathon for a third consecutive
year and has recruited ex-Formula One star Johnny Herbert into
its "factory" squad for the race on 15-16 June.
Herbert,
who retired from Grand Prix racing in 2000, will drive the latest
200mph Infineon Audi R8 sports racing car. On Sunday, Johnny
(37) and the other members of the Audi Sport squad, will grab
their one and only opportunity of making detail adjustments
to the car’s suspension and aerodynamics specific to the challenge
of the recently-revised 8.62-mile Le Mans circuit.
"We’ll
fine-tune the cars so that when we arrive back at Le Mans
in June for the race itself, we have the best possible set-up,"
commented Johnny. "The
Le Mans circuit is made up of public roads and is only closed
off on this one occasion before the race so it’s vital we
get a lot of work done on Sunday.
"Nowadays
these machines are basically a Formula One car enveloped in
a wide, sportscar body. Much of the same technology is present
like ‘paddles’ behind the steering wheel to change up and
down the six-speed sequential gearbox for example."
Herbert
will partner Rinaldo Capello and fellow Italian Christian Pescatori
in their Audi R8. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V8
engine featuring the latest FSI (petrol direct injection) technology
and producing in excess of 600bhp, they will need to average
around 130mph for 24 hours covering over 3,200-miles to be in
contention for honours.
"I
won Le Mans in 1991 and the Audi R8 gives me a great opportunity
of a second career win in what remains one of the world’s
great motor races," added Johnny. "I won the Sebring
12 Hour race two months ago which gives us a lot of confidence."
Tipping
the scales on the minimum weight limit of 900kgs (17cwt) - about
the same weight as an Audi A2 - the R8 can accelerate from rest
to 62mph in 3.2seconds, 124mph in under 7secs and 186mph in
17secs despite the engine being restricted due to regulations.
Importantly, it can come to a halt from 186-0 mph in 4secs -
less than 160 yards.
Having
dominated world rallying and touring car racing in the 1980s
and ‘90s respectively with cars featuring its unique quattro
four-wheel-drive system, Audi switched to endurance sportscar
racing in 1999. In 2000, Audi finished 1-2-3 at Le Mans and
claimed a 1-2 result with its two-car "factory" entry
last year.
Audi’s
1996 British Touring Car Champion Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro
and Tom Kristensen have been victorious at Le Mans for the past
two years and will make history should they sweep their Infineon
Audi R8 to victory this year as never before has the same three
driver crew registered three successive wins.
Official
Press Release, 25th April: Having set the goal of winning
the Indianapolis 500 when just a young boy, three-time Formula
One grand prix winner Johnny Herbert came one step closer to
realizing that dream by successfully testing at the famed 2.5-mile
Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
A
veteran of several racing disciplines, Herbert completed 71
laps in the No. 32 Western Union Speed Team/Duesenberg Brothers
Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Fire-stone entry with a top single
lap speed of 221.300 miles-per-hour. Having also claimed victory
at Le Mans and Sebring, Herbert was quite pleased with the team’s
progress toward qualifying for the 86th Indy 500.
"The
whole purpose of this test was to just get into a comfortable
mode where we’re very consistent on times, and we achieved
that this afternoon," Herbert said.
"I
could do 220s and 221s all day long, which is nice to be able
to do on a 40-lap set of tires. We worked in a very nice steady
way including a few mechanical changes to learn a little bit
about the car for one, but also to see how I would react to
certain changes."
As
the day progressed, Herbert and chief engineer Greg Beck focused
on changes to the car’s aerodynamic set-up.
"We
did a bit of aero work to try and get better balance as we
had a lot of push," recalled Herbert. "We still
do have some push but we cut it down a lot and the car feels
very stable in the corners, which is quite good. So now we’re
in the stage where we can go away and think about it and know
we have a good baseline from which to start when we come back
in May."
Technically
a rookie at the Brickyard, Herbert finds the steady conservative
approach, as well as the team, very much to his liking.
"Overall,
I’m quite happy with how things have gone," he emphasized.
"It was very nice how we progressed and how we got consistent
toward the end of the test. This is a great little team to
work with and there’s a good little rapport with everybody
involved."
Follow
Johnny and the Western Union Speed Team as practice for this
year’s Indianapolis 500 officially begins on Sunday, May 5th,
with the first of three qualification days scheduled for Saturday,
May 11th.
AP,
24th April: The last time Johnny Herbert raced at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway he was going in the opposite direction. The former
Formula One driver from England competed two years ago in the
inaugural U.S. Grand Prix, where the reconfigured track took
traffic clockwise around a 2.6-mile, 13-turn road course. The
Indianapolis 500 next month will be on the normal 2 1/2 -mile
oval. Herbert would join former Indy 500 winners Juan Montoya
and Jacques Villeneuve as the only drivers to have raced on
both layouts.
"The
only thing that you normally feel as a similarity, I suppose,
was coming off the last two turns, which was really Turn 1
backward. That was really the only time we felt any high speed
here [in F1],'' Herbert said on Tuesday after his first test
with the Beck Motorsports entry for Duesenberg Brothers Racing.
Herbert,
then driving for Jaguar, was 11th in the 2000 U.S. Grand Prix.
He was a test driver for Arrows last year and tested an Indy
Racing League car for the first time last summer. Because of
his extensive driving experience, he was not required to take
the IRL's Rookie Orientation Program two weeks ago.
"Obviously,
we're not traveling near as quick as when you do in an IRL
car,'' he said of his 12-year career in Formula One, where
he won three races. "It's just very difficult because
it's a completely different kind of driving here.''
Herbert
turned 28 laps during tests Tuesday. No speeds were recorded
for him.
"The
main thing was just having a good shakedown with the car,''
Herbert said. "We went through the normal stuff, and
that's working OK at the moment. It's good for the team. It's
a great little team to work with. It's got a good little rapport
with everybody.''
The
track opens for full practice May 5.
Audi
Sport UK Press Release, 22nd April: Two of Britain's most
experienced and popular racing drivers are teaming up for a
major title assault in the American Le Mans Series. Former Le
Mans 24 Hour race winners Johnny Herbert and Andy Wallace will
race an Audi in the North American-based sportscar endurance
championship for the Florida-based ADT Champion Racing team
for the remainder of the year.
Essex-born
Herbert (37) and Wallace (41), who are now both based in Oxon,
contested the ALMS championship together for the final six races
last year and are both aiming to emulate Allan McNish and Emanuele
Pirro who netted the 2000 and 2001 ALMS Driver's "crown" respectively
with Audi.
Johnny
drove a "factory" entered Audi to victory in the opening ALMS
race at Sebring last month (16 Mar) but will now contest the
remaining nine races with Sebring race runner-up Andy in Champion's
2001-specification Audi R8.
"I
drove for the Champion Audi team in the Le Mans 24 Hours last
June and immediately felt comfortable with the team," confirmed
Herbert. "I raced for them in some ALMS races last year because
not only were they friendly and fun but ultra-professional
and serious about their racing. I'll join Andy in the Champion
car from the Sears Point race and I believe we've got a very
good chance of winning races this year which could help one
of us towards the title itself."
Herbert and Wallace recorded a best place runner-up finish last
year but led races on numerous occasions. Wallace is also excited
about the prospects for the coming year.
"I'm
very happy to be driving for ADT Champion Audi again," stated
Wallace. "I really enjoyed the atmosphere within the team
last season and was very impressed with their attention to
detail.
"The
Audi R8 is really an amazing machine. Champion has purchased
one of last year's R8 models from Audi Sport which features
revised aerodynamics and engine compared to the 2000 specification
R8 Johnny and I drove for Champion last year.
"I'm
looking forward to working with Johnny again. We got on very
well during our races together last year and compliment each
other in the team. He is a real team player as well as a quick
driver and always gives 100%. We almost won a couple of times
in 2001 and we'll be even stronger this season".
Wallace
has already sampled Champion's new Audi, recording second place
in the 220mph sportscar at Sebring along with Jan Lammers and
Stefan Johansson.
"The
revised engine impressed me - it was so smooth and had almost
no turbo-lag. The chassis was also an improvement, particularly
regarding traction," he concluded.
The
Sears Point race in California is staged on 19 May.
Audi
Sport UK Press Release, 15th April: Johnny Herbert has set
himself up for a hectic month in May - just weeks before he
bids for a second career Le Mans 24 Hours victory. The Monaco-based
Briton plans to compete in races in California and Indiana while
on this side of the Atlantic prepares for the marathon French
race.
The
former Grand Prix winner starts next month's busy schedule participating
in pre-practice for the Le Mans 24 Hours in which Audi bids
for a third consecutive victory. Herbert (37) drives a "factory"
entered R8 sportscar on 15-16 June with Rinaldo Capello and
Christian Pescatori. The Anglo-Italian combo won the recent
Sebring 12-Hours, the opening round of this year's American
Le Mans Series.
After
the Le Mans test day on 5 May, Herbert will fly to Indianapolis
where he drives a Western Union supported Duesenberg Brothers
Racing Dallara. The famous Indy 500 on 26 May would be Johnny's
first-ever oval track racing start. He competes at the famed
"Brickyard" for the opening weekend of qualifying on 11-12 May
knowing he must register a time fast enough to "book" a place
in the 33-car race that weekend.
Herbert drives the ADT Champion Audi R8 in the second round
of the American Le Mans Series at Sears Point on 19 May and
so cannot participate in final Indy qualifying the same day.
"I
don't really look at needing to qualify on the first weekend
at Indy as being under pressure," said Herbert who tested
various Indy Racing League cars last year.
"I
want to do well on that first day of qualifying and I'm taking
that approach. Strangely enough, I'm not bothered by it at
all. Instead, I consider it a challenge and it's one that
I'm looking forward to. I'm confident we can do well that
first day."
After
the first weekend of qualifying, Herbert will continue Indy
practice on 15-16 May before flying to California for the opening
practice at Sears Point in his Audi - where Johnny made his
ALMS debut last year. Qualifying is staged on 18 May with the
2hr 45min race run the following day.
After
the race, he will return to Indianapolis to begin final preparations
for the May 26 running of the 500. Herbert, who aims to join
Graham Hill as the only Briton to win in Formula One, the Le
Mans 24 Hours and the Indy 500, added:
"I'm
really looking forward to getting back to Sears. The American
Le Mans Series is very important to me and we have a very
good chance of getting the ADT Champion Racing team's first
win there.
"It
will be very busy period but fortunately my lifestyle is accustomed
to that. Since I was 10-years-old I wanted to win Formula
1 - which I've done, Le Mans - which I've done, and the Indy
500."
Johnny's May Diary:
3
Fly Nice-Paris. Drive to Le Mans.
4 Le Mans
5 Le Mans - test day
6 Drive to Paris. Fly Paris-Nice
7 Fly to Indianapolis
8 Indianapolis - practice
9 Indianapolis - practice
10 Indianapolis - practice
11 Indianapolis - qualifying
12 Indianapolis - qualifying
13 Indianapolis
14 Indianapolis
15 Indianapolis - practice
16 Indianapolis - practice
17 Fly to San Francisco. Drive to Sears Point. Sears - practice
18 Sears Point - qualifying
19 Sears Point - race
20 Drive to San Francisco. Fly to Indianapolis
21 Indianapolis
22 Indianapolis
23 Indianapolis - practice
24 Indianapolis
25 Indianapolis
26 Indy 500 - race
27 Indianapolis
28 Fly home to Nice.
A
busy couple of months...
Maison
Blanche, 12th April: Audi Le Mans & ALMS driver Johnny
Herbert has set himself up for a busy and stress-filled month
of May as he attempts to compete in races in California and
Indiana and prepares for the race in France. But the jovial
Englishman says he is under no pressure at all.
Herbert
will co-drive the Champion Audi with Andy Wallace in the American
Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at
California's Sears Point Raceway on May 19th. The former Formula
One star made his ALMS debut in last year's event at Sears Point.
But competing at Sears Point will only be part of Herbert's
transcontinental schedule in May. He will also fulfill a lifelong
dream by attempting to compete in the Indianapolis 500, an event
which is spread over most of the month, and he will prepare
for the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an important practice session
in France.
"It
will be very busy, but fortunately my lifestyle is accustomed
to that," said Herbert.
He
will start the month in France, participating in pre-practice
for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on May 5 at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Herbert will co-drive in the June 15-16 running of the famed
endurance racing classic with Rinaldo Capello and Christian
Pescatori in an Audi R8 fielded by Audi Sport North America.
The trio won at Sebring last month to start the 2002 ALMS season,
Herbert's first win on the series.
After
a day of testing at Le Mans, Herbert will fly to Indianapolis
to begin practice for the Indianapolis 500. He will stay at
the famed Brickyard for the opening weekend of qualifying May
11-12, hoping to lock in a slot in the field of 33 for the event
in the Duesenberg Brothers Racing entry and make his first oval
track racing start ever. Because of his commitment to Champion
Racing and the ALMS, he must make the field on the first weekend
of qualifying because he will not be able to participate in
any more qualifying. Bubble Day at Indy, the final day, is on
the same day as the ALMS event at Sears Point.
"I
don't really look at it as being under pressure (to qualify
the first weekend)," said Herbert, who tested Indy Racing
League cars last year. "I want to do well on that first day
of qualifying and I'm taking that approach. Strangely enough,
I'm not bothered by it at all. Instead, I consider it a challenge
and it's one that I'm looking forward to. I'm confident we
can do well that first day."
After
the first weekend of qualifying, Herbert will practice at Indy
on May 15-16 and then fly to California for the opening of practice
at Sears Point on May 17. ALMS qualifying will be on Saturday,
May 18, with the two-hour, 45-minute race to be run on Sunday
afternoon.
"I'm
really looking forward to getting back to Sears," said Herbert.
"The championship of the American Le Mans Series is very important
to me, and we have a very good chance of getting Champion
Racing's first win there."
After
the race, he will return to Indianapolis to begin final preparations
for the May 26 running of the 500.
Johnny
will contest the 2002 Indy 500
Official
Press Release, 8th April: Indianapolis, IN - One of the
most illustrious names in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history
returns to competition as Duesenberg Brothers Racing will field
a car for next month's running of the 86th Indianapolis 500.
Celebrating
the 75th anniversary since the family marque last visited victory
lane at the Brickyard, both the team name and '32' car number
have been replicated from that last winning effort in 1927.
Duesenberg
Brothers Racing has named three-time Formula One and Le Mans
winner Johnny Herbert as driver and announced primary sponsorship
by Western Union. Though technically a rookie on the Speedway's
oval, the much sought-after Herbert brings a wealth of experience
from his 12 seasons in F1where he amassed 161 starts, including
Stewart's first F1 victory. He also claimed victory at the recent
Sebring 12 Hours as part of the factory Audi squad.
"This
is a dream I've been pursuing since my family introduced me
to my first Indy 500 when I was seven," said team owner Keith
Duesenberg. "To be able to return to the Speedway with Johnny
Herbert as our driver and with our partner Western Union supporting
us is really a dream come true," he added.
Herbert
too, has dreamed of the Indianapolis 500.
"Since
I was 10 years old I wanted to win Formula 1 - which I've
done, Le Mans - which I've done, and the Indy 500 - it was
those three that I wanted to win," said Herbert. "I am very
pleased to be given this wonderful opportunity by Western
Union and Duesenberg Brothers Racing to complete my dream
and race in this year's Indy 500 - especially with an experienced
team and a strong Chevy/Dallara/Firestone equipment package,"
he added.
Western
Union President Mike Yerington, stated:
"We
are looking forward to participating in this year's Indy 500,
and realize it will be very competitive. With Johnny Herbert
driving the Western Union car and the team of Duesenberg Brothers
Racing, we have a good chance in fielding a front-running
car."
Known
as the Western Union Speed Team, sponsor Western Union is the
worldwide leader in money transfers services and has been a
supporter of Duesenberg Brothers Racing in past years.
Duesenberg
is hoping to continue the winning ways of Fred and August (Augie)
Duesenberg who's race cars dominated the Indy 500 in the 1920s
with four wins, including 1922 when all but two cars in the
top-10 were Duesenberg-built racers. Both brothers are members
of the Racing Hall of Fame.
Duesenberg
has also joined forces with long-time Indy 500 team owner Greg
Beck and Beck Motorsports who will provide engineering and mechanical
expertise. Beck-prepared machines have posted four top-10 finishes
at Indy since 1996.
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