Laguna Seca ALMS, 9th Sept 2001

Race

Johnny reports on his race

By email from Johnny: 2nd and getting closer!

I started the race this time around, and we were after a good but good clean start. As the green flag was waved it was a big sprint into turn 1, the two Audis were in front and Le Marie in the Johansson Audi who had a bad start and had one Panoz passing him on both sides.

I then made my move as we approched turn 1 and passed the Johansson Audi, which braked very early. I was able to get on the inside of the 50 Panoz and behind the works Audis as they came into contact letting the 51 Panoz through, but on the exit the no:1 Audi put on too much power on cold tyres and so spun to the inside. And so I was into 3rd from 6th - not a bad start.

We then kept station with each other and started to lap back markers within 3 laps and so the race started in earnest. I just wanted to stay close with the two cars until my second stint, and so let the two cars have a battle with me watching. The Panoz passed the 1 Audi in traffic then later he passed him back again in traffic.

The car was feeling good and I just kept close to the leaders. First to stop was the Panoz (fuel only) then I stopped (fuel and front tyres) and finally no:2 Audi (fuel only). After this I was back into 3rd and because I changed the front tyres was 10 or so secs down on the Panoz in 2nd.

So the race began and off I went in my persuit of the lead cars. The car was feeling better balanced and the gap started to come down. Just as I joined the leaders we went yellow, the 2 Audi pitted for fuel,tyres and Pirro got into the car, so I was now behind the Panoz in 2nd.

After the track went green it was a battle with the 51 Panoz and as we raced my car was still feeling good and I could see that the Panoz was starting to slide a lot and so I put more pressure on him, this stared to work and, as we entered the Cork Screw, he went a little wide then again at the next corner. Then into the next he made a bigger mistake and so he was now in trouble.

On the exit he started to pull to the right but I had got exit speed and went to his inside for the last corner, he looked into his mirrors and saw that was on a pass but then turned left to close the door but I had already started to pass him and so I was committed and of course we touch and he sent himself into a spin! back wards down the pit lap.

Two laps latter the track went yellow for a Cadallac. The 2 Audi pitted for fuel and new tyres, so I was now the new leader. As the track went green I started hard and, being at the front, could push hard and try to give ourselves as big a gap as possible as I had to hand over the car to Andy for our last stop but also the 2 Audi would have to stop again for fuel.

The race was on! I had around 7 secs lead and extended that to 35 secs at one point. I pitted with around 26 secs advantage and handed over to Andy. Magnussen who was in the 51 Panoz had said that I had hit him hard and so we were given a 20 secs penalty because contact was made. They could not see clearly enough on the video and so the penalty was given.

What I don't like is that Magnussen should put HIS HAND up and admit that because he tried to close the door after I had made my move. He was in the WRONG not me and this I don't like because this is not my style and I would be FIRST to admit a mistake. And if they look at the data they would see Jan turn to the left which would be around 300 metres to early!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, we had then lost 20 secs and would rejoin just over 60 secs behind Pirro. But Andy had new tyres and so it was possible to catch him as we had been quicker during my stint. Andy started to cut the time down and, as the race came into the last 15 mins, the tyres on Andys car were still working but Pirro was slowing badly as his tyres went off.

But Andy lost between 8 to 15 secs being badly held up twice by Wayne Taylor in the Cadallac who should have received a penalty because this was very bad driving as he was being lapped for the 2nd or 3rd time!! But Andy still pushed on and crossed the line 1.5 secs behind Pirro for second.

We were again unlucky but we pushed the Audis and Panoz hard and were very close to beating them and we still feel that at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans we can take our fist win.

Johnny

Herbert/Wallace second as Audi become Champs

Audi Sport UK, 9th September: Johnny Herbert and Andy Wallace just failed to claim their first American Le Mans Series victory at Laguna Seca today (SUN) after a time penalty cruelly deprived the British duo of their maiden win.

Herbert (37) and Wallace (40) duly recorded second place in their "privateer" Audi R8, just 1.6 seconds behind race winner Emanuele Pirro in a dramatic 165-minute race which gives the Italian "factory" Audi driver the series lead with just one race remaining. Three-time Formula One race winner Herbert, from Brentwood, Essex, started sixth on the grid but quickly moved in to third place and then in to the lead at mid-distance.

Herbert made his final scheduled pit-stop with 65 minutes remaining and handed over to Wallace. Fuel was added and fresh tyres fitted but Wallace, from Oxford, was forced to sit stationary for an extra 20-seconds, a time penalty having been imposed for an earlier indiscretion when Herbert and Jan Magnussen (Panoz) made contact fighting for second.

Herbert remarked: "The start was hectic with cars touching each other at the first corner and further around the opening lap but I survived. The decision to penalise me was very harsh."

But the result remained in doubt until the chequered flag unfurled after 120 thrilling laps around the undulating 2.24-mile circuit, Wallace reducing Pirro's advantage from 40 seconds in the final 30 minutes.

"We took on new tyres while Pirro did not at his last stop," added Wallace. "That helped our cause but as it turned out we needed just another couple of laps."

Audi has now claimed the Manufacturers' Championship for a second consecutive year while Pirro, Frank Biela, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen are all still capable of winning the Driver's title won by Britain's Allan McNish last year.

Quotes from Audi Sport after the race:

Johnny Herbert (#38): "The start was hectic with cars touching each other at Turn 2 and further around the opening lap but I survived. The car was handling well and I quickly settled in to third place. It was a harsh decision to penalise me when Magnussen and I made contact. It's my best ALMS result in five starts so hopefully we can go one better in Atlanta."

Andy Wallace (#38): "The car was good which enabled me to push hard. We took tyres on while Pirro did not at his last stop and so that helped our cause but as it turned out we needed just another couple of laps. The Champion Audi team have done a great job in recent races."

Patrick Lemarié (#18): "There seemed to be four cars abreast at the green flag and then Herbert bumped me in to a spin at the first corner. The rear diffuser was broken from that moment which made it difficult to drive so after starting from the front row, I'm a little disappointed."

Reinhold Joest, Team Director Audi Sport North America: "After a thrilling start, a tough fight and thanks to a perfect pit stop strategy we finally made it. We are very happy to be on top of the podium after we had a long haul. Dindo and Tom had bad luck with the mechanical failure of their car. In motorsport, a change in form sometimes happens very quickly. Now it looks like either Frank or Emanuele will become champion."

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport: "It was a very good race. Too bad we had the clutch failure in our car number one. Tom could not make it up the hill and therefore couldn't come back to the pits. Frank and Emanuele drove a faultless race and also our customer teams produced a very good performance. We are happy to have defended our titles in the Manufacturers and Team championship. That was important for us. Now the last race will bring the decision who of our drivers will get the drivers title."

Race results:

1. Biela/Pirro (Infineon Audi R8) 120 laps
2. Herbert/Wallace (Audi R8) + 1.602s
3. Johansson/Lemarié (Audi R8) - 1 lap
4. Taylor/Angelelli (Cadillac) - 3 laps
5. Tinseau/Collard (Cadillac) - 4 laps
6. Konrad/Borcheller (Saleen) - 8 laps
7. Fellows/O'Connell (Chevrolet) - 9 laps
8. Pilgrim/Collins (Chevrolet) - 9 laps
9. Lehto/Müller (BMW) - 10 laps
10. Müller/Ekblom (BMW) - 10 laps

Qualifying

Champion starts 6th

Autosport, 8th September: The Panoz of David Brabham and Jan Magnussen has threatened the domination of Audi in recent American Le Mans Series races, but at Laguna Seca in California, normal service was resumed, with the German cars locking out the top three spots in qualifying on Saturday.

Rinaldo Capello stopped the clocks at 1m15.238s in his Audi R8, to ensure that himself and team mate Tom Kristensen are in prime position for Sunday's 2hour 45minute race. The second works Audi of Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro was beaten to the second spot on the grid by the Gulf-backed Audi of Stefan Johansson and Patrick Lemarie, the ELMS title winners. Johansson's fastest lap was seventh tenths slower than Capello's, but, crucially, two tenths faster than Biela, who had to settle for third.

Magnussen led the Panoz charge to finish the session fourth fastest, just ahead of the second Panoz, driven by Franck Lagorce and Klaus Graf.

British duo Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert rounded out the top six in the Champion Audi R8.

Qualifying times:

1 Tom Kristensen/Rinaldo Capello, Audi R8, 1m15.238s
2 Stefan Johansson/Patrick Lemarie Audi R8, 1m15.953
3 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro, Audi R8 1m16.029s
4 David Brabham/Jan Magnussen Panoz LMP1-RS, 1m16.104s
5 Klaus Graf/Franck Lagorce, Panoz LMP1-RS, 1m16.156s
6 Johnny Herbert/Andy Wallace, Audi R8 1m16.463s

Friday Practice

Johansson quickest, Champion 6th

American Le Mans, 7th September: Former Formula One star Stefan Johansson posted the fastest speed of the day Friday as practice opened for Sunday's American Le Mans Series Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Johansson, driving the Gulf Audi R8, turned the 2.238-mile circuit in 1:15.967, fastest of the 27 cars that practiced on Friday. Official qualifying will be held on Saturday, with Sunday's two-hour, 45-minute race to start at 12 noon (PDT).

Second-fastest on Friday was the Panoz LMP-1 of Jan Magnussen and David Brabham, winner of two of the last three ALMS races. The car was clocked at 1:16.193 on its best lap, with Magnussen and Johansson exchanging the top spot several times in the last 30 minutes of the session.

The two factory Audis of Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen/Rinaldo Capello were third and fourth, followed by the second Panoz of Franck Lagorce and Klaus Graf.

Sunday's race will be televised live in the United States by NBC Sports beginning at 4 p.m. (EDT). Live coverage by the American Le Mans Series Radio Web can be heard online at www.americanlemans.com.

Friday's speeds:

1. Stefan Johansson/Patrick LeMarie, Audi R8, 106.057 mph (1:15.967).
2. Jan Magnussen/David Brabham, Panoz LMP-1, 105.742 (1:16.193).
3. Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro, Audi R8, 104.986 (1:16.750).
4. Rinaldo Capello/Tom Kristensen, Audi R8, 104.415 (1:17.161).
5. Klaus Graf/Franck Lagorce, Panoz LMP-1, 104.341 (1:17.216).
6. Johnny Herbert/Andy Wallace, Audi R8, 103.668 (1:17.717).
7. Wayne Taylor/Max Angelelli, Cadillac LMP 01, 103.412 (1:17.910).
8. Emmanuel Collard/Christophe Tinseau, Cadillac LMP 01, 103.128 (1:18.124).
9. Jon Field/Rick Southerland, Lola B2K 10B-Judd, 99.164 (1:21.247).
10. Didier de Radigues/Milka Duno, Reynard 01Q-Judd, 98.785 (1:21.559).

Preview

Herbert bids for ALMS honours at Laguna Seca

"We've flattered to deceive in some respects," confirmed Johnny. "We should have at least a couple of rostrums to show plus a win. All Andy and I need is 'lady luck' to smile on us for less than three hours on Sunday and we'll be okay. Andy and I have been in motor racing for a long, long time and know only too well how things can turn against you for no apparent reason but it's still frustrating nevertheless.

"In this endurance sportscar category it's especially difficult. There are around 30 cars in the race, with two-thirds of them racing in other classes to us and at speeds much lower than our Audi can achieve. So lapping them is a constant problem from around the fifth lap of a race. It's hard for them watching for us coming up behind and it's difficult for us to know which side of the track they will go to keep out of our way. You can lose so much time if you come up behind two or three slower cars going through a series of corners and can't get past immediately.

"We have to make at least two scheduled pit-stops to re-fuel and sometimes change tyres and getting the pit strategy right as to when to stop can be a little tricky. The race can literally be won or lost during a full course yellow safety period for example. If you've just made a pit stop, you can go a lap down to the leaders which is so frustrating because it's almost impossible to pull back that much time."

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