Sebring 12 Hours - Night Practice Report
In Like A Lamb, Out Like A Lion

A short, but hard, rain blew across the Sebring Raceway leaving behind a wet track for night practice.  The evening session was started a few minutes late to allow for track crews more time for water removal.  Early times were meaningless as the track was still pretty wet with standing water in some areas.

The #18 Vici was out quickly with Hans Stuck, who’s famous for his rain driving skills, testing the track early.   The BMW M3s also got out early followed by both Audis and Bourdais in the #08 Peugeot.

For an example of how wet the track conditions really were, Bourdais was quickest so far with a cautious 2.06.

15 minutes into the session and only 13 cars had ventured out , Werner was now on top but with just a 2.01.

Throughout the next hour, most of the remaining 28 took to the track. Times were still way off as most teams were happy with just getting in the required laps and not taking any chances.  The French didn’t seem to mind the wet as Bourdais kept steady at it and pushed his Peugeot into the 1.49’s.  Next back was pole sitter Dixon with only a 1.57. 

The Pecom Ferrari took Peugeot’s lead and Bruni paced the GT2 class with a 2.05.  Following Bruni were Lieb, Salo and James, although their times dropped off the 430’s significantly.

Cars not turning any laps so far were the #5 Vici, #37 Intersport, and #44 Flying Lizard.

Ultimately the #5 Vici was the only no-show, but all the drivers got their laps in via the #18 car.  So the drivers have all qualified for the race, and as long as the car can pass tech inspection they will be able to start the race, albeit from the back of the field.

Intersport did get their required laps in after solving the engine misfire that kept them out of qualifying.  The problem was traced to the injectors and they had to be replaced.

By mid-session the majority of the teams got their required laps in, very safely, and called it a night early.  The few that remained out for the whole session enjoyed a drying, fairly clean track and the times began to reflect that.  With only about 20 minutes left in the session McNish threw down a mighty quick 1:45.993.  With Luhr and both Acura’s already parked for the night it would be up to the Peugeots to take the challenge.  The Peugeots, unlike most other teams, took this evening session very seriously.  The #08 & #07 nearly tripled the total laps completed of the other P1 cars in this session.  With under five minutes to go Montagny in the #08 would knock off McNish by the slightest of margins, 1:45.920, to claim the top position.  Lamy in the #07 would end up third overall, two seconds adrift of McNish.

GT2 also heated up near the end of the session.  The Pecom Ferrari put in yeomans like work and completed the most laps in class with 40, and the fastest time at 2:04.232.  The Risi Ferrari was right on its heels with a 2:04.986. Salo and Kaffer were keeping the seat warm in the Risi car as the team anxiously waited for Jamie Melo to arrive.  Unfortunately without Melo here to get in the required night laps, the car will be moved to the back of the grid for he start of the race. We understand the Melo has made it to the U.S. and is in New York City.  Hopefully he will make it to the track before tomorrow practice session, but what kind of shape will he be in after his exhausting ordeal?

One pleasant surprise of the evening was the performance of the Aston Martin.  After having some handling issues earlier in the day, the team ended the day on a positive note.  Spirits must be high after completing 29 laps and with Cocker posting a 2:06.384, the fifth quickest time in class.

The Fernandez car added a bit of excitement to an otherwise lackluster session for the P2 class.  While Fernandez was driving, a small animal crossed paths with the #15 Acura in the very quick turn 15.  No damage to the car was reported, just some unidentifiable animal bits.

Timing and Scoring had the #9 Highcroft Acura as only completing 6 of the required 9 laps, 3 per driver, in the night session.  We have asked both the ALMS and Highcroft about this and are awaiting clarification, but it appears that they may be moved to the back of the starting grid also.

Russell Wittenberg