ALMS - Miller Motorsport Park - Friday Report

It’s a glorious day to be at a race track.  The skies are mostly blue and the temperature is more than acceptable.  There was a bit of a breeze, which appears to be quite usual here.  Thankfully there was no sign of a dust storm like we had here a few years ago.  For Utah, it’s wonderful – it was just the first of May that they had snow here.

John Gardner, PR for Miller Motorsports reports that they have had some significant in-roads with the local media, and hope for improved crowds at the race.  The track has supplied some pre-packaged video, which they made at Sebring earlier this year, to the local television stations and the rest of the media appears to also be catching on also.  It also helps that the track is not competing against the Utah Jazz basketball team, which is out of the playoffs now.

Earlier in the day, the Corsa Ginetta-Zytek 09SH was scheduled to make a lap under electric power only.  That was cancelled, but the car did make it out on track for a few laps, 16 total.  It does not yet appear as if the car has run as a “hybrid” yet.  Some issues with the gearing also slowed the car on track.

In the afternoon promoter test session, it was Simon Pagenaud in the de Ferran Acura that set the fastest time, with a 1:31.687.  He set this time late, eclipsing what had been the best time, a 1:32.844, set by David Brabham in the Patron Highcroft Acura.  After his time in the car, Brabs said that the track was quite slick, especially in the first few corners. 

Fastest in the LMP2 class was Guy Smith in the No. 16 Dyson Lola Mazda.  Guy is awaiting a phone call from his wife, concerning the imminent arrival of their second child. 

It was an encouraging start to the weekend for the team and a nice building off the race at Long Beach.  Early reports were that the car was not geared quite right yet, as it was hitting the rev limited going down the front straight.

The report out of the Fernandez team was that everything was fine – no problems to report at all.

GT2 saw Porsches fastest again, this time it was the No. 45 Flying Lizards fastest, taking advantage of some testing that the team did in April.  They were about .8 seconds faster than the Farnbacher-Loles Porsche in the session.  Wolf Henzler was among those suffering from cold like symptoms at the track.  He was all bundled up like it was winter, hoping to sweat it out.

A further 0.2 seconds back was the Risi Ferrari, which lost some time early due to a bad power steering hose.  The BMWs continued their progress, with the Tom Milner/Dirk Mueller car 4th fastest.  Some electrical issues may have crept in late, as near the end of the session, one of the cars was brought back to the paddock on a flat tow.  Bill Auberlen did report that the tire are lasting quite well and are consistent.  “They’re still a bit off on pace, but we’re getting there.”  As far as the recent adjustment, he didn’t really get it.  “They gave us a better restrictor, but then added weight to the car.  I’m not sure yet, as I haven’t yet been in the car, but what I’m hearing is that it’s not really making a difference.”

For the Robertson Ford, all three drivers are entered in this race.  The Robertsons are looking forward to their announced races in Japan after the ALMS season is over.  Andrea did say that the team did not apply for a spot at Le Mans this year, but hope to be able to race there at some time in the future.

Joel Feinberg said that despite the funding issues that he is facing with the team, they will do everything they can do to finish out the season.  “We’ve got some proposals out there, and hoping that something comes through.  It is tough, but we’re doing what we can.  I think it’s difficult to sell a program when you are not racing, so I consider this time and expense as an investment into our future.  Some of our problems right now are because we had plans to be working with a tire manufacturer, but that didn’t come together, so now we are having to buy our tires.  We’re doing what we can to save money.  We’re not using catering, we’re putting as many of the crew in the same rental cars as we can.  We’re doing everything that we can do save money. 

"I’d still like to move to prototypes in the future.  I believe it is easier to sell a prototype program to a potential partner, but just not at this time.  Nothing is easy right now.  We were close to buying the BK Lola in the off season, but it didn’t work out.  Despite everything, I’m having a great time.  Even at the Long Beach warm up, I was out there enjoying myself.  Later that day, Luis Diaz came up to me and said he saw that I was out running.  He saw it from the comfort of his bed at the hotel.  Must be rough.  If I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

All told, 22 of the 23 cars entered made it out on track.  The only not to turn a lap was the No. 36 Challenge Cup Porsche.  But in there, there were more that a few troubled runs.  The No. 20 Dyson Lola Mazda only had 3 laps on track and was wheeled back to the garage before the session ended.  Initial reports were that he car was down on power.

Marino Franchitti, who did not get in the car, said he wouldn’t be at Indy to watch his brother race.  “The last time I wasn’t there, he won, so I figure I’ll stay away again.  Actually I’ll be at the Nurburgring.  I’m really looking forward to it too.  I still feel that winning there means the most to me of my wins.  It’s the history that is there.  I’m also looking forward to Le Mans.  I’ve tested the Aston with the Drayson team and I’m very impressed.  The car is quite good – it’s improved quite a bit.  I’m not saying that we’ll be a front runner on outright pace at Le Mans, but I think we may surprise a few people there.  Both Jonny and Paul are doing a fine job and in fact, Paul is really impressing me.  He’s getting better and better.  You should have seen him after driving the Aston prototype.  I think he is still smiling.”

Intersport also had it’s own issues and only completed four laps according to timing and scoring.  The fastest time for the AER Lola was on Jon Fields’s out lap.  The team was suffering from a problem with the fly by wire throttle, which would entirely give out, giving the can no power at all.

The session for Autocon started with issues.  A fuel leak was discovered in the car, which was eventually repaired.  But it was earlier that the team had quite a scare.  Someone broke into their transporter, taking about $20,000 worth of gear – tools, helmets, radio gear, etc.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the worst of it.  They got into one of the transporters by taking the counter balance or counter weight off of the ramp, then replaced the pin that holds the ramp in place after they left, leaving no indication that anything was wrong at all.  When Joe Geldert pulled the pin to lower the ramp, the entire thing came down on him.  He was hospitalized with a fractured collar bone, among other injuries.  He isn’t here at the track and may not make it back even for Lime Rock.  Get well Joe!!

With being back to the usual schedule, the teams will run a 1-hour session in the morning, followed by another hour session in the afternoon, immediately followed by qualifying.

For me, the day started with a visit to Hill Air Force museum, north of Salt Lake City, and ended with dinner, hosted by Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud.  It was a very good day indeed.  Thanks Gil.

Gary Horrocks