ALMS, Petit Le Mans – Hours 6-7

Championships Decided?

While the race has actually been relatively clean, we’ve still been bogged down with 5 cautions now.  How many would there be without the kitty litter?

Janos passes on the word that the No. 90 BMW has been bothered with an old time BMW issues – differential.

The track went green again about 5.5 hours into the race.  In the first lap after the restart, Frank Montagny made a move at the turn 10 complex, taking the lead.  In just a few laps, he managed to stretch out a 5 second lead over Capello.  Is the team holding McNish out for the later stages of the race?

The caution was caused by the nasty hit for Mark Wilkins in the No. 55 Level 5 entry.  From the looks of it, it appears as if Scott Tucker has only a single arrow left in his quiver.  Is Gunnar still alive?

GT(2) is outstanding, as usual.  Only 7 seconds separate the top 6 in class.  Amazing.  Unfortunately, the No. 61 Risi Ferrari had an extended penalty for changing drivers during their previous stop when the pits were closed. 

Luis Diaz came to stop on track (in the esses) in the 2nd in class No. 52 LMPC entry.  He got out, then got back into the car.  Yellow again – can’t blame the kitty litter for this one…

Green just over 6 hours in – up front it’s 7, 08, 07, all on the same lap.  Capello got a significant jump on the field at the restart, pulling out a 9 second lead.  For first in ALMS Prototype, it’s Highcroft and Intersport on the same lap, six back of the overall battle.

Yellow number 6 – No. 28 into the cat box on the outside of the turn 10 complex.  Buried deep…

Retirements – both Jags (overheating), Autocon (gearbox), Libra (oil pressure?).  Who is next?

Green – on the restart, Treluyer slotted in behind the leading No. 7 Audi.  He is 14 laps down, but is still quick.  In traffic, Capello chose the wrong line, and Montagny passed both, taking the lead.  The ex-leading Audi then came into the pits – Capello out and McNish in.  Balaclava slipped over his eyes while driving.  Bizarre.  

In the continuing GT(2) battle, it’s now Beretta in the Corvette leading over the 92 BMW .  Mags, Bruni, JvO,  Lieb (45) and Melo.

LMPC has become the LMP 675 of old – only one car is competitive right now.  The No. 55 Level 5 car has a 25 lap lead in class and with the other championship contender, Gunnar, another 50 further laps back, it’s looking like a Scott Tucker Championship in LMPC.

We’re reaching that time in the race when Championships can be declared.  It’s looking like Lizards, Highcroft and Black Swan are pretty close to being able to open up the bottles of champagne.

Yellow – premature?  Andrea Robertson into the wall, but pulls out, as the track goes yellow.  Minor damage to the nose and she makes it to the pits OK.  Unfortunately, it appears as if there is a mess with the pace car, as it waved by Wurz but held the Audis up.  Eventually things got sorted and the wave by took place – order restored.

In the pits, the Intersport car stopped and was pushed back – engine cover off.  In GT(2) the stop shakes things up again.  62, 3, 4, 92, 45, 01 – all in a row.

As the hour ends – it’s Peugeot 1-2 at the top, with McNish back a lap.