American Le Mans Series - Mid Ohio - Friday Morning

Welcome to Ohio.  Come have a family reunion here.  See the sights of Biblewalk, a wax museum dedicated to Bible stories.  These are a few of the signs seen along the way to the track, via a very long drawn out traffic jam due to construction on the highway. 

To quote Ben Devlin, the Friday morning session was ‘mega!!!”

After the usual Acura P1 battle, third fastest overall was Butch Leitzinger in the No. 20 Dyson Mazda Lola.

Chris Dyson said that the car had been ballasted to the mandated 850 kg weight, and is at the 825 limit now.  He also said 800 would not be a problem, as that is the level at which it was designed.  “I think there are many up and down the pit lane here that want to see us get back to the type of competition that we had last year.  I believe this is a step in the right direction.  Will it go farther?  I hope so.  I think it would be good for us and it would be good for the fans.  We’re committed to this type of racing – nowhere is there a more diverse and interesting group of cars on track that right here in this series.”

David Brabham said that the track was much better than it was yesterday, as more and more rubber got laid down on the track. 

GT2 saw an amazing session.  Seven teams with professional drivers battling it out, and by the time the session ended, three cars ended up with 1:22.0 laps – No. 90 BMW, No. 45 Lizards Porsche and No. 62 Risi Ferrari.  Eight of the ten cars entered in the class were within less than a second of each other – all in the 1:22 range.

At the track it was confirmed that the Porsche GT2 cars are running 25 kilos heavier, as mandated by the ACO, due to some homologation issues.  This was announced to the teams on Tuesday of this week.  Is this due to the recently discovered engine block discrepancies with the 4.0 liter motor?

Corvette Racing had another efficient session, building upon the baseline they established yesterday.  Oliver Gavin, as the rest of the team are anxious to get going and to actually racing someone other that themselves.  Remember, this is the track that featured the infamous pit lane skirmish between the 2 Corvettes last year.  “Now, maybe we can work together instead of against each out on the track.  It was a bit odd to be out on track with cars that we used to be able to pass with ease.  Now I’ve got to follow them and really sort out our strengths and weaknesses against the class competition.”  As far as Spa, Ollie was still smiling about the experience, even if the motor failed to last the distance.  “It was great fun.  I really enjoyed the track and the experience.  It’s just too bad that the motor had no more life in it, as it had already been used in races before Spa.” 

Corvette Racing gave a presentation after the session was completed.  Doug Fehan stressed the relevance of the program to GM, and that of all of the programs that GM is involved, this had one of the largest ROI.  He also added that they have been in discussion with teams in Europe concerning customer cars for next season, and would not rule out customer entries in the ALMS in the future, stating “there is nothing in the way of customers being able to compete in the ALMS next year.”  The FIA is observing the performance of the 6.0 liter version, in anticipation of the 5.5 competing next year.

Also, concerning the FIA GT1 regulations, he stated that the GT2 program is where GM is focused.  It is up to Pratt Miller to determine if there is sufficient interest in developing a conversion package for the new regulations.

Efficiency, on and of the track is the way of life at Corvette Racing.  “It’s something that we have been forced into and it is good for us.  We as a corporation neerd to be leaner, faster and better.”  The team has taken this to the track too, where improvements in efficiencies have pushed the Corvettes to new levels.  “When we first went to Le Mans, we could barely get 11 laps in and to be safe, we only went 10 laps per stint.  This year, we were up to 14 laps per stint.  I think the GT2 car is even better.”  Better enough to make a difference on race day?  “We’ll see,” said a smiling Doug.

File this under strictly rumors – multiple sources have stated that Watkins Glen and Sears Point (Infinion) are strong possibilities for additions to the schedule next year.  It appears as if ISC has been in discussion with the IMSA concerning the possibility of sharing venues in the future.  In exchange, NASCAR based series would have the opportunities to race at Sebring, Road Atlanta and Mosport, gaining them tracks in which they can compete, and gaining the IMSA facilities another event.

It’s been a compacted schedule today, so time has been short.  Afternoon and qualifying reports will be posted on Saturday.

I wonder how the Hell, Fire and Brimstone exhibit is at Biblewalk…

Garry Horrocks