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Latest American Le Mans News and Commentary
The shock of the new....and the familiar
by David Phillips
 On the face of it, 2009 shapes up as a “new” season for Chris Dyson. There’s Dyson Racing’s new relationship with Mazda announced last week that will see the team running a brace of LMP2 Lola B08/86-Mazda MZR-Rs in the 2009 American Le Mans Series; make that two LMP2 Lola B08/86-Mazda MZR-Rs sponsored by BP Petroleum. Then there’s the team’s new headquarters facility.Porsche loses Bob Carlson to cancer
Loved by one and all
 With extremely heavy hearts, Porsche Cars North America and the Public Relations Department share the sad news that Bob Carlson passed away today. Arguably Porsche’s biggest fan and, to anyone who was fortunate enough to spend time with Bob, a genuine and generous soul, today Porsche has lost a dear family member, one who truly had Porsche and motorsports in his blood. Bob succumbed to his long battle with cancer today.The changing face of LMP2
by David Phillips
 The past couple of seasons have seen LMP2 vie with GT2 as the most fiercely-contested class in the American Le Mans Series. Acura’s entry into the category in 2007 (and its remarkable debut victory at Sebring) triggered a head-to-head confrontation with Porsche that produced some of the best prototype racing in years.Werner and Luhr claim overall victory for Audi
ALMS Season Finale
 Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr ended their championship season in fitting style Saturday with an overall victory for Audi Sport North America in the Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patr¢n. Werner passed Emanuele Pirro on a restart with 26 minutes left and won by 1.941 seconds at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It was the sixth overall victory of the season and eighth LMP1 victory of the season for the new class champions.All-Acura front row in Monterey
ALMS season finale
 How’s this for a comeback? David Brabham took the pole position for the Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patr¢n at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Friday with a record-breaking run in Patr¢n Highcroft Racing’s Acura ARX-01b. Brabham’s time of 1:10.103 (114.928 mph) put the Acura prototype that he will share with Scott Sharp out front for the start of the season’s final race.Audi storms to another Petit LeMans win
ALMS
 The battle that everyone expected at Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6 lived up to its billing. Audi remained unbeaten at Road Atlanta as Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro spotted the field two laps at the start of the race but came back for a stunning victory in the 11th annual 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic.Record breaking day at Road Atlanta
ALMS Petit LeMans qualifying
 All four classes set qualifying records Friday at Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6, highlighted by Stephane Sarrazin’s run to the overall pole position for Saturday’s 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic at Road Atlanta. Sarrazin’s time of 1:06.242 (138.039 mph) nipped Audi Sport North America’s Allan McNish by 0.085 seconds as the battle between the two marques intensified even more.Atherton lays out 5-year plan for ALMS
ALMS State of the Series Address
 Having already established itself as the Global Leader in Green Racing, Scott Atherton - President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series - wasted little time in his State of the Series address Friday providing a vision he believes will allow the Series to attain leadership in other areas as well. The ALMS has established an unmatched leadership role in the area of Green Racing with the unprecedented direct involvement and support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.Titles on the line at Petit LeMans
by David Phillips
 While attention is rightly focused on a variety of facets associated with Petit Le Mans Powered by the Totally New MAZDA6 ranging from a boffo entry featuring perhaps the most technologically diverse and ambitious field of sports car machinery ever assembled to the inaugural Green Challenge and a bevy of former Indy 500 winners, let’s not forget there’s still some championships on the line at Road Atlanta and, in a fortnight, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.Petit LeMans Pre-Race Notebook
ALMS
 The entry list for Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6 continues to take shape with several teams adding drivers to their lineups for the annual 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic at Road Atlanta. The American Le Mans Series’ founding event gets the green flag at 11:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, October 4.Detroit: Rossiter and Montagny lead Acura 1-2-3
ALMS
 Andretti Green Racing fulfilled the promise and potential it showed all season with its first overall victory in the American Le Mans Series on Saturday. James Rossiter and Franck Montagny won the Detroit Sports Car Challenge as Acura swept the overall podium for the first time.Detroit: Brabham puts Highcroft Acura on pole
ALMS
 It has turned out to be quite a day for Patr¢n Highcroft Racing. David Brabham captured the overall pole position for the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch, only hours after Acura announced that Patr¢n Highcroft would be one of its two LMP1 entries for the 2009 American Le Mans Series season.Acura makes jump up to LMP1 class in 2009
ALMS
 Acura Motorsports will enter the LMP1 class in the 2009 American Le Mans Series, company officials announced today. Acura’s entry into the most powerful and technically advanced division in ALMS will feature two Acura ARX-02a prototype sports cars developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD).Acura: To LMP1 or not to LMP1
David Phillips
 One of the big questions of this year’s American Le Mans Series figures to be resolved at this weekend’s Detroit Sports Car Challenge Presented by Bosch, namely, Acura’s plans for the 2009 season, in particular whether Acura will join the LMP1 fray. And if so, with which team or teams and how many cars?Audi prevails at Mosport
ALMS
 Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner captured their third straight overall victory, Audi went 1-2 overall and Acura took the top two spots on the LMP2 podium for the first time since Sebring in 2007 on a thrilling day at Mosport International Raceway. Luhr crossed the finish line 21.392 seconds ahead of teammate Emanuele Pirro as Gil de Ferran ran out of fuel on the last lap while leading in class. That sent David Brabham and Scott Sharp to their fourth class victory of the season.Capello leads record-breaking day at Mosport
ALMS
 Audi Sport North America’s Dindo Capello made Mosport International Raceway the fastest circuit in the American Le Mans Series with a stunning lap time of 1:04.318 (138.116 mph) in qualifying Saturday for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Capello smashed his own previous record at the track by 1.735 seconds, one of 10 cars to go under last year’s pole time.A win-win-win situation for ALMS
by David Phillips
 At Mid-Ohio a few weeks ago an old friend from the CART/Champ Car days observed - with more than a hint of condescension - one reason the American Le Mans Series has developed a fair degree of momentum is that “with four classes, everybody gets to win. If we’d run Formula Atlantic and Champ Cars together we’d have had 35- and 40-car grids, too.”Audis roll on again in Generac 500 at Road America
ALMS
 Audi scored its second straight 1-2 finish in the American Le Mans Series with Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr scoring a 2.463-second victory in their diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI over the sister car of Marcel Fässler and Emanuele Pirro. Werner passed race leader David Brabham on Road America’s long frontstretch for the lead with 20 minutes left.Luhr puts Audi on pole at Road America
ALMS
 Will the fourth time be the charm for Lucas Luhr? Audi’s German factory driver certainly hopes so. Luhr earned his fourth career pole position at Road America on Friday and was the fastest overall qualifier for the Generac 500 presented by Time Warner Cable. His lap of 1:46.935 (136.277 mph) gave him a 0.41-second margin over Andretti Green Racing’s Franck Montagny.Mid-Ohio: Audi reigns on Acuras parade
ALMS
 The Audi team finished 1-2 in today's Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car course, thereby spoiling Acuras efforts to get a win in the race with their name on it. Lucas Luhr won by 7.7 seconds over the sister Audi driven by Emanuele Pirro. Romain Dumas was 3rd in the Penske Porsche ahead of the two Acuras of David Brabham and Adrian Fernandez.Gil de Ferran back on pole at Mid-Ohio
ALMS
 Gil de Ferran won his third straight pole position at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Friday…seven years apart. The storybook debut season for De Ferran Motorsports continued with de Ferran’s first pole in the American Le Mans Series, a record-breaking 1:07.969 (119.596 mph) for the Acura Sports Car Challenge.Brabham and Sharp win at Lime Rock
ALMS
 David Brabham did it again. Another late-race pass meant victory in the American Le Mans Series, this time a historic first overall victory for Acura and Patr¢n Highcroft Racing. Brabham passed Penske Racing’s Timo Bernhard with 90 seconds left Saturday to win the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix with Scott Sharp.David Brabham puts Patron Acura on pole
ALMS at Lime Rock
 With a blistering final lap of 46.696 seconds in this afternoon's qualifying session at Lime Rock Park, David Brabham brought home Patr¢n Highcroft Racing's first pole of the 2008 American Le Mans Series season. He passed Simon Pagenaud in the #66 Acura on the penultimate lap, with a time of 47.062 seconds, -- securing the grid's top spot for tomorrow's race.Cong Fu Cheng: Stars in his eyes
First Chinese driver to compete at LeMans
 Cong Fu Cheng, the first Chinese driver to ever participate in the 24 Heures du Mans truly made his mark and the 2008 edition. Cheng came in to the race with very clear objectives: "I didn't just want to be the first of my people to participate in the legendary 24 Heures du Mans, I wanted to finish the race and achieve the best finish possible."Audi defeats Peugeot at LeMans
24 Hour Endurance classic
 Alan McNish finally got his Rolex at Les 24 Heures du Mans after a tough fight to victory in the legendary 24-hour race. McNish's Audi team fought hard to overcome the three Peugeots ahead on the grid, eventually took the lead after thirteen hours and never looked back, winning in front of 285,500 spectators.A journey through the night at LeMans
24 Hour Endurance classic
 The 24 Heures du Mans are always held the weekend closest to the shortest night of the year in France, the 21st of June. In fact, there is something magic about the moment the race passes from day into night- it becomes a wholly different challenge, and as they say, it is the stuff that legends are made of.LeMans at 12 Hour Mark: Peugeot still leads Audi
24 Hours of LeMans classic
 At the halfway of the 76th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Peugeot and Audi kept up their chase with former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve leading in the No. 7 Peugeot 908 over Audi’s Dindo Capello, driving the No. 2 Audi R10 TDI that he is sharing with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen.LeMans: Peugeot remains fastest
In final qualifying
 Peugeot have taken this year's qualifying by storm and when the checkered flag fell they occupied a very impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd in LMP1. The Audis did begin to speed up towards the end of the session but pole is safe for the #8 Team Peugeot Total, Peugeot 908 HDI FAP driven by Lamy, Sarrazin and Wurz.Three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs on top at Le Mans
Peugeot catches Audi asleep
 The 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours kicked off this evening with the first of the week's two qualifying sessions, and the three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs were immediately on the pace to collect the top three places on the provisional grid. Stéphane Sarrazin was the fastest man on the track today, posting a blistering 3m 18.513s for Team Peugeot Total with the N°8 car, a stunning improvement of 7.831s over his pole-winning time for Peugeot in 2007.LeMans: Peugeot set to blow Audi's doors off
by Mark J. Cipolloni
 It's only Wednesday, and today was only Day 1, but rest assured, the only team that will beat Peugeot in this year's 24 Hours of LeMans is Peugeot itself. Peugeot set such a quick pace in the first qualifying session for this weekend's LeMans 24 Hours, the Audis appeared to be standing still. Stephane Sarrazin, in the No.8 car, lapped eight seconds quicker than last year's pole time.Audi vs. Peugeot the headline again
at 24 Hours of LeMans
 There’s little doubt that Audi will face the biggest challenge of its Le Mans career this week. Just ask anyone involved with Audi Sport, and they will confirm it. The second diesel showdown in the world’s greatest motor race sees three R10 TDIs from the Audi camp matched up against a trio of diesel challengers from Peugeot, a year after Audi’s 10-lap victory in a rain-soaked 24 Hours.Penske Racing Porsches finish 1-2 in Utah Grand Prix
ALMS at Miller Motorsports Park
 Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard gave Porsche and Penske Racing their second straight victory at Miller Motorsports Park with a 1-2 finish for the two Porsche RS Spyders. Dumas took the checkered flag in front of Patrick Long in the Larry H. Miller Utah Grand Prix. Dumas and Bernhard captured their first overall victory for Penske since a season-opening win at Sebring.Bernhard and Porsche storm to Utah pole
ALMS
 Timo Bernhard stole the thunder from Gil de Ferran and de Ferran Motorsports at Miller Motorsports Park with a stunning pole position run for Porsche and Penske Racing in qualifying for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels. Bernhard turned a lap of 1:31.050 (120.514 mph) in the Porsche RS Spyder he will share with Romain Dumas.Q and A with new ALMS driver Gil de Ferran
ALMS
New American Le Mans Series driver and team owner Gil de Ferran spoke with the media regarding the debut of the de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-01b. De Ferran, a two-time CART champion and former Indy 500 winner, will team with Simon Pagenaud at Miller Motorsports Park in the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels. What a day for Highcroft Patron team at Long Beach
ALMS
 When David Brabham took the checkered flag and LMP2 victory in the Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach on Saturday, it marked an impressive list of accomplishments for Brabham and teammate Scott Sharp, Patr¢n Highcroft Racing and Acura.Audis 1-2 in Long Beach thriller
ALMS
 Audi Sport North America scored a surprising victory on Saturday in the Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series as Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr recorded their second straight win with a stunning performance. The Audi R10 TDI claimed its maiden victory on the streets of southern California.Bernhard puts Penske Porsche on pole in Long Beach
LMP2 cars 1-2-3-4-5
 Penske Porsche driver Timo Bernhard won the pole position for Saturday's American LeMans Series race on the streets of Long Beach, California. Bernhard just beat the Acuras of Luis Diaz and David Brabham. The other Penske Porsche of Patrick Long rounded out the top-5.De Ferran Motorsports reveal Panasonic and Pagenaud
ALMS
 Former Indy 500 winner and two-time CART Champion Gil de Ferran today unveiled details of de Ferran Motorsports’ Acura ARX-01b bid for the LMP2 class championship in the 2008 American Le Mans Series. Team owner and driver, Gil de Ferran, will team up with 23-year-old ex-Champ Car Atlantic champion Simon Pagenaud for the remainder of the 2008 American Le Mans Series.Penske Preparation: A key to success
ALMS
 One of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, John Wooden once said, “I think very definitely it's the little things that make the big things happen. It's putting your shoes on properly. It's getting the wrinkles out of your socks so you won't get blisters. Those are important things.” So how does that relate to motorsport? One of the great “coaches” in the auto racing industry is Roger Penske.Audi defeats Porsche in St. Pete
ALMS
 Audi’s Lucas Luhr passed Romain Dumas on a restart with three minutes left Saturday to give Audi a victory in the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg presented by XM Satellite Radio, its first overall victory of 2008. Luhr teamed with Marco Werner in Audi Sport North America’s No. 2 Audi R10 TDI as the German manufacturer won on the streets of St. Petersburg for the second straight season.Werner puts Audi on St. Pete pole
ALMS
 Marco Werner’s affinity for street circuits shone again Friday. The Audi factory driver captured the overall pole position for Saturday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg presented by XM Satellite Radio with a record run, besting Penske Racing’s Romain Dumas as Audi looked to regain its winning ways in the American Le Mans Series.Penske Porsche defeats Acura team at Sebring
As LMP2 class sweeps Sebring classic
 The 2007 American Le Mans Series was a magical one for Penske Racing. The 2008 season may be even better if Saturday was any indication. Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard drove to an historic overall win at the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.Audis lead Sebring at halfway mark
ALMS
 Audi’s two R10 TDIs sat 1-2 at the halfway point of the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday afternoon with Marco Werner leading Dindo Capello by 13.177 seconds. The two diesel entries were the first of five cars on the lead lap as the season-opening race for the American Le Mans Series entered the seventh hour.McNish, Audi win pole for Sebring 12 Hour race
ALMS
 Allan McNish gave Audi pole position for Saturday’s 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida after the grid for the season-opening race for the American Le Mans Series was set by practice times. Because the prototype field had less than 10 minutes of green-flag qualifying time, the results from the session were disallowed.Atherton & Mayer: In their own words
ALMS
 Proving that there really is no offseason, the leadership of the American Le Mans Series has been hard at work over the winter to fortify the Series for the 2008 season. Scott Atherton and Tim Mayer have been at the forefront as the Series has added new teams, manufacturers and a Green Racing platform that has established the Series as the benchmark among all forms of motorsport in the world. They took some time to visit with media members at the annual Winter Test at Sebring to discuss a few items.How Safe Is Too Safe?
by Adriano Manocchia
 There was a time when drivers had to be one part skillful, two parts crazy. Seat belts were for sissies, fires were commonplace, and death was just a part of the sport's landscape. And the tracks were just as bad. Speeds were fast and errant cars weren't stopped so much by gravel traps as they were by trees.ALMS going green in a big way
ALMS
 The American Le Mans Series reaffirmed its position as motorsports’ global leader in alternative fuels today by announcing that it is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy and SAE International to incorporate “green racing” principles into its 2008 racing season. The American Le Mans Series will be the first motorsports series to meet the criteria for green racing being developed by these groups.
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