Second Place and Valuable Points for Panoz
MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, CANADA
GT3 GRAND PRIX AT MOSPORT
Sunday, 19th August 2001
Second Place and Valuable Points for Panoz
The fickle hand of fate played a big part in the fortunes of the Panoz Motor Sports team today in a race which saw mixed weather conditions, four caution periods and, ultimately, the third podium position in three races for the Georgia-based team.
Jan Magnussen and David Brabham crossed the finish line in the #50 Panoz LMP-1 Roadster in second place, despite having had to make an unscheduled stop just thirty minutes before the end of the race. Brabham needed the steering checked following an unavoidable clash with a slower car. The placing, together with the fact that Magnussen led the more laps in the race than any other driver, gave them valuable Championship points in the American Le Mans Series Point Standings.
The heavy rain at the start of the race benefited Magnussen who made a storming start and was in second place by the end of the pit straight. When Capello in the leading Audi spun off due to the track conditions, Magnussen headed the field for all but two laps until he handed over to David Brabham for the final hour of the race.
However, Franck Lagorce in the #51 Panoz suffered at the hand of fate rather than profit from it. He had to take avoiding action when Capello's car spun on the first lap and the track conditions caught him out causing contact with a tire barrier. The resulting damage was too great for the car to be able to continue.
David Brabham:
"I am pleased to finish second, although obviously we would have preferred to be first. Half way through the race it was looking pretty good and then the pit stops didn't really work our way. The Viper spinning in front of me was a bit unfortunate, especially when he kept coming at me. I was on the loose stuff and couldn't avoid him. He hit me and I thought had damaged the steering on our car so I had to come in and check it out."
Jan Magnussen:
"I made a good start but by the time I got down into Turn 4 it was super slippery. When Dindo went off I nearly did the same myself, but luckily I collected it. Our car was SO good in the wet it was easy, and the Michelin tires were just great."
Franck Lagorce:
"I am really sorry for the team but there was nothing I could do. I had to brake hard to avoid another car after Capello's Audi went off and it was so wet my car just went straight off."
Klaus Graf did not drive the car in today's race.
Donnie Wilson, Panoz Motor Sports Michelin Tire Engineer:
"Considering that many of the top teams today were all running on the same rubber, I really think that the good, long-standing relationship between Panoz and myself allowed us to best utilise the options made available by Michelin. We ran a unique dry set-up which turned out to be an excellent choice for the dry portion of the race, plus we'd been the first team to run on the maxi-rain tire which seemed very effective in the morning's wet warm up."
For further information contact Fiona Miller at Panoz Motor Sport on cellphone 678 300 6452 or email to fiona@panozmotorsports.com.