|
THE LEATHER CENTER GRAND
PRIX OF TEXAS
Saturday March 3, 2001 - PIT NOTES: Page 1
Welcome to race number one of the 2001 season in the American Le Mans
series, and their second event at the Texas Motor Speedway. Last year's
race included 100 degree plus temperatures in the middle of a month long
drought. Today the forecast is for scattered showers with a high of 55
degrees. At the start of the first practice session it is 49 degrees
with a light rain falling. Today's schedule includes two combined
practice sessions and qualifying for tomorrow's 1:00 pm CST, 2 hour 45
minute race. Also today at 2:00 pm is an autograph session for all
ALMS drivers.
In Saturday morning's briefing for drivers, it was explained that
bypassing the chicane (turn one) during practice or qualifying will
result in the loss of lap times for the current and prior lap. More
severe penalties will be considered for repeat violations. Judges of
Fact will be used during the race to determine if a bypass was avoidable
and, if so, what penalties will be assessed. A minimum penalty is a pit
lane drive through.
The chicane will not be used for pace laps or the first racing lap after
the display of the green flag. Lap times achieved on the first racing
lap without the use of the chicane will not be considered for lap
records or or fastest lap awards.
ALMS driver David Murry is recovering at home after successful surgery
on Monday to remove a benign growth from his right kidney. Murry, driver
for the Kelly-Moss Racing Team, had to withdraw from this weekend's race
because of the unexpected surgery. He came home the day after the
surgery and plans to drive in the 49th Annual Exxon Superflo 12 Hours at
Sebring Presented by Dodge on March 17th. Driving in place of Murry in
#99-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RS is Christophe Bouchut/Fontaines, France.
Combined ALMS practice:
At 8:45 green flag.
At 8:52, contact in turn 1 between cars #17-GT Chevrolet Corvette
C5-R and #98-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
At 9:12, black flag all to repair the pylon markers in the chicane.
At 9:14, green flag.
At 9:48, checkered flag (and the sun is starting to shine).
Top three times by class:
# 2-P Audi R8 - 1:22.251, #50-P Panoz LMP07 - 1:25.457, #
1-P Audi R8 - 1:26.529.
#11-P675 Lola B2K/40 - 1:42.750.
#45-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R - 1:38.523, #44-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R -
1:45.164.
#99-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 1:33.605, #42-GT BMW E46 M3 - 1:33.655,
#30-GT Porsche 911 GT3-RS - 1:33.905.
Cars not on track: # 3-GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, # 4-GTS
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, #49-P Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. |
