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The X-Factor Grand
Prix of Sonoma Presented by AC Delco and Foster's Lager |
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PRESENTED BY AC DELCO & FOSTER'S LAGER
SATURDAY JULY 21, 2001
PIT NOTES: Page 3
Three American Le Mans Series drivers participated in a unique teleconference Friday night with a roomful of media in Malaysia. Emanuele Pirro, David Brabham and Hans Stuck each spent 15 minutes on the teleconference, discussing the upcoming Le Mans Series Race of Champions that will be held Nov. 11 at Sepang International Circuit. Organizers of the Le Mans In Paradise event gathered key media together in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur for the teleconference. With the time difference between California and Malaysia, it was Saturday morning in Malaysia during the teleconference.
ALMS qualifying for GTS and GT
Track records in class to beat: GTS - Olivier Beretta, Dodge Viper GTS-R, 1:30.621 (July 1999); GT - Dirk Müller; Porsche 911 GT3 R, 1:35.707 (July 2000)
At 5:06, green flag.
At 5:13, car #26-GTS Saleen S7R (Terry Borcheller) sets the fastest lap in class at 1:30.924. The quickest car in the GT class is the #43-GT BMW M3 GTR (Dirk Müller) with a 1:33.763 (new class record).
At 5:27, checkered flag. In all, 16 of the 17 cars in the two classes qualified, only the #44-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R did not post a time.
Top three in class:
#26-GTS Saleen S7R (Terry Borcheller) - 1:30.924, #3-GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (Ron Fellows) - 1:31.705, #4-GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (Andy Pilgrim) - 1:33.060 #43-GT BMW M3 GTR (Dirk Müller) - 1:33.763, #10-GT BMW M3 GTR (Bill Auberlen) - 1:33.910, #6-GT BMW M3 GTR (Boris Said) - 1:34.149. This is the third straight pole for the new BMW M3 with the V8 engine since introducing the car in Europe. This is the third pole for Dirk Müller in the GT class with three different teams (in the three year history of ALMS at this track). Dirk has also won both the previous events here. This is the second pole in ALMS GTS for the Saleen this season and the first at Sears Point.
Boris Said (#6-GT BMW M3 GTR) "The car's a little off but should be dialed in by race time." (about driving in Trans-Am and ALMS) "I love to drive in both classes, and I love the new configuration (of the BMW M3)".
Bill Auberlen (#10-GT BMW M3 GTR) "This is a very competitive field. The car is good and I hope to be there at the end. I really enjoy driving at Sears Point".
ALMS Prototype qualifying:
Track record in class to beat: LMP 900 - Allan McNish, Audi R8, 1:20.683 (July 2000)
At 5:36, green flag.
At 5:46, the top three in LMP900: #38-P Champion Audi (Andy Wallace)
1:22.962, #8-P Cadillac (Max Angelelli) 1:23.801, #7-P Cadillac (Emmanuel Collard) 1:24.178. The Team Audi cars have yet to take to the track.
At 5:51, car #1-P Audi R8 (Rinaldo Capello) sets the fast time in class with a 1:22.722.
At 5:53, car #2-P Audi R8 (Frank Biela) sets the second fastest time in class with a 1:22.953.
At 5:53, car #1-P Audi R8 (Rinaldo Capello) sets the fast time in class with a 1:21.745.
At 5:56, checkered flag.
Top three in class:
#1-P Audi R8 (Rinaldo Capello) - 1:21.745, #2-P Audi R8 (Frank Biela) - 1:22.422, #38-P Champion Audi (Andy Wallace) - 1:22.962. This is the twelfth straight pole for Team Audi and the sixth for Rinaldo Capello.