PITNOTES #04

2nd September 2001

(All times are local)

15:04 - Positions after two hours Car 9 leading by1 lap to Car 41 which leads GTS. Car 26 is 2 laps behind Car 9. Car 66 is leading GT, 7 laps behind Car 9. Car 28 (LMP675) still in pits 20 laps behind leader.

9/41/26/66/77/67/65/62/46/61/28/64/60/68

15:06 - Car 41 into pits - refuel & tyres - driver change (McKellar in) - rejoins.

15:13 - Car 61 (Porsche) - Into pits - 4 tyres - rejoins

15:15 - Car 46 (Porsche) - into pits - refuel - driver change (Schirle in) - rejoins

15:16 - Car 26 (Saleen) - into pits for stop/go penalty - nudging car 66.

15:16 - Car 62 into pits - punctured rear tyre - changed and rejoins track.

15:19 - Car 26 (Saleen) - off circuit at Curva Semaforo in gravel trap. Car dragged out of gravel by marshals to a safer position.

15:20 - Car 66 (Porsche) now running third overall as well as leading GT.

15:22 - Car 28 (Debora) still in pits - problem with exhaust. Team desperate to get backon track. Putting rear cover back on and car pushed back out of garage. Team are changing front nose cone as well. Team now pushing car back into the garage, further problems with car.

15:25 - Car 28 Returns to the track after problem sorted.

15:25 - Car 26 (Saleen) - Franz Konrad ran from pits to turn 8 to get back in the car.

15:27 - Car 28 into pitlane to serve 1 minute stop go penalty.

15:19 - Car 26 (Saleen) - Car running sitting on edge waiting to rejoin track. Walter Brun in driving seat after returning to the car. Car driven back to pitlane. Drivers changed (Konrad in) and returns to track in 10th place, 20 laps behind leader.

15:30 - Positions after 120 laps - 9/41/66/77/67/65/62/46/61/26/64/28 - Cars 60 / 68 retired.

15:35 - Car 9 (Panoz) into pits - refuel only - returns to track.

15:37 - Car 64 (Porsche) - into pits with smoking rear tyre - left rear tyre flat - replaced and car returns to track.

15:40 - Car 66 (Porsche) - rear bumper coming loose, concern from officials over whether to call car into pits to have it removed. Car 66 currently 1 lap ahead of Car 77.

15:44 - Five Minutes to go - Car 9 (Panoz) leading Car 41 (Saleen) by 3 laps. Car 66 (Porsche) in 3rd place 10 laps behind Car 9 (Panoz) and leading GT class by 1 lap to Car 77 (Porsche). Car 28 (Debora) in 12th place, 38 laps behind Car 9 (Panoz), but still running.

15:47 - Car 60 (Porsche) - Returning to the track to take the chequered flag, Youles at the wheel.