Johnny Herbert
set the fast time of the day Friday as American Le Mans Series teams began
practice for Sunday’s inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
Driving the Champion Racing Audi R8 Prototype, Herbert turned a lap of
1:04.310 (92.981 mph) on the 1.661-mile temporary racing circuit located
adjacent to RFK Stadium. Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race will be the first
racing event held in the U.S. capital city in more than 80 years.
"I think they’ve done a marvelous job with this circuit," said Herbert.
"It’s very smooth and wide, and there are many places for overtaking. I
think the spectators will see an interesting race on Sunday."
Herbert, from England, will co-drive with another ex-Formula One pilot,
Stefan Johansson of Sweden, the race. Qualifying will be held on Saturday
with the race to start at 12 noon on Sunday.
The factory Audi R8 of Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro was second-fastest in
Friday’s practice at 1:04.529, followed by the factory Audi R8 of Rinaldo
Capello and Tom Kristensen at 1:04.578. Close behind the Audis was the Panoz
LMP-1 of David Brabham and Jan Magnussen at 1:04.831.
"I really like the course," said Brabham, winner with Magnussen earlier
this year when the ALMS raced at California’s Sears Point Raceway. "It’s
nice and wide and relatively smooth. I wish it was a bit longer, though, but
that’s the nature of a circuit like this. But the straight is long enough to
showcase the power of our cars. I expect to have an action-packed weekend."
The father/son team of Jon and Clint Field of Dublin, Ohio, led the LMP 675
class for smaller Prototypes with a lap of 1:10.148 (85.243 mph). Clint
Field spun another car into the tire barrier between turns 3 and 4 in the
morning practice session, but the car was not severely damaged. He was
warming up the race team’s second car that will be co-driven by Andy Lally
and Milka Duno.
The GTS class for production-based cars was led by the Saleen S7R of Terry
Borcheller and Franz Konrad, turning a lap of 1:10.460. The two factory
Corvette team cars were second and third, with the top three separated by
only a few tenths of a second.
Leading the GT class was the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS co-driven
by Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen, turning a 1:13.607. The runner-up in
Friday’s practice was the Racer’s Group Porsche of Kevin Buckler and Brian
Cunningham.
Friday Times:
1. Johnny Herbert/Stefan Johansson, Audi R8 (LMP 900), 1:04.310.
2. Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro, Audi R8 (LMP 900), 1:04.529.
3. Rinaldo Capello/Tom Kristensen, Audi R8 (LMP 900), 1:04.578.
4. Jan Magnussen/David Brabham, Panoz LMP-1 (LMP 900), 1:04.831.
5. Bryan Herta/Bill Auberlen, Panoz LMP-1 (LMP 900), 1:05.612.
6. Christophe Tinseau/Max Angelelli, Cadillac Northstar LMP-02 (LMP 900), 1:05.842.
7. Eric Bernard/Emmanuel Collard, Cadillac Northstar LMP-02 (LMP 900), 1:06.407.
8. Chris Dyson/James Weaver, Riley & Scott MkIIIA-Lincoln (LMP 900), 1:07.877.
9. Jon Field/Clint Field, Lola EX257-AER MG (LMP 675), 1:10.148.
10. Franz Konrad/Terry Borcheller, Saleen S7R (GTS), 1:10.460.
11. Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (GTS), 1:10.163.
12. Emanuele Naspetti/Mimmo Schiatterella, Ferrari 550 Maranello (GTS), 1:10.858.
13. Steve Knight/Chad Block, Lola EX257-AER MG (LMP 675), 1:10.865.
14. Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (GTS), 1:10.956.
15. Ben Devlin/Will Langhorn, Lola B2K40-Ford (LMP 675), 1:12.379.
16. Tom Weickardt/Marino Franchitti, Dodge Viper GTS-R (GTS), 1:12.750.
17. Chris McMurry/Bryan Willman/Jeff Bucknum, Pilbeam MP84-Nissan (LMP 675), 1:13.199.
18. Shane Lewis/Marc Bunting, Dodge Viper GTS-R (GTS), 1:12.750.
19. Lucas Luhr/Sascha Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:13.607.
20. Kevin Buckler/Brian Cunningham, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:13.869.
21. Jimmy Adams/Joe Blacker, Pilbeam MP84-Nissan (LMP 675), 1:14.022.
22. Timo Bernhard/Jorg Bergmeister, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:14.814.
23. Milka Duno/Andy Lally, Lola B2K40-Judd (LMP 900), 1:14.933.
24. Larry Schumacher/David Murry, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:15.270.
25. Leo Hindery/Peter Baron, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:16.111.
26. Justin Jackson/Mike Fitzgerald, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:16.296.
27. Adam Merzon/Robert Julien, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:16.799.
28. Gary Schultheis/Tony Kester, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:16.802.
29. Carlos de Quesada/Scooter Gabel, BMW M3 (GT), 1:17.881.
30. Emil Assento/Chris Gleason, BMW M3 (GT), 1:18.160.
31. Michael Schrom/Darren Law, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:18.621.
32. Thomas Soriano/Cory Friedman/Danny Arkins, Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT), 1:18.671.
33. Selby Wellman/Paul Mears Jr./Sylvain Tremblay, Porsche 911 GT3 R (GT), 1:19.458.
34. Peter Overing/Stephane Villeaux, Porsche 911 GT3 R (GT), no speed.
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