AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES NEWS

July 19,2002 Block Back With KnightHawk

KnightHawk pilots Steve Knight and Chad Block will hit the track as a pair again at this weekend's Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, DC for the 5th round of the American Le Mans Series. The duo, along with fellow teammate and co-owner Mel Hawkins, delivered yet another podium finish in the 4th round of the international series two weekends ago.

The team's #11 Gestetner/DNTLWorks MG Lola 675 LMP will hit the track this morning for the first session of the week on the temporary 1.7 mile 10 turn course carved into the RFK Stadium grounds.

This race marks the third ALMS pairing of rising-star Block with the KnightHawk squad. In each of Block's previous two championship rounds he has helped deliver two podiums -- at both the Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sears Point and the Road America 500 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

"I think the race here in Washington will be incredible for sure," said the Gestetner-sponsored Block. "It'll be a short bullfight that will make it difficult to pass and it will force everyone to use their heads. I'm confident that the MG Lola 675 LMP will do well and I'm determined to do battle with the bigger 900's -- and not just follow them. One thing is for certain -- KnightHawk is ready for a win and so am I!"

Block's co-driver for Sunday's battle will be team co-owner Steve Knight. Knight helped the team score 2nd in the LMP 675 Team Championship in last year's ALMS season and together with partner and co-driver Mel Hawkins, and Block, the popular 675 team is currently tied for 1st place in this year's championship.

This race marks the first road race in Washington, DC in eighty years and is a welcome venue for the series and its competitors.

"We're excited to be in our nation's capitol -- where our MG Lola's exhaust will have a chance to put out more hot air than is swirling around the halls of Congress," said Knight. "We plan on running faster than your typical intern and we hope to be on top when the race is over. The excitement will be tremendous, the air charged with electricity and the enthusiasm hotter than Fourth of July fireworks."

The team is very happy and proud for the support of teammate Block by Gestetner. Gestetner offers leading-edge digital document management solutions, including digital duplicators, digital imaging systems, network laser printers and facsimile machines that deliver document output solutions for businesses of all sizes -- at speeds from 13-105ppm. For information on Gestetner systems, please visit www.GestetnerUSA.com.

July 12,2002 Lehto Cadillac Duties Expanded

Team Cadillac today announced its schedule to race in four of the six remaining 2002 American Le Mans Series races while also setting its driver lineup for each of those events. A decision to participate in a fifth race is pending.

"Our focus is to be on the podium in these remaining ALMS races," said Doug Duchardt, GM Racing group manager for Team Cadillac. "The Cadillac Northstar LMP 02 has performed well in our testing since Le Mans, and we believe that we have six quality drivers who can put Team Cadillac on the podium at any of the remaining races."

Duchardt said, Team Cadillac will race in Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on July 21, 2002, the Grand Prix at Mosport in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 18, 2002, the Monterey Sports Car Championship in Monterey, California, on Sept. 22, 2002 and the Petit Le Mans in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 12, 2002.

Cadillac is studying details of the Miami, Florida race (Grand Prix of the Americas) scheduled for Oct. 5, 2002, and will make a decision to participate at a later date, said Duchardt.

Wayne Taylor, part of Team Cadillac management, announced the driving duties for the upcoming races. For the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., he said that Max Angelelli and Christophe Tinseau will pilot one car, while Eric Bernard and Emmanuel Collard will pilot the second car.

When Team Cadillac races at the Grand Prix at Mosport and Monterey Sports Car Championships Angelelli, Bernard, Collard, and JJ Lehto will pilot the cars.

For the final race at Petit Le Mans, all six drivers will race and be teamed together as they were for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Angelelli, Taylor, and Tinseau in one car, and Bernard, Collard and Lehto in the second car.

"The team has embarked on a test program with many new components, specifically for the North American ALMS events," said Wayne Taylor.

Taylor said that he and Bernard had conducted the initial development testing, and that Taylor will continue the development driving duties in preparation for Petit Le Mans. He said that the development testing and sprint races - Washington, D.C., Mosport, and Monterey -- will give Team Cadillac a chance to keep the entire team prepared for the season finale at Petit Le Mans.

"We'll give each pilot a chance to drive the all-new Cadillac Northstar LMP 02 prior to Petit Le Mans," he said. "And, we'll get JJ Lehto more time in the car and the opportunity to work with the team. There is a lot to learn from a new car even as we progress through the season. We want to give Team Cadillac every opportunity to achieve success in the races remaining with a special eye on the Petit Le Mans race to close the year."

July 12,2002 Washington GP Construction Photos

July 9,2002 Melanie Paterson To Run LMP675 In Canadian Rounds

Melanie Paterson of Toronto, Canada, will make her American Le Mans Series sports car racing debut in the series’ two upcoming Canadian races. The former international alpine ski racer will drive a Prototype in the LMP 675 class.

Paterson’s first American Le Mans Series race will be Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, on August 3, and then she will compete in the Grand Prix at Mosport at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont., on August 18.

With sponsorship from Schneider’s Hot Rod, one of Canada’s favorite snack food products, Paterson will co-drive with veteran racer Paul Fix of Buffalo, N.Y., in a Lola B2K-Nissan fielded by Essex Racing of Atlanta.

“I am extremely excited about our program for this year,” said Paterson, whose most recent racing experience has been in the Canadian Formula Ford Championship. “Michael Gue and Tony Dowe from Essex Racing have a great history and I will learn a lot from them. We have all been working very hard to put this program together and I am looking forward to successful events.”

In addition to Formula Fords, her racing background includes go karts and Legends cars, and she has tested in Indy Lights, Formula Atlantic and Formula Palmer Audi machines. She has tested in the Prototype but the Trois-Rivieres event will be her first racing experience in the 500-horsepower car.

“The biggest difference will be the pit stops and driver changes, something that we did not do in Formula Ford,” she said. “However, I have done quite a bit of endurance racing, so I am used to that. I’m also used to the high-horsepower cars through my testing experience. I’m prepared.”

July 5,2002 KnightHawk, Archangel Part Ways

KnightHawk Racing and Archangel Motorsport have decided to concentrate separately on their respective racing efforts and have moved past their combined working relationship.

Archangel team owner Mike Johnson and several of his crew were hired in February to round out the KnightHawk team already in place. At that time, Archangel was planning on continuing its success in the Rolex Sports Car Series, while KnightHawk was going to do the same in the American Le Mans Series.

Archangel's plans changed when they lost a driver and friend Jeff Clinton at this year's Rolex race in Miami -- which put and end to their Rolex plans. In order to stay in business they needed to build a new effort. Along came England's Marshall Cook Enterprises and driver Ben Devlin -- who hired Archangel to field their ALMS effort. At the Sears Point ALMS in May, both the Archangel and KnightHawk team entered the LMP 675 class.

Although the joint effort delivered a first, two seconds and a third place finish for both teams in two ALMS events, competing in the same class -- while economically attractive -- caused both teams to receive less than a 100% effort. The separating of the two organizations will allow each team to focus 100% on their own efforts -- as they now can, starting with this weekend's ALMS event at Road America.

"After the tragedy at Homestead-Miami, we needed to find new opportunities to stay viable," said Archangel's Mike Johnson. "Ben Devlin and Marshall Cook came along and we already had a great relationship with them. They wanted to run in the ALMS so we changed the Archangel effort to run there. Trying to run two different cars, in the same class -- and in the same series with one small core group of guys was a lot of work. We needed to change to give both teams equal effort."

"We knew when we first formed the relationship that it might prove challenging," said KnightHawk's Mel Hawkins. "When we began racing together in the same class, in the same series, it just became problematic. I'd like to thank Mike and the Archangel crew for giving it their best effort."

"We enjoyed our time working with Archangel's crew," said KnightHawk's Steve Knight. "They're a first class organization and we wish them the best for the rest of the season."

July 3,2002 Miami Passes Another Hurdle

Raceworks LLC, of Miami, organizers and promoters of The Grand Prix Americas, the mega-auto racing event scheduled to run on the streets of downtown Miami October 4-6, 2002, Monday received the strong support of the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority which voted unanimously to approve a $2 million loan in support of the street race.

“The Mayor and City Commission have supported the Grand Prix Americas all along, and it’s great to have our local community leaders at the MSEA Board stand behind the race so firmly and recognize it as a key sporting event. This event will be a great catalyst in promoting our city”, said Peter Yanowitch, President of Raceworks.

The Grand Prix Americas, co-promoted by Raceworks and CART, will feature:

* The Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Cup on Friday Oct. 4th
* The American Le Mans Series on Saturday Oct. 5th
* And on Sunday Oct 6th, the CART FedEx Championship Series

The Friday and Saturday races will be televised on Speed TV Network while the Sunday CART race will be televised on CBS.

The Grand Prix Americas will be a historic auto-racing weekend when, for the first time ever, CART and ALMS will participate in back-to-back racing events on the same event weekend.

As part of their presentation with the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority, Raceworks officials pledged to donate 1,500 tickets to be distributed to Miami children who would otherwise be unable to experience the events.

July 3,2002 The Racer's Group Signs Brian Cunningham

The Racer's Group has signed on professional driver Brian Cunningham for the rest of the ALMS season. Team owner and driver Kevin Buckler and Cunningham will pilot The Racer's Group No. 66 Porsche 911 GT3 RS together for the first time at the Road America 500 on July 5-7.

Cunningham has a successful and diversified racing background. He has been a front runner in many series including the Skip Barber Formula Ford Championship, Formula Ford, Oldsmobile Pro Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, British Formula Three and PPG Dayton Indy Lights. In 1999, Cunningham joined BMW Team PTG for the inaugural ALMS season. During the 1999 and 2000 seasons he was the lead point scorer with BMW Team PTG and completed his first ALMS season finishing second in the GT driver championship. In 2000, he was the highest points scoring BMW driver and finished fifth in the championship and secured BMW's only provisional pole of the year.

"This is great news. We are so excited to have Brian on board for the balance of the ALMS season. I raced against him for several years and he has always been a tough competitor. He is smart and fast and I anticipate that together we will be able to give the Alex Job squad a run for their money for the rest of the season. I really look forward to driving with Brian and learning from his knowledge of some of the tracks," Buckler said of his new co-driver.

"I am looking forward to my association with The Racer's Group, Porsche and Michelin. I have been talking with Porsche for two years after finishing runner up in 1999 and the right position just wasn't there. The Racers Group have put together a strong package and I am happy to be apart of it," Cunningham said.

June 29,2002 Panoz Mid Ohio Qualifying Report

Panoz Motor Sports stars David Brabham and Bryan Herta showed they are out to topple the Audi American Le Mans Series dominance after qualifying second and third in official qualifying at Mid Ohio today.

The Panoz pair toppled two of the three Audi machines in qualifying, proving their win at this track last year was no fluke.

Although the team suffered a tough time at the Le Mans 24 Hour, it also won the last round of the ALMS at Sears Point in May.

Brabham stopped the clocks at 1 minute, 14. 814 seconds in qualifying, just ahead of team-mate Bryan Herta who recorded a time of 1:15.084.

Jan Magnussen will share the driving duties tomorrow with Brabham while Bill Auberlen will drive with Herta.

"I am certainly happy with the way qualifying turned out," Brabham said.

"I probably could have gone a little bit quicker but I had a really hard time trying to get a clear lap in traffic.

"The one time I did get a clear lap I actually hit the outside kerb coming out of turn one and lost a little bit of time. I doubt I could have matched Beila's time, but we are certainly well placed to challenge strongly tomorrow.

"Bryan did a great job in the other car and it is a really good sign for the team to have two cars run so strongly in qualifying.

"The Michelin tires were really impressive because I was able to have quite a few attempts at a quick time without the tires starting to fade. That will be a good sign for tomorrow."

A former resident of nearby Columbus, Herta's 3rd spot on the grid is the best performance of his American Le Mans Series career to date.

"The team has worked really hard on improving the car and I think we have quite a good balance for the race tomorrow," Herta said.

"Audi are always hard to beat but we have to continue to put the pressure on them and see what happens.

"I have really enjoyed being back here at Mid Ohio after so many races and testing here in CART. It is actually quite different in a sportscar because your braking points are different in these cars and you actually use a few different lines around the course."

June 28,2002 Dyson Racing Purchases MG

The Dyson Racing team announced today that the team has agreed terms with Lola Cars International of Huntingdon, England, to purchase a customer version of the MG-Lola EX-257 Le Mans prototype, which were the only real opposition to the winning Audis at the recent Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Dyson Racing expects to take delivery of the car sometime in early August. The team plans to embark on a full testing program and is intending to participate in a selected few of the remaining rounds of this year's American Le Mans Series championship, with a view towards a full season in 2003.

The Dyson team is no stranger to the American Le Mans championship, having won the series' inaugural Drivers' Championship in 1999. In the last five years, Dyson Racing has won a total of seven drivers' championships. Since 1995, the team has amassed 35 overall prototype victories, including two triumphs at the grueling 24 Hours of Daytona.

"We're excited about the new car, and we think it gives us a great chance to run up front again in the American Le Mans Series," said team principal Rob Dyson. "We are happy to be working with Lola, MG and Advanced Engine Research. We look forward to running a competitive car and getting back to the sharp end of the field."

June 26,2002 Team Bucknum Readies For Upcoming Events

Remember the memorable Die-Hard television ads in the 1980s? In the ads, the battery was put through extreme heat and cold to prove it could handle the worst of conditions, and therefore, most certainly any normal conditions.

Team Bucknum took a page from that campaign last week as it prepared for the most intense part of the American Le Mans Series season, eight races in the next 18 weeks. The team ran a simulated race on Thursday in 106-degree heat at a secluded track an hour north of Las Vegas.

“We just wanted to make sure that the engine overheating problems that we thought we licked at Sears Point are indeed, no longer an issue,” said Team Bucknum owner/driver Jeff Bucknum. “We ran the car around at speed for a number of hours without problems.”

The arrival of the heart of this season’s schedule coincides, naturally, with the distribution of the majority of the available championship points, so the arrival of the positive testing news is very timely. Adds team owner/driver Bryan Willman, “Optimum performance is vital going into the next race, not only for points accumulation, but also because problems will be harder to address as teams will be constantly traveling from now thru October.”

Team Bucknum will bring two cars to both events, but run only one with drivers Bryan Willman and Chris McMurry. The number 56 car will carry a 3.0 liter engine at Mid-Ohio, and likely at Road America as well unless the team’s 3.4 liter developmental engine is race-ready.

June 26,2002 KnightHawk B2K/40 For Mid Ohio

KnightHawk Racing will enter this weekend's Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course in Lexington, Ohio - albeit with last season's used -- strike that -- "pre-owned" Lola B2K/40. Race activities begin this Friday, June 28 with the race on Sunday, June 30.

KnightHawk's fan-favorite new MG Lola 675 LMP got a bit too hot around midnight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans a week or so ago. Really hot - in fact, it was on fire. Team co-owner and driver Mel Hawkins was behind the wheel at the time and was fortunately unhurt, but it's doubtful that he'll be roasting marshmallows anytime soon. As a result, KnightHawk's "hot" new car is being repaired at both Lola and AER in the UK and will not be ready in time for the Ohio classic.

So as to not lose eligibility for this season's American Le Mans Series Privateer Points Fund, KnightHawk has elected to dust off last year's Lola B2K/40, throw on some new treads, top off the tank and run the 2.258-mile 13-turn road racing course. Fans of last year's action will recall that it was with this car that the KnightHawk team finished the season 2nd in points and delivered the Manufacturer's and Tire Championships to Lola and Avon.

"I'm really looking forward to the race at Mid-Ohio -- KnightHawk has done very well here in the past," says team co-owner and driver Steve Knight. "It's a great track and the fans are great too. The track is challenging but one that seems to suit my style of driving. I'm more than a little disappointed that we won't have our new MG Lola with us, but we're going to take our old Lola B2K/40, run it through the car wash, clean up the whitewalls and hang a new air freshener in the cockpit. We'll be more than ready to go out and have some fun with the other guys -- and gal -- this weekend."

June 24,2002 Champion Signs Johansson

Champion Racing owner Dave Maraj announced today that Stefan Johansson is set to return to the ADT/Champion Audi R8 team beginning with this weekend’s American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Johansson, who will share Champion’s points-leading Audi prototype with current Drivers Championship points leader Johnny Herbert, is no stranger to the ADT/Champion Audi R8, having been part of the crew which finished a fine second at this year’s ALMS season opener at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

“I’m very pleased and excited to be back in the saddle of the ADT/Champion Audi, working with Dave Maraj and his excellent team,” said Johansson. “The Audi R8 is the best car out there, and I’m really looking forward to more good results with the Champion guys this season.”

“We are very fortunate to have Stefan Johansson back with us in the ADT/Champion Audi,” said Champion Vice President Don Skuta. “He did a great job for us at Sebring, and he has the motivation and the skill it will take to keep Champion in the American Le Mans Series title hunt.”

Although JJ Lehto had been previously nominated for the position left vacant by the recent departure of Andy Wallace, issues relating to Lehto’s current contractual obligations with another team could not be resolved.

June 24,2002 CBR Sport Ferrari 550 Maranello

CBR Sport, a European team, will run a Ferrari 550 Maranello at Road America and will possibly field two cars in some races later in the season. The appearance of CBR Sport will mark the first use of a 550 Maranello as a GT car in American Le Mans Seies competition. Other teams are using the model in the GTS ranks. The GT version is much closer to the road-going Maranello.

Veterans Stefano Buttiero of Italy and Craig Stanton of California will co-drive the Ferrari at Road America. The car will be run at Road America by Seikel Motorsport, a regular ALMS team that also fields a Porsche in the GT class.

June 24,2002 Clint Field To Partner Dad In MG At Mid Ohio

Jon Field has now tasted victory on the American Le Mans Series, and he wants more. He will have an outstanding chance when the series visits his home track, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, for American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio on Sunday, June 30. And if he does win, it will be with his son.

The Dublin, Ohio, resident will drive the Banana Joes’s/Intersport Racing MG-Lola in the two-hour, 45-minute sports car endurance race at Mid-Ohio. His co-driver will be his son, Clint. With the race team also based in Dublin, Field looks forward to the opportunity to race at home. “It was awesome last year,” said Field of the first ALMS race ever held at the historic circuit. “To drive in front of your fans and family at your home track is great. They respond to it and it’s a nice environment to be in for that weekend.”

Field scored the first win of his career on the American Le Mans Series when he co-drove to victory in March in the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. The win came in the LMP 675 class for smaller Prototypes, a class that Field joined this year after Intersport purchased one of the new MG-Lola machines. Intersport had raced in the LMP 900 class for the past three years and still runs a car in that class as well.

“We think the new 675 car will run really good at Mid-Ohio,” said Field. “We’re excited about it.”

Many of the drivers on the American Le Mans Series had never raced at Mid-Ohio before last year’s inaugural event and were impressed by the large crowd, especially as it gathered on the hills overlooking the S-turns.

“You see the crowd on the pace laps or when there’s a caution, of course,” said Field. “You don’t focus on it in the race, but you always know they’re there. It’s kind of a neat feeling because you know they’re pulling for you and you’re out there digging hard.”

June 21,2002 Lehto Still Under Contract With Cadillac

Team Cadillac has confirmed that Finnish driver JJ Lehto continues to be part of its roster, having signed a contract back in January 2002. Lehto drives the #7 Northstar Cadillac LMP '02 along with Emmanuel Collard and Eric Bernard in two ALMS races (Sebring and Petite Le Mans) as well as in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which just completed last weekend.

"JJ is a terrific driver and we are delighted he is part of Team Cadillac," said Doug Duchardt, GM Racing group manager for Team Cadillac. "Contrary to earlier reports by another team, JJ has not left Team Cadillac. Team Cadillac retains Lehto's driving rights, although he can receive permission to run in other races/racing venues (be it endurance racing or any other type of racing) or with other teams/manufacturers if Team Cadillac provides permission. To date, this has not occurred. JJ is still scheduled to drive with Team Cadillac in the ALMS' Petite Le Mans race this October," said Duchardt.

Team Cadillac will race in four ALMS races between now and the end of the year, including the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., and the races at Mosport, Ont., Laguna Seca, Calif., and Petite Le Mans in Atlanta, Ga. Team Cadillac also raced in the first event of the season, the 12 Hours of Sebring.

June 20,2002 B.J. Zacharias Ready To Partner Le Mans Champs

For Cincinnati racing driver B.J. Zacharias, the road to the top of his profession has suddenly started looking a lot better. The 29-year-old Zacharias will have the chance to drive for the GT winning team in the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans when he competes at Mid-Ohio next weekend.

Zacharias, who has been trying to find a way to break into the top ranks of sports car racing, will team with owner/driver Kevin Buckler of Novato, Calif., in The Racers Group-fielded Porsche 911 GT3 RS at Mid-Ohio. Buckler shared the wheel with two other drivers last weekend in France when The Racers Group won GT class honors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A two-time champion of the competitive SCCA Runoffs held each year at Mid-Ohio, Zacharias had struck a deal with Buckler earlier this year to drive with him in the second annual appearance of the American Le Mans Series at the track. When Buckler’s team won its class in the world’s most prestigious endurance race, the deal became even sweeter.

“It added a little pressure,” said Zacharias. “It was definitely an up for the team, and Kevin will have some momentum coming to Mid-Ohio. Kevin brings a lot of experience and he has a really good team behind him. He’s also no slouch behind the wheel. “Hopefully I can help the team,” he said. “If there’s a chance for me to shine, this is it because I’m with a good team and I’m at my home track.” “Kevin had two factory Porsche drivers with him at Le Mans, and now we will have to race against them,” said Zacharias. “It’s tough racing but I’m looking forward to it.”

Zacharias, who said he was a fan of the old IMSA GTP cars while growing up, originally aspired to race open-wheel cars. However, the lack of opportunity in that form of racing brought him instead to sports cars, and he has found a happy home. He hopes to eventually land a fulltime ride in the American Le Mans Series. “I really like sports cars and endurance racing,” he said. “It’s an enjoyable form of racing.”

June 19,2002 Lehto In Champion Audi

Champion Racing is pleased to announce that Finland's JJ Lehto has been signed to partner current ALMS Drivers Championship points leader Johnny Herbert in the ADT/Champion Audi R8 for the remaining rounds of the 2002 American Le Mans Series, commencing with the next round at Mid-Ohio.

Andy Wallace, who partnered with Herbert during Champion's debut ALMS season in 2001 and so far this year, leaves Champion to concentrate on the promising Bentley EXP Speed 8 LM-GTP program. Wallace finished a fine third at Le Mans in 2001 in the Bentley, and fourth at this year's French Classic. With Wallace's commitment to Team Bentley, Champion Racing owner Dave Maraj agreed to release Wallace so that he can give full attention to the British GTP program.

"Andy has been a vital part of getting Champion's Audi R8 effort on its feet and making it a success", said Maraj. "Andy's vast endurance racing experience, his sound judgment and his totally professional attitude benefited every member of the ADT/Champion team", Maraj continued, "we consider Andy a friend and wish him the best of luck with Team Bentley and for the future."

JJ Lehto has six overall wins to his credit in ALMS competition. He was a standout as part of the BMW LMP program in 1999/2000, and took four ALMS GT class wins with BMW during the 2001 season. Since the end of last season JJ has been part of the Cadillac LMP program, joining that team for the endurance races at Sebring and the just-completed Le Mans 24 Hours. Lehto drove in 62 Formula One races during 1991-1994 with various teams, his best finish a third at Imola coming in 1991. Except for the 1998 season, in which he drove for Hogan Racing in CART, the remainder of his career has been in sports cars. He won Le Mans in 1995 in a BMW-powered McLaren, and contested races in touring cars and in the FIA GT Series from 1995-97.

Champion Racing's Audi R8 Le Mans Prototype, sponsored by ADT Security Services, currently leads the Championship Points races in both the LMP-900 Teams (overall) and IMSA Cup for Privateers categories, and Johnny Herbert holds the lead in ALMS LMP-900 Drivers Championship points going into next week's third ALMS race of the season at Mid-Ohio.

For more on the ADT/Champion Audi R8 program, visit the Champion website at www.champion-motors.com

June 13,2002 ALMS & ACO Extend Relationship

In a move that will fuel the growth of the American Le Mans Series for years to come, the series has renewed and extended its relationship with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), organizer of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In addition, the series announced that it will work in conjunction with the ACO to stage a single American Le Mans Series event at a premier racing venue in Europe in 2003 and two events in 2004 and beyond.

The series decided upon an early renewal of its original five-year contract with the ACO, which was good through 2003, by exercising its option to extend through 2008. The licensing agreement allows the American Le Mans Series the use of the trademarks and rules of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the operation of its North American sports car racing series.

“We could not be more pleased to make this announcement,” said Don Panoz, founder of the series. “Our relationship with the ACO has been instrumental in the growth this series has experienced since it began in 1999. Use of the ACO’s rules gives us the stability in technical regulations that has made our series attractive to race teams and manufacturers.

“This announcement will confirm the level of stability and consistency for professional sports car racing. It will provide manufacturers, promoters, teams and fans with a great platform for future growth of the American Le Mans Series.

“It is also very important to us to be able to continue to use the Le Mans name in all aspects of our series operation,” he said. “We have built equity in the American Le Mans Series name and it is what we are.”

The relationship with the American Le Mans Series represents the first and only granting by the ACO to another party the use of its trademarks and rules. In an effort to expand upon the rich history and tradition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ACO completed an agreement with Panoz in 1998. The inaugural Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in 1998 was Panoz’ first use of the Le Mans name, and the American Le Mans Series was born in 1999.

“We are very happy to make this announcement, and with this renewal, the ACO makes the commitment to make the American Le Mans Series the best professional road racing series in North America,” said Michel Cosson, ACO President.

The single European date for the ALMS in 2003 and two races in 2004 will mark the first time that the series and the ACO have worked together to stage races. The ALMS held two races in Europe in the 2000 season. American Le Mans Series races feature four classes of race cars competing for class wins and the overall win, with the fields including many of the same drivers and cars that compete at Le Mans. The series holds events at any of North America’s premier permanent road racing facilities as well as at temporary circuits in key major markets. The series motto is “For the Fans” and all events feature driver autograph sessions and open paddocks.

All events are on live television in the United States. Well-known automotive brand names such as Audi, Cadillac, Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, MG, Nissan, Panoz, Porsche and Saleen are represented on the series. ALMS events are sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

June 12,2002 Chicago Street Race Looking Up

This was in the Chicago Sun Times this morning:

A decision could come as early as this week on a proposal to stage an American Le Mans Series race on a temporary road course at Meigs Field next year. City officials are considering a plan to run the race in late summer or early fall. The airport would be closed to air traffic, but lakefront streets would remain open.

This is another sign of growing interest in the American Le Mans Series, which is positioned to fill any void that could be created by the struggles of the open-wheel CART series. CART recently had its bid to run a lakefront street race in Chicago turned down by city officials, and rumors are growing that many of its top teams will join the rival IRL next season.

Some insiders see the Le Mans series as a natural to create the kind of street-race/festival atmosphere that CART does so well in the event that CART continues to falter.

The American Le Mans Series has tended to concentrate on permanent road courses--it will run at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., on July 7--but is venturing into more temporary street courses this year.

It will race July 21 in Washington in the parking lot of RFK Stadium and will race on a Miami street course on Oct. 5 in conjunction with the Oct. 6 CART race there.

June 6,2002 DPR Preparing GT MG

David Price Racing is evaluating last year's X80 supercar concept for an attack on the GT class at Le Mans and the N-GT division in the FIA GT Championship.

Price's operation is already building the first prototypes of the road-going X80, and could have a race car up and running as early as November.

"The idea is to give a club racer the chance to move up to the international level arena with a car that is cheap to buy and run," said Peter Stevens, MG-Rover director of product and design. "From the initial evaluation, the car appears to have a promising future."

May 17,2002 Pirro Leads Friday Practice

Emanuele Pirro waited until the end of the session Friday to set the fastest time of the day as practice began for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at Sears Point Raceway.

Pirro turned a lap of 1:23.987 (108.445 mph) on the 2.53-mile road racing circuit in the final moments of a two-hour session. Pirro, driving the Audi Sport North America Audi R8, eclipsed a lap of 1:24.027 that had been set by the Panoz LMP-1 driven by David Brabham.

Pirro will co-drive with Rinaldo Capello and Frank Biela in the two-hour, 45-minute sports car race on Sunday, while Brabham will share the Panoz with Jan Magnussen.

Tom Kristensen, on loan to the Champion Audi team from the factory squad, turned the third-fastest lap of the day at 1:24.842 in a car he will share with Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert.

Jon Field, driving a Lola EX257-AER MG, was the fastest driver in the LMP 675 class for smaller Prototypes with a lap of 1:29.247, fifth-fastest overall. Field will co-drive with Rick Sutherland in Sunday’s race.

The Chevrolet Corvette C5-R driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell led the GTS class with a fast time of 1:33.584, while the GT class was led by the Porsche 911 GT3 RS of Timo Bernhard and Jorge Bergmeister at 1:38.195. Twenty-nine of the 33 cars on hand participated in the practice session on Friday.

1. Biela/Pirro/Capello, Audi R8, 1:23.987.
2. Magnussen/Brabham, Panoz LMP-1, 1:24.027.
3. Herbert/Wallace/Kristensen, Audi R8, 1:24.842.
4. Herta/Auberlen, Panoz LMP-1, 1:26.609.
5. J. Field/Sutherland, Lola EX257-AER MG, 1:29.247.
6. Jeannette/Donohue, Panoz LMP-1, 1:30.440.
7. Weaver/Dyson, Riley & Scott MkIIIA-Lincoln, 1:32.157.
8. C. Field/Neuhaus, Lola B2K/10-Judd, 1:32.209.
9. Knight/Hawkins/Block, Lola EX257-AER MG, 1:33.023.
10. Duno/Maxwell, Panoz LMP07-Mugen, 1:33.250.
11. Fellows/O’Connell, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, 1:33.584.
12. Pilgrim/Collins, Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, 1:34.176.
13. Konrad/Borcheller, Saleen S7R, 1:36.447.
14. Naspetti/Schiattarella, Ferrari 550 Maranello, 1:37.755.
15. Bernhard/Bergmeister, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:38.195.
16. Maassen/Luhr, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:38.978.
17. Buckler/Franchitti, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:39.378.
18. Mowlem/Pobst, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:40.723.
19. De Radigues/Graham, Panoz LMP07-Mugen, 1:40.913.
20. Schumacher/Murry, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:41.484.
21. Hampton/Grupp, Lola B2K/42-Mazda, 1:41.533.
22. Bucknum/Lambert, Pilbeam MP84-Nissan, 1:42.065.
23. Hindery/Baron, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:42.520.
24. Jackson/Fitzgerald, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:42.841.
25. Collin/Burgess/Plumb, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 1:43.158.
26. Rice/Orcutt, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:43.244.
27. Schultheis/Kester, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:44.461.
28. Merzon/Julien, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 1:47.900.
29. McMurry/Willman, Pilbeam MP84-Nissan, 1:57.131.

May 17,2002 Herbert To Attempt Double On Sunday

Two different forms of racing. Two very different race cars. Two race tracks located nearly 3,000 miles apart. One driver who needs to be in both places on the same day.

Johnny Herbert has been forced to try and do the impossible this Sunday. The English racing star will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday morning and then dash to California to drive in the American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters that same afternoon. His plan involves a private jet and two helicopters.

Herbert’s situation was brought about by rain which canceled one full day of qualifying in Indianapolis last weekend. Herbert, a former Formula One winner who is trying to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500, was unable to post a qualifying speed.

He had hoped to be solidly in the field at the conclusion of the first weekend of qualifying, therefore avoiding the drama of having to be involved in Bump Day, the notorious final day of Indy qualifying that has broken the hearts of many race drivers.

Had he qualified, Herbert could have spent this entire weekend at Sears Point, where he will co-drive the Champion Racing Audi R8 Prototype in the ALMS event. Instead, he practiced the Audi on Friday and then caught a redeye flight back to Indianapolis to practice the Indy car on Saturday. Herbert started the ALMS season with a victory in the Sebring 12-hour race and needs to race to protect his points position. He is also under contract to Champion Racing for the ALMS season.

After practicing this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and wrestling with what to do, Herbert decided to try to do both. Qualifying at Indy begins at noon Sunday (Central time), and he is slated to be third in line. After making his run, he will be helicoptered from the track to a waiting jet for the trip to California. The jet will land at Novato, Calif., where another chopper will bring Herbert to Sears Point.

The American Le Mans Series race starts at 1 p.m. (Pacific) and is a two-hour, 45-minute timed event. As is the norm for sports car racing, Herbert will share the car with other drivers in the event. The plan is for teammates Andy Wallace and Tom Kristensen to drive the first two stints and then Herbert will drive the final leg after arriving at Sears Point.

“Everything will have to work perfectly,” he said. “But it can be done.” By not staying at Indy, Herbert will not have the opportunity to requalify if his car is bumped from the field in the remaining qualifying time. In theory, he could be bumped from the field while he is on the track at Sears Point. In an ironic twist, Indy qualifying will end 15 minutes after the conclusion of the Sears Point race.

“We had the option of having another driver qualify the car (at Indy), but I didn’t want to do that,” said Herbert. “Driving in the Indy 500 has been a goal of mine for many years and I wanted to do it the right way. Hopefully this will all work out.”

May 8,2002 Rand Racing Purchases Two MG/Lolas For 2003 Campaign

Rand Racing has purchased two MG Lola EX257 sports cars in preparation for competition in the 2003 American Le Mans Series. Although the cars are built for the LMP675 class, team owner Bill Rand has set a higher goal.

"I think the MG Lola can beat the prototypes," he said, referring to the more powerful LMP900 cars. "I think it can be done with the proper team, and I think we have the proper team. I don't just think we can win the 675 class, I think we can go out there and win races overall."

Rand Racing will take delivery of the Lola EX257 chassis No. 5 in July and will receive a second chassis prior to the 2003 season. Rand says he won't enter a race with the new cars until the team has completed extensive endurance testing and is ready to win.

Meantime, he says the team's target for 2002 hasn't changed - to win the SRPII driver and team championships in the Rolex Sports Car Series, sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The team has won every race it has entered, with two Nissan Lolas prepared by the veteran Risi Competizione crew.

SRPII points leader Terry Borcheller of Phoenix drives the No. 8 Lola with Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga. Rand, of Plano, Tex., and Niclas Jönsson of Aliso Viejo, Calif., drive the No. 7 car. German Ralf Kelleners and Scot Marino Franchitti join the team for selected races.

"Rand is clear on his team's objectives for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, but he has one more goal to add to the list - an overall win in the 24 Hours of Daytona. The team won the SRPII class this year and finished third overall, after leading every class lap for 24 hours.

"The focus this year is Grand-Am and it will be Grand-Am throughout the season," Rand explained. "Once we get the MG and get tested, we will run a full American Le Mans season next year. But we'll also run the 24 Hours of Daytona. We've got unfinished business there; we're going after an overall win."

May 8,2002 Third Panoz For Sears

Panoz Motor Sports has entered a third "Spirit of America" prototype machine in the forthcoming round of the American Le Mans Sears at Sears Point in California.

All six members of the Panoz line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hour will get the chance to get additional track time prior to the classic French event.

The decision to place the additional entry came after the team's second Le Mans entry struck trouble in last week's Le Mans preliminary practice session in France.

Bill Auberlen, David Donohue and Gunnar Jeannette had their track time restricted by a prop-shaft failure which stranded the car out on the circuit in the early part of the opening four-hour practice session.

"The three guys in the #11 car at Le Mans really didn't get the chance to get as many miles as we would have liked, so we thought it was important for every member of the team to get as many laps as possible," Team Manager, Andy Waldrep said.

For Sears Point, Panoz will field David Brabham and Jan Magnussen in their regular #50 machine, Bryan Herta and Bill Auberlen in the #51 car, and David Donohue and Gunnar Jeannette in the third #49 car.

The additional entry is the same car which Jeannette contested the Sebring 12-Hour at the start of the year.

"David Donohue has a lot of experience and we thought we would use that to team him up with Gunnar for this weekend," Waldrep said.

"The Sears Point weekend will be another important step for Gunnar in his development as a young driver with this team."

Donohue is eagerly awaiting the chance to compete at Sears Point, a track at which he has previously tasted success in GTS aboard a Dodge Viper.

The Sears Point circuit has undergone dramatic changes in recent months with more than $50 million spend on improvements.

"Sears Point is a great challenge and probably one of the most difficult and demanding tracks in the country," Donohue said.

"I am really thrilled to hear of the fantastic improvements they are making to the track and can't wait to see them next week."

April 30,2002 KnightHawk Signs Chad Block For Sears

KnightHawk Racing has signed Chad Block as the third seat for the team's entry in the Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters on May 19.

Block will share driving duties with Steve Knight and Mel Hawkins in the team's #11 MG Lola 675 LMP for the second round of the American Le Mans Series' 2002 Championship season.

The trio's previous pairing occurred at this year's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, where they produced a 2nd in class and 6th overall in a Nissan Lola B2K/40 -- quite an accomplishment considering this was Block's very first sportscar race.

The 23 year-old racer from Pennsylvania is making a lot of headway in the Prototype class after Daytona with KnightHawk, Block found himself behind the wheel of the #00 Panoz LMP 900 with Panoz Factory Driver Gunnar Jeanette at the 12 Hours of Sebring last month.

At KnightHawk's test session with their new MG Lola in February, Block had an opportunity to get behind the wheel of the purpose-built LMP 675 at Road Atlanta.

"The car is very fast -- and very capable. I had the chance to lap the circuit more than a few times and I felt fairly comfortable," says Block. "The KnightHawk team is where I'd like to be, and where I hope to stay for the season. Steve and Mel have shown me tremendous support and I would love to bring them some LMP 675 Championship points. Having a team that has confidence in you, and you having confidence in them -- as I do with KnightHawk -- is a great recipe for success. I hope Steve and Mel are as happy to have me as I am to represent them."

The KnightHawk MG Lola will be transported by air to Sears Point directly from the team's Le Mans Preliminary Practice Session on May 5. The team's is looking forward to the Sonoma classic circuit and hope that the twisty uphill and downhill circuit will suit the handling of their smaller and lighter car perfectly. Immediately following the race, they car will be sent back to France for the 70th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"Chad has really shown well so far, especially considering his short time in sportscars," says his Sears Point teammate Steve Knight. "I was impressed with his talent at Daytona and Sebring and look forward to having him on-board for Sonoma."

"I saw first-hand what Chad could do, both at Daytona and in our test at Road Atlanta, " remarked co-driver Mel Hawkins. "Based on what I've seen so far, it was time to team up with him and Sears Point presented itself as the perfect opportunity."

April 29,2002 Archangel Sears Entry

Photo Coutersy:Grand-Am
Archangel Motorsports has joined the field for Round Two of the 2002 American Le Mans Series championship, the May 19 Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at California’s Sears Point Raceway.

The team will run a Lola B2K40-Ford Prototype in the LMP 675 class at Sears Point as it makes its first American Le Mans Series appearance of the season.

Drivers for the team will be Ben Devlin of England and Dave McEntee of Novato, Calif. Devlin, a racing sensation in England as a teenager, drove for Archangel in part of the 2001 season, scoring two class wins in another form of racing and finishing second in the LMP 675 class in his American Le Mans Series debut in October in Audi presents Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. McEntee is an instructor at the Jim Russell Racing School at Sears Point Raceway and knows the 2.52-mile racing circuit as well as anyone. He made his ALMS debut in last year’s event at Sears Point, driving a GT Porsche for Dick Barbour Racing.

April 26,2002 Malaysia Race Canceled

The American Le Mans Series has canceled the event it had planned to run on Nov. 3 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The event will not be rescheduled.

“After numerous inquiries concerning the promotion and staging of the race went substantially unanswered, the difficult decision was made to cancel the event,” said Scott Atherton, President and COO of the Panoz Motor Sports Group.

“While we regret having to make this decision, we felt it prudent not to commit the resources of our commercial partners and teams without receiving reasonable confirmation from our promoter of its ability to successfully stage the event,” he said.

April 25,2002 Intersport Two Car Sears Entry

Intersport, which gained its first-ever American Le Mans Series win last month at Sebring, has entered two Prototypes in Round Two of the 2002 ALMS season, the May 19 Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at California’s Sears Point Raceway.

Intersport will run its victorious Lola EX257-MG in the LMP 675 class, hoping to make it two wins in two starts on the ALMS this season. In addition, the team will run a Lola B2K10-Judd in the LMP 900 class. Sponsored by Banana Joe’s, the Intersport cars are among the top privateer teams in sports car racing. Based in Dublin, Ohio, Intersport joined the Competition Incentive Plan (CIP) in the American Le Mans Series for the 2002 season and will run a car in every race.

With its win at Sebring, Intersport is leading the IMSA Cup standings for privateer teams in the LMP 675 class. Jon Field of Dublin, Ohio, and Rick Sutherland of Los Gatos, Calif., will co-drive the MG Lola in the Sears Point event. Clint Field, the son of Jon Field, will co-drive with Mark Neuhaus of Sun Valley, Id., in the LMP 900 car.

April 18,2002 Mowlem Lands Peterson Porsche Driver

Autosport Report that Johnny Mowlem has secured drive for this year's ALMS.

He will return to the Petersen Motorsports team he raced for last year, joining Randy Pobst behind the wheel of a factory-backed Porsche 911 GT3-RS.

The team had planned to sit out the series, but has now decided to compete in the six remaining US rounds, running on Pirelli tyres. Mowlem will drive in all the races, including the blue-riband Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

"There are two reasons I'm pleased with this deal," Mowlem told Autosport.com. "Firstly, I'm going back with a team I've been with before. We are in a good position against the Alex Job-run cars. Whether we can beat them remains to be seen, but we will certainly rattle their chain.

Secondly, we are on Pirelli tyres and they have really stepped up in performance. Pirelli will be desperate to beat Michelin, which Job runs on."

The deal completes a strong season programme for Mowlem. He also has a factory drive at the Le Mans 24 Hours secured, and is expected to race the Crawford prototype with NASCAR star Tony Stewart in the Watkins Glen 6 Hours.

"It is very nice to have the prototype chance, a Le Mans drive and manage to keep the links with Porsche as well," said Mowlem. "It's the best of three worlds!"

April 13,2002 Dyson Enters Two Cars For Sears

Dyson Racing will run a pair of Riley & Scott MkIIIA-Lincoln machines in the event. Elliott Forbes-Robinson, the inaugural American Le Mans Series champion in 1999, will co-drive with rising star Chris Dyson in one car, while James Weaver and a driver to-be-named will steer the other.

The team, owned by New York businessman Rob Dyson, has not raced at Sears Point since the 1999 season. Forbes-Robinson co-drove to a fourth-place finish in that event on his way to the driver's championship. Dyson Racing did not run any ALMS races in 2000, but returned to compete in four races in 2001 with a best finish of third at Mid-Ohio. Though an exact schedule has not been announced, the team has indicated that it will contest many of the 10 ALMS events scheduled for 2002.

"We welcome Dyson Racing in the American Le Mans Series," said Dennis Huth, President of IMSA, the sanctioning body for the ALMS. "Rob Dyson runs a professional and competitive team that adds a great deal to an event." After finishing fourth in the season-opening event at Sebring last month, the Dyson team is third in the IMSA Cup standings with one car and fourth with the other. The IMSA Cup is a new competition this season among privateer (non-factory) teams on the American Le Mans Series.

Weaver's normal co-driver, Butch Leitzinger, will not be available for the Sears Point race due to a conflict with a race for the Trans-Am Series at Canada's Mosport International Raceway. Leitzinger is running the full Trans-Am Series this season. An announcement from Dyson Racing as to who will partner with Weaver at Sears Point is expected soon

April 11,2002 Cadillac Announced as Washington GP Title Sponsor

Cadillac announced today that it has agreed to sign on as the title sponsor of the July 2002 American Le Mans Series auto-racing event. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the race will be known as “The Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.,” and Cadillac's name will be represented in a new logo for the event.

“We are especially pleased to be a part of bringing the most competitive in international endurance racing to the nation’s capital,” said Mark R. LaNeve, Cadillac general manager. “Exciting things are happening at Cadillac these days and our participation in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with our two Cadillac Northstar LMP cars is a means to connect with a new generation of luxury customers.”

“Cadillac is one of the most powerful automotive brands in the world,” said Chris Lencheski, co-founder and chairman of the board, National Grand Prix Holdings. “We are pleased to have such a prestigious name in front of our race. This is the first time Cadillac has been a title sponsor for a race. I think Cadillac’s involvement in the Washington Grand Prix speaks volumes for what people in the industry think we are trying to do for auto racing in Washington, D.C.”

Cadillac plans to bring an exciting exhibit to the paddock area titled, “The Cadillac Experience,” where those attending the race will have a chance to view Cadillacs of the past, present and future. As part of the partnership with the race, Cadillac will have its name prominently displayed throughout the grounds of RFK Stadium during the three-day event.

“The local Cadillac dealers are very enthusiastic about this partnership, and we hope this enthusiasm spills over and reaches potential new Cadillac customers in the Washington, D.C. metro area,” said Steve Rosenblum, Cadillac brand manager for motorsports. “We are working with our Cadillac dealers to provide opportunities for the entire area to enjoy this unique event through special promotions and coverage.”

“We are honored to have Cadillac as the title sponsor of this race,” said George deBidart, co-founder, National Grand Prix Holdings. “Cadillac has a rich and proud history in the automotive industry, and they are a perfect fit for this event.”

April 11,2002 Spencer Motorsports Summits First Entry For Sears

Team Spencer Motorsports has submitted the first official entry for Round 2 of the 2002 American Le Mans Series, the Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters on May 19 at California's Sears Point Raceway.

Team Spencer has entered a Lola B2K/42-Mazda machine in the LMP 675 class for smaller Prototypes. The drivers will be Dennis Spencer of Denver, Col., and Rich Grupp of Decatur, Ga.

The team entered the 2002 season-opening event at Sebring in March, but was forced to withdraw due to engine problems.

April 2,2002 Audi May Run Older car At Sears

The Audi factory could run a solo, two-year-old R8 prototype at the Sears Point ALMS round on May 19.

Audi and Team Joest are looking at leasing back the first-generation R8 that Champion Racing ran in last year's ALMS. This would enable Audi to gain championship points in California without having to ship its Le Mans cars back to the States between the test day early in May and the race.

Joest team manager Ralf Juttner said "Using the Champion car is something that we have looked into, but it is by no means decided."

Juttner stressed that Audi hadn't ruled out taking its Le Mans cars and that a decision was due soon.

Should Joest run Champion's old car it is almost certain that Rinaldo Capello would drive. He won the ALMS opener together with Johnny Herbert, who now switches over to Champion for the remainder of the season, and Christian Pescatori. Audi needs Capello to score points to prevent Herbert racking up a near unassailable championship lead.

March 28,2002 Audi 2003 Plans?

Autoweek is reporting that Audi is hinting it will leave the ALMS to its customer teams next year. Audi North American boss Len Hunt said that it could be “reasonably assumed” the works Joest team would not return to the United States for a fourth season in 2003.

“It is my desire that Audi will compete in the ALMS next season and I fully expect it will happen, but I am not sure whether there will be a works team,” said Hunt. He is hoping the German manufacturer would be represented by a number of customers in 2003. “We have Champion, but I would like to see a broader base of privateers.” Those expansion plans could include Team Rahal, which is looking to run in the ALMS next season.

Team boss Bobby Rahal has been in contact with Hunt, but the talks have been nothing more than preliminary discussions. Rahal said: “We aim to run prototypes, so it is natural to start looking from the top down.” Neither Audi Sports chief Wolfgang Ullrich nor Franz-Josef Paefgen, the new sports car boss of the VW-Audi group, was willing to discuss the marque’s plans for next year and beyond.

March 26,2002 Team Bucknum Selects New Engine Builder

After a disappointing start to its 2002 season, Team Bucknum Racing has made some personnel changes that it hopes will help its cause in the rest of the American Le Mans Series season.

The new racing team is campaigning a pair of Pilbeam MP84-Nissan machines in the LMP 675 class of the ALMS this season. However, both cars encountered overheating problems early in the running at the opening event at Sebring and were retired before 21 laps had been completed.

"The entire week we worked on the overheating issue, and by the end of the week we were able to run practice sessions with no issues," said driver Chris McMurry. "We thought we had it licked, but the race day was hot and the temperature warning lights reappeared almost from the start."

The team has changed engine builders and will now use the services of England-based International Engine Services (IES). Graham Dale-Jones of IES is the original builder of all Nissan engines in the Pilbeam MP84s that Team Bucknum uses.

"Graham has built motors for this same type of car and has won championships doing so," said team driver/owner Jeff Bucknum. "He has a positive history of putting together a package that has beaten some of the packages we compete against in North America, such as the Lola B2K/40." The team also announced that it has begun developing a 3.4-litre engine package that will produce 500 horsepower, about 125 more than the current 3.0-litre engine package. Additionally, work has begun on lightening the Pilbeam MP84 with the addition of carbon fiber components.

"We gained vast amounts of knowledge at Sebring, and, as a result, are making some immediate, serious changes in our approach," said driver/owner Bryan Willman. "As part of selecting a new engine builder, we will embark yet again on a vigorous testing program to ensure a reliable and competitive entry for Sears Point and beyond."

March 22,2002 29 Cars Commit To CIP Program

The new Competition Incentive Plan (CIP) administered by IMSA on the American Le Mans Series has attracted 20 racing teams to commit 29 cars for the full season on the sports car endurance racing series, officials have announced. Several other teams are expected to commit to the program within the next week. The 29 cars committed so far to compete in all 10 events on the series include 14 Prototypes (eight LMP 900 and six LMP 675), seven GTS cars and eight from the GT class.

"We are very pleased with the response to the CIP from such a diverse group of sports car racing teams," said Dennis Huth, President of IMSA. "A program of this nature has never been done in the modern era of sports car racing and it gives an advance peek to our event promoters and fans of the top teams and drivers they can expect at all events. "These 29 cars, and the others that were just invited and we expect to join the CIP, will represent the core field of cars that have contractually stated to us that they can be expected at every race," Huth said. "But as we saw with a record number of entries recently at Sebring, there are many more sports car racing teams out there that are interested in competing in American Le Mans Series races this season."

The CIP was created to financially reward teams that commit to running all 10 races of the series and is open to qualified privateer and factory teams. Participating teams sign agreements stating that they will compete in all events. For contesting the series, the team receives cash rewards after every event that are not part of the regular race payoff, provided that it enters the event, qualifies and attempts to compete.

The racing teams that have committed to the CIP program for 2002 from the

LMP 900 class include Audi Sport North America, Panoz Motor Sports, MBD Sportscar, Champion Racing and Gunnar Racing.

LMP 675 class for smaller Prototypes that have signed the CIP agreement include Team Bucknum Racing, KnightHawk Racing, Kyser Racing, Intersport and Porschehaus.

GTS class, the teams committed to the full season include Corvette Racing, American Viperacing, Konrad Motorsport, Park Place Racing and Team Rafanelli.

GT class include Alex Job Racing, Orbit, The Racer's Group, Seikel Motorsport and J3 Racing. The next race for the American Le Mans Series will be the Grand Prix of Sonoma at California's Sears Point Raceway on Sunday, May 19.

March 22,2002 MBD Leave Sebring With Positive Attitude

Although neither car finished at Sebring, the MBD Sportscars team came away with a very positive attitude and a lot of new information on the Panoz-Mugen that they lacked at the start of the week.

Scott Maxwell took car #17 from 16th on the grid to 12th at the start of the race. Milka Duno then improved it's position to 8th before handing over to John Graham. He also drove a full stint before the gremlins attacked the electrical system, ultimately forcing it's retirement.

Didier de Radigues was forced to start from the back of the grid as an engine change had made night practice impossible for car #18. Only twenty minutes into the race the car suffered a broken alternator belt. From then on it ran strongly for 6 hours, providing valuable engineering data for the future, until being finally sidelined by a broken CV joint.

March 12,2002 Spencer Mazola Withdrawl Explanation

Dennis Spencer comments on the decision made by Team Spencer Motorsports to withdraw from this weekend's running of the 50th anniversary of the 12 hours of Sebring, sanctioned by the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

Team Spencer purchased a Lola B2K/40 chassis that had been wrecked at the 2000 Rolex 24 Hours event. Dennis Spencer elected to reassemble the car with a Mazda rotary engine. The team fit in repairs and development time in-between a full season of racing that found them competing in both Grand American Road Racing and Historic Sportscar Racing events.

The car, affectionately dubbed the "MAZOLA" was to debut at the Petit Le Mans ALMS event last October. However, the ACO decided that, while the car was eligible to run, it would have to wait until the next event after being approved. That next event was to be Sebring, in 2002.

"After preparing a car that we felt could compete with the Reynard and the Pilbeam chassis that ran in ALMS and Grand Am last season, we intended to race at Sebring. And then the new lighter and faster MG-Lola chassis came on the scene. They did some testing at Road Atlanta and Sebring and clearly demonstrated that they had raised the bar to a point we were not ready to reach.

"We didn't realize how far behind on the development curve we were. Our first thought was to pull the 2-rotor engine out of our new Lola chassis and see if we couldn't find more power. There were other considerations as well, and the cumulative effect is that, overall, we realized that we lacked the caliber of preparedness that the ALMS deserves. We thought we had it all together but the competition showed us that we did not. While that realization was not what we would have preferred to come to, we are comfortable in that understanding.

"We knew we were up against both stiff competition, and the clock. We called upon some talented people to help us find what the team needed but what we found the team needed most was more time.

"We see now that we need to get our team back to the level of performance we ran at the last time we were regular competitors in the ALMS series. That level led us to an overall 8th place finish in the 1999 12 hours at Sebring. At that race, I think we were the highest placed privateer team. Knowing what it takes to be that good, from our knowledge of the car and the engine, to all the other factors that challenge every race team, requires a top-notch effort. We simply aren't there just yet.

"We decided that we should regroup and come back fighting when we were better prepared to be truly competitive. We refuse to be a negative factor, a source of dilution if you will, in a series that demands the level of performance the ALMS demands. We would not have been at our best. I won't let that happen in any of my other businesses and the same goes for the race team.

"With seven other teams waiting for a shot at what is surely the premier event in sportscar racing this season, and with all of them ready to be competitive today, we decided to step aside and let someone else take our place."

The team is planning on continuing the development of the rotary powerplant. It is thought the Mazda-Lola combination could be most effective in shorter races.

"We know that the rotaries run hot and we felt that the changes we would need to make - given our knowledge base today - to run faster at Sebring, would have found us back in the garage before the end of the 12 hours. With a further investment of time in development work, we think we can find the right balance of power and heat dissipation to be competitive in shorter events.

"The bottom line here is simply this, we thought we had a car and engine combination that could be competitive. We learned too late that we aren't there yet.

"It is extremely important to this team, and to me personally, to be in a car that isn't just doing laps and clogging up the racing line. I have too much respect for the other competitors to do that. And I have too much respect for the significance of the Sebring 50th anniversary to use that premier event as a test session.

"We will go back to the dyno, and increase our knowledge base, and find the needed elements to put a competitive "Mazola" on the track in the near future. And when we are on the track, we will be in the race for the podium, not just simply be in the race because we are on the track."

March 10,2002 Lambert For MBD

Bruno Lambert will team up with Didier de Radiguès in the MBD Sportscars entered Panoz-Mugen LMP900 for 2002 ALMS season. Lambert has quickly moved up the ranks from two successful seasons in GT including a win at the 24 hours of Le Mans through multiple wins and podium finishes in GTS and LMP 675 last year. “I couldn’t ask for better circumstances to begin my LMP900 career. The combination of the Panoz chassis, the proven track record of Mugen in developing powerful and reliable engines and the engineering know-how of Multimatic should help us make this car a top contender”.

This is the second time that native Belgians Lambert and de Radiguès will team up. “Bruno drove with me for the last three races of the 2001 season. He did a fantastic job and with two wins and a third place, helped me clinched the championship” said the 2001 LMP675 champion.

Lambert will be supported again this season by personal sponsor Cranium makers of the award winning and fastest selling independent board game in history, the Cranium party game. Richard Tait the company Grand Poo Bah was ecstatic. “As with Cranium in the games world, Bruno has been on the fast track to success in racing. This new team is a perfect fit for Cranium, fast, fun and competitive!

The team will field two cars for the full ALMS season and the 24 hours of Le Mans. The lineup for the other car consisting of Milka Duno from Caracas Venezuela, Scott Maxwell and John Graham both from Toronto, Ontario. For the long distance races, American Rick Sutherland join the pair of Belgian

March 10,2002 vandePoele Added To Panoz Attack

Panoz Motor Sports' assault on the 50th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring - Presented by Dodge, has been boosted with the addition of experienced sportscar aces Bill Auberlen and Eric van de Poele to its driving roster.

The team had originally planned to attack Sebring with a two-driver line-up in its pair of "Spirit of America" LMP1-Evo machines, but the availability of Auberlen and van de Poele, coupled with the expected fierce competition for the 12 hour marathon, resulted in a revised plan for the event.

"We fully expect Sebring to be a 12 hour sprint and after consultation with our drivers, we believed having three guys in both cars was going to be the most effective way to tackle the race," Panoz Team Manager, Andy Waldrep said.

"This team already has some of the fittest athletes in the series, but having the extra driver will enable them to be at their absolute peak for 12 hours."

Auberlen will join Bryan Herta and David Donohue in the #51 car for an all-American line-up. Van de Poele will drive with David Brabham and Jan Magnussen in the #50 machine.

Van de Poele and Brabham have worked together already in 2002 - teaming up aboard the Risi Ferrari at the Daytona 24 Hour for the second time this year.

"It is very nice of David and Jan to trust me to join them for Sebring," van de Poele said.

"They have a fantastic shot at victory and I just hope I can play a role in that. I really love the Sebring event and was quite upset that I didn't have a drive sorted for this year.

"I got a late call up for the Sebring race in 1995 and managed to win it. Hopefully history can repeat itself this year.

"I have also raced against the Panoz on many occasions and I am really looking forward to seeing what the car is like. I am really grateful for Don Panoz for this opportunity."

While van de Poele has Sebring victories in 1995 and 96 on his extensive resume, Bill Auberlen is also no stranger to success to the Florida venue. He won the IMSA GTU class in 1987, GT2 in 1995 and GT3 in 1997. Amazingly, he also contested all three classes at the 1996 Sebring event.

"If any car truly deserves to wear the stars and stripes it is the Panoz and I am just thrilled with the chance to drive the car," Auberlen said.

"To join with Bryan Herta and David Donohue will be fantastic and we are all looking forward to 'waving the flag' for the local race fans.

"It is also great to be back in a prototype car as well. Having raced in GT last year I know what it is like from the other side in a traffic situation and hopefully I will be able to use that to my advantage.

"David Donohue also has that experience. Bryan's outright speed is beyond question and David and I should be able to teach him a little bit about the traffic problem in this race."

March 10,2002 AVR Signs Lewis

American Viperacing is proud to announce that we have agreed to terms this morning with driver Shane Lewis for the full 2002 ALMS season.

Lewis will head up the #45 Dodge Viper GTS-R entry with sportscar veteran Rick Fairbanks for the full season. ‘I am very happy to have Shane as my co-driver for this year, we have been friends and competitors for a few years now and I am looking forward to sharing the car with Shane.’ Rick Fairbanks continues ‘Shane has an innate ability to set up a car and be at speed almost immediately.’

Shane Lewis competed in several rounds of the American Le Mans Series for AVR in the 2001 season highlighted by the second in GTS in the Portland round. As a team, we are happy to have Shane back as he has a very good rapport with the crew, and he is a positive personality and showman for the fans to get behind and cheer for.

‘I am very much looking forward to driving with Rick, since we have been competing against each other I have developed a great respect for his driving abilities and competitive spirit’ explains Lewis. He goes on to state ‘I started to gain a comfort level with the car and AVR as a team last year, and I am looking forward to getting back in the Viper and to the challenge of developing the car and the program going forward. I feel as the season moves along, we will make for a great driving team and a great program to bring to the forefront of sportscar racing in 2002.’

Lewis will greatly assist a program that is making several major upgrades to a racecar that has a great winning tradition in the Viper. Beginning with Sebring, and continuing prior to the Le Mans testing, AVR is looking to make great strides in the development of the cars as we chase the Corvette’s and Saleen’s for the championship.

March 10,2002 New Points System

The system used to determine driving championships in the American Le Mans Series has been amended for the 2002 season to further recognize the results achieved by individual drivers, officials have announced.

While points for finishing positions will be awarded using the same scale as has been used in the first three years of the series, the system of bonus points has been amended for the driving championships in the four classes of race cars within the series. All 10 events on the series schedule will count toward the championship.

Under the amended system, one bonus championship point will be awarded to the fastest qualifying driver in each class for each race. Additionally, the driver in each car who meets the minimum and maximum driving limits for the race and drives the most laps in the car will get one bonus point toward the driver's championship.

"These amendments to the bonus point system are meant to recognize the drivers who have contributed the most to the results of their team during the course of a race weekend," said Dennis Huth, President of IMSA, the sanctioning body for the American Le Mans Series.

"In other sports, rewards go to individuals performing within a team," Huth said. "For example, basketball players are recognized and rewarded for scoring the most points or getting the most rebounds, both individual accomplishments within the framework of a team.

"In our form of racing, being the fastest qualifier in class and driving the most laps in the race are accomplishments worthy of rewards in the form of bonus points toward the driver's championship," Huth said.

March 9,2002 First Actual Pic Panoz Stars & Stripes

It will be nice to see if the new "Stars and Stripes" with the now modern nose cone can bring home a win in the 50th 12 Hours of Sebring.

March 8,2002 Panoz Launches New Aerodynamics With Stars & Stripes

Photo Courtesy:Panoz Motorsport
Get ready for the Panoz "Spirit of America".

Panoz Motor Sports today announced it's two LMP-1 machines will carry a startling new stars and stripes livery for the 2002 season.

The spectacular design also compliments the stunning new aerodynamic package the Georgia-based team will use throughout the year.

"We really wanted to give the fans something to cheer for in the American Le Mans Series," Team Owner, Don Panoz said.

"Our entire team is very excited about our new look for this year. Our team is made up of some of the finest people from all parts of the globe - all of whom have chosen to live and work in the greatest country in the world.

"To take this livery with an American team to the 24 Hours of Le Mans will also be a great experience. Winning that race remains a dream for me and to do it with the "Spirit of America" would be wonderful.

"Everybody at Panoz Motor Sports, Elan Power Products and Elan Motor Sport Technologies is striving to make that dream come true."

Panoz also launched its new 2002 web-site today - www.panozmotorsports.com - to represent the new team livery. The spectacular new site includes behind-the-scenes features on the Panoz squad as well as regular video updates from the team drivers.

The Georgia-based team has recently tested it's new aerodynamic improvements in preparation for the opening race of the ALMS season - the 50th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring - Presented by Dodge.

"The team has done a fantastic job with the changes on the car and I am really looking forward to the season to start," Jan Magnussen said.

"The weather conditions we have tested in haven't been ideal but everybody is quietly confident that we will be able to continue to take the fight to Audi.

"Nobody is making rash predictions - we will wait and see when everybody gets to Sebring to see how we stand.

"Everybody in the team has worked remarkably hard during the off-season. The level of commitment in all facets of the organization has been outstanding. If we can't match the Audis - it certainly won't be through lack of trying.

"Motor racing is a team game - even more so in sportscar racing."

While Jan Magnussen (Denmark) and David Brabham (Australia) form the international part of the Panoz squad for 2002 - the team now has four American stars in its line-up: Bryan Herta, David Donohue, young test driver, Gunnar Jeannette plus Bill Auberlen who will co-drive with Herta and Donohue at next week's Sebring event.

Herta is no stranger to flying the flag for the USA. He was selected to represent the US at the 1991 Formula Ford Festival World Cup in the UK and also won the "America¹s Choice" award as one of North America¹s top young drivers in 1992.

"I am really excited about our livery for this year - it is going to be a huge hit with the race fans," Herta said.

"The Panoz is already hugely popular because of the V8 roar of the engine - now we will have something for the fans to really cheer about. We will be doing our best to wear these colors with pride and make the stars and stripes fly."

March 7,2002 Auberlen In #51 Panoz?

Bill Auberlen has now been officially confirmed as a third driver with Bryan Herta and David Donohue in the #51 Panoz.

March 6,2002 Donohue Replaces Borcheller At Panoz

David Donohue has been drafted into the Panoz Motor Sports team for the 2002 American Le Mans Series season.

The American has been recruited by Panoz to replace Terry Borcheller who the team has been forced to release after Borcheller experienced problems fitting aboard the Panoz LMP-1 Evo prototype machine.

"We are very disappointed to have to make this decision, but unfortunately, we simply couldn't get Terry comfortable in the car," Team Owner, Don Panoz said.

"We would have loved to keep Terry because he is such a great ambassador for sportscar racing in the US, but he is basically too big to fit in our car.

"He was able to drive the car, but couldn't get comfortable. Drivers basically wear a car, rather than drive it - it was like trying to squeeze into a pair of shoes that are too small.

"We got to the stage where has was basically sitting on the floor, but still couldn't get enough leg movement. The pedals were moved forward as far as they would go.

"This is not a decision we wanted to make but ensuring our drivers can fit comfortably in the car is a serious safety concern that we could not overlook."

Donohue tested for Panoz prior to Christmas was one of the original drivers in contention for the fourth seat at the Georgia-based team for 2002.

"This is truly one of the most exciting developments that has happened for me in racing," Donohue said.

"I feel really sorry for Terry because I know he would have been really looking forward to this opportunity.

"But for me, going for the overall victory will be a welcomed change from my Viper days, and being able to stay in an American car makes it a touch sweeter.

"It has always been a desire of mine to drive prototypes, and thanks to Panoz Motor Sports, I will now be getting that chance.

"Driving for a team like Panoz that has consistently shown that they are the best American LMP team puts this situation way over the top for me personally. I am truly honored to be even considered for the seat, now it will be time for me to do my part to help showcase how good this team really is."

Donohue will make his debut with the Panoz team at the 50th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring - Presented by Dodge, on March 13 to 16. He will contest the entire ALMS season alongside fellow American Bryan Herta as well as contest his favorite event - the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"Going to Le Mans as a challenger for the overall victory will be amazing. I love that race and the whole event, probably because I won the GT-2 class in the Viper back in '98," Donohue said.

"The overall win on such hallowed grounds is something that every sportscar driver dreams about accomplishing."

The second generation star is delighted to join the stellar Panoz driving squad of David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and Herta.

"It is an obvious privilege to be teamed with David, Jan, and Bryan. I have long said that 'Brabs' and 'Mags' are the strongest two drivers in the sportscar racing. Bryan¹s Champ car experience will pay dividends for the team and immediately put him in that same category," Donohue said.

"I am in elite company for sure, and cannot wait to get started.

"I obviously feel some pressure going into Sebring because I have not had much time in the car. I drove the first Panoz LMP chassis for a handful of outings on a cold day back in December. My learning curve at Sebring will need to be very steep in order to satisfy myself, and do justice for the team.

"I am really indebted to Dr. Panoz and the entire team for this opportunity."

March 6,2002 Prodrive Sebring Preview

Photo Courtesy:Prodrive
The race-winning Prodrive-run Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello will be crossing the Atlantic next week, to take part in the 50th running of the Sebring 12 Hour classic.

Second only to Porsche in the number of overall victories achieved since the inception of the US's oldest and largest sportscar race, the Ferrari marque is assured of a warm welcome at Sebring.

While the chances this year of overall success are limited for the GTS contenders, Prodrive is confident that the car has the potential to shine amongst its peers in the GTS class. The team is happy to admit that, while only a limited development and test programme has taken place over the winter months, Sebring is an important part of its durability testing in the run up to Le Mans in June.

The team's three highly experienced and already successful drivers are looking forward to the endurance race in the 6-litre V12 engined-car which won two rounds of the 2001 FIA GT Championship.

Ironically, 25-year old Czech newcomer to the team, Tomas Enge, is the only one of the three to have driven at Sebring before. F3000 front-runner Enge drove a Riley&Scott prototype in the 1999 event, and secured his place in the record books by setting fastest race lap.

"I am looking forward to, not only racing in the US again, but also doing a long distance race, which I really like," the F3000 frontrunner admitted, "Sebring is a special place for me as that was where I did my first sportscar race and my first race in the US. I think we can achieve a good result if everything goes well, and it will be good experience for Le Mans later in the year."

Enge will be joined in the cockpit by Prodrive regulars Rickard Rydell and Alain Menu, both former British Touring Car champions. Although newcomers to Sebring, Rydell and Menu's experience with the 550 GTS will no doubt be invaluable to the driving team.

March 5,2002 First Test of MBD Panoz-Mugen

The first ever shake down of the MBD Sportscars Panoz-Mugen LMP900, took place last week at the Virginia International Raceway and showed the great potential of the new American Le Mans Series entrant.

In very cold temperatures (below zero centigrade) the team completed a satisfactory two day session without major problems. The single car on track covered more than 60 laps at the 3.7 miles road circuit.

The official drivers of MBD Sportscars Team, Canadians Scott Maxwell and John Graham, Belgian Didier de Radiguès, and Venezuelan Milka Duno, drove the front engine car and were impressed by the power of the new Mugen V8, and the handling of the Panoz 07 chassis.

Dr. Don Panoz, president of Panoz Cars and founder of American Le Mans Series, was also present and enjoyed the very encouraging test.

Larry Holt, Technical Director of MBD Sportscars Team was absolutely delighted with the two days of testing the Panoz-Mugen: “It was much better than we expected. In the last two months we have worked very hard in our Multimatic factory in Canada and this practice confirms the positive solutions that we have brought to the car. In order to use the Mugen V8, the complete front of the car was redesigned, including the chassis and suspension. We are very proud of the job done by our staff“.

Sporting Manager of MBD Sporscars Team, Vic Elford, confirms the very good approach of the new machine: “The car is looking very good. It is really stable, handled very well in every type of corner and has outstanding braking. The Panoz-Mugen has great potential”.

Four Japanese Mugen engineers followed every lap completed by the car, and chief engineer Satoshi Katsumata had a great smile of satisfaction after the test. Meanwhile, Brian Willis, Director of Engineering of Elan Motorsports Technologies, also remains very happy with the test results: “For a new car like this, it is unusual to have no major problems. We are going in the right direction and the Panoz-Mugen will be a strong competitor in the 900 class”.

Official Multimatic test driver, Canadian Scott Maxwell, did most of the development driving over the two day session and as usual spent most of the time searching for the best set-up of the car. When Belgian Didier de Radiguès took the car, despite the cold conditions of the track he set a very fast time: “I’m impressed with the power of the engine.

It’s very progressive. The chassis-engine package is going to be very competitive” said the former motorcycle champion. For Venezuelan female driver Milka Duno, the Virginia test was her first contact with a LMP900 car, and she made a dozen progressive laps. “The car feels very good and its not difficult to drive. At the beginning I was a little nervous because it was my first outing with a 900 car, but in just a couple of laps I really felt comfortable with the Panoz-Mugen. The engine has a lot of power and you can feel the difference between the 675 and the 900”.

The fifth driver of the team, Belgian Bruno Lambert, was also present at Virginia but he did not drive the car. American Rick Sutherland will complete the official formation of MBD Sportscars Team for the 50th Sebring 12 Hours Race and next week the Panoz-Mugen will be seen during open practice for the first time.

March 6,2002 Team Bucknum Sebring Preview

Nine short months ago, Team Bucknum Racing began preparing for March 16, 2002. Finally, that day is about to arrive, marking the team’s official two-car launch onto the world stage of sports car racing at the 2002 American Le Mans Series opening event, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, presented by Dodge.

“We couldn’t have picked a better place to kick-off our efforts,” said proud team owner Jeff Bucknum, upon learning that an all-time high weekend crowd of 150,000 spectators is expected to watch a modern day record number of 60 entries stream past the start-finish line when the race goes green.

The livery of Team Bucknum’s lead car will car the same gold and pink color scheme worn by Bucknum’s father Ronnie when he raced a Ford GT 40 to a podium finish in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. The team is hoping a little of that good luck will rub off and repeat itself in 2002.

“A throwback style seemed perfect for this 50th anniversary of the Sebring race. Quite a few legendary drivers will be there to celebrate, some of whom knew my dad, plus I suspect there will be a lot of vintage car buffs, too, who will really enjoy the look,” added Bucknum, referring to the likes of Dan Gurney, Hurley Haywood and others.

Chris McMurry, Bryan Willman and Pierre Ehret will drive the lead car, with Bucknum, Dick Downs and a third driver to be named in the second car. Drivers from 17 countries, including Japan, Germany, Monaco and Czech Republic, will be present for the race that will be broadcast both domestically and internationally.

March 5,2002 Miami October Dates Officially Announced

Despite yesterdays ruling by a judge(see next thread) that the Grand Prix of the Americas was unfairly offered to Raceworks, LLC and much be put on hold, ALMS officails released a statement concerning the race being moved to October.

Setting the stage for the first super weekend of road racing in one of North America’s premier international cities, officials from Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (CART) the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and Raceworks, LLC jointly announced today that the previously announced Grand Prix of the Americas will be run on Oct. 4 - 6 on an all-new circuit through the streets of downtown Miami.

The Grand Prix of the Americas is being packaged and promoted as a rare, “dual-headline” event, with the ALMS occupying center stage on Saturday and the CART FedEx Championship Series taking the spotlight on Sunday. With the CART FedEx Championship Series joining the American Le Mans Series, the Grand Prix of the Americas will now feature the two premier road racing series in North America. The added presence of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup and the possible addition of other racing series will make the Grand Prix of the Americas one of the foremost motorsports weekends on the entire 2002 racing calendar.

The Grand Prix of the Americas was originally scheduled for April 5 - 7, but race organizers and the respective motor racing series agreed to move the event in order to accommodate the FedEx Championship Series schedule.

“One of the most successful events in CART history was the lone race on the streets of downtown Miami in 1995,” said CART President and CEO, Christopher R. Pook. “The event was promoted fabulously and the fans came out in droves. CART has a tremendous fan base in Miami, and these fans have been asking us to come back to South Florida constantly since we last raced there two years ago. It is for precisely these reasons that we worked very hard to return to Miami this season. We are also extremely grateful to our friends at ALMS for moving their race date and allowing us to become a part of the race weekend in October. This event is sure to be one of the most anticipated of the season, and I firmly believe it will be successful in 2002 and for many years to come.”

“This is a historic day for both the motorsports industry and the city of Miami,” said Raceworks President Peter Yanowitch. “We're all very excited to bring North America's two premier road racing series, CART and ALMS, together for one mega weekend of racing. The fans of South Florida will be in for a unique weekend featuring tremendous motorsports competition on the track, as well as some exciting entertainment elements as well.”

“Miami is the perfect city for this historic first pairing of CART and the American Le Mans Series,” said Scott Atherton, President and COO of the Panoz Motor Sports Group. “The return of racing to the streets of Miami has generated a large international buzz since the time it was announced, and today's announcement will only bring this event even more into the motorsports forefront.”

March 4,2002 Judge Rules Against Miami Street Race

A judge ruled Monday, that Miami city officials illegally granted a new company the right to run The Grand Prix of the Americas, voiding the deal and putting the race's future in doubt.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Genden ruled that the city was required to have asked for competitive bids before granting the race's rights to Raceworks LLC for the next 15 to 25 years.

The American Le Mans Series race was scheduled to run April 7, traveling through Bayfront Park and along Biscayne Bay.

Genden ruled on behalf of Homestead-Miami Speedway LLC, which also had wanted to bid.

Read the rest of the article in the Miami Herald

March 4,2002 Kyser Racing Sebring Preview

Kyser Racing of Toronto is pleased to announce its move into the LMP675 class and continued participation in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) this 2002 season. Kyser will compete in the ALMS with the proven Lola B2K/40-Nissan package. The car is the current model Lola SR2 chassis that is being campaigned on both sides of the Atlantic, in the European FIA series, as well as in Grand Am and the ALMS; it is mated with the reliable 3 liter, normally aspirated Nissan powerplant, developed by Advanced Engineering Research in England. The transmission is supplied by Hewland; it is a sequential six-speed gearbox.

After finishing 6th in the GT class team championship in 2001, Kyser Racing begins its third year in the ALMS looking forward to the new challenge. “Kyser has paid its dues in the GT class of the ALMS and is ready to move up in the ranks. The additional exposure of the prototype classes will further enhance the return we can offer our sponsors”, states team principal, Kye Wankum.

Driving duties will be shared by Kye Wankum and returning standout Joe Foster. Additionally, sports car legend Doc Bundy will be an integral part of the Kyser team in the long races and in its efforts at expansion into a professional, two car effort. “We are very happy to have both Joe and Doc on board with us; aside from being great drivers, they are both fantastic at creatively giving a sponsor their money’s worth,” adds Wankum.

Calling on some of the most experienced and successful personnel in the sport at the prototype level, Kyser Racing is very pleased to enlist the managerial expertise of Michael Gue and the technical expertise of Tony Dowe. “Gue and Dowe have achieved successes at the highest levels of Sports Car racing, we’re all enthused that Kyser will have the benefit of their combined expertise.”

The 12 Hours of Sebring on March 16 will be the first appearance of the Kyser Racing LMP675 effort, with drivers Doc Bundy, Joe Foster and Kye Wankum. “This will be a long-term program for Kyser Racing. We are here to stay in the ALMS and will continue to pursue marketing partnerships that benefit our sponsors and team.”

March 4,2002 ROC AND Noel Del Bello Sebring Preview

After their LMP-675 class victories in both the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the European Le Mans Series round in Most (CZ), Racing Organisation Course is entering the next 12 Hours of Sebring on March 16th. First round of the 2002 American Le Mans Series, this historical event which celebrates its 50th anniversary is run under the same rules as the famous Le Mans race.

It is the second time ever that the Annemasse (between Geneva and Chamonix) based French team is racing in the USA. That's why everybody at ROC is very happy to welcome on board a full American drivers' line up. It is all the more exciting and pleasant for all of us as father Jeff JONES from Sarasota (Fl) is sharing the drive with his two sons Ryan and Jeffrey. Their experience is very valuable, as the 3 of them have already raced many times on the " Sebring International Raceway ", driving single-seaters or sportscars.

Jeff has had a 20 years driving career in the United States ranging from Formula Ford to The Barber Saab Pro Series, to Showroom Stock Cars, to World Sport Cars. He last raced a Riley and Scott MK111/ Chev. powered during the complete 1997 season including finishing the Sebring 12 hours with co-drivers Danny Sullivan and Ross Bentley.

Ryan's racing career has spanned 10 years beginning racing Karts at age 8 and progressed through Formula Ford, U.S. Formula 2000, Showroom Stock Cars, British Palmer Audi Championship and recently in 1999 with Intersport Racing's Lola/Ford LMP. Ryan, last drove in the 2001 SCCA Winter Regional Formula Continental Venue at Sebring Florida Placing 2nd, after starting from the 18th position. Ryan, (21) currently is living in West Palm Beach Florida, completing his College studies.

Younger son Jeffrey has been driving different forms of race cars since he was (8) years old. The 19 year old after driving Karts, attended the Bridgestone Racing School in Ontario, Canada, drove in the Jim Russell Shootout at Sears Point California, in the U.S. SCCA regional and national Formula Ford Venues. In 1999, Jeffrey drove for the Championship Haywood Racing British Formula Ford Mygale Team placing 9th overall in the series standings. In 2000, Jeffrey moved on the Formula Renault Championship Team of Manor Motorsport, for the British and European FRenault Championships coming in the top ten in both Series. In 2001, Jeffrey drove again for the Champion Manor British F3 Team. Placing in the top (5) several times in the season. Jeff in the 2001 U.S. SCCA Winter Regional Races drove a Cape Motorsports Van Dieman/Zetec Ford at Sebring Int'l Raceways to (3) poles and Three Victories. He currently is signed to stay in the U.S. for the season driving for Cape in the U.S. Formula Ford Championship Series .

The Jones' will drive Reynard chassis 2KQ-009 on Michelin tyres. This car last year finished 5th overall in the Le Mans classic and will be powered by the LEHMANN 4-cyl turbocharged engine.The aim of Racing Organisation Course their drivers and their partners Winchester Ammunitions, JCI Chemicals,PTC and Swan is to battle for the class win, when they prepare their participation to the Le Mans 24 Hours. ROC have submitted 2 entries to the Automobile club de l'Ouest.

Reynard chassis 2KQ-008 which finished 2nd overall in the 2001 ELMS round of Most (CZ) will also take part in the Sebring 12 Hours. It will carry the Noel Del Bello Racing colors. Having racedduring many years in the LM-GT class, the Jujurieux (Ain, France) based team is moving to the " baby prototype category ". The entry of this Lehmann powered Reynard is eased by the proximity of NDBR workshop and ROC's factory. Jordi GENE, being commited to his ETCC program, Jean-Denis DELETRAZ will be the team-leader of this car. Having been a involved with the Le Mans 2002 LMP-675 class win, he will share his LMP-675 experience with Peter OWEN and Mark SMITHSON. Having started their racing career driving GT-cars in UK and in the late BPR-series, they both are experienced with Brackley build chassis as they shared a Judd powered Reynard in the 2001 FIA-SRWC championship. They together won the 2000 SRII FIA-SRWC tittle driving a Pilbeam. Peter and Mark will then take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Petit Le Mans.

March 4,2002 Ascari Adds Kolby

Ascari has announced that the highly rated 23 year old Dane Kristian Kolby will join its racing line-up for the 2002 season. This marks a return to European racing for the young UK based driver in a seven race programme that includes the classic events at Sebring, Florida and Le Mans. The signing of Kolby, a former British Formula Ford Champion and last year's success story in Americas Indy Lights Championship, reaffirms the British marque's ambitions and follows last week's announcement that Justin Wilson, the 2001 F3000 Champion, will race for Team Ascari at Sebring.

Kristian Kolby: I am really happy about this deal, which will see me compete in some of the worlds great sportscar races with a team that is constantly growing and improving. Team Ascari has impressive plans and I am optimistic that we can challenge for top honours.

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: Kristian fits in well with our plans, he is ambitious and talented. Apart from obviously being very quick, he is also a willing team player which is important for long distance racing. I have watched him come up through the ranks and am excited that he will race in Ascari colours.

March 1,2002 Intersport Purchases MG/Lola

Intersport Racing announced today that they have purchased a new MG/Lola to contest the entire 2002 American Le Mans Series schedule in the LMP 675 class.

The #37 Intersport Racing/Banana Joe's MG Lola will make its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 16, with Jon Field, Duncan Dayton and Mike Durand piloting the prototype machine.

"We are looking forward to running the full ALMS season and competing for the LMP 675 championship," said Intersport driver Clint Field.

The team is no stranger to the Lola chassis, as they have contested a Lola/Judd for the past two seasons in both ALMS and the Rolex Sports Car Series top prototype classes.

"We are excited to be working with Lola again with this new MG product," Field said. "We have some great results in the Lola chassis and are looking to continue our success."

Jon Field tested the car in Atlanta and said the car has great potential to have a podium finish at every event.

March 1,2002 Guy Smith Sebring Preview

Guy Smith heads to America on Monday to begin testing for the Sebring 12 Hours, knowing he has a struggle on his hands to repeat the runner-up spot he achieved at Daytona last month. The 27 year-old from Hull will again partner team owner Jim Matthews in the Riley & Scott MkIII C but will face tough opposition from the factory Audis, Panoz and Cadillacs as well as the Dallara of Daytona winner Max Papis.

“ We had a great run at Daytona and second place was a fantastic result,” said Guy. “ But at Sebring we’re up against all the top teams whose cars are all very much quicker than us. Engine-wise we’ve got the pace to match them, but as with every championship, the factory-run cars with far more budget enables much more development to take place so we know we’ve got a real fight on our hands.”

“ One thing I’ve learned from sportscar racing though is that although outright speed is undoubtedly a major factor, strength and durability is equally important and that’s an area that the Riley & Scott excels in. We also run Goodyear tyres, and the three main teams all run Michelins, which are worth about a second a lap over the Goodyears.”

“ Our car is very strong, the others may be quicker, but some of them remain relatively fragile in comparison. It’s going to be a very tough week in the build up to the race. We head out to Putnam Park, Indianapolis for two days shakedown next week, prior to the official testing at Sebring on the 11th. The Sebring circuit itself is very demanding to drive and with the level of competition being so high, the whole week will be a hard test. If we can qualify in the top ten I think we’ll be reasonably happy and realistically a top five position in the race would be a very good result.”

March 1,2002 After 588 hours and 1.4 Million Miles of Racing

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Dodge began in 1952 at a former WWII air base known as Hendricks Field. Since then, the legendary track has hosted 588 hours of racing. A total of 3,093 cars have competed at Sebring in the previous 49 endurance classics. All together, these cars have recorded nearly 1.4 million competition miles, equal to over 55 laps around the world.

Of the 2,556 drivers who have raced at Sebring, only 96 have managed to win the grueling event. Among them are A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, Jim Hall, Juan Manuel Fangio, Bobby Rahal, Phil Hill and Stirling Moss.

A total of 28 different manufacturers have led the Sebring race, but only 14 have won. Porsche has a record 17 wins, including a string of 13 straight. Ferrari has 12 wins, the only other manufacturer with more than four.

Even the spectators are in the Sebring record books. Often called the Mardi Gras of motorsports, Sebring boasts one of the most loyal followings of any professional sports event in North America. The only year Sebring was not held (in 1974 due to the energy crisis), several thousand spectators showed up anyway. The first fan in line for this year’s race arrived 65 days early, breaking the previous record by nearly a month.

March 1,2002 Jörg Bergmeister Porsche Works Contract

Twenty-six-year-old Jörg Bergmeister from Germany signed up as a Porsche works driver on 21st February. On 16th March the economics graduate will tackle his first race in his new status when he contests the Sebring 12 Hour race in Florida at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GR3 RS run by the private Alex Job Racing team (USA).

By convincingly winning the Porsche Supercup in 2001 as well as the national Porsche Carrera Cup title in 2000, Bergmeister Bergmeister had strongly recommended himself for the engagement as a works pilot. Moreover, the Rhinelander belonged to the driver line-up to win the GT class of the 24 Hours at Daytona (USA) early February with a private Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

At his debut as a Porsche works driver Bergmeister will share the cockpit with his 21-year-old compatriot Timo Bernhard. Bernhard, who came out of Porsche´s support and training programme for up-and-coming young drivers, won the national Carrera Cup in 2001.

With the two young champions competing in a racing vehicle of a private US team, Porsche AG continues the company policy of supporting successful customer teams with works drivers. Correspondingly, another pairing of Porsche works pilots man the second Alex Job Porsche: Lucas Luhr (MC) and Sascha Maassen (B).

The Alex Job Racing team is based in Tavares, Florida. In 2001 the outfit from southern USA won the runner-up title in the near-standard GT category of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), after securing the championship in 2000.

March 1,2002 Corvette Homestead Test

Photo Coutersy:Pratt & Miller The Facorty Corvette C5-R race team had its first shakedown last week at Homestead Miami Speedway. All six drivers were on hand for the session with Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Oliver Gavin driving the #3 and Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins and Franck Freon in the #4 car.

The Corvette C5-Rs have not undergone any major changes for the 2002 , but some new components have been incorporated, as well as some aerodynamic changes.

The team's three-day test was used to try out these new features, in addition to tires. The weather cooperated and all the drivers got a good share of seat time, putting about 1,000 miles on each of the cars.

Team Manager Gary Pratt says the improvements on the 2002 cars involve some subtle aerodynamic refinements, some weight reductions, and some changes to make the drivers more comfortable "It was a good test," Pratt said. "We got through everything we wanted to do, and we learned some things that will be very valuable when it comes to racing."

"It's actually quite a boring process, and it means more time away, but it's an incredibly important ingredient for success," says Ron Fellows about Testing. "The other important aspect is, we can use this time to build communications with team members. And that really pays off with better decision-making on race weekends when time is very limited."

March 1,2002 Chad Block For Gunnar/Jackson Panoz

Chad Block, fresh off a great run to second in class with Archangel Motorsports at the Rolex 24 and a recent test in a P675 MG Lola at Road Atlanta, has been named as the third driver in the #00 Gunnar 962.com Panoz LMP-1 for Sebring. He wil co-drive the car with factory Panoz test driver Gunnar Jeannette and car owner Wayne Jackson.

"I really didn't expect this, maybe the MG car, but not the full 900 class car. The Panoz is a beast, but I am ready for the challenge. I am also interested in the opportunity to work with Mr. Panoz' affiliations and their teams."

"I am very very pleased to be able to join their squad. I met Gunnar through a close friend and Archangel employee Ryan Eversely. Ryan has been very productive with introducing me to other teams, and he was instrumental in developing my relationship with Gunnar racing. I can't wait to get there and meet Mr. Jackson also. This is the type of opportunity I expected to be faced with for 2003, but I am ready and up to the challenge. I can't wait to be affiliated with Panoz Motor Sports, these are some big shoes to fill, but I will do my best to do so."

Febrary 28,2002 Gunnar Jeanette Part of B-17 Flyover For Sebring

With the help of a Flying Fortress, Gunnar Racing will salute the military aviation history of the grounds of Sebring International Raceway with its entry in the March 16 running of the 50th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, presented by Dodge.

The Palm Beach, Fla., racing team will compete in the American Le Mans Series race with a Panoz LMP-1 Prototype race car that is painted to resemble a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. In addition, a B-17 will fly into the adjacent Sebring Airport on the day before the race and will then do a flyover prior to the start of the race, with the three Gunnar Racing drivers as passengers and one of them at the plane's controls.

The race car motif will be a salute to the thousands of young flight crews who trained at Hendricks Field, a military aviation base whose expansive concrete runways gave birth to Sebring International Raceway. The front straight of the raceway is still in the original concrete of one of the runways.

Gunnar Jeannette, the youngest driver ever to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be one of the drivers for Gunnar Racing in the Sebring event. The 19-year-old driver will be on loan to the team from Panoz Motor Sports, which employs him as its test driver.

Jeannette will be in the B-17 when it lands at the Sebring Airport on Friday, March 15, at 3 p.m., and the Panoz race car will be parked on the airport's ramp. The B-17 will taxi into position next to the race car, and Jeannette will exit the plane and drive off in the race car.

On race day, Jeannette will actually pilot the plane from the left seat as it does a flyover prior to the 10:30 a.m. start of the 12-hour event, a tribute to the many 19-year-old pilots who flew in the war. His co-drivers, car owner Wayne Jackson and Chad Block, will be passengers on the flyover. After landing, the three drivers will be taken to the starting grid in a WWII-era military jeep.

The Gunnar Racing crew will wear uniforms resembling those worn by B-17 ground crews. The uniforms will be racing firesuits to comply with the rules of the American Le Mans Series.

The B-17 belongs to the Collings Foundation of Stow, Mass., and is part of the Veterans' "Wings of Freedom Tour" that has been conducted since 1989. The tour has showcased the B-17 and a companion B-24 Liberator at hundreds of stops around North America.

A non-profit Educational Foundation (501-C3), the Collings Foundation was founded in 1979 to support "living history" events including transportation. Originally founded with the focus of automobiles, the foundation moved to aircraft as the need for quality aviation history exhibits grew.

While the B-17 is in Sebring, including while the race is running, the Collings Foundation will offer Flight Experiences in the B-17 during daylight hours. Passengers must make a $350 fully tax-deductible donation to the foundation.

Febrary 28,2002 Alternate Team Selection Order

The IMSA Selection Committee released and posted the alternate team selection order today (Thursday) at 5:00 pm.

Any team from the "non-selected" list will be afforded the opportunity to bring their vehicle to Sebring and participate in the Preliminary Test sessions (Monday and Tuesday Track Test sessions). The vehicle will not be allowed to test in any official practice sessions unless an accepted Entry withdraws from the Event, in which case, the field will be filled in the order of alternate positions, if any are present and available to compete.

All 60 Invitations were accepted by the Thursday 12:00 (noon) required response time and date.

ALTERNATE TEAM SELECTION ORDER
Alternate #1 917 Racing
Alternate #2 Konrad Motorsport
Alternate #3 Freisinger Motorsport
Alternate #4 Graham Nash Motorsport
Alternate #5 MAC Racing
Alternate #6 Cirtek Motorsport

Febrary 28,2002 Justin Wilson Signs With Ascari

Team Ascari, has announced that F3000 Champion Justin Wilson is the latest addition to an already talented Driver line-up featuring: Werner Lupberger, TJ Bell, Ben Collins, Christian Vann.

Sebring will see Justin make his LMP 900 debut in Ascari’s new KZR-1. Team Ascari Director, Ian Dawson said "We have had conversations for a while and the American LeMans Sebring round gave us the opportunity to make this happen, we are pleased we could introduce the talented F3000 champion into a leading manufacturer and complete a British driver line-up with Christian Vann and Ben Collins"

Febrary 28,2002 IMSA Comments On Entry Selection

By the February 25 entry deadline, IMSA officials received a modern-day record 67 official entries for the March 16 event at Sebring International Raceway, forcing the IMSA Selection Committee to choose the 60 cars that would be invited to participate in the race. The pit road at the 3.7-mile Sebring track can accommodate a maximum of 60 cars.

"The Selection Committee has a very difficult job," said Dennis Huth, IMSA President and a member of the committee. "Every entered car is a top-quality machine that meets or exceeds the very strict safety and modern-day technology requirements of the ACO and the American Le Mans Series. There are no grid-fillers or ghost entries; it is a field of outstanding sports cars and racing teams."

The Selection Committee has alternate teams on its docket and invited teams have until 12:01 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, February 28, to accept the invitation.

"This comes under the heading of 'be careful what you wish for because you may get it,' and that's good," said Huth, indicating that series officials have been hearing from sports car racing teams around the world interested in competing in series events this season.
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