Werner, Audi Take Overall Sebring Pole Position

Werner, Audi Take Overall Sebring Pole Position

Posted: March 15th, 2007 in American Le Mans
Author: American Le Mans Series
Photo By: Joe Martin

“It was helpful really working with the setups this year,” Werner said. “The problem last year was working with the heavier car over the bumps so now we get more chances to work on the setup.”

In LMP2, Penske Racing’s Timo Bernhard qualified his Porsche RS Spyder on the class pole and third overall with a record lap of 1:46.046. David Brabham was second quickest in class for Highcroft Racing and the quickest of Acura’s new prototypes at 1:47.130.

Bernhard won at Sebring in 2004 with Porsche and Alex Job Racing in GT2 and led early in LMP2 last season in Penske’s first Sebring appearance with the RS Spyder. Mechanical issues forced the car’s retirement past the halfway point. But with a new car for 2007, Bernhard is hopeful that he can return to Victory Circle again Saturday.

“The car was really perfect,” said Bernhard, who is teaming with Romain Dumas and Helio Castroneves. “We waited a long time to go out thinking most of the people would be done. After the first lap everything was there and we squeezed out what we could do with the cars. The best strategy is to finish. It will be a tough race considering the competition in P2.”

That includes another Porsche from Penske Racing and two more for Dyson Racing as well as the three Acuras and Lolas from B-K Motorsports and Horag Racing. Brabham’s lap was the best for an Acura this week, heightening expectations for the brand’s first American Le Mans Series event.

“It was a fantastic result for the team,” Brabham said. “We’ve worked so hard because we’ve had problems all week. We really weren’t ready, but we’re happy with this result. We still have our hands full for the race.”

Jan Magnussen captured his third career Series pole position and his first with Corvette Racing in GT1. Magnussen turned in a lap of 1:57.061 to best teammate Oliver Gavin by 0.419 seconds. It is Magnussen’s first pole since Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2003 in the GTS class (now GT1) in a Ferrari 550. He also sat on the overall pole for Panoz Motor Sports at Mosport in 1999. Both times he wound up winning the race.

“Everything went well,” said Magnussen, who will share the No. 3 entry with Ron Fellows and Johnny O’Connell. “We had two timed laps and the first was my fastest. The tires went away a little on the second lap and we came in. We weren’t going to improve. Our plan was to do three laps.”

Corvette has won at Sebring four times in the last five seasons, the only loss coming in 2005 to Aston Martin. Team Modena’s DBR9 qualified third at 1:58.241 with Antonio Garcia behind the wheel.

Jaime Melo put Risi Competizione and Ferrari on the GT2 pole with a record lap of 2:02.439, the Brazilian’s third straight pole in as many Series appearances. Melo’s best lap was 0.262 seconds better than Tomas Enge and Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing, also running a Ferrari.

Melo set his lap early in the session but spun the car in Turn 1 with about five minutes remaining. He missed contacting the outside wall but was unsure if the team would have to change tires on the car, a move that would send the Ferrari to the rear of the grid.

“I got trapped on what could have been my best lap,” Melo said. “I kept trying to push because Enge was closing and I was very worried. I pushed and lost my grip on the turn-in into Turn 1 and spun very close to the wall. The car is very good for the race.”

Following Enge, Jorg Bergmeister was the next quickest GT2 car in Flying Lizard Motorsports’ lead Porsche at 2:03.043. Porsche, winner at Sebring seven times in the last eight years, also held the fourth and fifth positions with Tafel Racing’s two cars.

Last year Porsche finished second to Panoz with Ferrari third in the closest class finish in Sebring history (5.2 seconds). Despite the dominance of the Ferraris early in the week, Melo thinks it will be a different story once the race starts.

“It’s not only Ferrari. Porsche and Panoz are still there,” Melo said. “For sure it will be much harder than last year. That’s why we must keep working hard and keep pushing.”

The 2007 American Le Mans Series opens with the 55th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17 at Sebring International Raceway. The green flag will fall shortly after 10 a.m. with SPEED providing live coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m. The race also will be broadcast by American Le Mans Radio with IMSA Live Timing & Scoring available at americanlemans.com.

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Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
Thursday’s qualifying results
1. Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Marco Werner, Germany; Frank Biela, Germany; Audi AG/R10/TDI (P1), 1:44.974
2. Allan McNish, Scotland; Tom Kristensen, Denmark; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Audi AG/R10/TDI (P1), 1:45.326
3. Romain Dumas, France; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Helio Castroneves, Brazil; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:46.046
4. David Brabham, Australia; Stefan Johansson, Sweden; Duncan Dayton, North Salem, NY; Acura/ARX-01a (P2), 1:47.109,
5. Andy Wallace, England; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Andy Lally, New York, NY; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:47.130
6. Bryan Herta, Valencia, CA; Dario Franchitti, Scotland; Tony Kanaan, Brazil; Acura/ARX-01a (P2), 1:47.423
7. Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:48.175
8. Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Luis Diaz, Mexico; David Martinez, Mexico; Lola/B06-43/Acura (P2), 1:48.417
9. Sascha Maassen, Germany; Ryan Briscoe, Australia; Emmanuel Collard, France; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:50.185
10. Jamie Bach, West Palm Beach, FL; Ben Devlin, England; Raphael Matos, Brazil; Lola/B07-40/Mazda (P2), 1:50.312
11. Michael Lewis, San Diego, CA; Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Lola/EX257 AER (P1), 1:53.125
12. Fredy Lienhard Jr., Switzerland; Didier Theys, Belgium; Eric van de Poele, Belgium; Lola/Bo5-40/Judd (P2), 1:53.594
13. Ron Fellows, Canada; Johnny O’Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:57.061
14. Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Oliver Gavin, England; Max Papis, Italy; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:57.480
15. Antonio Garcia, Spain; Liz Halliday, Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Darren Turner, England; Aston Martin DBR9 (GT1), 1:58.241
16. Mika Salo, Finland; Jaime Melo, Brazil; Johnny Mowlem, England; Ferrari 430GT Berlinetta (GT2), 2:02.439
17. Tim Bergmeister, Germany; Tomas Enge, Czech Republic; Memo Gidley, San Rafael, CA; Ferrari 430GT (GT2), 2:02.701
18. Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Jorg Bergmeister, Germany; Marc Lieb, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:03.043
19. Wolf Henzler, Germany; Robin Liddell, Scotland; Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:03.338
20. Jim Tafel, Alpharetta, GA; Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Ian James, England; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:03.652
21. Tracy Krohn, Houston, TX; Nic Jonsson, Sweden; Colin Braun, Ovalo, TX; Ferrari 430GT Berlinetta (GT2), 2:03.811
22. Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Tom Kimber-Smith, England; Panoz Esperante GTLM (GT2), 2:03.997
23. Ralf Kelleners, Germany; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; Graham Rahal, New Albany, OH; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:04.001
24. Pierre Ehret, Santa Rosa, CA; Lars Nielsen, Denmark; Dirk Werner, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:04.654
25. Scott Maxwell, Canada; Bryan Sellers, Centerville, OH; Ross Smith, Plano, TX; Panoz Esperante GTLM (GT2), 2:04.686
26. Peter Kox, The Netherlands; Jarek Janis, Monaco; Spyker C8 Audi (GT2), 2:04.758
27. Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Lonnie Pechnik, Pacific Grove, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:04.897
28. Terry Borcheller, Gainesville, GA; Marc Basseng, Germany; Tim Pappas, Boston, MA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:06.811
29. Ben Aucott, United Kingdom; Joe Macari, UK; Rob Wilson, England; Ferrari F430 GT (GT2), 2:07.062
30. David Robertson, Ray, MI; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; Arie Luyendyk, Jr, Phoenix, AZ; Panoz Esperante GTLM (GT2), 2:11.529
31. Philip Collin, Park Ridge, IL; Antonio Hermann, Brazil; Luchiano DaSilva, Italy; Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT2), 2:13.056
32. Miroslav Konopka, Slovakia; Bo McCormick, England; Mauro Casadei, Italy; Porsche 911 GT3 RS (GT2), 2:15.693
33. Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Richard Berry, Evergreen, CO; Creation/CA06H/Judd (P1), 10:27.341
34. Maurizio Mediani, Italy; Rui Aguas, Portugal; Jose Maria Lopez, Argentina; Ferrari 430GT (GT2), No Time