THE LINE
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 08:29AM March 18, 2009
(ALMS)
Peugeot’s Stephane Sarrazin set quick time of the day at Sebring International Raceway on Wednesday, the first official day of practice for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. The Frenchman toured the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit in 1:44.719 (127.198 mph) in the day’s second practice session. Driving one of Peugeot’s diesel-powered 908 HDi factory coupes with Franck Montagny and Sebastien Bourdais, Sarrazin sat 0.214 seconds ahead of Audi Sport’s Tom Kristensen in the new R15 TDI, also a factory diesel entry. Kristensen is teaming with Allan McNish and Dindo Capello, and the same trio won last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The second Audi prototype driven by Mike Rockenfeller, Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner was third quick posting a best time of 1:45.894 (125.786 mph), a little more than a half second better than Scott Dixon in de Ferran Motorsports’ Acura ARX-02a. Guy Smith was the leader in LMP2 for the second straight session. The Brit, driving with Chris Dyson and Andy Lally, set his quickest lap with a 1:50.802 (120.214 mph) in Dyson Racing’s new Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 coupe. It was good enough for a 0.346-second gap back to Lowe’s Fernandez Racing’s Acura ARX-01b of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz. Jan Magnussen kept the No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C6R out front in GT1 for the second straight session. After teammate Antonio Garcia went quickest in the morning, Magunssen’s bettered that time in the afternoon was a 1:56.907 (113.937 mph) in the entry that Johnny O’Connell also will drive. The No. 4 Corvette Racing team car of Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Marcel Fässler turned a 1:57.069 (113.779 mph). Dirk Werner put Farnbacher Loles Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on top in GT2 with a lap of 2:02.591. Werner, who will drive with Porsche factory drivers Wolf Henzler and Richard Lietz, was 0.667 seconds better than the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche of Patrick Long, Jörg Bergmeister and Marc Lieb. Risi Competizione’s Ferrari F430 GT of Mika Salo and Pierre Kaffer was third in GT2 at 2:03.303 (108.027 mph). Thursday’s first practice session is scheduled for 10:20 a.m. ET with qualifying set for 2:45 p.m.
The IRL. From the "What The Hell Were They Thinking?" File, the Indy Racing League is conducting an Open Test for its IndyCar teams at Barber Motorsports Park March 22-23, with its Firestone Indy Lights teams testing at the facility on Saturday, March 21. On the heels of the same weekend as the biggest spring road racing event in the United States - the 12 Hours of Sebring? Why did that seem like a good idea? One week later or earlier couldn't have worked? How many racing journalists will make the trip from Sebring to Alabama early Sunday morning after being at the track for 19 straight hours (or thereabouts) on Saturday? How about none? We're just askin'.
(Krohn-Risi Ferrari)
The No. 61 Risi-Krohn Ferrari 430GT, prepared by Risi Competizione, seeks to defend its 2008 podium finish at the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 21. The Krohn Ferrari will again be driven by Krohn Racing team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn, along with Nic Jönsson and Eric van de Poele. Krohn Racing and Risi Competizione, both of Houston, Texas, are pairing for the third season in a row to field a Ferrari 430 GT in the GT2 class for Sebring and the LMGT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Last year the Risi-Krohn Ferrari team participated in three of the ALMS races, collecting a third-place finish at Sebring, fourth at Petit Le Mans and 11th at the Laguna Seca finale. They also competed at Le Mans but ended up with a DNF. In 2007 the Risi-Krohn Ferrari finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT team car of Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo are looking to repeat the team’s 2008 ALMS GT2 Team and Driver Championships in the American Le Mans Series beginning at this week’s season opener in Sebring, Florida.
Corvette Racing Fans. Chevrolet is commemorating Corvette Racing's decade of success with the introduction of the GT1 Championship Edition Corvette. These limited-edition vehicles (designated Regular Production Option GT1) will be available in coupe, convertible and Z06 models in yellow or black livery with graphics packages inspired by the championship-winning Corvette C6R. The GT1 Championship Edition Corvettes will make their public debut at Sebring International Raceway this week. Production is scheduled for spring.
(GM Photo)
The Corvette GT1 Championship Edition celebrates the success of Corvette C6R Racing over the years. Some details of the package include C6R-inspired graphics featuring the Corvette Racing "Jake," Championships earned, and driver flags; ZR1-style body color, full width spoiler and chrome wheels, and a special engine cover with carbon pattern and yellow Corvette lettering. This package is available in the Coupe 4LT ($65,310), Convertible 4LT ($71,815) or Z06 3LZ ($86,385).
(Yokohama)
In 2009, Yokohama Tire Corporation will introduce a motorsports first - the series-wide use of environmentally-friendly orange oil-infused race tires. The six-race Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama series introduces the ADVAN® ENV-R1, Yokohama’s new orange oil-infused race tire and the series’ spec tire, on a fleet of Porsche 911 GT3 race cars at leading U.S. race tracks. (Photo above is a shot of the Alex Job Racing entry in the Patrón GT3 Challenge testing the new race tires at Sebring.) The orange oil technology will also be available to U.S. consumers in the all-new dB Super E-spec passenger car tire this summer. The series opener takes place during the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend, March 19-20. Yokohama will also supply long-standing partner Team PTG Racing with ADVAN A005® racing slicks for their Panoz Esperante GTLM ALMS GT2 class entry.
The Patron GT3 Challenge. The fifth season of the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama launches at the Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend presented by Fresh from Florida March 18-20. This will be the first year with series sponsor Patrón, Yokohama tires and a TV package. The series features semi-professional drivers racing head to head in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars with sealed motors and transmissions. The latest purpose-built race cars - based on the 2009 Porsche 911 body style - have sealed 420-h.p. engines and six-speed sequential transmissions. Porsche Motorsport North America provides technical support for the series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the track. Round one of the 2009 Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama takes place Thursday, March 19 at 3:55 p.m. Round two will be at 3:05 p.m. on Friday, March 20. In 2009 there are 14 rounds at seven tracks in North America including Sebring, Road America, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
(IMS)
Some of the world’s finest classic and antique automobiles will take center stage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era Concours d’Elegance on June 18-20, 2010. The Concours d’Elegance will be one of the featured events during the Speedway’s Centennial Era, honoring the 100th anniversaries of the opening of the historic facility in 1909 and the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. The event will celebrate the significance of vehicular transportation and competition to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship opens in Sebring, Fla., on Friday, March 20th. Tri-Point Motorsports will field three MAZDA6s, driven by series veterans Charles Espenlaub and Jason Saini, and newcomer Eric Foss. Foss earned his ride in the No. 75 MAZDA6 the same way his teammate Saini did in 2008 – by winning the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship. The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder provides opportunities for young driving talent to move up through the motorsports ranks with Mazda, and the prize for winning the MX-5 Cup Championship is a season in a Mazda World Challenge Touring Car. The Tri-Point squad is now uniquely home to the two previous MX-5 Cup Champions, which has shined a spotlight on Mazda’s commitment to creating a true motorsports ladder in the United States. “For me, this is a continuation of a dream come true that started in 2008,” Saini added. “I think that the three of us are going to make a very strong team. A whole bunch of people have pitched in to make this possible, so many thanks to them!” The SPEED World Challenge Touring Car standing start happens Friday, March 20th at 11:10 a.m. (EDT) in Sebring, Fla., where Mazda will be battling Acura, BMW, and others for their first win in 2009. Live timing and race notes are available at www.world-challenge.com. The Tri-Point team is proudly supported by the following sponsors whose involvement is critical to the team’s 2009 efforts and continued success: Mazda, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, Racing Hart, Comptech, ZF Sachs, StopTech, Sparco, Chase Cam, Crocotile, Quarter Master, Ron Davis Racing, Pro Parts USA, Mazdas247.com and Race Sign Specialists. (Photo SCCA/Mark Weber) (SCCA/Mark Weber)
(James Jordan)
Eric Curran (No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette), of East Hampton, Mass., topped the afternoon charts at Sebring International Raceway with a fast lap of 2:10.320 (102.210 mph) to lead all SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship drivers in preparation of qualifying for Friday’s Toyo Tires Season Opener. Jason Daskalos, of Albuquerque, N.M., was second fastest on the day in his No. 5 Daskalos Developments Dodge Viper with a time of 2:11.151 (101.562 mph). Tim McKenzie (No. 66 Porsche 911 GT3), of Madison, Wis., turned a 2:11.476 (101.311 mph) to finish third on the day. Qualifying for Friday’s Toyo Tires Season Opener of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship is scheduled for 11:55 a.m. (EDT) Thursday. For lap notes, live timing and scoring and all the news related to the weekend, visit www.world-challenge.com.
Formula 1. From the "Hell Freezes Over" File comes word that F1 is changing the way its championship is determined. From now on the championship will go to the driver with the most wins and not to the driver who accumulates the most points. The current point system will remain in effect only to determine the driver's title in case of a tie, and the order of finish in the standings behind the champion. If this new scoring system had been activated for the 2008 season, Felipe Massa would have won instead of Lewis Hamilton. All we can say is halle-frickin'-luja and it's about time!
Sebring on Satellite Radio. The 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida will air on satellite radio this Saturday with American Le Mans Radio’s John Hindhaugh providing play-by-play coverage of the opening round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series. Tune to Channel 242, The Best of XM Radio on Sirius, as well as Sirius Channel 166. The broadcast will air from 10 a.m to noon and 9 to 11 p.m. ET on Saturday. SPEED will televise the race live from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-11 p.m. ET. American Le Mans Radio and Live Timing & Scoring will be available at americanlemans.com.
With only 16 career race starts, Justin Piscitell, of Patterson, N.Y., still had what it took to beat out eight other Mazda champions and win the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout. As a result, Piscitell has won a full ride in the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup and has chosen California-based ALARA Racing as his team. Piscitell’s prize package is valued at more than $70,000 and includes $10,000 in parts support, a custom Sparco racing suit and helmet, 10 free sets of tires and 10 free race entries courtesy of SCCA Pro Racing. The newest member of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Ladder will race for ALARA Racing in 2009. “I selected ALARA as I see them as a team that is dedicated to winning the MX-5 Cup and also in advancing my skills as a driver,” Piscitell said. “It is a very competitive series, and is going to take a lot of hard work and commitment, but it is what I have always wanted and I am dedicated to the challenge and opportunity that I now have. I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.” Piscitell’s first MX-5 Cup race will take place at Road Atlanta on May 2, when the 2009 season kicks off at the Classic Motorsports Mitty. 
(ALARA Racing)
See a special live webcast event hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy with The Autoextremist himself, Peter De Lorenzo, along with auto industry veteran Jason Vines this Thursday evening, March 26, at 6:30PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv. Tune in to see "the bare-knuckled, unvarnished, high-octane truth" and expect a no-holds-barred discussion about what's going on in the industry right now, along with anything else that pops up in our minds. You can chat with us "live" too. Again, that's Autoline Live this Thursday evening, March 26, at 6:30PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv. Click here for a preview!