Club Arnage

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=211956&FS=ALMS-LEMANS

Great to see the Spyder mixing it with the LMP1 boys!

And there's not a lot to choose between the Corvettes and Astons. Interesting to see the No 4 car almost a second up on the No 3 car as well.

The astons were limited to track time as a car crashed and got the hour long session for the astons reduced to 20 mins. They are running new tires and have not got used to them yet.

Wow, Spyker is flying low!! :o

;D

Early days and watch out for the sandbagger :D

As Mark said, good to see the Porker right in the thick of the LMP1's.  I suspect some of the difference between the Vettes may be from working on different set-ups, the 4 car perhaps working on a qualifying set-up/light fuel load while the 3 car might be doing full tank running. Just a thought.
One of the Lola's got zilch laps in.
Fax

The second session is now posted as well, the Dyson guys made a jump into second.
Fax
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=211970&FS=ALMS-LEMANS

It all looks a bit up in the air! Wouldn't like to put all my money on any poles or wins.

would not let me post this next to the last one:-

What the F are you talking about??? ???

What's the excuse for the second session, Rick?!

Agreed in the second session certainly it was mixing it with the best of the GT2's

I have an inside source, no not really read it on the web.

Today at Sebring the Aston Martin Racing team completed another test session as part of its preparations for Saturday’s 12 hour endurance race.

Building on the progress made during Monday’s four hours of track time, today the team concentrated on tuning the set up of the DBR9s and evaluating the new Pirelli tyres while the drivers became more familiar with the 3.7mile circuit.

As part of a busy programme at the Florida circuit, GT1 class cars were allocated 95 minutes of track time in the afternoon. The slot was later shortened by 20 minutes after an incident involving one of the other competitors. Like Monday, weather conditions were dry, sunny and hot. At the time of the GT1 test, the circuit temperature was 34°C.

In the limited time available, Nicolas Kiesa and Darren Turner completed 27 laps in DBR9 number 007, while Pedro Lamy and Stéphane Sarrazin finished 34 laps in car number 009. A lap time of 1min 57.221sec from Lamy/Sarrazin was the fastest in the GT1 category.

Team Principal George Howard-Chappell said: “The focus today was on driver experience, more set up and development work and trying a couple of new things to help tune the car to the circuit and tyres. In the event, we weren’t able to draw too many conclusions because of the reduced amount of time available and the variable circuit conditions. The weather and the amount of dirt from other cars on the alternate sessions meant the grip level was very inconsistent and that made it difficult make any real progress.”

Driver quotes:

Tomas Enge: “If everything had gone according to the schedule then I was going to drive at the end of the session but in fact, once the red flag came out, there was no time for me to test. It’s not a problem though, tomorrow is another day!”

Nicolas Kiesa: “Today went very well and I found more than half a second per lap, mainly thanks to a few tricks Darren and Pedro taught me. I’m still relatively new to this car and am learning more all the time. I think I made some good progress though and it was nice to be able to do eight or nine laps within three tenths of a second. It was very consistent and encouraging for the race.”

Pedro Lamy: “We were a bit faster than the opposition but it wasn’t a great day as the red flag prevented us from testing the things we really wanted to. We got some experience of driving in changeable conditions and the tyres felt pretty good but I would have like to have done more. I hope we can gather some more useful information tomorrow.”

Stéphane Sarrazin: “We continued to work on adapting the car to the tyres today. The track was very dirty in places and there was a lot of traffic which made it quite representative of the race. Overall it was very interesting and I think we’re not too far away from the right set-up. Tonight we’re going to analyse the data we’ve gathered to improve the car again tomorrow.”

Darren Turner: “A little bit frustrating. I did seven laps but the session was disrupted when another car went off and that limited what we are able to achieve. We basically need as much time on the circuit as we can get and I certainly found the day a little bit more difficult than yesterday.”

I'm guessing the 'vettes were on the same session as the Astons though as they only did the same number of laps.

Interesting to see that a few of ther LMP1's are better grouped together on the second session, although a couple are slower than session 1.

It's all gearing up for a great race on Saturday. I'm going to start with a full English Breakfast and filter coffee, then walk around the garden pulling my coolbox full of ice and beer, lightening it's load as i go. I'll then choose a suitable vantage point to watch the race on Motor's TV, then after half an hour move around the room to view it from a different area.

Half way through, I'll stop off at Cunningham Corner, conveniently disguised as the BBQ in the garden, for a meal of slow cooked ribs that fall off the bone. Not sure how I'm going to deep fry a Turkey yet but I'm working on it! Then it over to the kitchen for freshly blended Margueritas, then back to the race for the finish.

There, see. You don't need to travel all that way to enjoy the race. I'm sure I'll have just as much fun as those that are actually there!!!  :'(

Sounds good Mark. I'll be at work so I'll have to try and watch it there. Thats until the other lads turn over to Sky Sports and Soccer Saturday just to watch Jeff Stelling talk like he's straining for a sh*t. Oh and it'll be beans on toast and tea.

Mark,
Who the hell am I supposed to go t-shirt shopping with this year?  Really hung me out here buddy!  And what am I supposed to say to David Brabham when I run into him and he asked me where you are?.....Yeeesh!
Next year you better be back over here! :)
Fax

Christ John, I hadn't thought of that! Maybe you'd better go earlier this year before the beer monster takes over!  ;D  They might not have run out of half of the sizes by then as well!!

Say hi to Brabs for me  ;)  And I WILL be back next year. Hope to see you in June though. Hope it all works out! Let em knwo if there's anything I can help with from this end!

The beer monster takes over about the time the car stops running when we've pulled into our parking spot ;D
Don't have to worry about finding half sizes this year, put on more than a little winter "coat" this year.  It's gonna take me cycling all spring to lose this spare tire.  One of these days I'll learn that drinking beer and eating pizza and chicken wings is no way to stay fit over the winter, but probably not.  I'll give David your regards.  Make sure you use Cuervo in those Margarita's ;)
Fax

And you'll have access to this forum throughout!

Sorry, but if its a choice of Basingstoke or Florida, why have I chosen Hampshire.

Do they still make Jose Cuervo's Gold Label?  That takes me back.  I thought it was sh*t anyway, and you were keeping the decent stuff.

Have one for me anyway

Notice that on the second practice lap the #6 RS Spyder didn't give it a go.  No time posted for the faster (in session 1) Porsche.  I wonder what happened???

Maybe they didn't want to give too much away!

Cuervo's not top of the line by any stretch but it'll get the job done nicely for 'Rita's.  No point in putting the really expensive stuff in there and mixing it.  To be honest I can't drink Tequilla straight up, makes me a complete idiot (well, even worse than usual).  The only time I've ever been involved in a bar brawl it was drinking Tequilla in a Irish Pub on St. Patricks Day. Go figure!
I noticed the Porsche didn't put in a time either, hmm?
What if its the Vette's that are sandbagging?
Fax

Well they just finished the practice laps and here is the link to the scorecard.

http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

Oops, they change the scorecard for each supporting race group's practice and qualifying. 

Look at those Astons go.

By the way they have the name wrong!! it is an Aston Martin DBR9

It's amazing what an extra 150 lbs. and smaller restrictor plates can do to a cars performance.  Take that penalty away and the DB(r)9's would fall behind.  BUT it does look like an Aston repeat unless lady luck says different.
They do need to win one once in awhile, otherwise they wouldn't race and that would be a shame.

Look at those Porsche LMP2's go!  They could really throw a wrench into Audi's grand plan for ALMS domination.
Thanks for the link Rick.
Fax

GO ONTO THE imsa WEB PAGE AND GET THE LIVE RADIO FEED, YES, THATS RIGHT, NO SKY TV HERE.

But do you have a CAPS lock button?  ;)

Thanks for the advice Peter, http://globecast.workscast.com/ Radio is really getting me back into the spirit of things. Why are the Astons running one car with Pirelli's and one with Mitchelin???? Both ahead of the Corvettes I have to add.

Peter Cox in the Spyker has had a big accident hope he is OK

Its just like listening to Radio Le mans.  Its great

Go Astons Go  :D :D
The ALMS Globecast get the juices going dont they.

It's strange listening online isn't  it?  I tuned into a lot of LM last yr from here in Indy with a v preggy Mrs.  Just packing the last of my kit for my Orlando flight tomorrow afternoon - will be 50 degrees warmer when I get there!