04:00hrs-06.hrs
By: Paul Lane
5:52 Panoz #11 leaking fuel, smoking- We are now speaking American. Panoz is third
Cadillac #2 crashed at 5:49 , hit tire wall coming off Mulsanne , into the pits with left rear damage
#6 2KQ in into garage with unknown problems, engine suspect
#71 Porsche into wall at 6:02 Porsche curves
Debora off track with engine difficulty, Oiled track
Order at 6:05 -
9,7,11,6,12,10,3,21,24,1,16,20
34,23,17,15,22,52,32,63,51,64,53
83,57,59,60,76,56,73,79,36,81,72
75,2,30,80,78,71,82,54,53,6,35,
2 Cadillac back out 6:10
Going back: Kneffel into #63 Corvette replacing Fellows and #52 Archer replaced by Duez
#12 Panoz in , O’Connell in.6:17
DAMS Cadillac in ninth at 6:25. Leading Cadillac
6:26 Albereto stays in #7 Audi in fuel stop, no tire change. Will this car be a rabbit? Other Audi drivers change.
51 Viper in GTS lead, #52 next but #63 Corvette falling.. Corvette problems and pit scramble have put Vipers on top,
Alboreto in lead #7 Audi. 6:39 PM
Things seem to be quieting down a bit,
Andretti in #11 Panoz running in 4th
Oops I spoke too soon,# 77,78 GT-3 Porsches collided before Tetre Rouge, One car in middle of track. Full course yellow. Safety car is out and every one into the pits. Capelli replaces Alboreto in #7Audi,
#20 Lola looses wheel. Things are getting messy again. 6:56 PM
#83 is firmly in the GT3 lead.
#11 Panoz in pits for extra stop. Rear left tire change. Magnussen driving.
Audi is getting back to something resembling their race strategy.
#34 Reynard ROC VW is leading LMP 675 doing a formidable job.
Racing starts again at 7:10
Corvettes are wilting, Vipers 1-2-3
#20 driver Coronel carrying new wheel back to car from the pits. He hasn’t collapsed yet!
It ia hot, hot, hot by European standards, but the girls are keeping their clothes on.. The drivers are going to be affected. Closed car temps remain 150 degrees F.
The car lights have started to come on at 7:25
#10 Panoz hit the tire wall along Mulsanne. Going back to pits with left rear tire coming off.
#8 Audi has flat . Pulls into pits with LR tire not rotating. 7:29 PM
#17 Courage hit Panoz #10. Results are debris on track. Other bits on the track.
#6 Reynard back after water pump replacement.
Order at 7:30:
9,7,11,8,12,3,21,24,34,1,17,16
15,22,23,51,52,10,32,53,63,6.
Other bits on the track.
#6 Reynard back after water pump replacement.
Order at 7:30:
9,7,11,8,12,3,21,24,34,1,17,16,15,
22,23,51,52,10,32,53,63,64,57,83,56,
59,73,2,76,60,36,81,72,79,75,80,33,
54,82,20,77,78,6,35.
44 cars running.
#15 BMW spun and returned. Moving rapidly up in field.
#9 Audi spun in Indianapolis, 7:43. Unbalanced by hitting curb. Stayed in lead but missed 15 seconds.
#9 pits for tires, almost collides with #7 on exit.
#11, 12 Panoz in for fuel only 7:52
#76 Porsche spun in Ford’s, rear left body damaged continued.
Race order at: 8:00
9,7,11,6,21,3,12,1,24,15,16,17,22,23,
52,51,32,3,53,63,34,64,57,83,73,56,59,
2,60,81,72,36,70,54,10,82,33,20,6,35,
42 cars running.