Panoz Challenge Audi to the Last

ROUND SIX, AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

QUALIFYING - Friday, 24th August 2001

Panoz challenge Audi to the last

For the second time in three races, the Panoz LMP-1 of David Brabham and Jan Magnussen will start tomorrow's 2h 45 minute race from the front row of the grid.

With a time of 1m 14.910s, set on his last flying lap of the qualifying session, Brabham in car #50 narrowly failed to repeat his Portland pole position by four tenths of a second.  He will start behind Tom Kristensen in the #1 Audi.

Brabham said afterwards:  "It's great to be on the front row - particularly for the team.  I would have liked to have had pole but we had a small problem with the balance into the corners so knew it would be hard to achieve.   The last lap was tidy and the
 best I could do but I'm happy."

The sister Panoz LMP-1 of Germany's Klaus Graf and Frenchman Franck Lagorce had a more difficult qualifying session but will still be starting from the 3rd row of the grid.  Graf set a best time of 1m 16.116 to take 5th place despite a badly handling car.


Graf:  "I had a really big problem with the balance of the car and it didn't feel good.  We made some changes after this morning's practice session but I think we will be going back to where we were as I didn't feel comfortable with the handling at all."

The session this afternoon took place in warm sunshine after yesterday's rain and this morning's overcast and very humid conditions.  Tomorrow, however, thunderstorms are forecast.

For further information contact Fiona Miller at Panoz Motor Sports on 678 300 6452 or email fiona@panozmotorsports.com