Panoz Win Again
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE, LEXINGTON, OHIO
Saturday, 25th August 2001
PANOZ WIN AGAIN
The Panoz Motor Sports team took their second victory in three races today in the year-old Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S.
David Brabham of Australia and Dane Jan Magnussen took the race to the opposition throughout the 2 hour 45 minute event and intelligent pit stop strategy in the caution periods allowed the duo to take the lead for the last 33 laps.
Also in the midst of the Audi/Panoz/Dyson battle was the #51 car of Klaus Graf and Franck Lagorce. Graf made a steady start and quickly moved up the field to 4th. He continued to lap at the same pace as the #50 car but an alleged pit stop infringement caused a 10 second penalty which temporarily set them back again.
When Lagorce was at the wheel for the latter half of the race, the crews of the two cars showed teamwork at its best on and off the track. Slick pit stops, team strategy and good co-operation between the cars did not unfortunately prevent Lagorce from getting caught in heavy traffic at the end and eventually finishing in 6th place.
Jan Magnussen: "The team gets full credit for today's victory for their great work in the pits. The balance of the car wasn't great at all so it was a matter of just being there in the end and making as few mistakes as possible. At the beginning of the year I never thought we'd be on the top step of the podium once let alone twice in three races. This is the way to win a Championship!"
David Brabham: "I struggled with the car at the beginning to be honest and couldn't stay with the Audis. As the fuel load went off, the Michelin tires came in better and I could maintain the same pace as the #2 car. We were a lap down but a good call on our pit stops put us back in contention. It was a full team effort that secured this victory today so a big thank you to everyone."
Klaus Graf: "There wasn't much I could do at the start but I didn't want to take any chances. I lost a lot of time with the Audi but we were running well so kept within the top four for much of the time. We made a good choice of Michelin tires which made it even unluckier to get the penalty."
Franck Lagorce: "I am happy and unhappy. We were unlucky again with our car, missing out with our pit stops but I am very happy for the team. If you can do something for your team mate, and I consider the other Panoz car to be my team mates as well as Klaus, then you should. I am sure they would do the same for me."
For further information contact Fiona Miller at Panoz Motor Sports on 678 300 6452 or email to fiona@panozmotorsports.com. For further team info or photographs look on our website www.panozmotorsports.com.