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American Le Mans
Series Grand Prix of Portland |
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THE AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
The Grand Prix of Portland
PIT NOTES: Page 2 SATURDAY AUGUST 4, 2001
The Grand Prix of Portland
PIT NOTES: Page 2 SATURDAY AUGUST 4, 2001
American Viperacing has painted a black sash
on the front of their #44-GTS and #45-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R cars in
honor of the memory of two recently deceased Viper enthusiasts. Brian
Angen, 23 of Jan Jose California was killed in a boating accident just
this past weekend. Brian competed at Sebring this year in the inaugural
Panoz GT Series race which he won finishing ahead of his father, Rocky,
in third place. Competing in only two events in the series, Brian won
the other race as well at Road Atlanta on May 27th. At a recent
dinner for the AVR team, drivers Jeff Altenburg and Shane Lewis got to
meet Brian and spend some time with him. Lewis commented he “thought
the world of him, he was a class guy,” and also believed “he had a
bright future in racing.”
The other sash is for a member of the
Pacific Northwest Viper Club of America, Don Smith, who was killed in an
auto accident. Don was a big fan of the AVR team. On a brighter note,
the back of both cars will carry a message to lead mechanic, Tony Rubio
who is not here because of his wedding this weekend in Detroit.
ALMS Combined practice (delayed for 22
minutes because of clean-up needed following a last lap accident in the
Trans Am series race).
At 3:37, green flag. The air temperature is
72 degrees, track temperature is 95 degrees (Michelin engineers). The
track has been baked by a good deal of sunlight since the last practice
session, as well as a lot of BFGoodrich tire rubber from the Trans Am
race.
At 3:38, car #51-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S failed to start and is stalled in their pit. After grabbing a different starter, the car is rolling.
At 3:40, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:06.686.
At 3:38, car #51-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S failed to start and is stalled in their pit. After grabbing a different starter, the car is rolling.
At 3:40, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:06.686.
At 4:04, car #44-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R (Tom
Weickardt) into the tires at turn 11. Weickert was examined at the track
hospital and is being taken for precautionary evaluation to Legacy
Emanuel Hospital.
Peter Ford, lead mechanic,
#44-GTS Dodge Viper GTS-R, (about the accident) “Tom (Weickardt)
backed into the wall (turn 11). The team was conserving the hard
compound tires and Tom was out on the track on older tires.”
At 4:21, car #2-P Audi R8 (Pirro) sets the
fastest lap of the session at 1:04.982. Team car #1-P Audi R8 is second
overall with a 1:05.021.
At 4:32, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.939.
At 4:33, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.616.
At 4:34, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.387.
At 4:37, checkered flag.
At 4:32, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.939.
At 4:33, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.616.
At 4:34, car #50-P Panoz LMP1 Roadster S (Brabham) sets the fastest lap of the session at 1:04.387.
At 4:37, checkered flag.
Top three in class: #50-P Panoz LMP1
Roadster S (Brabham) 1:04.387, #1-P Audi R8 (Kristensen) 1:04.404,
#2-P Audi R8 (Pirro) 1:04.982; #57-P675 Reynard 01Q/Judd Mel
Hawkins 1:12.521; #26-GTS Saleen S7R (Konrad) 1:12.772;
#3-GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (O'Connell) 1:13.171, #4-GTS
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (Collins) 1:13.387; #10-GT BMW M3 GTR
(Auberlen) 1:13.230 29, #6-GT BMW M3 GTR (Stuck) 1:13.544,
#23-GT Porsche 911 GT3-RS (Maassen) 1:13.693.
Car #43-GT BMW M3 GTR returned to the pits
after one lap because of an oil pressure alarm. The team has decided to
try and change the engine before the qualifying session. Both the #3-GTS
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R and #4-GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R received
black flags for decibel level infractions during this session.
Only the GT class cars are practicing below
the class record (1:15.155, Dirk Muller, Porsche GT3 R, September 2000)