European Le Mans Series - Round 5 - Vallelunga, Italy

PITNOTES #01

2nd September 2001

(All times are local)

NOTE - Car 26 (Saleen) starting from the back of the grid for a technical infringement during qualifying.

12:59 - Pace lap begins behind the Safety car.

13:03 - Lights out on the Safety Car

13:04 - The final round of the 2001 ELMS gets the green light

13:05 - Car 26 (Saleen) - Franz Konrad slicing through the GT field ending the opening lap in 5th place just 8.626 seconds adrift of Car 9 (Panoz) in the lead.

13:06 - Car 66 (Porsche) leading GT from Car 77 and Car 65.

13:06 - Car 26 (Saleen) into 4th just behind Car 28 (Debora)

13:07 - Car 26 (Saleen) into 3rd 7 seconds adrift of Car 41 (Saleen) in 2nd place.

13:09 - Car 65 (Porsche) ahead of Car 77 to move into 2nd in GT, 2.2 seconds behind car 66.

13:10 - Car 9 (Panoz) leads by 10.5 seconds after 5 laps to Car 41 (Saleen).

13:10 - Car 41 (Saleen) leading GTS by 8 seconds to Car 26 (Saleen)

13:12 - Car 66 leads GT to Car 65, 77, 60. Car 66 just 0.8 seconds ahead of Car 65

13:12 - Car 64 into Pits.

13:16 - Car 41 (Saleen) now 9.5 seconds ahead of Car 26 (Saleen).

13:16 - Car 28 (Debora) in 4th place 64 seconds behind Car 9 (Panoz)

13:16 - Car 65 takes the lead in GT overtaking Car 66

13:18 - GT Class battle with top 4 cars seconds apart 65 - 66 - 77 - 60 on lap 12

13:20 - Positions after 14 laps - 9/41/26/28/65/66/77/60/67/61/46/ 62/68/64

13:22 - Car 64 still in pits with broken drive shaft - mechanics working to repair.

13:23 - Car 26 (Saleen) closing on Car 41 (Saleen) - now 7.4 seconds apart.

13:28 - GT Class - Car 65 leading with Cars 66, 77 and 60

13:30 - Car 9 (Panoz) lapping GT front runners, disrupting the battle for class lead.

13:32 - Car 66 (Porsche) coming under pressure from Car 77.

13:34 - Car 41 (Saleen) still leading GTS by 8 seconds to Car 26

13:34 - Car 64 (Porsche) rejoins track after topping up fuel.

13:36 - Only 3 cars still on lead lap after 28 laps - Cars 9 / 41 / 26

13:38 - Cars 66 and 77 nose to tail at the hairpin as they lap backmarkers

13:40 - Car 9 (Panoz) laps car 26 (Saleen) on lap 31

13:41 - Car 66 (Porsche) locks front tyres into hairpin as he defends position to Car 77

13:42 - Car 61 spins on approach to Curva Esse. Nearly collected by Car 9 (Panoz) who swerves in avoidance.

13:43 - Car 77 looks on the inside of Car 66 at hairpin but 66 closes the door.

13:43 - Car 9 laps car 41 - Car 9 (Panoz) only car on lead lap.

13:45 - Positions after 35 laps - 9/41/26/28/65/66/77/60/67/46/62/61/68/64

All 14 cars still running.

13:46 - Car 64 (Porsche) alongside Car 61 (Porsche) over start finish line. Car 64 17 laps behind Car 61.

13:48 - car 66 (Porsche) manages to pull away from Car 77 at end of lap 38. Two seconds between these two cars.

13:49 - Car 60 catching Car 77 at the Hairpin.