Audi's Dindo Capello fired back at Peugeot on Wednesday by posting the fastest time for the first official practice session for the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the opening race of the 2008 American Le Mans Series. Capello's lap of 1:45.491 in the diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI was 0.017 seconds better than Stephane Sarrazin in the Peugeot 908.
The top three cars all are diesel-powered factory prototypes as the Series races into a green future with all cars powered by either clean diesel, E10 or cellulosic E85.
Capello will team with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen this weekend, the trio hoping to claim its second Sebring overall win in three years. Sarrazin is partnering with Pedro Lamy and Nic Minassian in the Peugeot, which is competing in North America for the first time.
The second Audi of Lucas Luhr, Marco Werner and Mike Rockenfeller was third overall at 1:46.465 (125.112 mph).
"We are still not happy with the car," Capello said. "This is a new chassis after our crash Monday. We are struggling with getting the handling right on the green track. We're trying to find a comfortable way to drive it."
Marco Andretti was quickest for the second straight day in LMP2. The young prodigy, grandson of three-time Sebring overall winner Mario Andretti, had a fast lap of 1:46.632 (124.512 mph) in the Acura ARX-01b of Andretti Green Racing. The second-year team won in class at Sebring last year in the debut for both itself and Acura and placed second overall.
Andretti, who is teaming with Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi, was 0.346 seconds better than the lead Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder of Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Emmanuel Collard. The second Penske entry of Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long and Ryan Briscoe was third in P2 and sixth overall at 1:46.988.
Corvette Racing held the top spot in GT1 with a lap of 1:58.211 (112.585 mph) for the No. 3 Corvette C6.R of Jan Magnussen, Johnny O'Connell and Ron Fellows. They were 0.057 seconds ahead of the No. 4 sister car and defending race winners Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Max Papis.
Wolf Henzler was quickest in GT2 for Flying Lizard Motorsports. The Porsche factory pilot's time of 2:02.402 (108.822 mph) marked the first time the new 911 GT3 RSR was quickest in class this week. Henzler, who will drive with Jörg Bergmeister and Marc Lieb was 0.019 seconds ahead of the Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GT of Dirk Müller, Dominik Farnbacher and Rob Bell.
Third in class was the Ferrari F430 GT of defending class winner Risi Competizione. The No. 62 entry of Jamie Melo, Mika Salo and Gianmaria Bruni was at 2:03.009 (108.285 mph).
LMP1
Dindo Capello/Allan McNish 246pts
Marco Werner 210pts
Emanuele Pirro 175pts
LMP2
Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas 239pts
Sascha Maassen/Ryan Briscoe 186pts
Butch Leitzinger/Andy Wallace 128pts
GT1
Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin 246pts
Jan Magnussen/Johnny O'Connell 184pts
Max Papis 52pts
GT2
Jaime Melo/ Mika Salo 202pts
Jörg Bergmeister/ Johannes van Overbeek 170pts
Wolf Henzler 126pts
- ALMS - also photos
photos will be on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - ALMS
56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida- Practice1 results
12.03.2008
|
|
Sebring / 3.7 miles March 12-15 / Sebring, FL
1 1 1 LMP1 AUDI ... mehr |
Sebring Announces 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
12.03.2008
|
|
Sebring International Raceway has announced the 2008 inductees into the Sebring Sports Car Racing Hall of Fame.
Roger Penske, Derek Bell, Hans Stuck, David Cowart and Audi join the prestigious Hall of Fame during c ... mehr |
12h Sebring Tuesday test - driver quotes
12.03.2008
|
|
Dindo Capello, Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)
"With Peugeot in the race we are now getting back to the great days of sports car racing. It will be a great battle with the top-line manufacturers again. This race and this trac ... mehr |
Peugeot paces field at Tuesday Sebring test
12.03.2008
|
|
Pedro Lamy was fastest Tuesday afternoon in testing at Sebring International Raceway.
Pedro Lamy kept Peugeot at the top of the timing sheets at ... mehr |
Rob Bell set for Sebring 12 Hours challenge
11.03.2008
|
|
Le Mans Series GT2 title winner, Rob Bell will make his debut in the 56th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring this weekend. He will line up for the Tafel Racing team in a GT2 Ferrari 430, racing alongside team mates Dirk Muller and Dominik Farnbacher.
Commenting ahead of the race weekend, Bell says, "The biggest challenge will be to keep going until the end, keeping co ... mehr |
Zytek Season Starts Here
11.03.2008
|
|
Silverstone and Interlagos winner represents the marque at Sebring
Customers for Zytek’s rapid and reliable ZG348 LMP2 engine have increased this season following first and second place at the 2007 Le Mans 24-hours and wins in Britain and Brazil. The Barazi-Epsilon ... mehr |
Series broadcast package: one of the best
11.03.2008
|
|
American Le Mans Series broadcasts have the ability to impact more than 500 million people around the world, one of the best TV packages in racing.
With one of the world's most viewed and listened to motorsports packages, the American Le Mans Series broadcasts will be seen and heard around the globe. Each Series event has the potential to reach more than 50 ... mehr |
Selected quotes from Sebring tests
11.03.2008
|
|
Lucas Luhr, Audi Sport North America
Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)
"You cannot compare a prototype to a GT car. But there is a heavy car with a lot of weight in the back due to the diesel engine. The longer wheelbase doesn't help but it's a very fast car here."
Pedro Lamy, Team Peugeot Total
Peugeot 908 (LMP1)
(On driving Sebring in the ... mehr |
Peugeot edges Audi in Monday testing at Sebring
11.03.2008
|
|
Peugeot topped the unofficial timing sheets Monday at Sebring International Raceway.
Peugeot picked up where it left off at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test by turning in the fastest time in Monday's first test session for the 56t ... mehr |
Audi out front early in Sebring testing
11.03.2008
|
|
Audi ... mehr |
Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring timetable 2008
11.03.2008
|
|
Presented by Fresh From Florida
Sebring International Raceway / Sebring, Florida March 12 - 15, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
7:00 am - 4:30 pm IMSA Registration8:00 am - 8:25 am Practice - IMSA Lites Presented by Hankook8:40 am - 9:05 am Practice - IMSA Challenge by Michelin9:20 am - 9:45 am Practice - BF Goodrich/Skip Ba ... mehr |
American Le Mans Series string of announcements creates momentum unparalleled in Series History
10.03.2008
|
|
The American Le Mans Series has been endorsed by multiple federal agencies as being the first Green Racing series in the world.
It all started at the State of the Series annual media and constituent update session a ... mehr |
Corvette Racing Takes on New Challenge in 2008
10.03.2008
|
|
Team Continues to Develop New Technology for Transition to E85 Ethanol
From the early days of the marque when mechanical fuel injection and disc brakes were novelties to the advanced carbon fiber construction and sophisticated CFD aerodynamics of th ... mehr |
Dept, quality highlight 2008 GT classes for Mobil 1 12 hours of Sebring
08.03.2008
|
|
Bell Motorsports will challenge Corvette Racing with an Aston Martin DBR9 in GT1 for the 2008 American Le Mans Series season.
It's appropriate that the 10th season of the American Le Mans Series begins with maybe the stronges ... mehr |
Michelin aims to claim 10th consecutive Sebring win
08.03.2008
|
|
The off-season, which seems to shrink with each passing year, is finally over and the new cars; teams; drivers and sponsors are ready for the first and biggest event of the 2008 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season, the fabled 12 Hours of ... mehr |
Voices of Sebring: Bryan Herta
07.03.2008
|
|
Bryan Herta (left) was part of Andretti Green Racing's LMP2 victory last year at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Bryan Herta could not have imagined a better return to the American Le Mans Series last season. It's not every se ... mehr |
Peugeot 12 HOURS OF SEBRING – March 12-15, 2008 preview
07.03.2008
|
|
PEUGEOT PREPARES FOR THE LE MANS 24 HOURS
As Peugeot ... mehr |
Fünf Porsche RS Spyder beim längsten und härtesten Rennen des Jahres
07.03.2008
|
|
American Le Mans Series, 1. Lauf in Sebring, USA:
Die American Le Mans Series startet mit einem echten Klassiker in die neue Saison: Die 12 Stunden von Sebring am 15. März auf dem welligen Flugplatzkurs im Herzen Floridas sind das längste und ... mehr |
American Le Mans Series prepares to usher in next era of green racing
07.03.2008
|
|
Audi has captured overall victory at Sebring the last two seasons using diesel power with its R10 TDI factory prototype.
The American Le Mans Series unleashes a new era next week at the 56th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring ... mehr |
12 hours of Sebring pre-race notes
06.03.2008
|
|
The American Le Mans Series begins its 10th season with the 56th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 15 (10:00 am - 10:00 pm). It is arguably the most prestigious and historic endurance race in the Western Hemisphere.
Should you be interested in feature material or simply a notes package of some type, here is s ... mehr |
Pierre Ehret 2008 mit Wechsel auf Ferrari
06.03.2008
|
|
In der neuen Saison 2008 wird der Tegernseer Pierre Ehret von Porsche zu Ferrari wechseln. Schon am übernächsten Wochenende wird er zum Saisonauftakt der American Le Mans Series bei den 12 Stunden von Sebring mit der italienischen Marke starten.
... mehr |
Late race drama is a trademark of Sebring
05.03.2008
|
|
After 1,221 miles of racing over 12 hours, negotiating 5,610 turns and making over 7,200 gear shifts, the GT2 class at last year's Sebring 12-hour classic was decided by a margin of less than a second.
The 56th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 15th, will add yet another chapter in Sebring's storied endurance ... mehr |
Andretti driving at Sebring... this time it's Marco
05.03.2008
|
|
Marco Andretti will make his first American Le Mans Series start at Sebring as part of the Andretti Green Racing lineup. Photo: LAT USA
More than 40 years after the name first competed at ... mehr |
Sebring International Raceway to showcase million$ of new improvements
05.03.2008
|
|
The Four Points by Sheraton Chateau Elan hotel at Sebring recently underwent a $7 million expansion.
When fans enter the hallowed grounds of ... mehr |
Sebring als Prüfstand für die Audi TDI-Technologie
04.03.2008
|
|
- Zwei Audi R10 TDI beim 12-Stunden-Rennen in Florida (USA)
- Audi R8 TDI Le Mans im Fahrerlager von Sebring
- Audi kommt in die "Hall of Fame" der US-Rennstrecke
Mit der Vision, einen Diesel-Sportwagen zu bau ... mehr |
A decade of voices : Tom Milner
04.03.2008
|
|
PTG owner Tom Milner (right) has an American Le Mans Series championship to his credit and returns to GT2 with a Panoz Esperante GTLM in 2008.
"I'm probably one of the oldest original IMSA members that are still runn ... mehr |
Grand Prix of Houston cancelled for 2008
04.03.2008
|
|
Porsche reigns at 2007 Grand Prix of Houston
The Grand Prix of Houston announced today that the 2008 event, originally scheduled for April 25-27 at Reliant Park, has been cancelled. Grand Prix officials made the determination that after the unexpected unificat ... mehr |
MIA returns to Sebring
01.03.2008
|
|
...for 2nd annual motorsport energy efficiency conference
The Motorsports Industry Association will hold a conference titled "Developing Energy Efficiency Through Motorsports" on March 13 at Sebring.
The Motorsport Industr ... mehr |
Mowlem: Corsa heading in the right direction
29.02.2008
|
|
Johnny Mowlem will team with full-season partner Gunnar Jeannette and Ralf Kelleners at Sebring for Corsa Motorsports.
The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is a tough enough race for even the most seasoned teams in the American Le Mans ... mehr |
Corvette Racing Drivers 2008
20.02.2008
|
|
12hours of Sebring race 2008
Olivier Beretta, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Birthdate: Nov. 23, 1969
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Notes: Five-time ALMS GTS/GT1 champion, five class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, holds ALMS records for most career wins (37) and most career poles (20), two FIA championships, overall victory in 2000 Rolex 24 at Dayt ... mehr |
Corvette Racing confirms 2008 driver lineup
20.02.2008
|
|
Chevrolet's Championship-Winning Team Returns for American Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans
Corvette Racing's roster of championship-winning drivers will return in 2008 to race the Chevrolet factory team's twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars in the 12-race American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive th ... mehr |
Porsche-Werksfahrer im Trainingscamp: Fitness für den Erfolg auf der Rennstrecke
19.02.2008
|
|
Die Saisonvorbereitung der Porsche-Werksfahrer geht in den Endspurt. Bei einem zehntägigen Fitness-Intensivtraining auf Fuerteventura arbeiteten Timo Bernhard (26), Romain Dumas (30), Sascha Maassen (38), Patrick Long (26), Jörg Bergmeister (32), Wolf He ... mehr |
Peugeot sets sights on Sebring with 12 Hours entry
16.02.2008
|
|
Peugeot will enter its diesel-powered 908 factory prototype in the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.
On the heels of an impressive showing last month at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test, Peug ... mehr |
Phil Quaife samples LMP1 sportscar in Florida
13.02.2008
|
|
Young British racer, Phil Quaife, was given his first taste of an LMP1 sportscar in Florida, USA last week, running with the leading privateer American Le Mans Series team, Intersport Racing. Driving this top category race car was a new experience for Quaife, wh ... mehr |
Penske, Audi Highlight Sebring Hall inductees
12.02.2008
|
|
Roger Penske had three class victories at Sebring, then served as manager for Jim Hall's 1965-winning Chaparral team
Sebring International Raceway has announced the 2008 inductees into the Sebring Sports Car Racing Hall of Fame. American L ... mehr |
Patrick Pilet verstärkt Porsche-Mannschaft
09.02.2008
|
|
Motorsportsaison 2008:
Der Franzose Patrick Pilet verstärkt in der Saison 2008 den Kader der Porsche-Werksfahrer. Damit wächst das Aufgebot des Stuttgarter Sportwagenherstellers auf elf Piloten an. Der 26-Jährige aus Le Chesnay in der Nähe von Paris ... mehr |
BMW, M3 returning to American Le Mans Series with Rahal Letterman
07.02.2008
|
|
BMW announced Wednesday that its next-generation M3 will compete in the American Le Mans Series.
BMW announced at the Chicago Auto Show Wednesday its plan to return to the American Le Mans Series with its next-generation M3 coup ... mehr |
American Le Mans Series, SPEEDtv.com join online forces
06.02.2008
|
|
A new partnership with SPEEDtv.com will enhance the presence of the American Le Mans Series online.
When SPEEDtv.com re-launches its revolutionary motorsports website Wednesday, it also will mark the launch of one of the most innovative new me ... mehr |
Motorsportsaison 2008: Wolf Henzler neuer Porsche-Werksfahrer
05.02.2008
|
|
Wolf Henzler aus Nürtingen wird in der Motorsportsaison 2008 für die Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche AG an den Start gehen. Der 32-jährige Deutsche wird einen Porsche GT3 RSR des Teams Flying Lizard in der American Le Mans Series steuern. 200 ... mehr |
