I just got back from the 12 hours of Sebring yesterday and I gotta take my hat off to Audi for completely DOMINATING all of the other entrants. They went out and set a new course record - one which they had set themselves a few years earlier - by 2 seconds, took the pole, and were lapping cars within a handful of times past the flag stand. From then on, it was a race for 3rd until one of the Audi LMP1s dropped out with mechanical issues and opened the door for 2 podium spots.
The real race was in GT1 between Corvette and Aston Martin. Corvette won the 52nd race, Aston Martin won the 53rd, and this year the two factory teams were really pushing each other hard from start to finish. With the last few hours ticking down, the #4 Corvette had 1st place sealed up (barring mechanical problems which is always possible at Sebring), an Aston was in 2nd, and the #3 'vette was swapping positions with the other Aston Martin. Aston made a fantastic pit stop and took the lead from the 'vette, but the Corvette hung right on his tail up to the final lap. Going down the Ulmann straight, the 'vette was hanging on the Aston's bumper when the 3rd-place Aston swung wide on setting up the final turn under the bridge, then shut the door on the chasing 'vette by cracking the wheel hard to the inside. Brilliant piece of driving.
The first thing I did when I got back (after showering to make myself presentable in a civilized society) was take our SUV down to the car wash to have the dirt and dust cleaned out. In the sports section there was a poll: "which are you more likely to follow this weeked - the Nextel Cup race in Atlanta or the 12 hours of Sebring?" The poll result was nearly 93% would follow NASCAR. Yet, the unofficial attendance for Sebring was something like 160,000 people.
To be honest, the NASCAR road races I've seen (not the ovals, the road courses) are almost painful to watch. Those NASCAR cars are just too big and too heavy for most road tracks. Its like watching aircraft carriers trying to navigate a canal. But, NASCAR has the money, the sponsors, and the fat tv contracts so when people think of racing, they think NASCAR. That's a shame. ALMS is great racing. If you're even just a casual race fan, you gotta get to Sebring for the 12-hour event and plan on camping for all 4 days. Even if you hate cars, you'll enjoy the beer drinking.
My hats off to:
1) Audi, for pushing the performance envelope and racing diesel engines. I was expecting the usual dit-dit-dit-dit lumbering diesel sound. Those things were whisper smooth, quiet, and shot the cars out of the turns like greased lightning. I have seen the future of motorsports.
2) Spyker, for their repair work. On Wednesday a Porsche cracked up in Turn 15, coming to rest on top of a concrete barricade, shattering the barricade. It would require a $35,000 tub from the Porsche factory to get the car race ready. On Thursday, a Spyker spun and crashed and ended up on top of the concrete barricade, too. The Spyker team had their car repaired and running by Saturday morning's practice.
3) Pilgrim and Angellelli of Cadillac Racing, for their success in the SPEED World Challenge GT race against the lighter Vipers and Corvettes. Even though they didn't win, they managed a respectable finish.
4) Panoz, for finally breaking Porsche's streak of wins in GT2. While I'm at it, Ferrari deserves a salute just for showing up.
I won't be flying for awhile. I'll be turning laps at Sebring in my NR2003 mod.
