Michelin races to learn, races to win in American Le Mans Series technical partnership
April 26, 2008
The American Le Mans Series is one of the most technically challenging racing series in the world. One could arguably say that the young series is second only to Formula 1 in the level of technical expertise, design, and competition. For the series to be successful and their teams to be competitive, they need manufacturers on board as technical partners. One essential partner for over two thirds of the teams in the American Le Mans Series paddock is Michelin Tires, who bring the motto, “Race to learn, race to win” to the table. And win the have done. Recently at the 2008 Tequila Patrón ALMS at Long Beach they broke the 250-win mark in American Le Mans Series competition.
This past weekend, the boys from Fastmachines.com had a special opportunity to spend some time with engineers from Michelin and learn more about what their technical partnership brings to the ALMS, and what the competition on the track brings to the road tires that the everyday consumer can buy.
A look back at the 2008 Long Beach GP
April 22, 2008
From nostalgia of years gone by to the revelation of first-time race winners, from a start with a flash of pure excitement to a finish that faded into anti-climatic non-drama, this year’s Long Beach Grand Prix has come and gone. And after 25 years of Champ Car racing on the streets of Southern California, an amazing era has ended. The weekend featured the final Champ Car race of all time, an American Le Man’s sprint race, and the first race of the season for an orphaned Atlantic championship that is hoping to find new relevance in American motor sports.
Justin Wilson, Penske Porsche quick early at Long Beach
April 19, 2008
Taking up wwhere Sebastian Bourdais left off, Justin Wilson set fast time in provisional qualifying for Champ Car’s last race at Long Beach. Wilson showed that his Newman/Haas/Lanigan DP01 wasn’t hampered by “hangar rash”, and that the NHL engineers on the McDonald’s team have got the DP01 figured out.
Meanwhile in the American Le Mans Series, Timo Bernhart and Penske Porsche are the quickest among six LMP2 cars that will start ahead of the Audi RA’s in the LMP1. Read more
ALMS Long Beach pre-race skinny
April 16, 2008
After a week off, the American Le Mans Series returns to action this weekend in southern California at the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach where the battle between the LMP2 Porche Spyders and the LMP1 Audi R10 heats up even more in the battle for overall race wins. After the win at the 12 hours of Sebring by Penske Porche, the Audi team responded with an exciting win on the streets of St. Petersburg.
Audi, Luhr & Werner win ALMS thriller in St. Petersburg
April 6, 2008
The Audi vs. Porsche battle in the American Le Mans Series prototypes heated up today in St. Peterburg. In the closing minutes, Lucas Luhr drove his Audi R10 past the Porsche Spyder of Romain Dumas to give Audi their first ALMS overall win for 2008.
Werner qualifies for Pole in St. Petersburg
April 4, 2008
German sensation, Marco Werner showed that he can wrestle his big P1 prototype around on a street circuit today by taking the Pole Position for the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. Werner piloted his Audi R10 to a speed of 103.114 mph, and beat out the Penske Spyder by 75-hundredths of a second.
American Le Mans Series starts strong, shows early gains in 2008
March 21, 2008
The American Le Mans Series kicked off their 2008 season with the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring last weekend. Today the ALMS reported strong attendance and televisions numbers. Combine the ALMS’s increased momentum with a multitude of stranded Champ Car road racing fans, and this could be a big year for the young series. Perhaps Champ Car’s fold will be a boon for the American Le Mans Series.
Grand Prix of Houston cancelled for 2008
March 4, 2008
The unification of open-wheel racing is going to be effecting ALMS and Atlantics series this spring. The Grand Prix of Houston announced the cancellation of their event today.
The Houston Chronicle reports today:
“The unification of Champ Car and IRL caught us by surprise, and we were informed that due to the last-minute nature of this unification the Houston date could not be accommodated for 2008,” said Michael T. Lanigan, owner and chairman of the Grand Prix in a press release today. “We are saddened and disappointed to have to make this decision, but we remain optimistic that we will have the opportunity to bring the American Le Mans Series and the Indy Racing League to Houston in 2009.”
Sportscar fans can’t be happy about this turn of events. The unintended consequences of a dead Champ Car World Series are going to be significant. The casualties are mounting up.