BRASELTON, GA October 4, 2008 – Thirty seven cars, 1,000 miles, and 9,893 passes: a guaranteed recipe for race-ending accidents. And today’s eleventh running of the Petit Le Mans proved this true with eleven caution periods, including three in the last hour. Through it all, Dyson Racing showcased their endurance fortitude, finishing fourth and sixth in LMP2. The #20 Porsche RS Spyder finished fourth, running the nine hours and forty-two minute race without a single incident followed by the #16 car in sixth place. But for being hit from behind, it too would have had an unimpeded run to the finish.
Summing up the race, Marino Franchitti, driver of the #20 along with Andy Lally and Butch Leitzinger, said that the “car was really great, there was not a mark on it at the end, the pit stops were fantastic and we had good strategy. To successfully finish a race like this with the car in one piece is a good accomplishment.” “The chassis was good all week,” confirmed Chris Dyson, driver of the #16 Thetford/Norcold entry with Guy Smith. “We had the measure of almost everybody and with a little more top-end speed, we would have had the complete package. The Michelin tires were absolutely fantastic all week and the durability throughout the double stints was exceptional.”
Rob Dyson gave full credit to the crew. “I am very proud of our guys for persevering,” he said. “The team really pulled together this week and the atmosphere within the team was the best it has been all year. We are looking forward to ending this year on a strong note at Laguna Seca.” Five manufactures led during the course of the race. There were twenty-nine lead changes among the hundred and one driver field, which included four Indy 500 winners and five former champions from IndyCar or CART. It was a landmark race for the American Le Mans Series and Dyson Racing congratulates the ALMS for such a notable event and the successful inauguration of their Green Challenge.
After eight months of racing, the ALMS season finishes with a westward swing for the final race of the season at Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA on October 18th.
Pos | Car# | Class | Drivers | Difference | Car Make |
1. | 1 | P1 | Capello/McNish/Pirro | Audi R10 | |
2. | 07 | P1 | Minassian/Sarrazin/Klein | 4.512 | Peugeot 908 |
3. | 2 | P1 | Luhr/Werner | 7.565 | Audi R10 |
4. | 5 | P2 | Castroneves/Briscoe | 46.672 | Porsche RS Spyder |
5. | 7 | P2 | Dumas/Bernhard | 1:04.350 | Porsche RS Spyder |
6. | 6 | P2 | Maassen/Long/Collard | 2 laps | Porsche RS Spyder |
7. | 20 | P2 | Franchitti/Lally/Leitzinger | 3 laps | Porsche RS Spyder |
8. | 66 | P2 | de Ferran/Pagenaud/Dixon | 6 laps | Acura ARX |
9. | 16 | P2 | Dyson/Smith | 10 laps | Porsche RS Spyder |
10. | 3 | GT2 | OConnell/Magnussen/Fellows | 29 laps | Corvette C6 |