Former Formula One star Johnny Herbert set the fast time of the day Friday as
American Le Mans Series teams began practice for Sunday’s inaugural Cadillac
Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
Driving the Champion Racing Audi R8 Prototype, Herbert turned a lap of 1:04.310
(92.981 mph) on the 1.661-mile temporary racing circuit located adjacent to
RFK Stadium. Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute race will be the first racing
event held in the U.S. capital city in more than 80 years.
“I think they’ve done a marvelous job with this circuit,” said
Herbert. “It’s very smooth and wide, and there are many places for
overtaking. I think the spectators will see an interesting race on Sunday.”
Herbert will co-drive with another ex-Formula One pilot, Stefan Johansson of
Sweden, in Sunday's race. Qualifying will be held on Saturday with the race
to start at 12 noon on Sunday.
The factory Audi R8 of Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro was second-fastest in
Friday’s practice at 1:04.529, followed by the factory Audi R8 of Rinaldo
Capello and Tom Kristensen at 1:04.578. Close behind the Audis was the Panoz
LMP-1 of David Brabham and Jan Magnussen at 1:04.831.
Friday's pair of one-hour practice sessions were held under oppressively hot,
hazy and humid conditions which tested even the fittest drivers' stamina, but
that didn't stop a surprisingly large number of Washington, D.C. spectators
from coming out on a Friday to see the cars and racing action close-up. Several
local and national television crews were on hand from the early morning hours
on, interviewing drivers and giving their viewers a taste of the racing action
the American Le Mans Series brings to town.
The seven turn temporary circuit was created from an abandoned parking lot outside
Washington's RFK Stadium, and race organizers have set new standards in temporary
circuit construction and appearance. Champion Racing owner Dave Maraj said,
"I'm really impressed with the facilities that have been put in place here
in Washington, D.C. The quality of the track and facilities are far beyond what
we had hoped for, and we're confident the people in the D.C. area will want
the ALMS to make Washington a regular stop on the series calendar."
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Johnny Herbert ready to take the first laps by an ALMS car at Washington, D.C.