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SONOMA, Calif. (May 18, 2002) – Tom
Kristensen waited
for the right opportunity and then nailed a flying lap in the ADT/Champion
Audi
R8 to take the pole for Sunday’s American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of
Sonoma presented by Fosters at Sears Point Raceway.
Kristensen, on loan from the factory Audi team for this event, turned
a lap
of 1:22.615 (110.246 mph) on the 2.53-mile, 12-turn circuit,
establishing
a track record on the recently reconfigured circuit. His fast lap
came after
he drove slowly on the track for a few moments, waiting for traffic to
clear
during the 20-minute qualifying session.
Champion Motors Founder and President, Dave Maraj, said, "I just want
to
thank Tom for his amazing effort, and for bringing Champion our first
ALMS Pole.
We knew it would be tough to beat the factory team in qualifying,
because the
2000 model R8 is particularly well suited to the Sears Point track."
Team
Joest are racing Champion's 2000-spec R8 at Sears Pt. this weekend,
while their
2002 cars are prepared for Le Mans.
ADT/Champion Technical Director, Brad Kettler, said, "I'm really
pleased.
The whole team has been working very hard, and Tom came through when
it counted.
But I'm just glad qualifying is over."
"We had to do some regearing, making fifth a little taller since sixth
gear is not really required here. We had the usual understeer problems
during
practice, and tried out some very large front dive planes, but they
proved to
be too pitch sensitive on the uphill-downhill Sears layout, so we've
gone back
to dual smaller dive planes. Tire choice is also critical for this
race, because
of the cool weather."
Kristensen, though happy to win the pole, feels that his team and the
factory
team will be at a disadvantage in Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute event
because
both teams are using three drivers. “We will have to make an extra
driver
change, and that will cost us some time,” he said. “If some of the
other cars with two drivers can stay close, they will have an
advantage.”
Kristensen will co-drive with Andy Wallace and with Johnny
Herbert, assuming Herbert arrives at the track in time. The former
Formula One
star is attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and
will travel
to Sears Point by private jet in hope of driving the final stint in
the race,
thus protecting his drivers championship points standing. Herbert is
currently
second in drivers points, behind factory pilot Rinaldo Capello.
Sunday’s race starts at 1 p.m. (PDT) and will be televised live by the
SPEED Channel. Live coverage by the American Le Mans Series Radio Web
can be
heard online at
www.imsaracing.net,
which will also provide live timing and scoring via the Internet. |
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