Getting Ready

SONOMA, Calif. (May 17, 2002) – Friday was a testing day for the ALMS teams, in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at Sears Point Raceway, with a ninety minute session just after midday. Audi factory team pilot Tom Kristensen, doing a one-off at Sears with the ADT/Champion R8 team, turned the third-fastest lap of the day at 1:24.842 in a car he will share with Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert, who also did stints in Champion's 2001 R8 during the testing session.

Defending American Le Mans Series champion Emanuele Pirro waited until the end of the session Friday to set the fastest time of the day in Champion's 2000 R8. Pirro turned a lap of 1:23.987 (108.445 mph) on the 2.53-mile road racing circuit in the final moments of a two-hour session. Pirro, driving the Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R8, eclipsed a lap of 1:24.027 that had been set by the Panoz LMP-1 driven by David Brabham. Pirro will co-drive with Rinaldo Capello and Frank Biela.

Saturday will be very busy for the ALMS teams, with one hour of practice early in the morning, followed by a further one hour just prior to the lunch break. A 20-minute Qualifying session for Sunday's two-hour, 45-minute race is scheduled for mid-afternoon. There will be Live timing and scoring on the Internet for all sessions.

See the IMSA website for the full live timing and scoring schedule.