ALMS: Sebring Update - Qualifying Washed Out!

By Gary Horrocks
SEBRING, FL - Well, the track activities at Sebring were pretty much washed out on Thursday, as a front moved through late on Wednesday, dousing the area with large quantities of rain, thunder and lightning. So much for Florida being the sunshine state.

The weather meant that qualifying for the race was cancelled, and the starting grid was determined by the times turned in practice. In many ways, the rain comes as a blessing, as the track was becoming slower and slower and the sessions went on. Many drivers commented that the track was up to two to three seconds slower between the sessions yesterday. It is unknown what the track will be like when tomorrow dawns, but the general consensus is that it couldn’t be much worse that it already has been.

For the race, it will be Audi first and second at the front of the grid. Nothing new there. But, if the times had been set from the last session of the day, it would be a different look as Guy Smith put the Dyson Lola on top, besting the Audis by just over 0.3 seconds.

GT1, which has promised to be the story of the weekend has been, but most of that action has been off the track. As expected, Aston Martin posted a protest, concerning the legality of the Maserati. And as expected, the ALMS (or IMSA specifically) dismissed the protest. So, GT1 goes on as expected, with the new teams, (Aston Martin and Maserati) making the headlines, but the Corvettes taking a provisional class pole and P2, followed by the ACEMCO Saleen.

Fastest of the Corvettes was the #4 ‘Vette, followed by the Ron Fellows driven #3. Fellows stated, “The car is going well, but we still have quite aways to go, as far as development. I do like our chances though, as I do think we’ll be reliable, especially as our running gear is all from the C5.”

In GT2, the Petersen/White Lightning Porsche came out on top, but right behind them was the promisingly quick Panoz, driven by Bill Auberlen. Scott Maxwell, who is signed for a full season in the #51 Panoz was fifth quickest in class.