Petit Le Mans 2008

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
GREEN RACING
THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE
P e t i t L e M a n s ‘ 0 8
PEUGEOT v AUDI
The diesel dogfight continues at Petit Le Mans
meet the hidden heroes

Audi and Peugeot’s
exciting yearlong fight
culminates this weekend
with a final face-off between the
two powerhouse LMP1 diesel
teams.
Following its American Le
Mans Series debut at Sebring
in March and its defeat in June
at the 24 Hours of Le Mans,
Peugeot comes locked and
loaded to Road Atlanta with
no intentions of leaving empty
handed again.
At Sebring, the singleton
Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP proved to
have the upper hand, outpacing
the two Audi R10 TDIs in the
early stages of the 12-hour
endurance race. However, the
French Lion ran into hydraulic
problems, resulting in an 11th
place overall finish.
Audi fought issues of its own
at Sebring, which opened the
door for an LMP2 class Penske
Porsche RS Spyder to take the
overall victory.
The two Audi turbocharged
V12 diesel prototypes wound up
third and sixth overall, but still
took top class honors.
The battle then continued in
Europe, with a trio of Le Mans
Series races prior to the 24 Hours
of Le Mans.
Peugeot reigned supreme
in all three and carried that
momentum into the famed twice-
around-the-clock French classic.
Like last year’s debut at
Circuit de la Sarthe, Team
Peugeot Total had the quicker
diesel prototype.
The 908s dominated the
opening half of the race, but got
caught out when rain came in the
early morning hours.
Audi’s better-adapted R10
TDIs shined in the adverse
conditions and captured its
eighth Le Mans crown.
Audi put a further dent in
Peugeot’s armor in the Le Mans
Series season finale at Silverstone
last month, snatching the drivers’
and manufacturers’ titles away
from the French diesels in what
the German squad called an
“exploit.”
Now, Peugeot is fired up for
revenge with star drivers Nicolas
Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin
and Christian Klien leading the
charge, taking the fight onto Audi
Sport North America’s home soil.
Audi counters by adding Le
Mans winners Allan McNish and
Dindo Capello to their roster.
Audi’s Marco Werner and Lucas
Luhr have already clinched the
ALMS drivers’ title, helping secure
the team’s championship as well.
With championships off the
table, it will be a flat-out war to
decide who’s king of the diesels.

Featuring the world’s premiere sports cars and an all-star cast of drivers, the Petit Le Mans promises to be a great race, but it is the race
within the race, the first ever “Green Challenge” that will make it truly historic.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, and the independent SAE International
officially recognized the ALMS as America’s first “green racing” series.
Mans.
Together with the ALMS, they put together the technical measures and procedures for the first-ever “Green Challenge” here at Petit Le
A 1,000 mile race at one of the sport’s fastest tracks may seem an unlikely setting for EPA, DOE and SAE officials, but it is precisely the
technology, the rules permitting everything from turbo-diesel prototypes to E85 fueled Corvettes, and the range of energy sources that earned
the ALMS the Green Racing recognition.
By measuring and assessing new technologies in the heat of one of the most competitive racing series worldwide, officials and
manufacturers hope to speed the development of new energies and technologies for anxious and increasingly receptive consumer markets.
Instead of viewing each other warily, the manufacturers, ALMS, and government officials have worked closely to develop the rules for the
Green Challenge that will become a feature at every ALMS race in 2009.
Michelin, an ALMS mainstay and environmental leader worldwide with its Challenge Bibendum events and
corporate programs, already sponsors similar awards, called the Michelin Energy Endurance Challenge, at the
24 Hours of Le Mans and for the Le Mans Series events in Europe.
While the Green Challenge formula in ALMS differs somewhat in its formula, the intent is the same to
recognize the best in combining performance and energy efficiency.
Scoring for the Green Challenge takes place simultaneously with the actual timing and scoring of the
Petit Le Mans race itself.
When the checkered flag falls at the end of the 1,000 mile (or 10-hour) race, there may be two sets
of winners or perhaps even a double champion claiming both the race win and the Green Challenge title.
CLEANER
AND
GREENER
EPA; DOE Join ALMS in First Green Challenge

Beyond their regular jobs at Michelin, a number of tire engineers also work with the Michelin Motorsports program. Michelin dedicates a tire engineer to
work with each of its ALMS technical partner teams for the entire season. The tire engineers are a valuable resource to each team as they assist with race
Engineer Name: Jerome Mondain
ALMS Team: Audi Sport North America
Michelin Day Job: Michelin Technical Racing-France
Engineer Name: Brian Monprode
ALMS Team: Lowe’s Fernandez Racing
Michelin Day Job: North American OE Quality Manager
Engineer Name: Val Mills
ALMS Team: de Ferran Motorsports
Michelin Day Job: Green Tire Designer
Engineer Name: John Stiles
ALMS Team: Flying Lizard Motorsports
Michelin Day Job: Plant Representative
Engineer Name: Matt Hanlon
ALMS Team: Risi Competizione
Michelin Day Job: Green Tire Designer
set-ups, tire selection and even race strategy. Here are the 2008 ALMS Michelin tire engineers:
Engineer Name: Vincent Barthe
ALMS Team: Penske Racing
Michelin Day Job: Michelin Technical Racing-France
Engineer Name: Robbie Holley
ALMS Team: Dyson Racing
Michelin Day Job: Matrice Designer
Engineer Name: Nicolai Jones
ALMS Team: Corvette Racing
Michelin Day Job: Green Tire Designer
Engineer Name: Wayne Yount
ALMS Team: Flying Lizard Motorsports
Michelin Day Job: Vehicle K&C Engineer
Engineer Name: Andrew Simrell
ALMS Team: Tafel Racing
Michelin Day Job: Green Tire Designer
Engineer Name: Perry Hyder
ALMS Team: Patrón Highcroft Racing
Michelin Day Job: Race Tire Engineer
Engineer Name: Donnie Wilson
ALMS Team: Andretti Green Racing
Michelin Day Job: Michelin / BFG Racing
Engineer Name: Larry Jackson
ALMS Team: Flying Lizard Motorsports
Michelin Day Job: CPV Planning
Engineer Name: Tony Russo
ALMS Team: Farnbacher Loles Racing
Michelin Day Job: Field Engineer

Punch
your ticket!
The four class team winners this
weekend at Petit Le Mans will
receive invitations for the 2009
running of the 24 Hours of Le
Mans in France next June.
Audi’s Lucas Luhr and Marco
Werner have clinched the 2008
ALMS Driver’s Championship
in the LMP1 class. In doing
so, Luhr became the first
driver in ALMS history to win
championships in three classes
(LMP1, LMP2 and GT2).
Turn 1
hotshoe
heroes
The speed of the ALMS
prototypes impresses even one
of the most experienced ALMS
drivers, Corvette racing’s Johnny
O’Connell. “The P2 guys are
going through turn one flat
(out)! FLAT!!” says O’Connell,
shaking his head in disbelief.
“I’ve spent a lot of time at this
track,” said O’Connell, who lives
in nearby Flowery Branch, GA. “I
never thought I would see that.
Flat!!! Unbelievable.”
Ryan Briscoe Marco Andretti Helio Castroneves Tony Kanaan Dario Franchitti
Here come the Indystars
With the IndyCar season over, several top drivers have jumped into rides for Petit Le Mans. The 2008 series
champ and Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon joins former champ Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud in the #66
de Ferran Acura. Last year’s series and 500 champ Dario Franchitti lines up with Patrón Highcroft Racing.
Rivals Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti join Detroit GP winner Franck Montagny in the #26 AGR Acura;
meanwhile Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves will dance together in the #5 Penske Porsche. Why? “The
ALMS prototypes are so cool to drive that everyone wants to race them,” said Fernandez Racing
guru Tom Anderson, who notes that ex-IndyCar racer Michel Jourdain, Jr. will join Adrian Fernandez and Luis
Diaz aboard the #15 Lowe’s Fernandez Acura.
Bob Faieta and Dino Steiner are currently tied atop
the IMSA Challenge by Michelin Platinum Cup points’
championship standings. Faieta has seven victories while
Steiner has two wins and six runner-ups.
Meanwhile, in the Gold Series of the IMSA Challenge by
Michelin, Tony Rivera is looking to sweep his way to the
Audi Sport North America’s Dindo Capello made Mosport International
Raceway the fastest circuit in the American Le Mans Series with a
stunning lap time of 1:04.094 (138.116 mph). Will records fall this
weekend at Petit Le Mans?
championship as he has won all ten races. Rounds 11 and
12 take place this weekend here at Road Atlanta.
did
you
know
Michelin has won the 2008 ALMS
Tire Championships in all four
classes. The clean sweep marks the
third consecutive season in which
Michelin has won all four class tire
championships. In addition, Michelin
has won every LMP1 and GT2 tire
championship in ALMS history.

The colors that dress the gorgeous ALMS machines are some of the
most unique in all of motorsports, but where do the designs and
liveries come from?
One of the finest graphic artists in the business is Andy Blackmore of
Andy Blackmore Design.
The Englishman turned his childhood love of colorful racecars into a
profession, and his work has been seen in F1, sportscar racing and touring
cars ever since.
The first famous design from Blackmore’s pen came in the form of the
1996 BPR Global GT champion Gulf-McLaren F1 machine – that would
lead to a call that would change his life.
Andy’s work caught the eye of the McLaren F1 team, where he was
instrumental in helping to craft the renowned dark grey, silver, and red
‘WEST’ livery they’ve used for more than a decade.
Long after he’d left to pursue his own design consultancy firm,
Blackmore is honored to see the ‘Darth Vader’ pit crew helmets and
garage equipment he designed for the McLaren F1 team in the late ‘90’s
still being used. Andy’s work has revolved around sportscar liveries for the
past few years – with Audi at Le Mans, the LMS, and in the British Touring
Car Championship and V8 Supercar series. With a new season around the
corner, look for more of Blackmore’s prototype and GT artistry at speed
again in 2009.
by Marshall Pruett, SPEEDtv.com
The ABC’s of ABD
Most ALMS Race Events Held
12 – Road Atlanta
10 – Sebring International Raceway, Mosport
International Raceway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Longest Race Venue
4.500 miles – Miller Motorsports Park (2005/06)
4.048 miles – Road America
3.700 miles – Sebring International Raceway
Shortest Race Venue
1.15 miles – Miami, FL (Sept. 2003)
Fastest Race Venue
138.116 mph - Mosport International Raceway (Aug. 2008)
135.353 mph – Road America (Aug. 2007)
Slowest Race Venue
86.524 mph – Miami, FL (Sept. 2003)
Most Career Starts
93 – Johnny O’Connell
81 – David Brabham
79 – Sascha Maassen
Most Years, At Least One Win
10 – Jan Magnussen (1999-2008)
9 – Sascha Maassen (1999-2007),
9 – Johnny O’Connell (1999, 2001-08)
Most Career Wins
39 - Olivier Beretta
35 - Johnny O’Connell
32 - Dindo Capello
30 - Oliver Gavin
29 - Sascha Maassen
23 All-Time
Series Venues
Most Career ALMS
Driver Championships
5 – Olivier Beretta
David Brabham is the only ALMS driver to win in four
marques (Panoz/Ferrari/Aston Martin/Acura) and have
victories in all four ALMS classes (LMP1/P900/GTP,
LMP2, GT1/GTS, GT2)
Race Wins by Manufacturer
(Regardless of Class)
93 – Porsche
77 – Audi
66 – Chevrolet
Race Wins by Entrant
(Regardless of Class)
66 – Corvette Racing
53 – Audi Sport North America
Four North American venues – Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca, Mosport International
Raceway, Sebring International Raceway and
Road Atlanta – have been charter members
and staged an ALMS event in every year since
the inception of the Series in 1999.

008 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES SCHEDULE
March
12-15
April
4-5
April
18-19
May
16-18
June
11-15
July
11-12
Mobil 1 Twelve
Hours of Sebring
Acura Sports Car
Challenge of St.
Petersburg
Patrón Tequila ALMS
at Long Beach
Larry H. Miller
Dealerships Utah
Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans,
France
Northeast Grand Prix,
Lime Rock Park
PETIT LE MANS QUALIFYING RECORDS
July
17-19
Class Driver Car Time MPH Date
LMP1 M. Werner Audi R10 TDI 1:08.906 132.703 Oct ‘07
LMP2 R. Dumas Porsche RS Spyder 1:09.039 132.447 Oct ‘07
GT1 O. Beretta Corvette C6.R 1:16.627 119.331 Sep ‘05
GT2 B. Auberlen Panoz Esperante 1:21.647 111.994 Apr ‘05
August
7-9
August
22-24
Aug
29-30
PETIT LE MANS FRIDAY SCHEDULE
8:00 am - 8:15 am Warm Up - Atlantics
8:25 am - 8:55 am Practice - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
9:05 am - 10:05 am Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
10:20 am - 11:20 am SPEED Touring Race
11:35 am - 12:05 pm IMSA Lites Race #2
12:20 pm - 1:20 pm SPEED GT Race
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ALMS Autograph Session
2:10 pm - 3:10 pm Atlantics Mazda Race
3:25 pm - 3:50 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GT1 / GT2)
3:55 pm - 4:20 pm Qualifying - ALMS (LMP1 / LMP2)
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Star Mazda Race
5:45 pm - 6:15 pm IMSA Challenge by Michelin Race #2
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Qualifying - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
PETIT LE MANS SATURDAY SCHEDULE
8:15 am - 8:40 am Warm Up - ALMS (All Classes)
9:00 am - 9:30 am Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Race
11:15 am Petit Le Mans Powered by the Totally
New Mazda 6 for the ALMS (Round 10)
– 1,000 miles or 10 hours maximum
October
1-4
October
16-18
007 PETIT LE MANS RACE WINNERS
LMP1 A. McNish/D. Capello – Audi Sport North America
LMP2 T. Bernhard/R. Dumas/P. Long – Penske Racing
GT1 O. Beretta/O. Gavin – Corvette Racing
GT2 J. Bergmeister/J. van Overbeek/M. Lieb – Flying Lizard M’sports
Acura Sports Car
Challenge
Mid Ohio
Generac 500 at
Road America
Grand Prix
of Mosport,
Canada
Detroit Sports Car
Challenge presented
by Bosch
Petit Le Mans
at Road Atlanta
Monterey Sports Car
Championships, Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca
7

8
07
1
7
9
1
FAN FAVORITES
0
7
Dindo Capello/Emanuele Pirro/Allan McNish
Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
Audi Sport North America • Audi R10 TDI • LMP1
Ryan Lewis/John Faulkner
Jon Field/Clint Field/Richard Berry
Intersport Racing • Lola B06/10 • LMP1
Helio Castroneves/Ryan Briscoe
Sascha Maassen/Patrick Long
Romain Dumas/Timo Bernhard
Penske Racing • Porsche RS Spyder • LMP2
David Brabham/Scott Sharp/Dario Franchitti
Patrón Highcroft Racing •Acura ARX-01b • LMP2
Adrian Fernandez/Luis Diaz/Michel Jourdain
Lowe’s Fernandez Racing • Acura ARX-01b • LMP2
1
0
11
Guy Smith/Chris Dyson
Marino Franchitti/Butch Leitzinger/Andy Lally
Dyson Racing • Porsche RS Spyder • LMP2
Franck Montagny/Marco Andretti/Tony Kanaan
Andretti Green Racing • Acura ARX-01b • LMP2
Gil de Ferran/Simon Pagenaud/Scott Dixon
de Ferran Racing • Acura ARX-01b • LMP2
Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell/Ron Fellows
Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta/Max Papis
Corvette Racing • Chevrolet Corvette C6.R • GT1
Joel Feinberg/Chris Hall
Primetime Race Group • Dodge Viper Competition Coupe • GT2
71
7
Stephane Sarrazin/Christian Klien/Nic Minassian
Peugeot Sport • Peugeot 908 HDi FAP • LMP1
1
87
Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000
www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, September 28, 2008 • Volume 2, Issue 10
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.
Copyright © 2008 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lonnie Pechnik/Seth Neiman/Darren Law
Jörg Bergmeister/Wolf Henzler/Marc Lieb
Johannes van Overbeek/Patrick Pilet
Flying Lizard Motorsports • Porsche 911 GT3 RSR • GT2
Tracy Krohn/Nic Jonsson/Eric van de Poele
Mika Salo/Jaime Melo
Risi Competizione • Ferrari 430 GT • GT2
Dominik Farnbacher/Dirk Müller
Jim Tafel/Alex Figge/Pierre Ehert
Tafel Racing • Ferrari 430 GT • GT2
Dirk Werner/Bryce Miller/Jörg Hardt
Farnbacher-Loles Motorsports • Porsche 911 GT3 RSR • GT2
Printed on recycled paper
10% Total Recovered Fiber
All Post-Consumed Fiber