Written by:
Marshall Pruett
Anybody that'd accuse Montagny or Matos of leaving an ounce of speed on the table hasn't seen their in-car performances. Respect is due.
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By the end of the race, Andretti-Green Racing's LMP2 Acura pairing of Franck Montagny and Rafael Matos showed the pace of their car was enough to challenge for the class win. Unfortunately, Rafa's ill-timed pass of a car before the race had seen its first half-dozen laps would ruin their chances, but the ensuing recovery drive from Matos and Montagny was absolutely mega. With no hope of winning or scoring meaningful points, the two pushed on to the end like they were in a three hour qualifying duel.
Please enjoy the view from over their left shoulders and my viewer's guide below as they put in a hard day's work, and thanks again to the American Le Mans Series for providing the raw footage to cook up for your online video pleasure!
(Note: The in-car audio has a bit of a stutter to it for the whole of the race--it isn't your computer or your 56k Compuserve connection acting up.)
(00:36) Matos is really quick on the steering wheel. He deals with oversteer long before it becomes an issue,
(1:17) It must be frustrating to watch the Penske Porsche’s pull out two car lengths on every straight. Direct-injection is the way to go.
1:45) OK, that’s the second time in two laps the leading car has kicked dirt in Rafa’s face. Not very polite, I say.
1:58) Make that three times…
(2:45) So far, so good. Matos has settled into a groove, the race is just a few laps old, all’s going well, no need to take any dramatic risks.
(2:48) Man, that Aston Martin sure looks like it’s too far away to pass under brAAAAKING.
(2:51) And indeed it was. The Drayson-Barwell car did nothing wrong. He’d started his turn in before Rafa even appeared. Two objects attempting to occupy the same place at the same time usually results in the small of the two objects being deranged. Broken left front suspension.
(3:31) Matos stops to inspect the Mid-Ohio groundskeeper’s work before entering pit lane. Thankfully, he’s done a good job of keeping the grass short and keeping cats off the course. The groundsmen are very particular about that, I’m told.
(4:42) I’m picturing a bunch of impolite hand gestures being traded between the Aston and the Acura…
(5:04) More fun oversteer on cold tires to deal with. Despite the coming together with the Aston, Matos is clearly a star of the future. His judgment calls will improve with experience, but his speed and ability is undeniable.
(6:21) As I’ve said in every other ‘Theater story featuring an LMP2 car, passing GT1 cars is tough. With a lot less power and torque, a car like Matos’ can only keep pace with an engine sporting twice its displacement. Only when they get to a braking zone does the lighter P2 car have a chance to complete a pass.
(6:30) Yay! A P2 car to play with—one of the Dyson Porsche’s.
(7:20) Rafa’s MUCH faster through turn 1. Too bad the slippery Porsche renders that advantage useless.
(7:47) WOW, that Audi’s fast!
(7:49) WOW, that Audi’s going too fast to make the turn!
(8:31) LMP cars need to come equipped with huge 18-wheeler air horns to warn slower cars of their immediate arrival. That was bad.
(8:58) Rafa’s locked onto his target again, but the two are evenly matched. This is a great see-saw battle.
(9:45) Well now maybe that was a bit optimistic…but he gets himself out of the jam rather impressively.
(10:07) Another great jump on his target, but there’s nowhere to pass. Rafa remains calm and focused when I’d be having a ‘Hulk Smash’ moment if it was me.
(10:22) Time to hand over to Franck Montagny. By the way, remember when Helio Castro Neves decided to change his last name once he started racing in America, and simplified it to ‘Castroneves.’ How about we ask Franck to drop the unnecessary ‘c’from his first name? It’d sure help cut down on emails asking me ‘how do you pronounce that guy’s name?’ Either that, or we ask him to double the rest of the letters in his first name.
It’s either Ffrraanncckk or Frank for now on, OK Franck?
(10:43) It’s a prototype smorgasbord!
(10:56) Those Dunlop tires really transformed the Mazda, didn’t they? It always had tons of power, and now with grip to make use of its juice, it should start pothering the Porsche’s and Acura’s. Cool.
(11:18) Tuck this one away for the rest of the season: Montagny isn’t afraid to pass a car at any time and on any patch of road, even when it’s off-line or in the marbles. The guy is phenomenally talented.
(12:12) Hey, it was worth a try…
(12:40) Franck’s clearly growing impatient.
(13:14) Is he…nawww...he isn’t pushing the Mazda from behind and lifting the back of the car off the ground a tad, is he? Yes kids, Franck’s had enough of following the Mazda.
(13:58) The Mazda misses his apex and that’s all Montagny needs to set him up for a pass.
(14:25) He almost has the Dyson Porsche but refrains from sticking his nose in and getting it chopped off. Smart move.
(14:45) And his patience has paid off.
(14:56) One more Dyson car to go and he’s got them both. I’m not clear on why the Porsche braked so early.
(15:03) Video game time. With the race almost over and another target acquired, Montagny is a man on a mission. What fun to watch.
(15:36) Nicely done. All business. Nothing personal.
(15:52) Game over. Nice recovery and a ballsy drive by both Matos and Montagny when the chance of a win was lost from the outset.
(15:57-end) It’s interesting to watch Franck after he’s climbed from the car. He clearly looks over the front of the car and checks the right front for damage after his Mazda-lifting experience. He seems to lament what could have been if their day hadn’t gotten off to a bad start. I think he knows they had something to challenge for the class win.
Click Here to watch ALMS Video: In-Car Theater Mid-Ohio, Montagny/Matos Acura LMP2.
