-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
IN THE COCKPIT: Jan Magnussen, Sebring
With the result we came away with in the very first race of the year, almost takes you out of the championship only after one race...
Jan Magnussen had an unlucky run at the 12 Hours of Sebring. (Photo: Jan Magnussen Racing)
I can't even begin to describe how disappointed I am. With the result we came away with -- zero points -- in the very first race of the year, almost takes you out of the championship only after one race.
It was a big, big shame, since we had a really good car. It was fast and we were able to fight with almost everybody out there. If things didn't go wrong, we could have gotten a much better result.
When Antonio started having the gearbox problem early in the race, we went in and changed everything that we could. When that didn't work, we had to come back in and figure out what it was.
It ended up being just a little pin conector that had come loose. If we changed that right away, it would have been no issue. But the problem is that you don't know these things until it was too late.
The only positive thing about the weekend was the speed that we had and the fact that we were super competitive. So we have a good season to look forward to.
And at least Corvette Racing still got the win. Big congrats to Olly (Gavin), Tommy (Milner) and Richard (Westbrook)
But in terms of the championship, that was a big, big blow. It puts us so far behind from the get-go. Now Antonio (Garcia) and I can at least think about winning some races in the next few rounds and not worry about points at all. Sometimes that makes it a little bit easier.
Our competition has certainly increased from the off-season, though. It seemed like the Viper for sure was very, very fast. That's not the last we've seen of that as I'm sure they will be right up front for the rest of the season.
For sure the Aston was also fast and I think they also came away with fastest race lap. They are going to be difficult to beat at Le Mans but it was good to see where we stacked up so we can be prepared as well.
It was an interesting weekend, as it was also the final ALMS race at Sebring. I've been with the ALMS since its beginning and absolutely love the series. It's come to be my home away from home.
I hope this new series is going to take all of the good stuff from the ALMS and mix it with the good stuff from GRAND-AM. We're all waiting to see what the final version of the series is going to be but I'm looking forward to the one big championship.
In 2014, we'll be racing Corvette's newest generation car, the C7. It looks absolutely beautiful and I can only imagine what the race car will look like. I'm sure it will be fast and cool looking. We'll begin on-track development of the car once we get through Le Mans.
For me, it's one of the most exciting things of being a race car driver is that you do get to help develop something from day one. Especially when you do something like that with Pratt & Miller and Corvette, who really do things 100 percent, that makes it very enjoyable and exciting at the same time.
This winter I've started up my own team in the Danish Thundersport Championship, so there's been a lot of work with that. Luckily we've teamed up with a bunch of people who know what they're doing, so I can concentrate on my job in the ALMS.
But I'm very much looking forward to starting the season. The first race is in the beginning of May. We've been a little bit late in setting the team up but I think we're now back on schedule to be able to be 100 percent for the first race.
There are a lot of lessons learned throughout my career that I've been able to take to my new team. The most important lesson is that you need to wait until the situation is right before you do something.
You can have a dream or wish to do something great but if it's not the right time, you have to wait unit it is. Otherwise, it's easy to get disappointed. It's pretty much the same amount of work whether you win or lose, it just doesn't seem a waste of time when you win!
See you in Long Beach!
Jan
A winner in 12 of the 13 previous seasons of the American Le Mans Series, Jan Magnussen, a four-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, drives the No. 3 Corvette Racing C6.R in the ALMS GT category with Antonio Garcia. For more information, visit www.janmagnussen.com.
It was a big, big shame, since we had a really good car. It was fast and we were able to fight with almost everybody out there. If things didn't go wrong, we could have gotten a much better result.
When Antonio started having the gearbox problem early in the race, we went in and changed everything that we could. When that didn't work, we had to come back in and figure out what it was.
It ended up being just a little pin conector that had come loose. If we changed that right away, it would have been no issue. But the problem is that you don't know these things until it was too late.
The only positive thing about the weekend was the speed that we had and the fact that we were super competitive. So we have a good season to look forward to.
And at least Corvette Racing still got the win. Big congrats to Olly (Gavin), Tommy (Milner) and Richard (Westbrook)
But in terms of the championship, that was a big, big blow. It puts us so far behind from the get-go. Now Antonio (Garcia) and I can at least think about winning some races in the next few rounds and not worry about points at all. Sometimes that makes it a little bit easier.
Our competition has certainly increased from the off-season, though. It seemed like the Viper for sure was very, very fast. That's not the last we've seen of that as I'm sure they will be right up front for the rest of the season.
For sure the Aston was also fast and I think they also came away with fastest race lap. They are going to be difficult to beat at Le Mans but it was good to see where we stacked up so we can be prepared as well.
It was an interesting weekend, as it was also the final ALMS race at Sebring. I've been with the ALMS since its beginning and absolutely love the series. It's come to be my home away from home.
I hope this new series is going to take all of the good stuff from the ALMS and mix it with the good stuff from GRAND-AM. We're all waiting to see what the final version of the series is going to be but I'm looking forward to the one big championship.
In 2014, we'll be racing Corvette's newest generation car, the C7. It looks absolutely beautiful and I can only imagine what the race car will look like. I'm sure it will be fast and cool looking. We'll begin on-track development of the car once we get through Le Mans.
For me, it's one of the most exciting things of being a race car driver is that you do get to help develop something from day one. Especially when you do something like that with Pratt & Miller and Corvette, who really do things 100 percent, that makes it very enjoyable and exciting at the same time.
This winter I've started up my own team in the Danish Thundersport Championship, so there's been a lot of work with that. Luckily we've teamed up with a bunch of people who know what they're doing, so I can concentrate on my job in the ALMS.
But I'm very much looking forward to starting the season. The first race is in the beginning of May. We've been a little bit late in setting the team up but I think we're now back on schedule to be able to be 100 percent for the first race.
There are a lot of lessons learned throughout my career that I've been able to take to my new team. The most important lesson is that you need to wait until the situation is right before you do something.
You can have a dream or wish to do something great but if it's not the right time, you have to wait unit it is. Otherwise, it's easy to get disappointed. It's pretty much the same amount of work whether you win or lose, it just doesn't seem a waste of time when you win!
See you in Long Beach!
Jan
A winner in 12 of the 13 previous seasons of the American Le Mans Series, Jan Magnussen, a four-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, drives the No. 3 Corvette Racing C6.R in the ALMS GT category with Antonio Garcia. For more information, visit www.janmagnussen.com.
Monterey
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Driver-By-Driver Indy 500 Preview
Marshall Pruett takes a look through the field of 33 for Sunday's… -
INDYCAR: Boston Marathon Runners To Finish Race At Indy 500
35 runners from the 2013 Boston Marathon unable to finish the race… -
INDYCAR: Helping Our Heroes
Inside Panther Racing's "Operation: Hire our Guard" program, which… -
INDYCAR: Inside IndyCar's New Speed, Safety And Technology Initiative…
INDYCAR's Derrick Walker takes Marshall Pruett through where the… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the… -
VIDEO: Amazing 4-Wide Finish To Indy Lights Freedom 100
Ireland's Peter Dempsey came from fourth at Turn 3 on the last lap… -
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… - More News
