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PRUETT: Thursday/Friday Petit Le Mans Blog
Written by: Marshall Pruett   
10/04/2008
Braselton, GA
 
'Romain Briscoe.' (Photo: Infineon Raceway) » More Photos


Yes, I’ve had to combine both my Thursday and Friday trackside reports into one post – it’s been an overwhelming event already, and the race has yet to start!…

Romain Briscoe

Romain Dumas has been called many things in his life – but ‘Ryan Briscoe’ wasn’t one of them. I’d known about Romain’s IndyCar test for his boss Roger Penske for a while, and before rumors get started, no, the test wasn’t to evaluate him for a ride next year, and started hunting down details to find out about how his day in an IRL car went. The test was a carrot Roger dangled in front of Romain late last year when looking to give the Frenchman an extra bit of incentive to win the manufacturers title for Porsche, but admittedly, Penske was more curious to see how his ALMS ace would fare in a new discipline.

Penske Racing didn’t have a photographer on hand when Dumas tested at Sears Point (‘Infineon Raceway’) in August, so I rang their helpful media office to ask if their staff shooter had taken and pictures of Romain’s big day.

As they looked through the shots they had, I was told over the phone that, “These are all titled ‘Ryan Briscoe’ and these are the only ones we hav…….wait, who’s helmet is that? Does Dumas have an all-silver helmet? The rest are of Briscoe with his yellow helmet, so I wonder if we goofed on labeling the photo…”

They sent over the shot shown here, and to my knowledge, it’s one of the only photos of Romain’s IndyCar test. Thanks again to the folks at my home track!
Good on Roger for giving Romain a run-out in his IRL car. Romain kept the lap times vague, but it was clear he was competitive in his turn at the wheel of a Dallara-Honda. (Photo: Porsche) » More Photos

Dumas told me he thoroughly enjoyed getting re-acclimated to open-wheel cars. “We already spoke about that challenge from Roger last year and, for sure, for me, I came from single seat but the last time I drove single seat was in 2002 and we said, ‘Okay.’ Roger, all the time, said, ‘I would like to see you test the car.’ And he said also to the people, ‘I would like to see him in an Indycar car to look what's going on.’ And well, last year already we tried to make it but it was difficult to make the test. You know, we are busy here, they are busy in IRL. Suddenly, this year in June we start to discuss again to make it. So I drove in Sonoma – it was a long time that I didn’t do driving in a single-seater but, for sure, we had such a good car here with the Spyder, with a lot of downforce in the corners, so I was not completely surprised right when I started to drive the Indycar.”

It took Romain and Penske’s Indycar team more than one try to put the test day together. “It was planned to do in Mid-Ohio. So I said, ‘Mid-Ohio – we had a lot of success there already.’ It's not easy... it's not so hard because it's not so quick. But Mid-Ohio was canceled and right when I leave – it was a funny story – they called me just one hour before I was to take the plane to come in America to say, ‘Oh, Mid-Ohio is canceled.’ So I was very disappointed. And after, they say, ‘Okay we do again but this time will be in Sears Point.’ I was very happy but I knew that Sears Point, it would be very quick. I drove only one time in GT in 2003, I think, there. It was not easy, for sure, but I would like to say straight on I set a good lap time. It was good. We made a lot, a lot of testing during this day with the team – about 70 or 80 laps. So there was the two target: first don't crash, stay on the road – because, for sure, they will be not happy. I was not here for that. So this one was to have a good level, to try to give a good feedback because Penske is not doing a test for fun or for free or for holiday, you have to work and it was a day of work!
Romain at home with his familiar helmet in a Porsche RS Spyder. The Frenchman is tres rapide in everything he drives. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Despite an aggressive fitness regimen tailored for the demands of endurance racing, Dumas found the IndyCar a more physically demanding car to drive; it needs to be abused on a road course to go fast – the opposite of his Porsche RS Spyder.

“And at night, when I took the plane, I can tell you, when you don't do a single seat for a long time and, even more, without power steering, I can tell you, at night after the test you remember all that…it's not so easy…everything hurt very much…all my muscle that don’t get used in the ALMS become VERY tired this day. So when I took the plane, I was happy and calm…my sleep was good…”

Wheels of Fortune

While we’re on the topic of Penske Racing, The Captain’s team surprised me on Thursday when they revealed a set of trick aero BBS wheels on the #7 car of Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard during practice.

The wheels were originally presented to scrutineers at Le Mans this year by one of Porsche’s LMS teams, but the wheels were deemed illegal and were never seen on track. Our friend Sam Collins of Racecar Engineering spend the better part of a week then trying to get a photo of the wheels, but Porsche smartly hid them away and denied their existence.
Looking at the asymmetrical arc on the wheel's aero-lip, it appears that the piece was welded to the wheel and ground flush. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Fast forward to Petit Le Mans where a manufacturers title is on the line and the trick wheels reappear. They were used by the team in qualifying, but another friend of SPEEDtv.com, ‘Muslanne Mike’ Fuller reports that while IMSA allowed the wheels in the sessions leading up to the race, rumors are that they won’t be permitted for the 10 hour race itself.

It’s not a mistake that Penske made a move in this direction; similar wheels have been used in IndyCars for years and were known to provide a 1-2mph advantage over regular non-aero wheels at Indy. They work to reduce excess external airflow into and through the wheel – at a track like Road Atlanta with many long straights, they would have a serious impact on aiding straightline speed. Penske qualified 1-2-3 in class, by the way…

The wheels aren’t forged as one-piece aero wheels – the outer lip appears to be welded in place, and I saw boxes of new BBS wheels that weren’t painted or nickel plated – they look to have had the lip added and time to have run out before their aesthetics could be sorted.

I spoke with John Slagle at BBS about the new wheels they provided for Penske…and he stared right back at me and denied their existence just as he should have. “BBS wheels? Penske? I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

Lol-ana? ElanaLola?

AutoCon’s new Lola LMP1 car was dinged pretty badly in an accident that involved a Flying Lizard Porsche, and required serious repairs to made to the carbon chassis in order to make the race this Saturday.
AutoCon's Lola B06/10 in pre-bent form. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

AutoCon owner/driver Michael Lewis said, “ Scott Atherton from the ALMS was
at my trailer within thirty minutes of the crash to offer any help their Elan Technologies chassis department might provide. He sent a truck and the car was on its way down the road ten minutes to their facility. How lucky is that? How cool is that for them to jump in and help like that?”

There were initial concerns from Lola about having a non-Lola authorized facility do the repair work – something about Lola needing to sign off on the paperwork before the car would be eligible to compete this weekend. It’s safe to assume that after a call from the ALMS, Lola relaxed their stance and agreed to sign off on the repair work done by the same company that produced the Panoz DP01 ChampCar chassis and the many Panoz ALMS prototypes.

Rather silly for Lola to pitch a fit over that, wasn’t it?

A Gidley on the Prowl

Sportscar star Memo Gidley has been a steady presence in the ALMS paddock this week, looking for a ride at Petit and the Laguna Seca finale. Can I ask why Memo ISN’T in a prototype this weekend? Of the many drivers drafted in from other series for one-off appearances, Gidley should have been much higher up on people’s ‘must call’ list.

The Californian-by-way-of-La Paz, Mexico finished 3rd overall at Petit in 2006 with Highcroft Racing, and 3rd in the P1 class last year with Cytosport Racing. A natural pick as a guest driver this weekend, no?
Memo Gidley. » More Photos

Memo’s been in the ‘other sportscar series’ this year driving a Dallara-Ford for Doran Racing, but it’s possible that as Doran’s team fought through mixed results while learning a new car, Gidley’s profile wasn’t as high as its been in years past.

He told me today that one of the better P1 teams are interested in him for Laguna, and other opportunities for 2009 are slowly developing. “I can’t say who I’m talking to, but I really hope to he in the ALMS next year if possible. I’m happy where I am now, but it’s killing me to see these cars and how much faster they’ve gotten in just the last year since I raced here. This is a pretty attractive series right now…”

The CART veteran’s attacking driving style would suit the new era of ‘every race lap is a qualifying lap’ American Le Mans events. Add in his strong legion of fans and easy going style and an ALMS team would have an instant star on and off the track.

For all of the class the ALMS delivers, Gidley’s funkier approach to life would add a nice touch of style our younger fans can connect with.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Panoz driver Joey Hand became a father for the second time in September and has enjoyed many sleepless and dirty diaper-filled nights in the run up to Petit Le Mans. “It’s a blessing, of course, but its also been brutal…” the sleepy-eyed Sacramentoan said.
Joey Hand can look forward to an exciting 2009, but this weekend, he'll have a 10 hour break from changing diapers as he races for Panoz at Petit Le Mans. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

He’s in a fortunate, if not complex place in his career. With offers in ALMS GT2 and Grand-Am DP next season, Hand is mulling over which path to follow. “What a problem to have, eh? Yeah, I have a lot of thinking and talking things out with my family to do in the next few weeks; it’s great to be in demand like this, but it also means I have to choose one great opportunity over another, so I’ll have to choose carefully. But before I get to that point, I need to get some rest here this weekend so I’m recharged to become daddy again at home!”

Good luck on diaper duty, Joey.

Gil de Ferran, Your Package Has Arrived

ALMS photographer Dan R. Boyd and I found ourselves laughing out loud on pit lane as we stood in front of the de Ferran Motorsports pits. Team owner Gil de Ferran, fully suited and about to drop down into his Acura ARX-01b’s seat, was standing in the cockpit, and aptly named opening in the case of this story, and for reasons not fully understood, spent the better part of fifteen seconds voraciously adjusting his ‘package’ in plain site of far too many people.
Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud witnessed something they'd like to forget... (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Maybe his suit is too tight…maybe he was just excited to drive…I don’t know. But I do know that Dan and I laughed even harder when we looked over and saw Gil’s teammates Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud also cracking up when they noticed Gil’s protracted adjustment session. The Kiwi looked away immediately while Pagenaud opted to watch the remainder of Gil's burlesque show.

After a good while of pulling and tugging at his suit, and while completely oblivious to the four of us laughing out loud while in sheer amazement of Gil’s oblivious behavior, de Ferran finally snaked his way into the cockpit and buckled in for a short stint in the car.

Hey Gil…let’s keep it PG-13 next time, OK buddy?...

OK, I’ve used every bad euphemism I can think of…let’s move on to the last few items.

MISC:


Special Delivery from England
Acura designer Nick Wirth. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Nick Wirth revealed to Radio Le Mans pit reporter Nick Daman that the first Acura ARX-02a LMP1 car ships from the UK next week. He wouldn’t elaborate any further, but I’d have to assume the car is destined for Patron Highcroft Racing.

I hope to have more info shortly on other aspects of Acura’s exciting new P-car.

In Memory of PLN

Paul Newman will be honored this weekend by most teams as they adorn their cars with 'PLN' stickers for Petit Le Mans. Paul's well known initials are a fitting addition to the cars in a series he competed so fiercely in under the IMSA banner.
Most teams are carrying 'PLN' stickers to honor the passing of IMSA veteran Paul Newman. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Listen to Me Ramble

These are great times for sportscar racing, aren’t they? I grew up in the IMSA GTP era and always looked back at them as the ‘Golden Era’ of sportscar racing in America, but I’ll be honest: We’re in the midst of a time I know I’ll look back with equal reverie and fondness for my beloved GTP series. I worked in GTP for one season – 1990, and never thought I’d live in a time again where the cars, drivers, venues, and races were so incredible.


Marshall Pruett is Automotive and Sportscar Racing Editor for SPEEDtv.com. Pruett grew up at "Pruett's Olde English Garage," his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits. Pruett spent twenty years working in various open-wheel and sportscar series, retiring from active duty in 2001. And in case you were wondering, no, he isn’t related to Scott Pruett.

He can be reached at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.
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