BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada — Frank Sinatra said it best in his classic tune “That’s Life” for which the lyrics of the first stanza go:
That’s life, that’s what all the people say.
You’re riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I’m gonna change that tune,
When I’m back on top, back on top in June.
Klaus Graf and Romain Dumas, drivers of the CytoSport Muscle Milk Porsche RS Sypder can relate to those words after taking the win at the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport in the second to last event of the American Le Mans Series in a race that was red flagged after 2:19 was complete due to a horrendous crash on the Andretti Straight dammaged the ARMCO barrier, taking out more than 25 yards of the protective fencing.
The Team has been through the rollar coaster of emotions over the last three events that began at the Mid-Ohio in Lexington, OH the first weekend in August when team driver Greg Pickett had an off-course excursion that saw him go into the tire barrier, wreck the car, and prang his back. While Pickett was “OK” after further tests showed his back injury he was forced to sit out the rest of the season.
Last weekend at Road America, the team was leading through the last before a combination of low fuel and a red-hot Drayson team caught them with less than a quarter mile to go in the race, as they finished in second place.
But there was no stopping the Muscle Milk Porsche RS Sypder this weekend as they were fastest in testing, turned top time in qualifying for the pole, and took the checkered flag in the abbreviated race.
In second place was the series leading Patron Tequila sponsored HPD Acura with David Brabhad and Simon Pagenaud doing the driving honors.
In the GT class, the winner was Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister in the Flying Lizards Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Risi Competizione’s Toni Vilander and Gimmi Bruni placed second in their Ferrari F430 GT. Vilander started from the rear of the grid due to Jaime Melo being removed from the entry due to an illness. Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner finished third for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team.
The cause of the red flag was a crash involving Luke Hines in the then class leading GTC Porsche. Hines on the outside of the track was clipped by fellow Englishman Jonny Cocker in the Team Drayson Lola Judd coupe, sending him off the track and violently into the ARMCO barrier. The wrecked racer then richocheted back on to the track. Hines was shaken up by the crash but appeared to be physically ok after the race.
With but one race left on the series schedule, the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta, nearly every class has something for drivers to race for beyond the victory at the race.
Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport
Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Sunday’s results
1. (1) Romain Dumas, Ales; Klaus Graf, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (1, LMP), 99.
2. (3) David Brabham, Maidenhead, GB; Simon Pagenaud, Montmorrillon, FR; HPD ARX-01c (2, LMP), 99.
3. (5) Tony Burgess, Toronto; Johnny Mowlem, London; Lola B06 10/AER (3, LMP), 98.
4. (8) Elton Julian, Santa Monica, CA; Gunnar Jeannette, Salt Lake City, UT; Oreca FLM09 (1, LMPC), 95.
5. (10) Scott Tucker, Leawood, KS; Christophe Bouchut, France; Oreca FLM09 (2, LMPC), 95.
6. (4) Paul Drayson, London, GB; Jonny Cocker, Guisborough, GB; Lola B09 60/Judd (4, LMP), 95.
7. (2) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, Bracken, Yorkshire; Lola B09 86/Mazda (5, LMP), 94.
8. (7) Christian Zugel, Holmdel, NJ; Frankie Montecalvo, Highlands, NJ; Oreca FLM09 (3, LMPC), 93.
9. (21) Andy Wallace, England; Scott Tucker, Leawood, KS; Oreca FLM09 (4, LMPC), 93.
10. (6) Ricardo Gonzalez, Monterrey; Luis Diaz, Mexico City; Oreca FLM09 (5, LMPC), 92.
11. (11) Patrick Long, Bellaire, FL; Joerg Bergmeister, Langenfield, DE; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (1, GT), 92.
12. (28) Toni Vilander, FInland; Gianmaria Bruni, Rome, IT; Ferrari 430 GT (2, GT), 92.
13. (12) Bill Auberlen, Redondo Beach, CA; Tommy Milner, Leesburg, VA; BMW E92 M3 (3, GT), 92.
14. (13) Oliver Gavin, Yardley Hastings, GB; Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (4, GT), 92.
15. (15) Johnny O’Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (5, GT), 92.
16. (14) Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Ferrari 430 GT (6, GT), 91.
17. (9) Kyle Marcelli, Barrie, ON; Chapman Ducote, Miami Beach, FL; Oreca FLM09 (6, LMPC), 91.
18. (17) Bryan Sellers, Braselton, GA; Wolf Henzler, Nuertingen, DE; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (7, GT), 91.
19. (20) Ed Brown, Las Vegas, NV; Guy Cosmo, West Palm Beach, FL; Ferrari 430 GT (8, GT), 90.
20. (27) Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (9, GT), 90.
21. (19) Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, MI; Marc Goossens, Huntersville, NC; Jaguar XKRS (10, GT), 87.
22. (24) Shane Lewis, Jupiter, FL; Lawson Aschenbach, West Palm Beach, FL; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (1, GTC), 86.
23. (23) Tim Pappas, Boston, MA; Jeroen Bleekemolen, Monte Carlo, Monaco; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2, GTC), 86.
24. (25) Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Mitch Pagery, Deerfield Beach, FL; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (3, GTC), 86.
25. (22) Bryce Miller, Summit, NJ; Luke Hines, Essex; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (4, GTC), 78.
26. (16) Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Dirk Mueller, Monte Carlo, Monaco; BMW E92 M3 (11, GT), 48.
27. (18) David Murry, Atlanta, GA; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Design Ford GT (12, GT), 48.
28. (26) Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B06/10 AER (6, LMP), 43.
29. (29) Henri Richard, Los Altos Hills, CA; Andy Lally, New York, NY; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (5, GTC), 32, Accident.
