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LE MANS, France — There are four hours left in the race and the lone Audi #1 R10 continues to lead the race, but neither of the two Peugeots have given up and are running second and third a constant nagging threat to the Audi.

There is no lack of talent driving the #1 Audi but the closer that the clock gets to the 3 pm end time, the slower the second hand runs, and the louder every little incidental noise is to driver, crew chief, and crew.

It is not like the Peugeots have been flawless either. They have had issues with wheel bearings and have had to clean the radiator duct regularly on pit stops of loose rubber from the track.

There is another concern that is starting to look like it might be a concern and that is the weather. After brilliant sunrise and blue skies in the morning the clouds began moving in around 9 am. Whether they will bring showers like they did yesterday remains to be seen — but if the rains come — they could be the wild card that the Peugeots need in order to find their miracle in Le Mans.

At this point all either team can do is play the waiting game.

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LE MANS, France — We have just reached the halfway point and the results and it is still Audi running one and two with the Peugeot doggedly hanging on to third place five laps off the lead pace.

Setting that pace is the number two Audi driven by Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen, and Allan McNish. This threesome has been there before as has the Audi team and if they continue to drive smartly and keep the engines together this will be Audi’s seventh victory in the last eight years.

Ok, so it is just after one in the morning — two hours til
the halfway mark. Joe and I are mainlining expresso to
try and stay away but neither of us are particularly
wired. This time exposure shows what it looks like to
the camera to get passed down the front chute at night.

We will try and post any thoughts that we have at the
halfway point in two hours and some sort of a report on
the leaders.