Officially, its the Peugeot on top — in qualifying

BRASELTON, Ga. — Peugeot crossed the Ts and dotted the Is in qualifying today to take the two front row positions for Saturday’s Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA 2 at the 2.54 mile Road Atlanta track. It was the second straight year that the Peugeot team garnered the front row, again at the expense of the vaunted Audi team that was third and fourth and will fill the second row of the grid.

The top Peugeot was driven by Anthony Davidson who had Peugeot 908 HDi .222 seconds ahead of the second place sister car by 0.222 seconds. That Peugeot was driven Pedro Lamy.

Davidson’s  top qualifying time was made all-the-more remarkable as the Brit spun the car off the track last night while trying to pass a GT car in the downhill esses. His crew was up til 4 am repairing the damage to the car which included replacing the gearbox, engine, suspension pieces and bodywork sections.

“We’re very committed to winning this,” Davidson said. “We’ve been testing a lot with the 908 and working on setup for this track. We had a bitter taste left in our mouth after Le Mans so we want to really finish up strong.”

However, while the Audi Team is once again chasing the Peugeots, the margin between the two teams has shrank significantly. The lead Peugeot has regularly had a one second or better lead over the fastest Audi, but when the smoke cleared from qualifying there was less than half-a-second difference between the first place Peugeot and the third place Audi (the No. 9 Audi driven by Benoit Treluyer). The fourth place Audi was less than a second behind the leader, and it is clear that the Allan McNish, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen team has been trying every trick in the book to improve the R18.

One thing is certain, the Audi team will not go silently into the night and the Peugeot team knows that nothing will be handed to them on the proverbial silver platter; they will have to drive a near perfect race to repeat their feat of year in the rain-shortened event.

In the LMP2 class, it was Guy Smith in the Lola B09 88 Mazda posting the top time.  It is Smith’s second pole on the season and he picked a great time to uncork another fine lap, besting the second place Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder by .113 seconds. David Brabham qualified third in LMP2 for Patrón Highcroft Racing only .144 seconds behind the leader. He will try to clinch the Series’ LMP driver and team championship with Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti. All the trio needs is to finish 70 percent of the P2 class-winner’s distance to accomplish this task.

In the GT2 class it was a Ferarri day with the Risi Competizone Ferarri 430 GT taking time with Jaime Melo doing the driving honors. Melo outpaced Gianmaria Bruni by just 0.181 seconds in the second Risi car. The F430, set to race for the final time in the Series this weekend, took the top four positions in class.

Ferrari is part of a three-way battle for the GT manufacturer championship with Porsche, who leads, and BMW. One of the Ferraris needs to win in class, Porsche to finish fifth and BMW to place fourth for the Italian marque to reclaim the championship.

The top 12 GT2 cars are all bunched within 1.73 seconds with the top 10 cars less than second apart.

Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA 2
Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
Friday’s qualifying

1. Marc Gene, Barcelona (ESP); Alexander Wurz, Monte Carlo (MON); Anthony Davidson, Brackley, Northamptonshire (UK); Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (P1), 1:07.187, 136.098
2. Pedro Lamy, Lisbon (PT); Franck Montagny, Grandvaux (FR); Stephane Sarrazin, Ales (FR); Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (P1), 1:07.409, 135.650
3. Marcel Fassler, Gross (CH); Andre Lotterer, Duisburg (DE); Benoit Treluyer, Alencon (FR); Audi R15 (P1), 1:07.610, 135.246
4. Dindo Capello, Canelli (IT); Tom Kristensen, Monte Carlo (DK); Allan McNish, Monte Carlo (MC); Audi R15 (P1), 1:08.112, 134.249
5. Jon Field, Dublin, OH (US); Clint Field, Dublin, OH (US); Ben Devlin, England (ENG); Lola B06/10 AER (P1), 1:10.128, 130.390
6. Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY (US); Guy Smith, Bracken, Yorkshire (GB); Andy Meyrick, Chester (UK); Lola B09 86/Mazda (P2), 1:10.417, 129.855
7. Sascha Maassen, Lontzen (DE); Klaus Graf, Germany (DE); Lucas Luhr, Monte Carlo (DE); Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:10.548, 129.614
8. David Brabham, Maidenhead, GB (GB); Simon Pagenaud, Montmorrillon, FR (FR); Marino Franchitti, Edinburgh, Scotland (GB); HPD ARX-01c (P2), 1:10.661, 129.407
9. Tony Burgess, Toronto (CA); Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA (US); Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ (US); Lola B06 10/AER (P1), 1:14.109, 123.386
10. Ricardo Gonzalez, Monterrey (MX); Luis Diaz, Mexico City (MX); Ryan Lewis, Indianapolis, IN (US); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:15.296, 121.441
11. Elton Julian, Santa Monica, CA (Spa); Gunnar Jeannette, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Christian Zugel, Holmdel, NJ (US); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:15.525, 121.072
12. Kyle Marcelli, Barrie, ON (CA); Chapman Ducote, Miami Beach, FL (US); David Ducote, Houston, TX (US); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:15.610, 120.936
13. Jacques Nicolet, Paris (FR); Frederic Da Rocha, Cenon (FR); Patrice Lafargue, Nantes (FR); Pescarolo P01/Judd (P2), 1:15.989, 120.333
14. Frankie Montecalvo, Highlands, NJ (US); Eric Lux, Jacksonville, FL (US); Alex Figge, Denver, CO (US); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:16.250, 119.921
15. Scott Tucker, Leawood, KS (US); Christophe Bouchut, France (FR); Mark Wilkins, Toronto, ON (CN); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:16.483, 119.556
16. Scott Tucker, Leawood, KS (US); Marco Werner, Kreuzlingen (DE); Burt Frisselle, Aspen, Colorado (USA); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:18.342, 116.719
17. Giancarlo Fisichella , Rome (IT); Jaime Melo, Milan (BR); Mika Salo, Monte Carlo (FI); Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 1:19.889, 114.459
18. Toni Vilander, Kankaanpaa (FIN); Gianmaria Bruni, Rome, IT (Ita); Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 1:20.070, 114.200
19. Ed Brown, Las Vegas, NV (US); Guy Cosmo, West Palm Beach, FL (US); Joao Barbosa, Portugal (POR); Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 1:20.165, 114.065
20. Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL (US); Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA (US); Dominik Farnbacher, Ansbach (DE); Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 1:20.185, 114.036
21. Dirk Mueller, Monte Carlo, Monaco (DE); Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA (US); Andy Priaulx, Guernsey (GB); BMW E92 M3 (GT2), 1:20.322, 113.842
22. Jan Magnussen, Roskilde (DK); Oliver Gavin, Yardley Hastings, GB (GB); Emmanuel Collard, Paris (FR); Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (GT2), 1:20.598, 113.452
23. Olivier Beretta, Monte Carlo (MC); Johnny O’Connell, Flowery Branch, GA (US); Antonio Garcia, Barcelona (ES); Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (GT2), 1:20.675, 113.344
24. Joerg Bergmeister, Langenfield, DE (DE); Patrick Long, Bellaire, FL (US); Marc Lieb, Ludwigsburg (DE); Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:20.768, 113.213
25. David Murry, Atlanta, GA (US); Rob Bell, Northamptonshire (GB); Anthony Lazzaro, Atlanta, GA (US); Doran Design Ford GT (GT2), 1:20.777, 113.201
26. Bill Auberlen, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Tommy Milner, Leesburg, VA (US); Dirk Werner, Kissenbrück (DE); BMW E92 M3 (GT2), 1:20.812, 113.152
27. Bryan Sellers, Braselton, GA (US); Martin Ragginger, Austria (AUT); Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:21.560, 112.114
28. David Robertson, Ray, MI (US); Craig Stanton, Long Beach, CA (US); Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI (US); Doran Design Ford GT (GT2), 1:21.619, 112.033
29. Andrew Prendeville, Chatham, NJ (USA); Harri Toivonen, Helsinki Finland; Peter Dempsey, Dublin (IRE); Radical SR9/IES (P2), 1:21.820, 111.758
30. Marc Goossens, Huntersville, NC (Bel); Ryan Dalziel, Orlando, FL (Sco); Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, MI (USA); Jaguar XKRS (GT2), 1:22.898, 110.304
31. Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ (US); Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA (US); Marco Holzer, Lochau (AUS); Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:24.887, 107.720
32. Tim Pappas, Boston, MA (US); Jeroen Bleekemolen, Monte Carlo, Monaco (Net); Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, Haarlem (The); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:25.141, 107.398
33. Henri Richard, Los Altos Hills, CA (FR); Andy Lally, New York, NY (USA); Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, CA (USA); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:25.364, 107.118
34. John Potter, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Andrew Davis, Lilburn, GA (USA); Ryan Eversley, Winder, GA (USA); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:25.482, 106.970
35. Shane Lewis, Jupiter, FL (US); Lawson Aschenbach, West Palm Beach, FL (US); Jerry Vento, West Palm Beach, FL (US); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:25.746, 106.641
36. Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT (US); Romeo Kapudija, South Barringon, IL (US); Jan-Dirk Lueders, Barrington Hills, IL (US); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:26.300, 105.956
37. Robert Rodriguez, Zephyr Cove, NY (USA); Galen Bieker, Burbank, CA (US); Kris Wilson, Huntington Beach, CA (US); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:26.628, 105.555
38. Bryce Miller, Summit, NJ (US); Luke Hines, Essex (Eng); Pierre Ehret, Tegernsee (DE); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:26.874, 105.256
39. Loren Beggs, Montclair, CA (US); Doug Baron, Pacific Palisades, CA (US); Rene Villeneuve, Woodland Hills, CA (US); Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 1:27.713, 104.249
40. Paul Drayson, London, GB (GB); Jonny Cocker, Guisborough, GB (GB); Emanuele Pirro, Monte Carlo (IT); Lola B09 60/Judd (P1), No Time,
41. Brandon Davis, Henderson, NV (US); Boris Said, San Diego, CA (US); Townsend Bell, Santa Monica, CA (US); Doran Design Ford GT (GT2), No Time
42. Andy Wallace, England (ENG); Butch Leitzinger, Rebersburg, PA (US); Tomy Drissi, Los Angeles, CA (US); Jaguar XKRS (GT2), No Time
43. Ian James, Phoenix, AZ (GB); Benjamin Leuenberger, Switzerland; Panoz Abruzzi (GT2), 0, 0
44. Antonio Downs, Minneapolis, MN (USA); Lucas Downs, North Mankato, MN (USA); Matt Downs, North Mankato, MN (USA); Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), No Time
45. Timo Bernhard, Dittweiler (DE); Romain Dumas, Ales (FR); Mike Rockenfeller, Monte Carlo (DE); Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid (GTH), No Time.

Road Atlanta: The Peugeot rises to the top

BRAESELTON, Ga — Stephane Sarrazin, getting dry pavement finally, put the diesel-powered Peugeot 908 HDI factory prototype on the top of the leaderboard with a lap of 1:08.777 (132.951 mph) to better his Audi counterpart by more than a second during the evening practice session. While a rain cell had dogged the Road Atlanta track for most the day, by 5 pm the skies cleared and the evening session was on a fast-drying track.

Topping the LMP2 class was the Acura HPD Arx-01c driven by Patrón Highcroft Racing’s David Brabham who skated around the 2.54 mile track in 1:12.261 just a tick of clock ahead of the Muscle Milk Porsache RS Spyder, that toured the Georgia hillside in 1:12.321 with Lucas Luhr doing the piloting honors.

Ferarri jumped to the head of the class in the GT2 class turning a fast lap of the evening session with Guy Cosmo pushing on the go-juice while Olivier Beretta in a C6.R Corvette turned in the second fastest time in the class with a time that was .174 seconds slower. In third place in the ultra competitive class was another Ferarri, Risi Competizione’s Gianmaria Bruni who posted a best lap that was .208 seconds off the pace.

Rain hangs around for pm practice

BRASELTON, GA — A cell of rain clouds literally rained on the Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA 2  parade during practice this afternoon with only nine cars taking to the track. Fastest qualifier of the session was Rob Bell. The British driver set the time in the new Robertson Racing Ford GT-R that he is driving with David Murry and Anthony Lazzaro.

He was .382 seconds faster than Timo Bernhard in the in the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, running as an unclassified entry.

There is a third two-hour evening session beginning at 7 pm that is mandatory for all drivers. While the rain cell, according local weather experts, was suppose to have moved out of the area by the afternoon session, officials and racers alike are hoping for precipitation-less session.

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