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2007 Detroit Grand Prix: ALMS race action
Click the photo of the Audi R10 overtaking the Ferrari F430 for more race action
In qualifying for the first ever American Le Mans Series race in Detroit, the LMP2 class cars put the mighty Audi R10s in their place. The diesel racers that have dominated for almost two years were relegated to the fourth row of the grid. However. once the green flag fell all bets were off. If you're a race fan and you love to see cars battling for position on the track, not to mention seeing a variety of different kinds of cars sharing it, check out the ALMS. The Detroit race ran two hours and forty-five minutes and the action never let up. If you haven't watched the race but plan to do so, stop reading now. Otherwise for results follow the jump.
Gallery: 2007 Detroit GP: ALMS Race
Six LMP2 cars qualified ahead of the Audis, but as they approached the checkered flag it was a battle between Romain Dumas in the #7 Penske Porsche RS Spyder and Emanuele Pirro's Audi R10 TDI .Ultimately, the Porsche crossed the line six seconds ahead. Dindo Capello brought the second Audi home in third. Johnny O'Connell led Oliver Gavin in the GT1 Corvettes three and four laps back respectively in tenth and eleventh overall.
Jaime Melo was one more lap back, taking the GT2 crown in one of the Risi Ferarri F430GTs. There was some on-track drama as well when Johannes van Overbeek had to evacuate his Flying Lizard Porsche 911 after fifty-three laps as the car burst into flames leaving a large plume of black smoke rising into the clear sky.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2/LS7? 11:44PM (9/03/2007)
I avoided reading this since I hadn't watched yet. Now sadly, no one will read this.
Oh well.
It's becoming more and more clear the R10 just isn't a good car, and the reason is seemingly the heavy Diesel engine. It's great in relatively straight lines, but over bumpy tracks or around corners, it just can't keep up.
It appears Audi gave up a lot of performance to get that Diesel motor in there.
I know Diesels are faring quite well in the Dakar Rally, but they aren't really making the grade in sports car racing just yet.
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