9:05- Joerg finishes P2! He was able to pass the No. 55 but was too far back to make any progress on the No. 51. Congratulations to the Lizards for another great race this year. The No. 44 finished P8 - another great finish for them - the No. 44 finished in the points every race this year. It's been a long, tough season - thanks to our fans, friends and family for all of your support. See you all in a few months . Jen
9:02 - 2 more laps.
9:00 - Green flag. Joerg P3, Marco P8. Joerg is 1 lap ahead of the P4 car, Marco is 2 laps ahead of the P9. Joerg is chasing the No. 55 BMW in P2 - they are less than 1 second back.. Marco is after the No. 58 Ferrari - 10 seconds back.
8:57 - when (and if) we get restarted (they are trying to get teh No. 05 off course with a tow) we will only have a few laps left.
8:51 - Double yellow. They need to get all of the disabled cars back in and hopefully deal with the oil on the track. Joerg still behind the No. 55 BMW. Joerg is P3, No. 55 P2. No. 51 P1.
8:49 - lots of cars spinning on track. Can't tell if anyof them got together. All continued. Prototype still off in the grass , I think at Turn 2.
8:46 - He's caught him again.
8:44 - Joerg was held up by a slow Ferrari and lost some ground to the No. 55.
8:35 - Joerg (in P3) has caught the No. 55 BMW (in P2) and is pushing him hard looking for an opportunity to pass. Marco is now P8 in the No. 44. About 20 minutes left or so.
8:19 - Joerg 6 seconds back from the No. 55 BMW in P2. No. 51 still leads. No. 56 BMW still in the pits - not sure what the issue is. Joerg is one lap ahead of the P4 car - the No. 4 Corvette.
8:16 -No. 56 back in the pits - not surewhat the issue is - looks like a flat. Joerg moves to P3. No. 51 P1; No. 45 P2. No. 59 just spun on track and lots of smoke as they extinguish flames. Driver is out of the car.
8:10 - No. 55 has passed Joerg to take P3. Joerg now P4.
8:08 - Positions: P1 No. 51; P2 No. 56; P3 No. 45; P 4 No. 55; P 5 No. 17. No 44 in the pits for driver change to Marco Holzer. No. 44 in P9. Clean stop for the No. 44. Joerg is 7 seconds back from the No. 56 in P2.
8:05 - Pilet is in the pits. Driver change to Joerg Bergmeister, tires and fuel. No. 51 also in the pits for driver change, tires and fuel. Clean stop for the No. 51 and for the No. 45.
8:03 - Patrick Pilet currently P2. He and No. 51, in the lead, have not yet pitted..
8:01 - No. 55 in the pits for drive change, tires and fuel. No. 56 also in the pits. No. 4 also pits. No. 56 had been P2. 45 will pit shortly
6:59 - No. 06 deep in the gravel drivers left. Again... another yellow. Ugh.
6:57 - Green flag. Patrick P3. No. 51 P1; No. 56 P2; No. 45 P3, No. 55 P4 and now on the lead lap with us. No. 17 P5. No. 44 P9.
6:56 - No. 44, in P9, in the pits for driver change to Darren Law, tires and fuel.
6:52 - Patrick in the pits for driver change, tires and fuel. Patrick Pilet is in the car. Still yellow. Patrick Pilet is back out in P3.
6:40 - Big wreck involving the No. 1 Audi which was P2. Romain Dumas is out of the car and walking to the medical vehicle. Very disappointing for Audi - the No. 2 is still running, but is many laps down after problems early in the race. Yellow flag.
6;36 - patrick still P3, Marco still P9. About 2.5 hours to go... No. 51 in the lead. No. 56 P2.
6:32 - Marco radios in vibration left front, I think. Patrick is 8 seconds back from the leader, No. 51 Ferrari.
6:23 - Green flag.
6:21 - Marco back in the pits for a second short fuel. Still yellow.
6:16 - No. 44 in the pits for fuel only. Marco will stay in the car. He is P9. Patrick is still P3. P1 No. 56; P2 No. 51; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 4; P 5 No. 55; P 6 No. 17. Still yellow
6:13 - Patrick in the pits. Tires and fuel. He will stay in the car.
6:11 - Still yellow. Patrick P3 in the No. 45, Marco P9. Patrick will pit this lap for tires and fuel.
5:55 - Another incident on track - double yellow. The 64 Lotus in the wall at Turn 12.
5:53 No. 55 slow on course. He is in the pits, he was p3. Patrick Long now moves to P3.
5:50 - In the No 44, Marco Holzer now P9 after the driver change. No. 51 still leads, No. 45 P4 - Patrick Long behind the wheel.
5:48 - No. 44 in the pits for driver change to Marco Holzer, tires and fuel. He is P8. CAr 18 off drivers right Turn 7 .
5:47 - Positions: Positions: P1 No. 51; P2 No. 56; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45; P 5 No. 4; P 6 No. 17.
5:44- Incident involving multiple cars at Turn 10. They were able to get out of the way. The No. 01 ESM Ferrari has a right rear tire puncture.
5:41 - No. 4 Corvette in the pits. Patrick P4.
5;36 - No. 01 Ferrari in the pits. This moves Patrick Long to P5. Seth P9.
5:18 - We are back to green flag racing. Patrick P6, Seth P9. No. 51 now in the lead, No. 01 P2. No. 4 P3; No. 56 P4; No 55 P5; No. 45 P6. No. 44 P8.
5:10 - Patrick P6 and on the lead lap. No. 01 P1 (they did not pit in the last round); No. 51 P2 (also did not pit); No. 4 P3; No. 56; P 4; No. 55 P5; No. 45 P6. No. 44 is P8. No. 44 will pit shortly for the crew to replace the passenger mirror, which shattered when it came loose on the last pit stop.
5:06 - Still yellow. Joerg is in the pits for driver chagne to Patrick Long, tires and fuel. He is P6. No. 56 also in the pits
5:03 - Seth P8. Still yellow. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 56; P3 No. 51; P4 No. 55; P5 No. 4; P 6 No. 45; P 7 No. 17; P 8 No. 44.
4:56 - Joerg now P6. Seth P9. Double yellow.
4:38 - Joerg reports left front tire down. He is in the pits for earlier than scheduled pit stop and tire change.
4:36 - No. 02 ESM Ferrari just rolled slowly by our pit stall with a problem.
4:34 - Positions: P1 No. 51; P2 No. 45; P3 No. 01; P4 No. 56; P5 No. 55; P6 No. 4; P7 No. 17; P8 No. 02; P9 No. 58; P10 No. 44; P 11 No. 48.
4:32 - Darren Law in the No. 44 is in the pits for driver change to Seth Neiman, tires and fuel. he is currently P9. Joerg is now P2 as the No. 4 Corvette is in the pits. The No. 44 passenger mirror came loose in the pit stop, causing a few second delay in the stop.
4:27 - Joerg now P5 after the BMW pit stops. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 51; P3 No. 4; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 56; P6 No. 55; P7 No. 17; P 8 No. 01; P9 No. 44. No. 45 will pit in about 15 mins. No. 01 ESM Ferrari in the pits. No. 44 will be in shortly
4:20 the No. 55 BMW is in - this is probably for their scheduled pit stop.
4:17 - No. 56 in the pit swith a tire puncture. He was leading GT. No. 01 takes the lead.
4:01 - GT leader No. 56 now physically right behind Joerg on course. If the 56 overtakes Joerg, he will be 1 lap down. Positions: P1 No. 56; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 4; P4 No. 51; P 5 No. 55; P 6 No .01; P 7 No. 45. No 44 P9.
3:59 - Joerg is in the pits - he was P3. Four tires.
3:57 - Joerg reports left front going down - tire pressure alarm.
3:51 Correction - wasn't the 01 that received the penalty was the 1 Audi and also the 012. Joerg is P4 now though after the Falken car pitted. Positions: P1 No. 51; P2 No. 56; P3 No. 01; P4 No. 45;. No. 44 with Darren behind the wheel is P9. The No. 51 is out of pit sequence with us - they should pit shortly putting Joerg into P3.
3:40 - Penalty to car No. 01 - working on a car while refueling. Stop and go plus 20 seconds. No. 01 is right in front of Joerg, so this will put Joerg into P4.
3:36 pm - No. 02 ESM Ferrari pitted, No. 51 takes the lead. No. 45 now P5.
3:35 - The Lotus is off drivers right Turn 3.
3:34 - Big spin right in front of us on front straight - luckily he missed impacting the wall and any other cars and continued.
3:30 - No. 4 Corvette also pitted. Positions are now: P1. No. 02; P2 No. 51; P3 No. 17; P4 No. 56; P 5 No. 01; P 6 No. 45; P 7 No. 4; P 8 No. 55; P9 No. 58; P 10 No. 44. The GT cars are on different pit stop sequences.
3:28 - Patrick Pilet in the pits for driver change to Joerg Bergmeister, tires and fuel. No. 44 also in the pits for driver change to Darren Law, tires and fuel. No. 01 ESM Ferrari, which had been the GT leader, also pitted.
No. 4 Corvette stayed out and is now P1. No. 02 ESM Ferrari also stayed out and is P2.
3:22 -No. 56 BMW in the pits. Both Lizard Porsche will be in in about 5 laps. No. 55, the GT leader, slow on course with left rear tire puncture. No. 01 ESM will take the lead, with No. 45 P2. Marco Holzer now P10.
3:14 - No. 4 Corvette on Pilet's bumper now.
3:07 - Car slow in the esses.
3:04.. The No .56 BMW is right behind Patrick Pilet, looking for an oportunity to get by. He just overtook - 56 now P3, Patrick P4.
2:55 -Patrick Pilet overtook the No. 02 ESM Ferrari to take P3.
2:51 - Green flag.
2:35 - Yellow flag. again...both cars will stay out during this caution.
2:21 - Lead GT positions: P1 No. 55; P2 No. 02; P3 No. 01; P4 No. 45. P5 No. 4; P 6 No. 56; P 7 No. 59.
2:20 - No. 44 in the pits for tires and fuel. Still yellow. Marco Holzer will stay in the car. The No. 02 ESM Ferrari is slow on course.
2:17 -No. 45 is in the pits for tires and fuel and a tearoff. Still yellow. Pilet will stay in the car. he was P3 at the time of the stop.
2:09 - No. 44 will come in for tires under this yellow. No. 45 will get a passaround.
2:07 - Car off in five. Not a factor. Deep in the gravel. Double yellow. It's our neighbor here in pit lane, the No. 12 Rebellion prototype.
1:55 - Patrick Pilet now P4 in the No. 45. No 51 Ferrari P3. No. 55 BMW still leads. No. 02 ESM Ferrari P2; No. 51 Ferrari P3. No. 44 P11 with Marco Holzer behind the wheel.
1:42 - Patrick Long in the pits for driver change to Patrick Pilet, tires and fuel. No. 59 also in the pits as is the No. 55.
1:34 - No. 44 is in the pits with a possible problem. Driver change to Marco Holzer. Marco is out again after fuel. He will evaluate if there is an issue - if OK he will stay out.
1:32 - Seth radios in that there is something wrong. He is pitting. They will fuel first.
***
1:26 - No. 02 ESM ow P3 and close on Patrick's tail.
1:15 - Positions: P1 No. 55; P1 No. 45 P2; No. 59 P3; No. 02 P4; No. 4 P5; No. 17 P6. No. 44 P13.
1:13 - Patrick is by the No. 61. Now he has some ground to regain on the No. 55. No. 44 is P13.
1:11 - Patrick held up by slower GTE-Am Ferrari (No. 61). This is letting the 55 BMW build a larger gap.
1:04 -Patrick Long overtook the No. 02 ESM Ferrari for P2. No. 55 BMW P1.
1:00 - No start when expected, remains double yellow.
12:58 - Still yellow, patrick now P3. The GT field is split about 50/50 on their pit stop sequence. the No. 45 is with the No. 55, which is now P1, and the No. 01 ESM Ferrari P2.
12:55 - Darren in the pits for driver change to Seth Neiman.
12:45 - Double yellow - car in the tire wall at Turn 1.
12:44 - Patrick P8. Darren P7.
12:40 -No. 56 BMW overtook No. 3 Corvette for P2. No. 4 Corvette in the pits. No. 58 Ferrari still P1. Patrick P9, Darren P7. Looks like No. 4 was in to serve a penalty, I missed the reason for it. No. 4 is now P13.
12:36 - Patrick P9 after the last pit stop. No. 59 Ferrari is close on Patrick’s tail, with the No. 4 Corvette just behind him. No. 44 P6.
12:31 - Green flag. No. 58 is P1. No. 3 Corvette P2, No. 56 BMW P3. None of those three cars pitted during the last yellow.
12:26 - Joerg is in the pits for driver change to Patrick Long, fuel and tires. No. 55 also in the pits, as is 59. Darren Law now P13.
12:17 - Jaguar on fire on track. Double yellow.
*** Internet connection here is intermittent at the moment so blog updates may be less frequent. Hopefully it will improve over the day ***
12:05 - The No. 59 Ferrari is right on Joerg’s bumper - Joerg is right behind the No. 55 - they are running nose to tail. Joerg still P2, No. 55 P1.
11:40 - Joerg is chasing the No. 56, the No. 59 Ferrari and both Corvettes are right behind Joerg. Positions: P1 No. 55; P2 No. 51; P3 No. 56; P4 No. 45; P 5 No. 59 ; P 6 No. 4; P 7 No. 3.
11:35 - No. 55 BMW passed the No. 51 for the lead.
11:30 - Green flag. Clean start for the field. Joerg held position at the start but was held up but a slow prototype. Positions now: P1 No. 51; P2 No. 56; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45. We started P4 i nt the No. 45 and P 12 in the No. 44. Joerg and Darren are in the cars.
11:23 - Engine start.
11:20 - 10 minutes from race start. Drivers are in their cars on the grid. Several cars, including Falken are starting from pit lane.
We are broadcasting our team radio live. Unfortunately my Internet connection here is not great so the connection will go up and down over the day. If you lose connection, wait a few minutes and refresh. Direct link here http://tinyurl.com/46ds4qr
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10:06 - Reports in that the Risi No. 62 hit the wall on the recon lap. Not sure what happened or how much damage. There are still several cars waiting in the wings to take any positions which open up.
10:00 - Recon laps are underay. Jerg is out in the No. 45 already, Darren is getting ready to head out in the No. 44. this is the final chance for the cars to sort out any issues before they head to the grid.
9:40 - Checkered flag on morning warmup. Recon laps begin at 10. No. 45 was P2 and No. 44 P7 in the morning session.
9:33 - Patrick Pilet takes over for Patrick Long. No. 45 currently P5.
9:29 - Driver change in the No. 44 to Seth Neiman.
9:26 - Patrick in the pits to check tire pressures and make a damper change. He is P3. He reports the car feels pretty good this morning. It's cool out - temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees overnight. Highs only in the upper 60s today.
9:23 - Patrick Long currently P in GT. Marcho Holzer is P11 in the No. 44
9:21 - Both Lizard Porsches have finished their install laps and breaking in new brake pads. They will be up to speed this lap. Warmup is 25 minutes, followed almost immediately by recon laps. Any cars that have issues in morning warmup will have a tough time getting things sorted out by racestart.
9:17 - One of the BMWs still in the pits - possibly an issue there.
9:15 am - Morning warmup is underway. Marco Holzer is in theNo. 44 and Patrick Long in the No. 45- heading out on their outlap now.
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