Flying Lizard Motorsports - Porsche Endurance Racing

Mid-Ohio August 6, 2011 - Raceday

6:15 - Checkered on a very disappointing and very soggy Mid-Ohio. What should have been a great finish for the Lizards disintegrated in the last 10 minutes to a P9 finish for the No. 45. No. 44 was P10. To cap off the race, it stopped raining at exactly 6:15 pm ET - race end.  No. 17 Falken Porsche won in GT.

Congratulations to  Falken for their first race win of the season!

We'll be back with you in 2 weeks for Baltimore - see you then - Jen

6:05 - Finally red flag. So  most likely they will call the end of the race. GT finishing order will be: P1 No. 17; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 55; P 4 No. 56; P 5 No. 01; P 6 No. 03; P 7 No. 04; P 8 No. 48; P 9 No. 45; P10 No. 44.

6:02 - Patrick is back on course but radios in that he can barely keep up with the pace car.  Hopefully this is not the case and he hasn't caught the pack yet because the pace car is going about 5 miles an hour.  Patrick radioed in that his windshield wiper is also no longer working. We are officially not having fun.

 5:56 - No. 45 slid off course in the torrrential rain and is also stuck in the gravel. What a huge mess. It is raining so hard that the drivers can't see and the track is a lake. they finally called yellow but too late for the No. 45. They pulled Darren out and he was able to continue, still P11.  I think they have Patrick out now. Still yellow. 

 5:54 - Very heavy rain - one of the GTC cars spun and is facing hte wrong way - luckily eeryone behind was able to avoid him and he continued. Patrick held the lead and is still  P1. One of the Corvtetes spun in 4 but continued .One of the ESM Ferraris went way off line but made it out of the gravel and back on track. Another Corvtte spun on course. darren is off and deep in the gravel. Cars are sliding left and right. Darren radios in that he can't get it into reverse to get it out of the gravel.

5:53- Green flag.

5:52 - Still yellow.

5:45 - Green flag. Risi had a problem on the restart after colliding with one of the BMWs and looks like he broke something in the suspension. He is stuck on course.  The No. 3 Corvette made a run on the restart to overtake Patrick but didn't make it - Patrick retains the lead - he is still P1. Yellow flag to remove the Risi Ferrari. No. 44 moves to P11.

5:41 - No. 62 is pitting for rain tires. Still yellow. he was P1. Patrick moves to P1.

5:35 - still yellow. Positions: P1 No. 62, P2 No. 45; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 4; P 5 No. 01; P6 No. 55; P 7 No. 17, P8 No. 56. No. 44 is P12.

5:29 - One of the BMWs went off in the gravel. Yellow flag to remove the No. 18 which went into the gravel.  I think Patrick will be P1 at the restart once all of the GT cars have pitted. I think the No. 62, which is P2 is still on slicks. No. 4 Corvette, in P1, I believe has also not yet pitted.

5:26 - No. 44 pits for rain tires and fuel. Darren stayed in the car. No. 56  and No. 55 also in the pits. Track is now very slippery. No. 62 spun on track.  I will report positions as soon as the field resorts. Cars are spinning all over the track - those who have not yet swtiched to rains.

5:24 - Heavy rain. No. 45 pits for  rain tires,  fuel. No. 3  Corvette also came in. No. 45 made it out ahead of the No. 3.  Patrick stayed in the car.

5:22 - Both Lizard Porsches will pit shortly for their final scheduled stops for fuel and tires. The challenge is the rain - it's starting to rain, and they need to decide if they want to switch to rains now. If they don't, and it rains hard, they will need to do another stop.

5:19 - Car off drivers left Turn 9 - one of the ESM Ferarris spun and looks like light impact with a prototype. Heavy rain coming - 30 minutes out.

5:13 - Patrick has fallen back a bit from the No. 4 - he is now 4 seconds back and 5 seconds ahead of the No. 3 Corvette. Patrick needs to manage his tires at this point until the next pit stop for tires.

5:10 - Positions: P1 No. 4 Corvette; P2 No. 45; P 3 No. 3 Corvette; P4 No. 01 Extreme Ferrari; P5 No. 55; P6 No. 02 Ferrari . Darren is P13 in the No. 44.

5:08 - The No. 56 BMW is in the pits for a driver change.  He was P3.

5:02 - Light rain starting. Possible heavy rain imminent.

4:57 - Patrick held P2 at the start - he is putting pressure on the No. 4 Corvette in P1. The No. 56 BMW is 3 seconds back from Patrick.

4:56 - Green flag.

4:52 - Looks like like the pace car had a problem - so they are temporarily using one of the safety cars.

4:52 - Not sure what happened there but the whole group nearly stopped on the front straight behind the pace car. luckily no one ran into anyone else... Still yellow.

4:50 - No. 44 will pit under yellow for fuel - Darren will stay in the car.

4:48 - Still yellow. This yellow is both good and bad for the No. 45 - Patrick has closed the gap to the No. 4 in P1, but the No. 56 BMW in P3 has also closed his gap to Patrick. On the restart, the GT leaders will all be nose to tail. Positions: P1 No. 4; P2 No. 45; P3 No. 56; P 4 No. 55; P 5 No. 3; P 6 No. 01; P 7 No. 02; P 8 No. 62. No. 44 is now P13.

4:41 - Double yellow - No. 06 is stopped on course.

4:31 - Patrick moves to P2 in the No. 45 as the No. 04 pits. No. 4 Corvette is P1, No. 56 BMW P3. 

4:27 -  A hiccup on the restart cost the No. 45 a few seconds out of the pits, Patrick  he made it out ahead of one Corvette, but not the No. 4.  Patrick is now P4. The No. 04 did not pit and is now the leader, No. 4 Corvette is P2 and will take the lead when the No. 04 pits. The No. 45 is P3, the No. 56 and No. 55 BMWs, which got together after their first pit stop, are now P4 and P5, respectively.

4:26 - After rejoining, Both BMWs appear to have gotten together and one spun on course.  No. 45 is in the pits for driver change to Patrick. Both Corvettes are also in thepits.

4:25 - Car off - double yellow. Most of the GT field is pitting, No. 45 will stay out for the moment. Both BMW s are pitting together, as is No. 62.

4:21 - No. 44 is in the pits for driver change to Darren Law. he heads out in P14. No. 62 Risi Ferrari received a stop and go penalty for contact with the No. 99 Jaguar. After serving the penalty he is now P3 - just in front of Joerg, who is P4. leader remains the No. 4 Corvette, No. 56 BMW is P2. No. 55 BMW P5.

4:18 - Joerg reports that the  No. 55 BMW hit in in Turn 2. We didn't have TV so weren't able to see it. Joerg held his position - still P4.

4:07 pm - Lead GT positions remain unchanged. Joerg still P4, with the No. 55 BMW still chasing him. Seth Neiman is P14 in the No. 44.

3:59 - Car off drivers right, Turn 4. He has continued.

3:55 - The No. 55 is hard on Joerg's tail but so far Joerg has been able to hold him off.

3:53 - Lead GT positions remain unchanged. P1 No. 4 Corvette; P2 No. 62  Risi Ferrari, P3 No. 56 BMW; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 55; P6 No. 3.  Joerg reports strong understeer again.

*** Reminder we are broadcasting team radio live - to listen, go to www.lizardms.com.

3:34 - GT positions: P1 No. 4; P2 No. 62; P3 No. 56; P4 No. 45; P 5 No. 55; P 6 No. 3.

 3:33 - The No. 4 Corvette and the No. 62 (in P3) also overtook the No. 56 BMW - the No. 4  Corvette now has the lead. Joerg is now behind the No. 56, still P4.

3:32 - The No. 4 Corvette made a move at the start, jumping ahead of Joerg and the No. 55 BMW. Joerg followed him  through to also pass the No. 55 BMW.  Joerg is now P4.  The No. 56 BMW was on the pole and held the lead at the start.

 3:31 pm ET -  - Green flag.

 3:24 pm ET  - Pace laps are underway. Joerg Bergmeister is in the No. 45 and Seth Neiman in the No. 44. Joerg is starting fourth on the GT grid, Seth is 15^th.

*******

9:10 am ET - Checkered flag on morning warmup. Patrick was P2 in the session with a 1:22.128. He reports that the car feels pretty good - still a bit of understeer in some corners but the car is very balanced. Dirk Mueller in the No. 56 was P1 with a 1:21.848. Johannes van Overbeek P3 in the No. 01 Ferrari.  Darren Law in the No. 44 is P10. Race start 3:30 pm ET today- streamed on ESPN3.com.

********

9:05 am ET - Patrick is P1 with a 1:22.128.  He is coming into the pits - he may go out for one more lap. 5 minutes left in the session.

9:03 am  ET - Patrick P2. Darren P10. 7 minutes left in the session.

9:00 am ET - Patrick reports very low grip. He is currently P7. Darren Law is P13.

8:51 - Neiman pits for driver change to Darren. Patrick is also heading into the pits.

8:45 am ET - Green flag on morning warmup. Patrick Long is in the No. 45 and Seth Neiman in the No. 44. Weather: very high humidity but no rain so far. Mid-80s.

8:30 am ET - Good morning from Mid-Ohio. We are just a few minutes away from morning warmup- our last track time before this afternoon's race. Race starts at 3:30 pm ET and is streamed live on ESPN3.com.

Reminder that we are broadcasting our team radio live during morning warmup and the race. To listen, go to lizardms.com.

Mid-Ohio- August 5 - Practice and Qualifying

August 5, 2011 -

2:55 - Checkered flag on GT qualifying. Joerg was P4 in the No. 45 with a 1:20.917. Joey Hand of the No. 56 BMW is on the pole with a 1:20.539. Dirk Werner of the No. 55 BMW is P2 with a 1:20.655. Jaime Melo of the No. 62 Risi Ferarri is P3 with a 1:20.745. No. 4 Corvette is P5 with a 1:20.944. The top five GT cars are separated by four tenths of a second. Seth is P15 in the No. 44. 

2:50 - Joerg is now P4 - Joey Hand in the No. 56 has moved up to the pole with a 1:20.539.

2:48 -  No. 62 now P1 with a 1:20.746; No. 55 P2 with a 1:20.882. Joerg is P3 with a 1:20.917. No. 56 is P4 with a 1:20.933. No. 44 P15.

2:47- Joerg now P5. Guy Cosmo P1 in the No. 02 Ferrari with a 1:21.206.

2:46 - Joerg improved his time to a 1:21.381 on his third lap, but still P3. Oli Gavin now P1 with a 1:21.233.

2:44 - Joerg is P3 after 2 laps with a 1:21.495- two-tenths back from Jaime Melo in the No. 62, who is P1.

2:40 - Green flag on qualifying. Joerg is in the No. 45 and Seth in the No. 44.

****

2:15 - Checkered flag. Qualifying will begin in 25 minutes at 2:40. Qualifying streamed live on ESPN3.com. Joerg was P2 in the session.

2:13 - Joerg P2 with a 1:21.264

2:06 - Both cars are in the pits for final changes before the session ends. No. 44 will get a tire pressure adjustement. Joerg reports that he is still battling mid-corner understeer  on throttle. Joerg says traffic is terrible. Well he actually said something else, that's the edited version. Seth is going out for a few final laps, Joerg will also go out again briefly.

2:02 - Joerg P3 at a 1:21.349. Joey Hand in the No. 56 is P1 with a 1:21.067. No. 62 is P2. . Just under 15 mins left in the session.

1:53 - Joerg is in the pits - reporting more mid-corner understeer.

1:50  - Darren is in the pits for driver change to Seth. 25 minutes left in the session. Qualifying starts at 2:40 pm

1:47 - Joerg is in the pits.  He is still P4. The last change helped with connecting the front and rear, but he picked up more understeer at the same time.

1:38  - Darren appeared unexpectedly in the pits for another change. He's asking for more mid-corner grip.

1:33 - Car spun inside of Turn 9 - not a factor. Still green. Joerg still P4. Darren P10.

1:30 pm ET - Green flag. 45 minutes left in this session.

1:21 pm - Afternoon practice is underway. Joerg is in the No. 45, Darren in the No. 44.  It's warmed up considerably since yesterday.  Someone is off in the gravel - not sure who it is. Probably will go red. Joerg is happier with the car than this morning, but the front to rear balance is still off. He is P4 right now. Darren is also happier with the car but still looking for more front grip.

****

10:30 - Checkered flag on the session. Patrick was P3. We'll be back with you at 1:15 for the second practice session of the day.

10:23 - Patrick now P3 in the No. 45. 7 minutes left in the session.

10:13 - Patrick back in the pits for a change. He's P7 - with a 1:22.051. P1 is Jan Magnussen with a 1:10.944.

10:01- Red flag - Gold GTC Porsche is off in teh gravel. The No. 04 Robertson Ford is also stopped at pit exit. We'll switch to Darren Law in the No. 44, Patrick will stay in the No. 45. 30 minutes left in the morning session. Next practice is at 1:15, then qualifying at 2:40. Correction - No. 44 is done for the session - they are heading back to the paddock.

9:50 am ET - Joerg is P4 - back in pit lane for another change.  Joerg reports very low grip this morning - still very strong understeer today, the front of the car has no grip. Driver change to Patrick in a few minutes.

 9:45 am ET - Good morning from Mid-Ohio. Morning practice is underway. Seth Neiman is in the No. 44 and Joerg Bergmeister in the No. 44. Joerg is P5 in GT right now - he's in pit lane as the crew works on a setup change.  Jan Magnussen is currently P1.



Mid-Ohio - Aug. 4 - Practice Session

Thursday August 4, 2011 -

6:00 pm ET - Checkered flag on the practice session today. We'll be back with you for practice tomorrow, Friday  starting at 9:30 am ET. Qualifying is at 2:40 pm ET.

5:50 - Joerg is in the pits. Seth will pit shortly for a rear ride height change.  Joerg reports it is very easy to lock up the car - understeer is an issue. Car is very sensitive on the asphalt patches - which makes the car a bit nervous, and the front feels a bit stiff. 10 minutes left in today's session.

5:41 - Green flag.

5:32 - Black flag all again - back to the pits. Darren reports the Gold GTC off in the gravel at Turn 11.  Driver change in both cars - to Seth in the No. 44 and Joerg in the No. 45.

5:28 - Green flag. Darren and Patrick are heading back on course. Patrick will run a few more laps then driver change to Joerg Bergmeister. Patrick currently P4. Darren P11.

5:23 - Black flag at start/finish - not sure what this is for, but everyone is coming back to the pits. We don't have cameras or race control on this test day. Darren reports that a car is deep in the gravel so they'll have to tow him out.

5:18 - Both Porsches back in the pits.  Both cars reporting extreme understeer.  No. 44 will make a bumpsteer change in the rear.

5:16 - Patrick P4, Darren P 10. Patrick radioed in that the track is getting dirtier and dirtier as more cars run off line and into the dirt.

5:08 pm -Both Lizard Porsches are back in the pits for changes. Patrick's main issue right now is throttle on understeer. No. 45 will make a damper change.

5:03 pm ET - Patrick P2 with a 1:22.011. Oli Gavin is P1 in the No. 4 with a 1:21.945. Patrick reports that the balance is good so far.

5:01 pm ET - Darren radios to No. 44 engineer Steve Conover that he is ready for the first setup change. He'll pit this lap. He is currently P6. Patrick Long is P3.

Darren's initial report - back is stable but issues with the front - mid-corner understeer.

 4:45 pm ET

Good afternoon from Mid-Ohio. We are minutes away from green flag on the first session of the weekend. Darren Law is in the No. 44 and Patrick Long in the No. 45. This is our only session today - we'll start GT/GTC only, then go combined at 5:20 pm ET.

The weather has cooperated so far this week - with a light cloud cover keeping the temperatures down but no rain yet. The wind is picking up a bit so it's possible we might have some sprinkles during this 70 minute session.

In the No. 45, Patrick will start by bedding new pads and rotors.