Petit Le Mans Raceday

Oct 20, 2012 -  Due to a very cranky Internet connection here at Road Atlanta, it will be difficult for me to keep the blog updated during the race. I'll do my best but posts will be intermittent, as will the radio broadcast - sorry! Jennifer

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9:12-- Patrick was able to keep the 45 on track to take the checkered. He finished P5. The No. 44 was P7 in GT. The No. 01 ESM Ferrari won in GT. Sorry for the lack of posts during the race - lack of Internet here made it very difficult. Thanks for all of your support this season. Race report will be out later tonight at lizardms.com. Jen

9:07 – The No. 56 BMW passed Patrick – No. 45 now P5. Just a few more laps.

9:06 – Patrick has slowed to a 1:35 pace – he says that’s the fastest that he can do.  He is staying out  there’s not enough time to repair whatever might be the issue and the car is drivable. Positions: P1 No .01; P2 No. 3; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45. No. 44 P7.

9:01 – Patrick radios in that something is wrong. The No. 22 is off course in the gravel. Patrick says that there is a big vibration.

8:58 – No. 44 in the pits for a fuel top up. They are P7. Patrick radios in that he has a big vibration – they are calling him into the pits.  He says that something may have broken on the left front. They took four tires, and sent him on the way.  Car 22 is off drivers left in turn 2.

8:56 – The No. 55 is slowing. We are running 2 seconds a lap faster.the No. 44 will come in next lap for a very short fuel.

8:50 – the No. 55 is coming in for their final stop. They will have to take tires. We will have to stop but only for  a fuel top up so we may have an opportunity to move into P3.  No – looks like they backed off of the tires.

8:45 - No. 44 P7. No. 45 P4.

8:26 – If there are no more cautions, we have about 42 minutes left in the race.  Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 3; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45.

8:21. With the penalty, the No. 55 moves to P3. Patrick Pilet in the No. 45 is  just 3 seconds back from him. Marco Holzer still P8 in the No. 44.

8:18 – Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 55; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 45. The No. 55 was just given a stop and go penalty for fueling while the car was in the air. This will move the No. 3 Corvette to P2, but I think we will still be P4.

8:15 – The No. 55 BMW is in the pits. He was in the lead when the No. 3 pitted.  Patrick Pilet is now on the lead lap in P4. 

8:14 – No 3 Corvette is in the pits.

8:06 – Green flag. Patrick Pilet P4, marco Holzer now in the No. 44 – P8.

8:00 – Both Lizard Porsches stopped a final time under yellow for fuel. The No. 44 did their final driver change to Marco Holzer. 90 minutes left in the race.

7:47 – Full course caution to remove the car stopped on course. Patrick Pilet still in P4 after the pit stop. Nick tandy is now in the No. 44 – he’s P8. Positions: P1 No. 3; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 56; P 6 No. 17; P 7 No. 25; P 8 No. 44.  

7:46 – No. 45 I the pits for tires and fuel., Patrick Pilet stayed in the car. There’s a car stopped in the esses – dangerous location. It’s now fully dark.

7:28 – No. 44 in the pits for tires, fuel and driver change to Nick Tandy.

7:13 – The No. 01 Ferrari – the GT leader is in the pits – also early. Not sure what’s going on.This puts the No. 55 BMW into the lead, the No. 3 Corvette in P2 and the No. 01 in P3.  No. 45 still P4 and No. 44 P8. Patrick is one lap down on the leader.

7:12 - The No. 3 Corvette is in the pits. Their timing is a bit odd on this – they are in early. They were P2.

7:00 pm – 2.5 hours to go – No. 45 P4 with Patrick Pilet behind the wheel. No. 44 P8 with Marco Holzer. P1 No. 01; P2 No. 3 Corvette; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 17; P6 No. 56; P 7 No. 91; P 8 No. 44; P 9 No. 48.

6:56 – Marco overtook the No. 02 to take P8.

6:54 – Green flag. Patrick Pilet in the No. 45 still P4; March Holzer in the No. 44 P9.

6:39  - Big crash down the esses – 24 is off – not sure who else is involved. Full course yellow.

5:38 – Marco Holzer now P9 after the No. 48 pitted. Patrick still P4.

5:37 - Car off drivers left Turn 1 – may go double yellow again.

5:36 – Green flag.

5:32 – Still yellow.

5:30 – The No. 4 Corvette is in the pits with a problem. They are heading behind the wall. So that puts Patrick in P4. Positions: P1 No. 3 Corvette; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 45; P 5 No. 17; P6 No. 4; P7 No. 56. No. 44 P11.

5:27 – Positions: P1 No.4 Corvette, P2 No. 3; P3 No. 01 Ferrari; P4 No. 55; P5 No. 45; P6 No. 17; P7 No. 56; P8 No. 02; P9 No. 91.

5:18 – Green flag.

5:13 – 44 is in the pits for tires, fuel and driver change to Nick Tandy. No. 45 also in the pits – driver change to Patrick Long, tires and fuel. Still yellow.

5:10 – Still yellow. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 55; P5 No.. 91; P6 No. 45; P 7 no. 17; P 8 No. 56.

5:01 – double yellow to pull seth out of the gravel. For some reason, they waited a really long time to call the yellow, which gave all  of the GT cars time to get into the pits before the yellow.

4:59 – the No. 44 is off after getting punted by another car – I think it was the Lotus and is deep in the gravel. It should go yellow, but still green. 

4:53 – Joerg served the penalty and is back out on track .He is now P5. No. 44 P7. Positions: P1 No. 4 Corvette; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 55; P5 No. 45; P6 No. 91; P7 No. 44; P8 No. 17.

4:52 – No. 45 received a penalty for avoidable contact – stop plus 60 for the contact with the No. 60 Ferrari.

4:50 – Joerg stayed in the car – he’s now P5. Positions: P1 No. 4 Corvette; P2 No. 01 Ferrari, P3 No. 3 Corvette; P4 N. 55; P5 No. 45; P 6 No. 44. Joerg and seth are one lap down on the GT leader.

4:47 – Joerg will pit for four tires and fuel. They will shake the wheels and check the struts to see if there is any suspension damage. Joerg was P4 at the time of the pit stop. Seth is P6.

4:45 – Joerg and the  No 60 Ferrari  made contact as Joerg was trying to get by.Joerg went into the dirt and they made contact on the left front – appears OK. Left front is going down. He will probably have to pit – yes, left front going down – they will pit.

4:30  - Joerg is ack on track. – looks like he only lost one position – P1 No. 4; P 2 No. 01; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 55; P 6 No. 44; P7 No. 17. Joerg Bergmeister is in the No. 45 and Seth Neiman in the No. 45.

4:29 – No. 45 is in the pits for 7 seconds of fuel and for the crew to wipe the grass off of the front grille.

4:28 – Joerg must have gone off – the front is covered with grass. The water temp is going up. He was P4 at the time of the pit stop.

4:25- Car 60 and No. 02 are off course The 60 has heavy damage so we may go double yellow. He has continued – he is going slow around the course.  Joerg P3 and Seth P6 in the No. 44.

4:21 – Joerg is being held up by a slower Ferrari – he has the No. 3 Corvette just behind him and the No. 55 BMW just behind the No. 3 Corvette. P1 No. 4; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 3; P5 No. 55; P6 No. 44; P 7 No. 17; P 8 No. 02

5:17  No. 4 Corvette overtook the leader the No. 01 Ferrari to take P1. Joerg in P3 is just behind him and looking for his opportunity to pass too.  The No. 3 Corvette is close behind Joerg in P4.

5:14 – Green flag.

4:07 pm – The No. 44 is in the pits for driver change to Seth Neiman, tires and fuel. No. 45 is in the pits also – Joerg will stay in the car, tires and fuel. Joerg beat one of the Corvette and several other GT cars out of the pits.   It was the No. 3 Corvette, so that puts Joerg back in P3. In the No. 44, Seth is P6. Still yellow. Positions after that last pit stop: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 3; P5 No. 55; P6 No. 44; P 7 No. 02; P 8 No. 17; P 9 No. 91.

4:0 5 – Still yellow. Marco Holzer is in P5, nearly on the lead lap again. Joerg Bergmeister is P3.

3:51 – Joerg got back by the No. 3 and is now back to P3. He’s being held up by the No. 55 BMW which is 2 laps down. Car off drivers right turn 10 – car 66. Double yellow.  

3:49 – The No. 3 Corvette took advantage of traffic and overtook Joerg to take P4. Postitons: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 44.

3:43: No. 45 now P3; No. 44 P5.  GT Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 3; P5 No. 44; P 6 No. 55; P 7 No. 02; P 8 No. 17.

3:35 – One of the corvettes has a problem – large piece of rear bodywork flapping – he may have to come in.

3:33 – No 45 P3; No. 44 P5. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 3 ;P5 No. 44;  P 6 No. 55; P 7 No. 02; P 8 No. 17.

3:16 – Bergmeister is back out – he’s P3.No. 4 Corvette leads, No. 01 Ferrari P2, No. 45 P3, No. 3 P4; No. 17 P5; No. 44 P6; No. 55 P7.

3:13 – Patrick Pilet is in the pits in the No. 45 for driver change to Joerg Bergmeister, tires and fuel. They were P(3?) at the time of the pit stop. Marco Holzer currently P6 in the No. 44.

3:01 – Positions: P1 No 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 3; P5 No. 17; P6 No. 44; P7 No. 91; P8 No. 55; P 9 No. 02;  Marco Holzer in the No. 44 is not on the lead lap (after the last pit stop) but close – he may be able to get back on the lead in the next round of pit stops.  

2:55 – Nick Tandy pits for driver change to Marco Holzer, tires and fuel. He was P5 at the time of the stop.

2:55 – Patrick overtook the No. 3 Corvette to take P3. Nick still P5 in the No. 44 but he is on the lead lap.

2:27 - Positions: P1 No 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P 4 No. 45; P5 No. 44; P 6 No. 55;  P 7 No. 17; P 8 No. 91; P9 No. 02.  There are only seven GT cars on the lead lap. Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy in the Porsches.

2:18 – Positions: P1 No 01; P2 No. 3; P3 No. 4; P 4 No. 55; P 5 No. 45; P 6 No. 44; P 7 No. 17; P 8 No. 91; P9 No. 02.

2:14 – Positions:                     P1 No. 3; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 17; P4 No. 01; P4 No. 91; P 6 No. 55; P 7 No. 45; P 8 No. 44; P 9  No. 02.

  2:12 – No. 45 is in the pits for fuel, tires and driver change to Patrick Pilet. The car was P3 at the time of the stop.

2:10 – The No. 01 is in the pits.

2:01 – After Nick’s off and pit stop he is now P8, 1 lap down on the GT leader, the No. 01.

1:53 – Nick will pit this lap  - engine temps are rapidly rising and there may be an issue. Possible it may just have grass and dirt across the front grille. He was P5.

1:52 – Nick radioed in that he went off into the grass. He may come in for new tires.

1:49 – Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 3; P3 No. 4; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 44; P6 No. 17; P7 No. 91; P8 No. 55; P 9 No. 02.  

1:36 - Positions P1 No. 91; P2 No. 55; P3 No. 01; P 4 No. 45; P 5 No. 4; P6 No. 3, P7 No. 44; P 8 No. 17. P9 No. 02; P 10 No. 48. Patrick went off coming out of Turn 5- all seems OK.

1:23: Positions P1 No. 91; P2 No. 55; P3 No. 01; P 4 No. 45; P 5 No. 4; P6 No. 3, P7 No. 02;  P 8 No. 44; P 9 No. 17. P10 No. 48.

1:17 – Green flag.

1:12 – Both Lizard Porsches are in the pits. Driver change to Nick Tandy, tires and fuel in the NO. 44.  No driver change in the No. 45. Positions P1 No. 91; P2 No. 55; P3 No. 02; P 4 No. 01; P 5 No. 45; P 6 No. 4; P 7 No. 3 P 8 No. 17; P 9 No. 44. P10 No. 48.

1:04  - Double yellow.

1:02- Slow car in the esses – looks like he is stuck- offline drivers left. May go yellow.

12:57 – The No. 01 Ferrari got by the No. 4 Corvette to take P2. Positions: P1 No. 3; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 4; P 4 No. 45; P 5 No. 91; P 6 No. 55; P 7 No. 02; P 8 No. 17; P 9 No. 44.  One of the Vettes went off and very wide – not sure what happened. Patrick has moved to P3. No. 44 P10.

12:52 – Green flag. Positions: P1 No. 3 Corvette; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 01; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 02; P6 No. 91; P 7 No. 44; P 8 No. 55; P 9 No. 17.

12:45 – Positions: P1 No. 3 Corvette; P2 No. 4 Corvette; P3 No. 01; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 44; P 6 No. 02; P 7 NO. 92; P 8 No. 44; P 9 No. 17; P 10 No. 48.

12:34 – Double yellow.

12:31 – Positions: P1 No. 4; P2 No.3; P3 No. 01; P 4 No. 45; P5 No. 55; P 6 No. 02; P7 No. 91; P 8 No. 44. P9 No. 17; P 10 No. 48.  The MuscleMilk prototype went off, impacted the tire wall and is now stopped just off course.

12:30 – Driver change to Patrick Long in the No. 45.

12:30 – Joerg will pit this lap. The No. 4 Corvette is in the pits.

12:30 – Car off in Turn 1 – it’s the 01 I think.

12:27 – No. 44 is in the pits. Driver change from Marco Holzer to Seth Neiman. He was P5 at the time of the stop.

12:27 – Positions: P1 No. 4; P2 No. 01; 3 No. 45; P4 No. 02; P5 No. 44; P6 No. 17; P 7 No. 3; P8 No. 55; P 9 No. 91; P10 No. 48.

12:24 – No. 3 Corvette in the pits. They were P3 at the time of the stop. Both Lizard Porsches are getting ready to pit.

12:20 - . Positions: P1 No. 4; P2 No. 01; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 02; P6 No. 44; P 7 No. 91; P 8 No. 17; P9 No. 55.

12:12 – The No. 4 Corvette got by the No. 01 to take the GT lead. No. 01 now P2.

12:10 – The No. 56 BMW went off course but rejoined. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 02; P6 No. 44; P 7 No. 91; P 8 No. 17; P9 No. 55.

12:08 –No .55 BMW is in the pits. It’s an early stop  for them – they may be having tire issues. He was in P4.

11:56 – The No. 93 Viper is in the pits – lots of grass on his grille so looks like he went off. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No. 55; P 5 No. 45; P 6 No. 44; P 7 No. 02; P8 No. 93; P 9 No. 91; P10 No. 17.

11:55 – The No. 48 has a problem and is slow on course. He’s made it into the pits but there is debris on course so it may go yellow.

11:53- Looks like the No. 56 BMW has a broken suspension from the incident with one of the prototypes that sent him off course. He’s in the pits for a lengthy stop.

11:50 The No. 56 BMW, which was right behind Joerg, went off in the gravel and is now coming into the pits.This moves Marco to P7.  Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No.93;  P5 No. 55; P6 No. 45; P7 No. 44; P 8 No. 02; P9 No. 48; P10 No. 17.  

11:49 – The No. 3 Corvette overtook the NO. 93 Viper to take P3.

Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 3; P4 No.93;  P5 No. 55; P6 No. 45; P7 No. 56; P 8 No. 44; P 9 No. 02; P10 No. 48.

 

11:49 – The No. 93 viper in P3 is off the pace a bit and holding up the group behind him.

11:47 – The No. 3Corvette overtook the No. 55 BMW to take P4.

Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 93; P4 No. 3;  P5 No. 55; P6 No. 45; P7 No. 56; P 8 No. 44; P 9 No. 48; P10 No. 02

11:43 – Marco overtook the No. 48 to move back to P8. Joerg still P6.

Positions: : P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 93; P4 No. 55;  P5 No. 3; P6 No. 45; P7 No. 56; P 8 No. 48; P 9 No. 44; P10 No. 23.

1:41 – The GT field is running nose to tail. The No. 3 Corvette went inside on 12 and overtook to take P5. Joerg now P6.

1:36 – Joerg up to P5. Positions: P1 No. 01; P2 No. 4; P3 No. 93; P4 No. 55;  P5 No. 45 ;P6 No. 3; P 7 No. 56; P 8 No. 48; P 9 No. 44; P10 No. 23.

11”33 – Clean start. Positions: P1 No. 01 ;P2 No. 4; P3 No. 55; P4 No. 93; P4 No. 3; P6 No. 45; P7 No. 56; P 8 No. 48; P 9 No. 44; P10 No. 17; P 11 No. 23.

11:33 – Green flag.

11:29 – Pace laps underway. Marco Holzer in the No. 44 and Joerg Bergmeister in the No. 45. Marco is starting 8^th in GT, Joerg is sxith in GT. No. 01 Ferrari is P1.