ALMS: Double Distance Michelins Help Panoz End Audi Win Streak at 14
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 6, 2001
(Portland) Taking advantage of the pit stop time saved by running their Michelin tires a double distance, David Brabham and Jan Magnussen teamed to drive their year old #50 Panoz LMP1 Roadster S from the pole position to take the victory at today's Grand Prix of Portland.
Their margin of victory was a scant .0374 seconds over the #2 Audi R8 of Emmanuel Pirro and Frank Biela. Third place went to Johnny Herbert and Andy Wallace in the #38 Champion Audi R8.
Overtaken by Tom Kristensen in the #1 Audi R8 heading into the first turn, Brabham repassed Kristensen 15 minutes later and led until the first pit stop at the one hour mark. The Audi team opted to double-stint their Michelins and emerged from the pit stops with a big 20 second advantage, but Brabham, steadily whittled the margin to just 3 seconds to set up the second and final round of pit stops.
When the lead Audi stopped to take on fuel, change tires and drivers, Brabham was able to hand off the Panoz to Magnussen and regain nearly 15 seconds from their expected pit stop by double stinting their Michelins, returning to the track several seconds ahead of the #1 Audi. When a gearbox actuator failed on the pursuing #1 Audi, Magnussen still had to withstand a pair of late race caution flags that set up a furious dash to the finish. Magnussen held off Pirro in the #2 Audi for the victory and the end of a remarkable Audi 14 race victory streak.
Text provided by Bob Andrew
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .