Alex Job Racing - Washington victory resend

Washington, DC
race, July 21, 2002

sizzling win

Alex Job Racing finished first and third in the GT class in Sunday's American 
Le Man Series race in Washington, DC.   Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr scored 
their third class victory of the season in the No. 23 McKenna Xybernaut 
Porsche.  Their teammates Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister were third in 
the No. 22 Porsche.  All four were affected by the 100-degree  (F) 
temperature during the race.

Maassen started from the GT pole position in the No. 23 Porsche, but lost two 
positions during the first 40 minutes of the two-hour 45-minute race due to 
problems with the gearshift.  Luhr took over after 50 minutes and moved back 
to the class lead.  Maassen drove the last hour, holding the class lead to 
the checkered flag.

Lucas Luhr  "It was a really tough race.  We didn't expect [second-place 
finisher Kevin] Buckler running so strong.  When I got in the car, he was in 
the lead so I pushed it really hard.  At the end he made a mistake and I 
passed him on the front straight.  Then I was able to hold the position and 
pull away.  Our guys at Alex Job did a fantastic job on the last pit stop and 
that's why we had such a big lead at the end."

Sascha Maassen  "I have to say I'm really happy I'm out of the car!  
Everything was getting worn - and the driver as well, I must admit.  I wore 
out a little bit at the end, so it was not easy to concentrate and not make a 
mistake.  It was so easy to make a mistake here and we didn't do one, so I'm 
really happy."

Bernhard started the No. 22 car second on the GT grid, took the lead after 10 
minutes, then dropped to third after attempting a pitstop while the pits were 
closed.  Bergmeister took the second stint at 50 minutes, Bernhard drove the 
final hour and the pair finished third.

Timo Bernhard  "The beginning of the race was really good.  We were leading 
and I could have walked away from Sascha.  [during the first caution period] 
There were no 'pit closed' signs and I came in too early and went out third, 
but we finished quite close to them."

Jörg Bergmeister  "The car was okay, but the main problem was that the 
cooling system didn't work and at the end of the turn, the drinking system 
also didn't work.  It was pretty hot in the car so I came in a little bit 
earlier."

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Sylvia Proudfoot
403 287 3945
spur07@cs.com