279 Cars Head to Mid-America Races

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES TEAMS HEAD TO MID-OHIO 

FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST SPORTS CAR RACE WEEKENDS IN NORTH AMERICA

 

Dublin, Ohio (May 19, 2006) - With an estimated 279 cars competing this
weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in Lexington, Ohio, the American Le
Mans at Mid-Ohio will be one of the largest sports car race weekends in
North America.

 

Not only will there be a large number of competitors, cars and teams, but
all major automotive manufacturers in the world will have a factory team
competing in one of 10 races at the newly repaved 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio Sports
Car Course circuit. 

 

The American Le Mans Series teams are coming off a Friday night stint in
Houston, where the Audi R8 survived the attrition that claimed its closest
competitors to send Allan McNish and Dindo Capello to their second straight
victory at the Lone Star Grand Prix.  After winning in the debut of the
diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI at Sebring, McNish and Capello piloted the No. 2
Audi Sport North America Team Champion Audi R8 to an overall win at Houston
and they'll attempt to make it three-for-three when they hit the most
competitive road course in the country at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this
weekend.

 

The Audi R8 is going for its third victory at Mid-Ohio in Series competition
as the American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio will mark the second race of the Audi
R8's three-race 'farewell tour.' With 48 American Le Mans Series victories
since 2000, plus five overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the R8 will
give way to the new diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI starting in July. 

 

Chris Dyson, Guy Smith, James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger will look for
redemption this weekend after a disappointing run in Houston as Dyson Racing
returns to the scene of its historic 1-2 overall finish in the 2005 American
Le Mans at Mid-Ohio event.

 

"I think we should have a very competitive package at Mid-Ohio.  Our Lolas
have always done well here and last year's results couldn't have been
better.  We're looking to repeat the 2005 result and put ourselves in the
strongest position to fight for the American Le Mans Series LMP1 title,"
said driver Chris Dyson.  "Mid-Ohio is one of my favorite tracks to drive in
a Le Mans Prototype: fast, demanding, and very technical.  As a team we
always seem to have a strong car here, so we are all optimistic about a
strong showing."

 

Good news continues with local team Intersport Racing, as Clint Field and
Liz Halliday claimed their second straight LMP2 win in Houston.  As the
Penske Porsches suffered drivetrain problems within the last 30 minutes,
Field steered his AER-powered Lola B05/40 to win for the 14th time in his
career.  B-K Motorsports placed second in class as Jamie Bach and Guy Cosmo
finished two laps behind Intersport in their No. 8 Mazda-powered Courage
C65.  B-K Motorsports will return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend
as returning LMP2 class champs. 

 


Penske Racing will race for the first time in the Series at Mid-Ohio Sports
Car Course where it has 12 professional wins since 1967. The team has two
Mid-Ohio SCCA USRRC wins, two Mid-Ohio SCCA Trans-Am victories, two Mid-Ohio
SCCA Can-Am triumphs, and six Mid-Ohio Champ Car wins.  For 2006, Penske
Racing will field two Porsche RS Spyders in LMP2.


 


The 2006 American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio marks the fifth Series appearance at
the classic road course. Twelve previous event winners are entered: Jamie
Bach/Guy Cosmo (2005 P2), Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas (2005 GT2), David
Brabham (2001 P900 and overall), Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell (2001, 2002,
2004 GTS and 2005 GT1), Clint Field (2004 P2), Butch Leitzinger/James Weaver
(2005 P1), Chris McMurry (2002 P675), and Johannes van Overbeek (2004 GT)



The American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio is set for noon EDT on Sunday at Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course.  It will be broadcast live on CBS Sports at 1:00 p.m. EDT
May 21, the second of five straight races on the network.

 

Also featured throughout the weekend will be several support races including
the Cooper Tires Formula Ford 2000 Championship Series, Formula BMW USA,
SCCA SPEED World Challenge presented by Trenton Forging, IMSA GT3 Cup
Challenge presented by Michelin, Star Mazda presented by Goodyear and the
newly formed IMSA Lites.

 

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a 2.4-mile, 15-turn permanent road racing
circuit in Lexington, Ohio.  Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles
south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most
competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally,
regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and
professional riders and drivers.  

 

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated
is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise.  The company owns
and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and
promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and
family entertainment events throughout the year.